A/HRC/45/53 III. Recent developments: political, institutional and economic trends 9. Following formation of the transitional Government on 8 September 2019, considerable efforts have been made to address human rights concerns, including through the constitutional document signed on 17 August 2019 and a transition agenda based on normative and institutional reform. The Independent Expert acknowledges that the constitutional document opens the way for an inclusive pathway to constitutional governance, rooted in robust human rights and rule-of-law principles. The constitutional document also offers a blueprint of the core values and the reform programme to be implemented during the transition period. These values and reform elements include the character and nature of the sovereign State; the delineation of functions of State organs; and the duration, mandate and focus of the transitional agenda. 10. The Independent Expert also acknowledges that the constitutional document provides for the facilitation of the OHCHR mission to work in the Sudan. The Government and OHCHR signed a host country agreement on 25 September 2019, paving the way for the opening of a fully mandated OHCHR country office in the Sudan, with field presences in Darfur, Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan and East Sudan. An OHCHR start-up team has been gradually deployed to Khartoum, starting on 26 December 2019. The OHCHR country office in the Sudan works in close coordination with the Human Rights Section of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). 11. In line with the constitutional document, the Government opened negotiations with the armed movements in Darfur and the two areas (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) under the Juba peace process that was launched in the middle of October 2019. Talks have been ongoing for an extended period, with progress in some areas, especially with regard to the governing principles on wealth- and power-sharing and the transitional justice framework, including an agreement to cooperate with the International Criminal Court on the persons indicted in respect to the conflict in Darfur. Both the United Nations and the African Union have provided technical support to the mediation process. In particular, UNAMID has provided extensive logistic support, including facilitating a consultation with the internally displaced persons in Darfur and financing travel to Juba of internally displaced persons and community representatives. The Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdul Wahid has not joined the mediation. The al-Hilu faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/North suspended its participation in the talks over demands to include issues on secularism and selfdetermination to the agenda of the peace talks. These issues have not been agreed to by the Government, since it prefers to refer such key issues to the national constitutional conference following the peace agreement. In June, reports indicated that the al-Hilu faction had decided to resume peace talks with the Government. 12. The Independent Expert notes that three out of the five Sudanese nationals indicted by the International Criminal Court from among the leaders of the former regime, including the ousted President, have been detained in Kober Central Prison in Khartoum since April 2019 and are under investigation for several serious crimes. The Independent Expert also welcomes the news that Darfur militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, who is one of the five Sudanese nationals indicted by the International Criminal Court, surrendered himself to the authorities in the Central African Republic and was transferred to the custody of the Court on 9 June 2020. 13. On 9 March, the Prime Minister of the Sudan escaped an assassination attempt in Khartoum unharmed. The Government statement says that the convoy of the Prime Minister was targeted by “terrorists’ explosions”. The Attorney General established an investigation committee; however, no information has been disclosed on the findings. 14. The Sudan remains on the list of State sponsors of terrorism of the United States of America, which has been imposed since 1993. That designation effectively discourages external investment and led to the exit of most correspondent banking relationships. Although the sanctions were put in place to encourage behavioural change and were meant to respect and promote international law, they have proven catastrophic for the most vulnerable groups and have led to reinforce the power of oppressive elites of the former 3