But the great deal of  political  toil lies ahead for the country’s new rulers.

It was vital to get something inked in Sudan after a week of violence that saw schoolchildren cut down by paramilitaries.

The declaration signed in Khartoum presses all the buttons.

But the real deal, naming the sovereign council to replace the military junta is still twelve days off.

Flag-waving Sudanese singing revolutionary songs filled the streets of Khartoum today celebrating the declaration,

The big test will be how the military reacts if anything causes that celebration to once again turn to protest  

The post Political toil lies ahead for Sudan’s civilian and military leaders appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Hopefully ending months of turmoil since the overthrow of President Omar Al Bashir in April, it will rotate military and civilian government for three years in the run up to democratic elections.

The power-sharing deal was inked in Khartoum after all night talks.

Originally meant to have been signed on Saturday, it was delayed by misgivings and the killing of a demonstrator by militia led by Mohamed Hemeti Dagolo.

He has described today’s  signing as a historic moment for Sudan.

The deal will leave power with the military for the first 21 months.

The generals will then hand over to the civilian umbrella body for the final 18 months of the transition. 

The post Sudan power-sharing deal signed after all-night talks appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

But they have a mountain to climb before they get the military junta to step aside.

Celebrations following the power-sharing agreement – yet to be inked – between the generals and the civilians have been measured.

The protestors recognize that the deal is a compromise.

The military will retain power for the first half of the 39-month transitional period.

Getting them out after that will not be automatic.

The uniformed men responsible for the bloodshed since the beginning of last month will not easily relinquish power.

And there is very little chance that any of them will be held accountable for the deaths of unarmed protestors.

The post Soldiers responsible for bloodshed in Sudan won’t be held accountable appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Making his first appliance in public since the April 11 coup, he was driven from prison to the prosecutor’s office to hear the charges.

Clad in the traditional white robes and turban of Sudanese men, Omar Al Bashir was driven under heavy police guard.

He entered the prosecutors building with a broad smile and exchanged greetings with staff.

He left shortly afterwards scowling.

He is expected in court next week.

The military junta is hoping his trial will appease the civilian groups that demonstrated for months calling for his fall.

Those groups insist they want the Transitional Military Council to make way for a civilian government.

The post Scowling Bashir emerges from Khartoum prosecutors office appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Making tis announcement in Khartoum, the country’s acting prosecutor general says 41 officials will be charged with Bashir.

Omar Al Bashir hasn’t been seen in public since he was toppled in a military coup on April 11th.

Prosecutor Alaweed Sayed Ahmed doesn’t say exactly when the Bashir will appear in the dock.

He will also be facing charges connected to the large sums of foreign currency found in a search of the presidential palace.

The military junta is hoping that prosecuting Bashir will appease the civilian groups who had been protesting for months for his fall.

Breaking up those demonstrations on June 3rd the paramilitary janjaweed killed 118 unarmed civilians.

The post Toppled Sudan President Omar Al Bashir to face prosecution for corruption appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Eid Ul Fitr is a joyous holiday bringing celebrants out in their finery.

This year it has become a fearful stay-at-home event in Khartoum because the  the military has sought to strengthen its hand after ousting President Omar Al Bashir in a  coup two months ago by deploying  former janjaweed militants to brutally disperse pro-democracy protestors.

Talks between the junta and  civilian groups have broken down irretrievably after more 60 protestors were killed.

Russia and China have blocked a bid in the United Nations Security Council to condemn the violence.

The post Militants deployed by Khartoum junta drive Eid celebrants off the streets appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.