Putschists reinstated ousted Prime Minister of Sudan | News from Germany on world events

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamduk, ousted by the military on October 25 and under house arrest, has been reinstated and returned to his duties at the palace in Khartoum, state television reported on Sunday, November 21.

Hamduk and the leader of the putschists, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, signed an agreement to create a new transitional government. As part of the agreement, Hamduk will be able to form it from civilians, but al-Burhan will join him in the Sovereign Council, the governing body that will oversee the process of democratization of the country from 2019.

In addition, in accordance with the document, the military must release all political prisoners arrested since the beginning of the coup on October 25.

Protests continue

However, protests against the coup in the country continue. Civil parties, which were part of the transitional government before the coup, refuse to enter into negotiations with the military and from any cooperation with them. Thousands of demonstrators marched through Khartoum on November 21, demanding the resignation of the leader of the putschists, General al-Burkhan.

The seizure of power in Sudan on October 25 led to massive protests in the country. Specifically, the Association of Sudanese Trade Unions (SPA) called on the people for general strike and civil disobedience. In Khartoum, tens of thousands of people in response to this call began to erect barricades and demand the army’s withdrawal from the government and democratic reforms. The clashes in Khartoum killed at least 15 people.

International response

The coup in Sudan caused a great resonance in Western countries. In particular, the US and EU authorities said they still recognize the ousted Prime Minister Abdullah Hamduk and demanded a meeting with him.

In late October, the UN Security Council called on the military to resume political dialogue “without preconditions,” immediately release the detainees and respect the people’s right to peaceful assembly.

Difficult transition from dictatorship

Sudan was ruled by dictator Omar al-Bashir for almost 30 years. On April 11, 2019, he was overthrown in a military coup amid massive protests. Thereafter, the army and civilian opposition agreed to form a transitional government that would lead the country to elections. On August 21, 2019, the country’s new governing body, the Sovereign Council, was sworn in. This body was headed by Al-Burkhan, and the transitional government was headed by Abdullah Hamduk.

On October 25, 2021, the military under the leadership of General al-Burhan seized power in Sudan and declared a state of emergency in the country. The leader of the putschists announced the dissolution of the transitional government and the Sovereign Council, promising that the military would continue the country’s transition to democracy until a civilian government was elected. He set the elections for July 2023.

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Author: Evgeny Zhukov