Live: Protesters take to streets of Khartoum as US slams Sudan coup
UN's Guterres calls for Hamdok's immediate release
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the military's takeover and urged the immediate release of Prime Minister Hamdok.
"I condemn the ongoing military coup in Sudan. Prime Minister Hamdok and all other officials must be released immediately," Guterres tweeted.
Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's takeover announcement came after the armed forces detained the civilian leaders who have been heading the transition to full civilian rule following the April 2019 overthrow of autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
Protests rock Sudan following military coupA road barricade is set on fire during demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan, October 25, 2021.
© El Tayeb Siddig, Reuters
Issued on: 26/10/2021
Text by: FRANCE 24
Video by :Nicholas RUSHWORTH
Protesters were defiant on the streets of Sudan early Tuesday to denounce a military coup, as international condemnation of the country's security forces ramped up with the United Nations Security Council expected to meet later. Follow our live updates for all the latest developments.
Chanting “Returning to the past is not an option," crowds began gathering on the streets of Khartoum a day after Sudan’s military seized power from a transitional government. At least three people were killed and 80 wounded Monday amid a military crackdown on demonstrators calling for a return to the military-civilian transitional government signed under a 2019 deal.
Internet services were cut across the country and roads into Khartoum were shut, before soldiers stormed the headquarters of the state broadcaster in the capital's twin city of Omdurman.
"Civilian rule is the people's choice," chanted the demonstrators, who waved flags and used tyres to create burning barricades.
The information ministry said soldiers "fired live bullets on protesters ... outside the army headquarters".
Three demonstrators were killed and about 80 people wounded, according to the independent Central Committee of Sudan Doctors.
Protesters were defiant on the streets of Sudan early Tuesday to denounce a military coup, as international condemnation of the country's security forces ramped up with the United Nations Security Council expected to meet later. Follow our live updates for all the latest developments.
Chanting “Returning to the past is not an option," crowds began gathering on the streets of Khartoum a day after Sudan’s military seized power from a transitional government. At least three people were killed and 80 wounded Monday amid a military crackdown on demonstrators calling for a return to the military-civilian transitional government signed under a 2019 deal.
Internet services were cut across the country and roads into Khartoum were shut, before soldiers stormed the headquarters of the state broadcaster in the capital's twin city of Omdurman.
"Civilian rule is the people's choice," chanted the demonstrators, who waved flags and used tyres to create burning barricades.
The information ministry said soldiers "fired live bullets on protesters ... outside the army headquarters".
Three demonstrators were killed and about 80 people wounded, according to the independent Central Committee of Sudan Doctors.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken "strongly" condemned the coup and called for the immediate return to civilian rule and the release of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was detained Monday.
"The United States strongly condemns the actions of the Sudanese military forces," said Blinken said in a statement, as he expressed grave concern about reports that security forces used live ammunition against protesters.
"The United States strongly condemns the actions of the Sudanese military forces," said Blinken said in a statement, as he expressed grave concern about reports that security forces used live ammunition against protesters.
"We firmly reject the dissolution of the civilian-led transitional government and its associated institutions and call for their immediate restoration," Blinken said.
UN's Guterres calls for Hamdok's immediate release
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morningSubscribe
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the military's takeover and urged the immediate release of Prime Minister Hamdok.
"I condemn the ongoing military coup in Sudan. Prime Minister Hamdok and all other officials must be released immediately," Guterres tweeted.
The UN is expected to meet later Tuesday to discuss the crisis.
Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's takeover announcement came after the armed forces detained the civilian leaders who have been heading the transition to full civilian rule following the April 2019 overthrow of autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
Several people were killed and at least 140 injured in clashes between soldiers and protesters after Sudan's military seized power. The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis.
Pro-democracy protesters took to the streets to condemn the military takeover
Clashes broke out between soldiers and protesting civilians in Sudan after the country's military, under top General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, seized power on Monday.
At least seven people were killed by gunfire and 140 injured, Reuters news agency reported, citing Sudan's Health Ministry.
Burhan declared a state of emergency and dissolved the government and the ruling Sovereign Council, a joint military and civilian body. Most of Sudan's Cabinet ministers and pro-government party leaders were arrested.
The arrests come amid rising unrest between Sudan's civilian and military leaders, who were meant to share power after former leader Omar al-Bashir was ousted in 2019. Since then, the country has been ruled by a transitional civilian-military administration until a civilian government could be elected.
Two years ago, protesters ousted longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir
General promises election
Burhan promised to complete a handover of power to an elected civilian government by July 2023.
"What the country is going through now is a real threat and danger to the dreams of the youth and the hopes of the nation," he said. Clashes erupted in the capital city of Khartoum soon after his speech.
Protesters barricaded streets and chanted in support of the civilian rule when they were met with a harsh crackdown.
"Burhan cannot deceive us. This is a military coup," a young protester told the AFP news agency.
International community expresses shock
The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency closed-door meeting to discuss the latest developments in Sudan for later on Tuesday, after several member nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, France and Norway, requested consultations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier condemned the "ongoing military coup in Sudan" in a statement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also expressed "grave concern" about reports that security forces in Sudan had used live ammunition against protesters.
Sudan coup generals determined not to lose long-held power: analysts
Issued on: 26/10/2021 - 04:32
Issued on: 26/10/2021 - 04:32
Military vehicles in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, shown in an image grab taken from a video by an anonymous source -
Anonymous/ESN/AFP
Khartoum (AFP)
On Monday security forces detained civilian leaders, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who have shared power with the military following the ouster of the autocratic president Field Marshal Omar al-Bashir more than two years ago.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared a state of emergency and dissolved the cabinet, as well as the ruling Sovereign Council of military and civilian figures which he has led since August 2019.
The Council was supposed to pave the way for full civilian rule.
Khartoum (AFP)
On Monday security forces detained civilian leaders, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who have shared power with the military following the ouster of the autocratic president Field Marshal Omar al-Bashir more than two years ago.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared a state of emergency and dissolved the cabinet, as well as the ruling Sovereign Council of military and civilian figures which he has led since August 2019.
The Council was supposed to pave the way for full civilian rule.
Since its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956, Sudan has experienced rare democratic interludes, but overwhelmingly years of rule under military leaders.
The latest putsch "looks very much like an attempt by the security forces to maintain control over economic and political interests, and to resist the flip" to a civilian order, said Jonas Horner of the International Crisis Group.
Sudanese army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan will remain in power for the foreseeable future, an analyst said - Sudan TV/AFP
The army's move "epitomises their fears" of civilian rule "in a country which was under the control of the military for 52 out of its 65 years of independence," Horner said.
To Magdi el-Gizouli of the Rift Valley Institute "the coup was far from surprising".
The Sovereign Council ruled the country alongside a transitional government led by Hamdok, an economist, but the role of civilian leaders had been receding.
The main civilian bloc, the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) which led anti-Bashir protests, splintered into two opposing factions, one of which held demonstrations in support of the military.
An 'engineered' crisis
Critics alleged those protests were being driven by members of the military and security forces, and involved counter-revolutionary sympathisers with the former regime.
The army's move "epitomises their fears" of civilian rule "in a country which was under the control of the military for 52 out of its 65 years of independence," Horner said.
To Magdi el-Gizouli of the Rift Valley Institute "the coup was far from surprising".
The Sovereign Council ruled the country alongside a transitional government led by Hamdok, an economist, but the role of civilian leaders had been receding.
The main civilian bloc, the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) which led anti-Bashir protests, splintered into two opposing factions, one of which held demonstrations in support of the military.
An 'engineered' crisis
Critics alleged those protests were being driven by members of the military and security forces, and involved counter-revolutionary sympathisers with the former regime.
Sudan Jonathan WALTER AFP
"The crisis at hand is engineered -- and is in the shape of a creeping coup," mainstream FFC leader Yasser Arman said two days before the military made its move.
Last month the government said it had thwarted a coup attempt, and Burhan dismissed as "slander" suggestions that the army was involved in that manoeuvre.
Ahmed Soliman, an analyst from Britain's Chatham House think-tank, told AFP the military has resisted significant reforms including "professionalisation and civilian oversight" of its institutions, as well as its business interests.
The military dominates lucrative companies specialising in everything from agriculture to infrastructure projects.
Hamdok said last year that 80 percent of the country's public resources were "outside the finance ministry's control", although he did not specify the proportion controlled by the army.
Such "really critical issues in the transition have fuelled very recent turmoil that is taking place in Sudan and perhaps set the stage for this hostile takeover by the military," Soliman said.
"The crisis at hand is engineered -- and is in the shape of a creeping coup," mainstream FFC leader Yasser Arman said two days before the military made its move.
Last month the government said it had thwarted a coup attempt, and Burhan dismissed as "slander" suggestions that the army was involved in that manoeuvre.
Ahmed Soliman, an analyst from Britain's Chatham House think-tank, told AFP the military has resisted significant reforms including "professionalisation and civilian oversight" of its institutions, as well as its business interests.
The military dominates lucrative companies specialising in everything from agriculture to infrastructure projects.
Hamdok said last year that 80 percent of the country's public resources were "outside the finance ministry's control", although he did not specify the proportion controlled by the army.
Such "really critical issues in the transition have fuelled very recent turmoil that is taking place in Sudan and perhaps set the stage for this hostile takeover by the military," Soliman said.
Yasser Arman, pictured on July 3, 2011, spoke of a "creeping coup" before Sudan's military carried out its takeover on October 25, 2021
ASHRAF SHAZLY AFP/File
The military's actions are likely to lead to more instability, he added, so "apart from securing their own interests" it is difficult to know what the officers are trying to achieve, Soliman added.
Protests against the coup have already led to three deaths on Monday, and there will be "heavy civilian resistance", Gizouli said.
"The military will have little option but to crush it by force," he said.
Gizouli believes Burhan will remain in power for the foreseeable future but might talk with civilian leaders who remain free, like Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi.
"He still needs a civilian face for the government," Gizouli said.
© 2021 AFP
EXPLAINER: How months of tensions led to Sudan’s coup
The military's actions are likely to lead to more instability, he added, so "apart from securing their own interests" it is difficult to know what the officers are trying to achieve, Soliman added.
Protests against the coup have already led to three deaths on Monday, and there will be "heavy civilian resistance", Gizouli said.
"The military will have little option but to crush it by force," he said.
Gizouli believes Burhan will remain in power for the foreseeable future but might talk with civilian leaders who remain free, like Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi.
"He still needs a civilian face for the government," Gizouli said.
© 2021 AFP
EXPLAINER: How months of tensions led to Sudan’s coup
By SAMY MAGDY and LEE KEATH
A pro-democracy protester flashes the victory sign as thousands take to the streets to condemn a takeover by military officials, in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday Oct. 25, 2021. Sudan’s military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the acting prime minister and other officials. The takeover comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was expected to hand the leadership of the council that runs the African country over to civilians. (AP Photo/Ashraf Idris)
CAIRO (AP) — Monday’s military coup in Sudan threatens to wreck the country’s fragile transition to democracy, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
The move comes after months of mounting tensions between the military and civilian authorities. Protesters are in the streets denouncing the takeover, and troops have opened fire, killing some of the marches, opening the door for greater turmoil in the country of 40 million.
Here is how Sudan reached this point:
WHAT HAPPENED MONDAY?
The military dissolved the transitional government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok as well as the Sovereign Council, a power-sharing body of military officers and civilians that had been ruling Sudan since late 2019.
Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan announced that the military would hold power until elections can be held in July 2023. Declaring a state of emergency, the top military official said a government of technocrats would be formed to administer until elections are held.
His announcement came hours after the military arrested Hamdok along with several other senior officials and political leaders.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
The United States, European Union and United Nations have denounced the coup, but much depends on how much leverage they put on Sudan’s military. The country is in need of international aid to get through its economic crisis.
On the other side, Sudan’s generals have strong ties with Egypt and Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which so far have stopped short of criticizing the takeover, instead calling for calm.
Burhan said he is serious about holding elections on schedule. But a year and half is a long time, and it is not clear whether the powerful military is willing to release the grip it has had on power for decades.
Protesters fear it will steer the process to ensure its control and are vowing to keep up their pressure in the streets, raising the likelihood of new confrontations.
WASN’T THERE A DEMOCRATIC ‘REVOLUTION’ ALREADY IN SUDAN?
The pro-democracy movement, which was a mix of groups including professional unions, political parties and youth groups, won the removal of al-Bashir in April 2019. But it was only a partial victory, with protesters unable to push the military out of politics completely.
Al-Bashir, who came to power in a 1989 coup, had ruled for 30 years with an iron grip, backed by the military and Islamists. Months of massive protests finally forced the military to remove and imprison him.
Right after his ouster, the military seized power for itself. But protesters stayed in the streets, demanding the generals hand over power to civilians. Crackdowns turned bloody, and in June 2019, armed forces stormed the main protest camp outside the military headquarters, killing more than 100 people and raping dozens of women.
Eventually, the military agreed to a compromise. It formed the Sovereign Council, a body made up of both military officers and civilians that was to rule the country until elections could be held. The council appointed Hamdok as prime minister of a transitional government.
Under the compromise, the council was to be headed first by military figures before civilians were to lead it.
Since then, Burhan has led the council, and the deputy chief has been Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the chief of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, a group notorious for atrocities during the Darfur war in the 1990s and blamed for the 2019 Khartoum massacre.
A civilian was supposed to step in as council leader in November to run it until the 2023 elections.
The compromise won an end to Sudan’s pariah status in the world. The U.S. took Sudan off its list of countries supporting terrorism, after the military-led council reached a peace deal with Israel.
The transitional government also reached a peace deal with many of the rebel groups around Sudan that have been waging insurgencies against the Khartoum government for years. That deal allowed the armed rebels to return to Khartoum, waiting to be absorbed into the military.
Meanwhile, Hamdok’s government rolled back many of the strict Islamist rules from the al-Bashir era, winning praise from Western governments and rights groups. However, it has struggled to deal with a crippled economy.
WHAT SPARKED THE COUP?
Tensions have been growing for months between supporters of the military and of civilian rule.
The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, or FDFC, the main protest umbrella group, has been stepping up calls for the military to hand leadership over to civilians in the government. The FDFC is made up of various anti-al-Bashir political parties, professional movements and rebel groups.
It has also called for restructuring the military and security agencies to dismiss al-Bashir loyalists, absorb various armed factions into their ranks and be put under civilian supervision.
Supporters of the military also have stepped up action. Since September, tribal protesters have blocked the main road to Sudan’s Red Sea port as well as fuel pipelines, demanding Hamdok’s government be dissolved.
Also, a pro-military splinter faction of the FDFC began an anti-government protest sit-in this month outside the Sovereign Council headquarters, accusing officials of mismanagement and monopolizing power. The faction includes rebel groups that struck peace deals with the military and some political parties.
Many of the protesters on both sides are motivated by economic hardship. Already a problem under al-Bashir, it was one of the reasons people rose up against him. But since then, the country has faced even greater shocks in trying to rejoin the global economy. Economic reforms implemented by the interim government have meant rising inflation and shortages of basic goods for the average citizen.
Emboldened by the protests, Burhan repeatedly called for dissolving Hamdok’s transitional government. He went further by saying recently that the military would only hand over power to an elected government.
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