- Finally after several rounds of negotiations, since October 25, when Abdalla Hamdok was removed from power, Sudan’s military leaders have signed a deal to reinstate Abdalla Hamdok as prime minister.
- Hamdok will now lead a technocratic government for a “transitional period” until elections can be held.
Finally after several rounds of negotiations, since October 25, when Abdalla Hamdok was removed from power, Sudan’s military leaders have signed a deal to reinstate Abdalla Hamdok as prime minister. Hamdok will now lead a technocratic government for a “transitional period” until elections can be held.
The military had clamped down on anti-coup protests leading to several deaths. Hamdok said he accepted the deal to avoid further bloodshed. According to the 14-point deal, the military has also agreed to release all political detainees.
The U.S. and the international community welcomed the return of the prime minister. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted that it was an encouraging development and that the deal will lead to the release of all political prisoners, reinstatement of Prime Minister Hamdok, lifting of the state of emergency, and resumption of coordination. The E.U.’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also welcomed the news. However, many pro-democracy factions rejected the November 21 deal between Hamdok and the military and have announced that they would continue their protests.
The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, the group that spearheaded the uprising that culminated in former President Bashir’s ouster and The Umma Party, issued statements rejecting the deal. The protestors declared that they do not want a partnership with the military and wanted a complete civilian state. They demanded the army to return to its barracks and wanted justice for the protesters who were killed since the coup. Many felt that the PM has lost a lot of credibility with this move.
