What comes after the agreement?

With the signing of the Sudan Agreement, the darkness that had overshadowed the country's future was dispelled, and its affairs were placed in the hands of its people. For the first time since the end of the Mahdist era, the agreement's victory enabled a purely Sudanese government to be established in the country. The agreement stipulated that this government would be based on democratic parliamentary foundations, working to dismantle the condominium administration, withdraw the British and Egyptian armies, and prepare the country for self-determination within a transitional period not exceeding three years. The agreement granted the parliament of self-governance the right to express its desire to take measures for the project of self-determination and to choose the Governor-General by informing the two contracting states of the parliament's decision at any time. The fate was determined by the choice between complete independence or association with Egypt in any form.

In an effort to enable the Sudanese to express their will in complete freedom, the agreement stipulated the establishment of a five-member committee for the Governor-General, consisting of two Sudanese members chosen by the Sudanese parliament, one Egyptian, one British, and one Pakistani, each nominated by their government. This committee would assist the Governor-General in performing his duties. Another committee would be formed to Sudanese the positions in the administration and the Sudanese army, consisting of one British, one Egyptian, and three Sudanese. A third committee would be formed to oversee the election of the parliament of self-governance, consisting of three Sudanese members and one member from each of the United Kingdom, Egypt, the United States, and India.

As soon as the Sudanese awoke from the overwhelming joy of their country's achievements under that agreement, they found themselves preparing for the most violent political battle they would face against each other: the first general election. The federalist parties united under the banner of a single political party, the National Unionist Party, which took it upon itself to achieve union and independence. However, it was unable to cover the elections with this momentum in any way.

Here emerges the historical role played by Imam Abd al-Rahman during this anxious historical stage of the Sudanese people's life. From the first moment of signing the agreement, he saw his struggle directed towards the following horizons: (1) Uniting the independence advocates and strengthening them politically.

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