Sudan army deputy discusses forming legislative council with political bloc
February 9, 2026 (KHARTOUM) — A senior Sudanese military official held talks with a key political coalition on Monday to discuss forming a transitional legislative council, as the army moves to consolidate governance following its return to the capital.
Yasir al-Atta, a member of the Sovereign Council and assistant commander of the army, met with the Forces for Freedom and Change – Democratic Bloc to reach a unified vision for appointing members to the body. The move follows a recent meeting between Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the same bloc to discuss the structure of the parliament.
Moataz al-Fahl, rapporteur of the Democratic Bloc’s political committee, told Sudan Tribune that al-Atta emphasized the council must have genuine powers, including government oversight, passing legislation, and approving the national budget. The body would also supervise the drafting of a new constitution and the legal framework for future elections.
Al-Atta called for institutional accountability to ensure the council’s independence, aiming for a parliament capable of managing the transitional period.
Legislative authority has been exercised by a joint meeting of the Sovereign Council and the cabinet since 2019, as efforts to establish a standalone parliament have repeatedly stalled due to political disputes and the 2021 coup.
During the meeting, al-Atta said the armed forces and allied groups were moving toward a “comprehensive victory” against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which he referred to as rebels.
The Democratic Bloc proposed selection mechanisms based on competence rather than political quotas. The coalition also called for the representation of women and youth to ensure the council can effectively defend human rights.
The Democratic Bloc includes the Democratic Unionist Party led by Jaafar al-Mirghani, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi, and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Gibril Ibrahim.