Chaos, deaths and a military coup in the third largest country in Africa!
Protests against the military coup in Sudan resulted in deaths and numerous injuries. A medical association in the capital Khartoum spoke on Monday afternoon of “three dead and more than 80 injured” by gunfire from soldiers.
After weeks of tensions between the military and the civil transitional government, gunmen arrested several leading members of the government in Sudan – including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (65)!
The army is taking power: on Monday afternoon General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (61) announced the dissolution of the transitional government in a televised address and declared a state of emergency.
Hamdok had previously refused to support the soldiers’ “coup,” said the information ministry. “After refusing to support the coup, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was arrested by an army unit and taken to an undisclosed location,” it said. The arrests took place in the homes of government officials.
Arrested: Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, 65Photo: ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP
According to the British organization Netblocks, which documents Internet blocks worldwide, the Internet, the cellular network and parts of the fixed network have been disrupted since the early hours of the morning.
State television began broadcasting patriotic songs after the arrests. The union confederation Association of Professionals called on Twitter in the face of a “coup” for “strong resistance”.
People take to the streets
There are now tens of thousands of demonstrators on the streets of the Sudanese capital Khartoum (around 640,000 inhabitants) – facing them are military vehicles and armed soldiers.
“In connection with internal political unrest in Khartoum extensive bridges and roadblocks were set up, both by the military and as part of demonstrations,” the ministry said in a recent travel advice note. “Stay in a safe place” and “avoid crowds”.
Gunfire can be heard: armed soldiers on the streets of KhartoumPhoto: – / AFP
But: The protesters defied the barricades of the security forces and headed towards the military headquarters. This was reported by a dpa reporter on site on Monday. Regular gunfire could be heard in the capital.
Mass demonstration on 60th Street in the Sudanese capital, KhartoumPhoto: – / AFP
The Sudanese block the streets with burning tires and bricks.
Burning tires and stacked bricks – in Sudan people demonstrate against the arrest of government officialsPhoto: – / AFP
According to government information, a coup attempt had already taken place on September 21. Since then, the political situation in Sudan has worsened. There have been protests for weeks. Protesters called for the military to withdraw from the government and for democratic reforms.
Heiko Maas condemns attempted coup
Sudan was ruled by Omar al-Bashir (77) for almost 30 years. The long-term ruler was driven out of office in April 2019 by months of mass protests and a military coup. As a result, the military and the civil opposition agreed on a joint transitional government that should pave the way for elections.
Since then, the country has been in a fragile transition phase that should end with the establishment of a civilian government in 2023. High inflation (212 percent in September), economic difficulties and deep political divisions exacerbate the situation.
▶ Also UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (72) condemned the military coup. On Monday afternoon he wrote on Twitter: “Prime Minister Hamduk and all other officials must be released immediately.” The hard-won political process in the East African country must be protected. “The UN will continue to stand by the Sudanese people.”
▶ The United Nations (UN) expressed concern: The security forces would have to release all arrested members of the government and politicians, the UN special envoy for Sudan demanded, Volker Perthes (63), according to a UN report. Perthes called on all sides to be extremely restrained and demanded an immediate return to dialogue.
► Washington was alarmed by the events. “The US is deeply concerned about reports of a military takeover of the transitional government,” said the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa. Jeffrey Feltman (62), on Twitter. “This would violate the constitutional declaration and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people”.
► Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (55, SPD): “The reports of another attempted coup in Sudan are dismaying, the attempt must be clearly condemned,” said Maas on Monday. He called on “everyone who is responsible for security and the state order in Sudan” to continue the transition process towards democracy. “This attempted coup must be stopped immediately.”
► The European Union has called for the “quick release” of the arrested government members in Sudan. The EU was “very concerned” about the reports, said a spokeswoman for the European Foreign and Security Representative Josep Borrell (74) in Brussels on Monday. “Violence and bloodshed must be avoided”.