On October 25, 2021, a coup occurred in the already politically unstable country of Sudan. The Sudanese military, led by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, took control of the government. Currently, the military has dissolved all forms of civilian rule, arrested political rulers, and declared a state of emergency. Among those political rulers, it is reported that the Prime Minister of Sudan, Abdallah Hammock, and his wife have been put under house arrest. Members of his cabinet and other civilian leaders are also under the same conditions. Their location is unknown.
Those arrested were part of a transitional government intended to help Sudan’s move to democracy.
Military leaders in the transitional government called for reforms, pressuring for the cabinet to be replaced. The coup leader has blamed disagreements between politicians, ambitions, and incitement to violence; he defended his actions by saying he was forced to protect the safety of the nation and to “rectify the revolution’s course.” Burhan was in charge of leading the arrangement of power-sharing between military and civilian leaders, given the title of the Sovereign Council.
Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdock has blamed Bashir loyalists for the disagreements, many of whom are said to be embedded in the military, security, and other government institutions.
The Sudan military coup is a threat to the country's ever so fragile move to democracy, only two years after the removal of the longtime autocratic leader Omar-Al Bashir. Ever since August 2019, with the overthrow of Omar-Al Bashir, military and civilian leaders have been sharing power, which has led to a publicly strained relationship between them in the past years.
On top of the political instability, Sudan’s economy has suffered greatly with high inflation and shortages of necessary goods, such as food and medicine.
Prime Minister Hamdock was supposedly pressured to support the coup. However, he refused to do so and instead urged the people to continue with their peaceful demonstrations to “defend the revolution.” On October 26 he was put under house arrest.
Army troops have been deployed all around Khartoum, its airport has been closed down and international flights have been suspended. Internet connection is also down. A state of emergency has been declared.
As reported by BBC, Arabic’s Mohamed Osman from the capital, huge crowds of protesters are on the streets of Khartoum, demanding the return of civilian rule. More civilians are expected to join these protests after urging political parties and professional unions to act. Currently, doctors are protesting by refusing to work at hospitals under military rule, making an exception for emergencies.
Human rights defender, Duaa Tariq, told the BBC, “There is tension and also violence because people tried to go to the army headquarters...they were met with gunshots.” She added that although an environment of fear and confusion crept over the street, solidarity was present between the demonstrators.
Video footage from the capital on October 25 showed large crowds on the streets, including many women. Barricades of burning tires were formed, black smoke rising throughout the city.
One of the demonstrators, Sawsan Bashir, stated to the AFP news agency: “We will not leave the streets until the civilian government is back and the transition is back.”
Another said, “We are ready to give our lives for the democratic transition in Sudan.”
The Sudan Central Doctor’s Committee has reported through its Facebook page, that at least 3 people have been killed and 80 have been injured. They added that those that were killed had been shot by soldiers.
Nations around the world urge the UN rights council to meet on the topic of Sudan.
Considering Sudan’s political instability, the promise of democracy kept the Sudanese and allies hopeful for a peaceful future. All that is at risk now.
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