ADDIS ABABA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Wednesday commended the latest accord among Sudanese stakeholders for a political transition in Sudan.
The Chairperson of the 55-member continental bloc made the statement following Sudan's Transitional Military Council (TMC) announcement on Wednesday that it has agreed with the major opposition forces on the rule structures and a three-year power transition period.
"We have agreed on powers of the sovereignty council, the council of ministers and the legislative council," said Lt. Gen. Yasser al-Atta, a TMC member, at a press conference in Khartoum early Wednesday.
The two sides have also agreed that "the transitional period duration will be three years," said the TMC member. "The first six months will be allotted for achieving peace all over Sudan."
The AU Chairperson "extends his warm congratulations to the national stakeholders for their high level of responsibility to complete the negotiation cycle in a reasonable time in order to adequately address the legitimate concerns of the Sudanese people," an AU statement issued on Wednesday read.
Faki further commended the collaboration of the United Nations, the European Union (EU) and the Troika group, which brings together the U.S., Norway and the United Kingdom, in support of the AU approach.
He also "reaffirmed the strong and continuing support and commitment of the AU to the Sudanese stakeholders to achieve a lasting political agreement."
Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, the AU Chairperson's principal strategic adviser, is currently in Khartoum, capital of Sudan to oversee the AUC's technical support to the political transition process in Sudan, according to the AU.
The Sudanese military staged a coup on April 11, following four months of anti-government protests. President Omar al-Bashir, who had been in power for nearly 30 years, was overthrown and then imprisoned.
Last week, after meeting with al-Burhan, the AU Chairperson's Special Envoy to Sudan had urged the political parties in Sudan to reach a deal.
The continental bloc had also earlier this month granted the TMC a 60-day extension to hand over the power to a civilian-led authority.
