Sudan’s TMC and Opposition Initial Constitutional Declaration

Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC) and a coalition of civilian opposition groups will sign a much-anticipated constitutional declaration on August 17, Reuters has reported, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the negotiations. The parties initialed the declaration on Sunday after reaching an agreement the day before. The composition of a sovereign council, which will oversee the North African country for a three-year transition period until elections, reportedly will be announced on August 18 followed by the naming of a new prime minister on August 20 and cabinet on August 28. The TMC and the opposition alliance signed a power-sharing deal earlier this month, but the final sticking point was a constitutional declaration. The overall agreement was brokered by mediators from the African Union and Ethiopia. Upticks in violence, such as the raid on a sit-in site in June and the recent killings of student protesters, led to the suspension, and subsequent renewal, of talks. The groups have been at loggerheads ever since the overthrow of president Omar al-Bashir in April.