The Provisional Government signs a permanent settlement with one of the country's largest rebel movements • Additional armed groups remain out of agreement • The IMF calls for economic reform

• Commander of the Sudan Military Council // Photo: IP

Sudan's move reached a peace agreement in the city of Altitude with rebel groups Wednesday. This is one of the organizations of the "Sudanese Revolutionary Front", known as the Center Path. This is according to a statement by Khartoum government published in the Associated Press. This agreement may lead to other agreements with the other revolutionary front organizations and other rebel groups, ending the local civil wars the state has suffered for decades. Signing peace agreements in the Sudanese periphery was a key goal of the transition government.

These peace agreements will significantly reduce the security spending, which burdens the state budget, which is in any case a continuing deficit. "It's time to push for peace so that Sudan can live in peace and stability after decades of wars and destruction," said General Muhammad Hamdan Dagalu, the deputy head of the sovereign council. Dagalo led the diplomatic delegation to a high, which is expected to continue talks with other rebel groups. For his part, Deputy Revolutionary Front leader Al-Tom Hugo said "the peace train has started" and this is a significant breakthrough. According to him, the Nativ Center faction supports the revolution and the transitional institutions.

According to the AP report, the Sudanese Revolutionary Front is part of a pro-democracy movement that led the impeachment against Omar al-Bashir. However, it did not fully support the power-sharing agreement between the military and protest representatives. This agreement, by the way, includes a deadline of six months to expire in February 2020.

The round of talks also included contacts with the largest rebel organization in Sudan, located in the north of the country - the Sudanese Liberation Movement in the north, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilo. The movement calls for a secular state with no religious functions defined by law, the dismantling of all militias, which support ousted dictator Al-Bashir, and military reforms. This organization said that if its demands were not met, they would require self-determination in the areas under their control. Another group, the Secret Liberation Movement, rejected the calls and stayed outside.

"Opportunity to boost the economy"

Meanwhile, the IMF said this week that the political change in Sudan provides a new opportunity for economic growth. So according to Arab media. According to the IMF, thanks to the political transformations in Sudan, there was an opportunity for policymakers to make critical reforms to help spur the economy.

Currently, the Muslim African state is recovering from the ouster of tyrant Omar al-Bashir. The undisputed ruler was recently given a two-year prison sentence, but even after his ouster, clashes between security forces and protesters continued, refusing to consent to a military government. The end was the establishment of a joint provisional government between protestors and generals until elections.

Reportedly, the fund's envoy with the government in Khartoum said that Sudan would need to maintain macroeconomic balance and create favorable conditions for stable and consistent growth.

A chance for economic recovery? Protesters in the Khartoum capital // Photo: IP

The fund's envoy, Daniel Canada, who led talks with authorities in Sudan between December 4 and 17, discussed a policy that included exchange rate liberalization, taxation streamlining, and graded cuts in fuel subsidies. Meanwhile, new Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamduk visited with the aim of removing his country from the list of terrorist countries.

According to the Canada Envoy, the reforms must be led with caution, and an extensive publicity campaign must be preceded by it so that the public understands the rationale behind them and the negative effects of the existing situation.

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The fund highlighted some of the challenges facing the Sudanese economy, including ongoing deficit, high inflation and low revenue generation potential. In 2018, for example, Sudan's economic activity shrank by 2.3 percent and GDP fell by 2.5 percent. 7.9 percent last year.

However, Sudan is entitled to some relief under an international initiative to aid poor countries. For relief, the United States needs to remove Sudan from the list of terrorist countries. Khartoum's huge loans also prevent it from accessing external financing and are a barrier to development. Despite these, the IMF has praised Sudan's efforts to ensure its removal and cooperation.