By John Ikani
Leaders in Sudan have once again delayed the signing of a crucial agreement to reinstate a civilian government amid escalating differences among military factions.
Negotiations that began with hopes of signing a draft deal on Thursday continued overnight.
Sudan has been in political turmoil since October 2021 when the army ousted a civilian government that had overthrown longtime leader Omar al Bashir in 2019.
This sparked violent street protests that resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries over the past year and a half.
Last December, the military committed to a roadmap for transferring power to civilians, but progress has stalled over disagreements regarding the unification of the national army and the feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by the deputy head of Sudan’s ruling council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
Despite these challenges, the spokesperson for the negotiations confirmed that both sides remain committed to finding a consensus.
A final peace deal could release millions of dollars frozen by the European Union and the US, which could greatly benefit the country’s struggling economy.
