Sudan’s Military Stages ‘Coup’ and Derails Democratic Transition
Sudan’s military staged a “coup” on Oct. 25 in response to widespread civilian protests. As violent clashes between protesters and soldiers continue, the future of Sudan’s democratic transition and political stability is in question.
Sudan’s military has effectively staged a “coup” in response to widespread civilian protests over the last week. Under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah Burhan, the military seized power from the transitional government on Oct. 25 and declared a state of emergency. So far seven people have reportedly been killed and 140 injured in clashes that broke out between soldiers and civilian protesters.
Burhan has dissolved the military-civilian Sovereign Council that had been set up to guide the country to democracy after the 2019 overthrow of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir. Burhan claimed the armed forces needed to restore safety, promising to hold elections in July 2023 and hand over power to an elected civilian government then.
The upheaval comes amid a series of widespread protests and heightened political tensions over the last two weeks, as deep divisions between military and civilian leaders have continued to threaten Sudan’s stability.
Crowds who support a military-led government marched against civilian rule in mid-October. In response, thousands of pro-democracy protesters and supporters of Sudan’s main civilian coalition — the Forces of Freedom and Change (FCC) — demonstrated across Khartoum. Many pro-military protesters blame the transitional government for the nation’s current economic challenges, which include ongoing food, medicine, and fuel shortages; while pro-democracy citizens accuse Burhan of continued loyalty to the ousted former President Bashir.
Security forces fired tear gas as activists backing the civilian transition burned tires and waved Sudanese flags, according to Reuters. The coup came just weeks before the military was supposed to hand over the leadership of the Sovereign Council to civilians.
It also took place just hours after a meeting in Khartoum between U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and General Burhan. The discussions were aimed at finding a solution to the frictions between the military and civilian branches of the government.
In September, Sudanese authorities alleged that they thwarted an attempted coup by loyalists to Bashir within and outside the military.
In the wake of the current military takeover, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Burhan’s decision to “violate Sudan’s Constitutional Declaration and abandon the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people” would jeopardize the U.S.’ “entire relationship” with Sudan.
The Biden administration has frozen a $700 million aid package to Sudan.
In a statement released on Oct. 25, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated: “We firmly reject the dissolution of the civilian-led transitional government [in Sudan] and its associated institutions and call for their immediate restoration.”
