Mediator Brings Sudan’s Sides Together – Though it Could Be a Bit Early to Celebrate

Following deadly unrest in Sudan after the April ousting of longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir, army generals and civilians have reached an agreement about power-sharing as the country maps out a new mode of governance.

Nudging the agreement along was a mediator from the African Union, who spent all of two days last week getting the sides to shake hands after months of protests by civilians who at first had believed the generals were on their side, as well as mediation efforts by Ethiopia’s prime minister and others.

Still, it’s early – a transition period will last for some three years, which is plenty of time for things to unravel.

For a bit more understanding of the issue, The Media Line turned to Dr. Irit Back, head of the Africa Research Program at Tel Aviv University.