Reuters reported that political and military sources indicate that negotiations in Sudan aimed at reaching a final agreement to appoint a civilian government next month and initiate a new transition towards elections have reached an impasse regarding the contentious issue of restructuring the army. According to the sources, representatives from the army, police, and intelligence withdrew from the talks in protest against the lack of a timeline for integration. Images from the closing session of the conference showed their seats empty.
The sources noted that while the army prefers a two-year timeline for integration, international mediators suggested five years, and the Rapid Support Forces proposed ten years. Disagreements emerged this week concerning the timeline for merging the influential semi-military Rapid Support Forces into the army, a step called for in a framework agreement for the new transition signed in December.
Merging the Rapid Support Forces and placing the army under civilian authority were key demands of a protest movement that helped oust former president Omar al-Bashir four years ago. Analysts consider security sector reform critical for Sudan's chances of transitioning to democracy.
Talks in Khartoum this week aimed to provide guidance on how and when to integrate the Rapid Support Forces, but they concluded late Wednesday without issuing recommendations. The army and Rapid Support Forces executed a coup in October 2021, ending the previous transition toward elections that began after al-Bashir's ousting. The new transition aims to put an end to the power grab, although negotiations prior to the anticipated signing of the final agreement on Saturday have already heightened tensions, prompting the army and Rapid Support Forces to deploy troops in the capital.
