KHARTOUM, Sudan -                      Sudan’s Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change opposition alliance have signed the first phase of a political agreement, amidst the African Union and Ethiopia diplomatic mediation.

The two sides representatives signed a political declaration, one of two documents that are part of the deal, at a ceremony in Khartoum.

The other document, a constitutional declaration, is likely to be signed within days, perhaps as early as Friday, according to report monitored by CEOAfrica.

The signing is a key step in Sudan’s transition after months of street protests that prompted the military to oust autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir and take over the country in April.

But the protesters, though initially cheering al-Bashir’s ouster, remained on the streets for several weeks, demanding the military hand over power to a civilian authority.

The military and the pro-democracy movement, which represents the protesters, had agreed earlier this month on a joint sovereign council that will rule Sudan for a little over three years while elections are organized.

The power-sharing deal, which also includes a Cabinet appointed by the pro-democracy movement, was meant to end weeks of deadlock between the two sides since a Khartoum protest sit-in was razed by security forces last June.

Protest organizers say security forces killed at least 128 people during that dispersal and subsequent crackdown. Authorities, however, put the death toll at 61, including three members of the security forces.

And on June 30, tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Khartoum in the biggest show of numbers in the uprising. At least 11 people were killed in clashes with security forces, according to protest organizers.

The two sides subsequently resumed talks and also agreed on an independent Sudanese investigation into the deadly crackdown, though it is unclear if anyone will be held accountable.

“We are ushering in a new era,” Ibrahim al-Amin, a negotiator for the protesters said at Wednesday’s signing ceremony. “The upcoming government will be a government of all Sudanese, for all citizens … we have suffered enough from the totalitarian dictatorial regime.”

Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy head of the military council, hailed the signing as a “historical moment in Sudan” as representatives of both sides shook hands.

Wednesday’s development followed after intensive efforts and pressure from regional and international powers.