The peace accord between Sudan's transitional government and three armed groups was a serious step forward from the human and economic damage wrought by decades of conflict. Without ending the myriad civil conflicts, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has little hope of relaunching the devastated economy and devolving power to the regions. A settlement with the armed groups, which are due to join the national armed forces, should strengthen Hamdok's hand.

Although two of the main armed groups stayed away, the signing ceremony in Juba on 3 October attracted a galaxy of regional notables, including the Presidents of Ethiopia and Chad, Sahle-Work Zewde and Idris Déby Itno, and the prime ministers of Egypt and Uganda, Mostafa Madbouly and Ruhakana Rugunda, joined by South Sudan's mediator Tut Gatluak and the United States envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth.

Negotiations with the two groups holding out – Abdel Wahid al Nur's Sudan Liberation Movement and Abdelaziz Adam el Hilu's Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North – are to resume this month.

The accord aims to integrate all the armed groups into the national armed forces, which are themselves divided between the army, the Rapid Support Forces militia and the military wing of the security services.  The deal offers greater economic and political rights to people in all Sudan's regions and access to a US$750 million fund for development in the west and the south.