Sudan's military leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan said the armed forces would "sooner or later" be subject to the authority of an elected civilian government, in his clearest indication yet of acceding to a key demand of the country's pro-democracy protest movement.
Gen Al Burhan was speaking at the launch of talks between the military and a pro-democracy coalition to work out the details of their agreement to resume Sudan's transition to democracy that was disrupted when he seized power more than a year ago.
"The armed forces is committed to its withdrawal [from politics] and to work with its political and civilian partners to lay down the foundations on which the framework of the military institution’s function in democratic societies is based," he said at the ceremony on Sunday.
"The armed forces is part of the state's organs that everyone should participate in its running. Sooner or later, it will be subject to the civilian administration produced by elections."
The agreement signed in early December envisions the military's withdrawal from politics and the appointment of a civilian prime minister to steer the country through a 24-month transition leading to free elections.
The second and final stage of the agreement requires civilians and the military to reach an understanding on five key issues before general elections are held.
The discussions will initially focus on dismantling elements from Omar Al Bashir's regime, which ruled for 29 years before he was removed by the military in April 2019 following months of street protests.
Other topics include reforms to the security apparatus, which consists of paramilitary groups, such as the Rapid Support Forces that civilians accuse of carrying out deadly attacks on protesters during and after Al Bashir's time in office.
The process is being mediated by the UN, the African Union, the regional IGAD group, as well as western and Arab powers, including the US, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The army and civilian groups had entered a power-sharing agreement several months after Al Bashir's removal under which a civilian-led government would run the country for a period of 39 months leading to elections, but the process was derailed by the coup on October 25, 2021.
Gen Al Burhan has spoken about the military withdrawing from politics and submitting to an elected government, but has hedged such statements or declared that the military would retain final say on issues of national security and sovereignty.
His latest comments, released by his office on Monday, appear to be the most unequivocal yet.
Many in Sudan remain sceptical of the new agreement and are demanding that the military relinquish power immediately and be held accountable for deaths of at least 120 people in protests against it seizure of power.
Amjad Fareid Eltayeb, who was assistant chief of staff to Abdalla Hamdok, the prime minister removed in October 2021, said the deal signed on December 5 and the ensuing negotiations would lead to an "elite agreement that lacks public support" and which would not prevent future coups.
Sudan has been ruled by military figures for most of the 67 years since independence, with generals toppling elected but dysfunctional governments only to fare as badly or worse in tackling the country's chronic problems such as civil strife, hunger and lack of development.
The 2021 coup drew a sharp response from Sudan's western backers, with the US, EU and World Bank suspending billions of dollars' worth of aid and debt forgiveness. None of this will be restored before a civilian-led and credible democratic transition is back on track.
The US has warned it would slap a travel ban on any leader who threatens to derail the country's democratic transition under last month's agreement.
Although hailed as a potential breakthrough of Sudan's crippling political crisis, the agreement has left out several thorny issues to be dealt with at a later stage. These include transitional justice, reforming the armed forces and implementation of a peace deal signed with several rebel groups in 2020.
Several political forces also stayed away from the deal. These include the powerful Islamists loyal to the Al Bashir regime and the neighbourhood-based, pro-democracy Resistance Committees that have led the street protests against military for the past year.
Ominously, some of the rebel groups that signed the 2020 peace deal with the military have stated their opposition to the deal.
Nada AlTaher reported from Abu Dhabi
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Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Manchester City, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Uefa Champions League play-off
First leg: Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Ajax v Dynamo Kiev
Second leg: Tuesday, August 28, 11pm (UAE)
Dynamo Kiev v Ajax
MWTC info
Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.