The World Briefly

July 06, 2022

We’re Done…Sort Of

Sudan

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Sudan’s military will withdraw from the ongoing political talks and allow political and revolutionary groups to form a civilian transitional government, months after the army seized power in an October coup that ignited mass protests in the restive African nation, Al Jazeera reported.

Coup leader General Abdel-Fattah Burhan announced this week that the Sudanese army “will not stand in the way” of democratic transition. He added that the ruling sovereign council – made up of military and civilian members – will be dissolved after the formation of the new technocratic government.

According to the military commander, a new Supreme Council of the Armed Forces will be formed following the establishment of the government and will be responsible for security and defense as well as “related responsibilities.”

Burhan did not specify the armed forces’ role in the future and didn’t say when the sovereign council will be dissolved.

His statements come after months-long pro-democracy demonstrations demanding a return to civilian rule. Authorities have responded to the unrest by launching a brutal crackdown that has killed more than 110 people, including 18 children, since October.

Since the coup, international and regional groups have been trying unsuccessfully to broker a compromise to the political impasse.

Burhan’s announcement is unlikely to appease pro-democracy groups, who have refused to negotiate with the military.

Sudan has been gripped by unrest since the ouster of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, who was removed by the military after a popular uprising in April 2019.

This story originally appeared in the July 06, 2022 newsletter, Petro-fied.