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Sudan military seals power-sharing deal with civilians

By Sommer Brokaw
Sudan's Forces of Freedom and Change coalition leader Ahmad al-Rabiah (R) flashes a victory sign after signing the power sharing agreement (green document at Top) with Sudan's General and Vice President of Sudanese Transitional Military Council Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (L), as international guests watch in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday. Photo by Morwan Ali/ EPA-EFE
Sudan's Forces of Freedom and Change coalition leader Ahmad al-Rabiah (R) flashes a victory sign after signing the power sharing agreement (green document at Top) with Sudan's General and Vice President of Sudanese Transitional Military Council Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (L), as international guests watch in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday. Photo by Morwan Ali/ EPA-EFE

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Sudan's military council and civilian opposition alliance Saturday sealed a power-sharing deal to pave the way toward democracy in a few years.

A signing ceremony in Khartoum celebrated the deal, calling for a new governing council, including civilians and generals, in a step closer toward transition to democracy rule in three years.

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The military has ruled the country since it gained independence from Britain in 1956.

The deal follows eight turbulent months with protests, a military coup and a bloody military response.

It allows a transitional government to take power on Sept. 1, replacing the military junta, which ousted Sudan ruler Omar Hassan al-Bashir in April, for a little over three years, until elections can be held.

Power is shared between Sudan's military and civilian coalition that arose from the streets in December in a sovereign council under the deal, but Lt. Gen. Adel Fattah al-Burhan, who has led the country since Bashir's ouster, will lead the council for the first 21 months.

While overall power lies with the sovereign council, a technocratic government will operate under it.

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Forces for Freedom and Change, which sparked the nine months of protests, nominated Abdalla Hamdok, an economist who has served as deputy executive secretary for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa from 2011 until stepping down in October, as the government's prime minister.

Hamdok will be appointed Tuesday and is scheduled to take the constitutional oath the next day.

The ousted military ruler, al-Bashir, is in prison in Sudan awaiting trial on corruption charges scheduled to start Monday.

The opposition alliance was hopeful, but concerned about compromises it has to make in the deal.

"We're putting everything on this," said Mohamed Azhary, one of many protesters who called for al-Bashir's ouster. "People are feeling optimistic, but there's a lot of mixed feelings, too. We are praying for the best."

Mohamed Hamdan "Hemeti" Dagolo, the military council's dominant figure, pledged to abide by the agreement's terms.

"We will stick to every single letter we have agreed on," Hemeti told the BBC's Zeinab Badawi in an interview broadcast ahead of the signing ceremony.

Dagalo previously signed a power-sharing agreement with Change leader Ahmad al-Rabiah, prior to Saturday's signing ceremony.

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