The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) on Friday made an appeal to Sudan’s military leaders to step back following a coup almost two weeks ago and called them to step back to let the country return to civilian rule, reported WION.
Late last month, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ousted and detained Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, dissolved the transitional government, and detained other government officials and political leaders in a coup. Hamdok was released within two days after his arrest and since kept under guarded house arrest.
During a Human Rights Council Session in Sudan, UNHCR Commissioner Michelle Bachelet described the forceful coup as deeply disturbing. She slammed excessive use of force by the military.
“I urge Sudan’s military leaders, and their backers, to step back in order to allow the country to return to the path of progress towards institutional and legal reforms,” she said.
The UNHCR chief said the release of politicians, protesters, and journalists was crucial for the start of an inclusive dialogue and a swift return to civilian rule.
In related news, military leader al-Burhan has agreed with the United States on the need to speed up the formation of a new government after he ordered the release of four ministers of the government namely Hashem Hassabalrasoul, Ali Geddo, Hamza Baloul, and Youssef Adam.
General al-Burhan’s office released a statement on Thursday after he spoke on the phone with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“The two parties agreed on the need to maintain the path of the democratic transition, the need to complete the structures of the transitional government and to speed up the formation of the government,” the statement said.
Blinken urged al-Burhan to immediately release all political figures detained since the coup and return to a dialogue that returns Prime Minister Hamdok to the office and restores civilian-led governance in Sudan. He reiterated the strong support of the United States for the Sudanese people.
