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KHARTOUM (Sudanow) - Sudan celebrated on Sautrday final signing of the political and constitutional documents paving the way for a civilian rule. Following are some scenes of the celebrations organized under the theme "Sudan Joy" -(Photo: Majdi Abdalla):

Documentary Film

The signing ceremony programme that followed playing the national anthem and verses from the holy Quran included showing a panorama film highlighting the successive stages of the December-April Revolution.

The background music was a carefully selected patriotic song by Sudanese late legendry singer Mohamed Wardi who was once named the lead Singer in Africa.

The selection of the song was symbolic as both the singer and the poet of the lyrics, late Mahjoub Sharif popularly known as the People’s Bard, were the most famous patriotic artists who were mistreated by dictatorial regimes.

The songs related about the Sudanese revolutionist spirit and their love for freedom predicting that such traits will be inherited by the successive generations and those Sudanese aspirations will materialize.

Atbara Train Again

Youth and revolutionaries hailing from Atabara town once again braved the odds and came up with different taste to mark the celebrations accompanying the final signing of the political and constitutional documents for the transitional government.

Thousands arrived in Khartoum on Saturday on a train, riding the 19-hour journey during which the train made a stop at four towns taking on board more people and allowing for interaction with crowds amassed along the railway lines to greet the people of Atbara.

Atbara is known for spearheading the current popular revolution as it was the town that initiated the protests against the defunct regime in December. It was also known for its constant opposition against all totalitarian regimes all along Sudan history.

Moreover, the city is the headquarters of the country’s railways that reached about 6000 kilometer in length and once served as the main mean of transport.

The town had sent similar train on April 23 to support the sit-in at the Army General Command. The action had boosted morale of those camping in the sit in area when they received the joy, h tears. It equally spurred other cities to arrange mass journeys to the same site.

Ethiopia’s Premier Dr Abiy Ahmed

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed has received an outstanding ovation from those present inside the Hall as well as those outside during the signing ceremony when he was walking the distance between his seat and the podium to deliver his speech. Every time Ethiopia was mentioned in any utterance or statement during the ceremony people shouted in approval and gratitude.

He beamed back with smiles in recognition and greeted the public in Arabic at the start of his speech “alsalam alaikom wa rahmatullah” and concluded as well in Arabic “shukran”.

Prof. Lebatt

AU Commission Chairman Musa Feki jokingly went out of text to say that AU Chief mediator, Prof. Lebatt, had become Sudanese, “often borrowing words from the Sudanese lexicon to answer my questions or to describe the progress of the negotiations.”

Both the African Union envoy, Lebatt and the Ethiopian government mediator, Mahmoud Dirrir, were granted the highest Sudanese medallion of honour, the Republican Medallion-First Class, for their role in the process.

The Freedom Park

Dancing and singing folklore troupes greeted the guests and the public at the yard of the Friendship Hall here (where the signing ceremony was held). Giant TV screens were set in several parts of Khartoum for the public to watch the ceremony live.

The popular celebration took place at the Green Park, a vast area south of Khartoum city, which was renamed now ‘The Freedom park”. Tens of thousands of people flocked to the park from the various parts of Khartoum State, mostly on foot carrying the flags, chanting and singing.