How Sudan’s Army Will Share Power Following Violence

It took months of mass protests and cost scores of lives, but Sudan is edging closer to what opponents of ousted President Omar al-Bashir demanded when they first went to the streets last year. Bashir, who brutally crushed dissent during his 30-year rule, was pushed out in April by his erstwhile allies in the military and security forces, following four months of nationwide protests over soaring prices of food, medicine, fuel and transportation. Thanks to a power-sharing deal among military and opposition leaders, the North African nation has its first chance in more than three decades to establish a democratic civilian government and undertake urgently needed economic reform.

Under the deal signed Aug. 17, the military has ceded some of its powers to a civilian coalition. A so-called sovereign council made up of civilian and army figures is assuming presidential-type duties for three years until elections are held. For the next 18 months, it will be led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a lieutenant-general who’s been in charge of the military council since the April coup. An as-yet-unnamed civilian leader will take over after that. At the same time, a technocratic cabinet will lay the groundwork for rebuilding the economy. Abdalla Hamdok, an economist who’s worked for institutions including the African Development Bank and International Labour Organization, is the new prime minister, leading the cabinet. The accord also calls for an independent committee to investigate the killing of protesters.