Sudan’s leading Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan on Monday declared a state of emergency, hours after the security forces arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other senior government officials, reported Al Jazeera.
In a televised address, Burhan announced that the country’s ruling Sovereign Council as well as the government have been dissolved.
The military-civilian ruling council had been established to guide the country to democracy following the overthrow of long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir two years ago. There had been a major tiff between the military and civilian groups since a failed coup plot in September.
Gen. Burhan said quarrels among political factions prompted the military to intervene. He said a new technocrat government would lead the country to elections. He vowed to hold elections in July 2023 and hand over to an elected civilian government then. He made clear the military will remain in charge.
Sudan’s information ministry said Hamdok had been shifted to an undisclosed location after he refused to give a statement in support of the coup.
Thousands of protesters came out on the streets of the capital, Khartoum, on Monday following the arrests of Prime Minister Hamdok and other senior officials by security forces in the country. Sources at the health ministry informed that seven people were killed on Monday. The military also cut off access to the internet and closed some roads, bridges and the airport in Khartoum.
Sudan’s latest coup has drawn international condemnation. The United States Joe Biden government on Monday suspended $700 million in financial assistance to Sudan following the coup.
The United Kingdom, European Union, United Nations and African Union, of which Sudan is a member, has demanded the immediate release of political leaders who are now under house arrest in unknown locations.
The UN Security Council is likely to discuss Sudan’s issue behind closed doors on Tuesday.
