Sudanese protest against the military coup that toppled the government last month, in Khartoum, Sudan, Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
Marwan Ali / AP
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Marwan Ali / AP
Sudanese protest against the military coup that toppled the government last month, in Khartoum, Sudan, Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
Marwan Ali / AP
CAIRO – Sudan’s military and civilian leaders have reached an agreement to reinstate Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was ousted in a coup last month. Under the agreement, signed on Sunday, the military will also release government officials and politicians arrested since the October 25 coup.
In a televised statement, the country’s leading general, Abdel Fattah Burhan, said in a televised statement that Hamdok would lead an independent technocratic Cabinet until elections can be held. office. It remains unclear how much power the government will hold. It will still be monitored by the military.
The coup, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir and his Muslim government, has drawn international criticism.
Sudanese have taken to the streets in mass since the army took over, which has stymied the country’s fragile transition to democracy. The deal comes just days after doctors said at least 15 people had died from live fire during anti-coup protests. Hamdok has been under house arrest by military leaders for weeks.
Earlier, military and government officials who spoke about the deal said they also foresee the release of government officials and politicians arrested since the October 25 coup. The largest of the political parties believed to be included in the deal, the Umma Party, released a statement implying that it had not signed on to the agreement.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information, said that the United Nations, the United States and other organizations played “important roles” in formulating the agreement.
The United States, its allies and the United Nations have condemned the excessive use of force against anti-coup protesters.
Meanwhile, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Khartoum on Sunday to denounce the coup and demand an immediate handover of power to civilians. Protesters waved Sudanese flags and chanted “Power belongs to the people! The army must stay in the barracks.”
