THOUSANDS of people took to the streets in Sudan today to celebrate a power-sharing agreement between opposition forces and the military.

The deal came after two days of negotiations in the capital Khartoum, with the sides agreeing a framework to end months of political turmoil and bloodshed.

African Union mediator Mohamed Hassan Lebatt announced that the parties had agreed to “establish a sovereign council by rotation between the military and civilians for a period of three years or slightly more.”

The Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition also agreed to establish an independent technocratic government and to launch a transparent and independent investigation into recent violent events.

Thousands poured onto the streets of Khartoum and the twin city of Omdurman across the River Nile, chanting “civilian, civilian, civilian” as car horns blared in celebration.

FFC spokesman Omar al-Degair said: “This agreement opens the way for the formation of the institutions of the transitional authority, and we hope that this is the beginning of a new era.”

TMC deputy leader and head of the notorious Rapid Support Forces (RSF) General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemeti, thanked “our brothers” from the FFC.

“We would like to reassure all political forces, armed movements and all those who participated in the change from young men and women that this agreement will be comprehensive and will not exclude anyone.”

Sudan has been in political deadlock since authoritarian former  president Omar al-Bashir was ousted in a military coup in April following months of street protests.

Talks between the army and opposition groups broke down after efforts to agree a framework for a new governing body stalled over who would assume the presidency.

More than 100 people were slaughtered and 70 women raped on June 3 as the RSF went on the rampage.