The shadow of a military coup hovers more than ever overu Sudan. The ministrye Information a announced that most of the country’s leaders, including Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, had been arrested and taken away “to an unknown destination” by armed men, Monday, October 25, in the morning. In the process, dHundreds of demonstrators took to the streets to “resist” to this coup attempt. Franceinfo summarizes what we know about the situation in this East African country.
Prime Minister arrested
After several hours of uncertainty, the Saudi Ministry of Information has confirmed it: the Sudanese Prime Minister is indeed one of the leaders arrested. “After refusing to support the coup, armed forces arrested Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and took him to an unidentified location”, can we read in a press release. A group of fighters were previously seen sieging his home.
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The identity and function of the other leaders are not yet known. On Facebook, the Ministry of Information simply writes that “civilian members of the Sovereignty Council” who oversees the transition “and most ministers” were apprehended at their home before dawn, and they “were taken to an unknown destination”.
Soldiers on maneuver
Who are behind these arrests? State television was taken by the military and at midday General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane appeared on it. Keep repeating that he still wished “a transition to a civil status and free elections in 2023”, he nevertheless relieved all the leaders of their functions, to replace them, he says, by a new government made up of “competent persons”. General Burhane decreed state of emergency and committed to respect the international agreements signed by Sudan, one of the four Arab states to have recently decided to recognize Israel.
Protesters in the street
Since the announcement of the arrest of most of the leaders, the hashtag #SudanCoup (which can be translated as #CoupdEtatauSoudan) has already been used on Twitter. Demonstrators began to gather in the streets of Khartoum, the capital, to protest. Dams have been installed, tires are burnt.
Sudanese are taking to the streets and blocking major roads in Khartoum after military forces placed Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok under house arrest, arrested a government minister, and warned the Sudanese Professionals Association of a military coup.#Sudan # السودان pic.twitter.com/HvpxRsNF0W
– Hashtag Elyoum (@Hashtagelyoum) October 25, 2021
The Association of Sudanese Professionals (SPA), one of the spearheads of the revolt that in 2019 ended 30 years of dictatorship by President Omar al-Bashir, called on the Sudanese to “disobedience” on Twitter.
نداء للجان المقاومة بالأحياء والقوى الثورية وكل جماهير شعبنا العظيم
ندعو لجان المقاومة بالأحياء والقوى الثورية المهنية والنقابية والمطلبية والشعبية للوحدة والمقاومة الشرسة للانقلاب العسكري الغاشم, واستخدام أدوات المجربة والكفيلة بتركيع كل متسلط لإرادة شعبنا الغلابة.
– تجمع المهنيين السودانيين (@AssociationSd) October 25, 2021
The army fired “with real bullets” on protesters in front of army headquarters, access to which has been blocked by concrete blocks and soldiers for several days.
Tensions for several weeks
Since August 2019, and the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir, the country has been ruled by an administration made up of civilians and soldiers responsible for overseeing the transition to a democratic regime. But this transition process, marred by political divisions and power struggles, is weakened. The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), which led the anti-Bashir protests in 2019, for example ended up splitting into two opposing factions.
Divisions were exacerbated after a failed coup on September 21. Last week, tens of thousands of Sudanese marched through several towns to support the full transfer of power to civilians and to counter a sit-in by army supporters outside the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum, which demanded a return to “military regime”.
The international community worries
theThe United States reacted very quickly to these arrests through their envoy in Africa. On Twitter, Jeffrey Feltman testified to “deep concern” of his country after the announcements of takeover by the military.
Special Envoy Feltman: The US is deeply alarmed at reports of a military take-over of the transitional government. This would contravene the Constitutional Declaration and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people and is utterly unacceptable. (1/2)
– Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) October 25, 2021
“France condemns in the strongest terms the attempted coup in Sudan”, also wrote Emmanuel Macron on Twitter. The French president expressed his full “support for the Sudanese transitional government” and called “to the immediate release and respect for the integrity of the Prime Minister and civilian leaders”.
France condemns in the strongest terms the attempted coup d’état in Sudan. I express our support for the Sudanese transitional government and call for the immediate release and respect for the integrity of the Prime Minister and civilian leaders.
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 25, 2021
The arrests of civilian leaders in Sudan are “unacceptable”, also alerted Volker Perthes, the UN envoy to Sudan. And the diplomat, “very worried about the news about a coup”, to add: “I call on the armed forces to immediately release the detainees.”
The Arab League also said “concerned” by the “developments” in Sudan. The organization’s secretary general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, called “all the parts to be respected” the transitional power-sharing agreement established in 2019 after the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir.
The European Union, for its part, has called for “quick release” of leaders arrested and demanded the reinstatement “urgent” communications in the country. And Nabila Massrali, a spokesperson for the European executive, to add: “All violence and bloodshed should be avoided at all costs.”