UPDATE - Sudan’s rivals delay signing of final political agreement to April 6

UPDATES WITH NEW DATE OF SIGNING, REVISES HEADLINE

By Adel Abdel Rahim

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) - Sudan’s military and political forces postponed the signing of a final agreement aimed to resolve the country’s months-long political crisis to April 6.

A spokesman for Sudan’s political process, Khaled Omar Youssef, cited “lack of consensus on some outstanding issues” for failure to sign the agreement on Saturday.

“All parties will continue to engage in serious discussions, in order to overcome the last obstacles to reaching an agreement to restore the path of civilian democratic transition, and form a civilian authority to lead the transition,” Youssef stated.

After an hours-long meeting in the capital Khartoum, the two sides agreed to sign the final agreement on April 6, the spokesman said.

“The meeting reviewed progress made during discussions to reach a final agreement, and identified the last remaining issues, which are related to the stages of reform, merger, and modernization in the security and military sector,” he added.

The signing of the agreement was scheduled to be followed by the formation of a new government on April 11.

On December 5, Sudan’s military and political forces signed a framework agreement meant to resolve Sudan’s months-long crisis.

The deal pledges a 2-year transition period and the appointment of a civilian prime minister by the political parties that signed the agreement.

It also calls for the reform of the military and defense sector, unifying the military and integrating the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force, into the army.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021 when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency, a move decried by political forces as a "military coup."

Sudan’s transitional period that started in August 2019 was scheduled to end with elections in early 2024.

*Ikram Kouachi in Ankara contributed to this report