Norway congratulates the Sudanese people

Norway signed as a witness to Sudan’s historic power-sharing agreement. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ine Eriksen Søreide (H), congratulates the people.

“Norway congratulates the Sudanese people on signing the peace agreement in Sudan. The next important milestone is the establishment of a civil transitional government,” says Søreide in a statement on Saturday night.

Representatives of the military junta who have ruled Sudan since the army deposed President Omar al-Bashir signed the agreement with the protest movement in a solemn ceremony in Khartoum on Saturday.

“It is important that the parties now hold steady courses in the implementation of the peace agreement. The African Union (AU) and Ethiopia have played key roles in facilitating the agreement,” says Søreide.

The agreement outlines how the country will be governed during a 39-month transition period up to an election.

Signing of the Peace agreement

Representatives of the so-called Troika countries Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States signed as witnesses to the peace agreement. The three countries were central to negotiating the peace agreement with Sudan, which paved the way for South Sudan’s secession in 2011.

She adds that the AU, neighbouring countries and the world community must continue their involvement and support for development assistance.

“Norway wants to contribute to the international push, and we look forward to the dialogue with Sudan’s new government,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Facts about the development in Sudan

December 19: protests erupted against the government’s decision to triple bread prices. They are spreading quickly and turning into weekly demonstrations, eventually demanding that President Omar al-Bashir must step down, after ruling Sudan with an iron fist for 30 years.
April 11: After days of mass protests outside the army headquarters, the army announces that Bashir has been deposed and that a military transitional council will rule for two years. Thousands of protesters defy a curfew and remain in front of headquarters. The protest movement demands that power be left to a civilian government. Negotiations between the military junta and the protest leaders begin, but end abruptly on May 20.
27-29 May: a major strike is held in the public and private sectors to pressure the generals. At the same time, junta leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visits Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Emirates, who are sceptical to the uprising.
June 3: armed men in uniform enter the protest camp outside the army headquarters to strike the demonstration. At least 127 persons are killed, according to doctors affiliated with the protest movement. The paramilitary RSF militia is blamed for the violence. The junta notifies investigation, but scraps all previous agreements with the protest movement.
June 9: a nationwide civil disobedience campaign launches. It paralyzes the country for two days. Brokers from Ethiopia and the African Union present proposals for a new transition after both parties signal that they will record the talks. Demonstrations continue, and more are killed.
July 5: After two days of negotiations, the parties in principle agree on a power sharing agreement before a transition to civilian rule.
August 17: The army and protest leaders sign a final power-sharing agreement. The agreement provides for a 39-month transition period before elections are held.