Sudan’s Burhan says determined to keep post-coup measures
December 15, 2021 (KHARTOUM), – The head of the Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese army said he would not withdraw measures he took after the October 25 coup which are rejected internally and slammed by the international community.
Sudanese continue to hold protests to express rejection of the military takeover and the Hamdok-Burhan agreement which aims at consolidating the military’s grip on power in the country.
On Wednesday, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said he was determined to carry out the democratic transition and to not withdraw his decision to dissolve the civilian-led government formed in line with the constitutional declaration of August 2021 signed with the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC).
“The way out of the current crisis is the political agreement signed with the Prime Minister and the corrective measures that preceded. There is no going back on the measures that have been taken until the democratic transition is completed, ” he said at a military graduation ceremony at Nimeiri Higher Military Academy in Karary, located west of Omdurman.
He further pointed to the ongoing efforts to finalize a political declaration that includes all political forces except for the National Congress Party of the ousted Omer al-Bashir.
The armed forces “will remain loyal to the people until reaching the civilian state through free and fair elections,” he told the graduated officers from the military high school.
Observers underscore that al-Burhan has been keen to show his commitment to the democratic transition and the implementation of the security arrangements.
The senior military officers reportedly are frustrated by al-Burhan close alliance with the Rapid Support Forces leader who refuses to integrate his militiamen into the national army.
The head of the Sovereignty Council accused “some circles” of encouraging Sudanese youth to protest in order to achieve partisan gains.
After the coup, al-Burhan took a series of measures, including imposing a state of emergency, dissolving the Sovereign Council and the cabinets, and sacked the state governors. Also, he purged the state agencies and institutions of officials appointed by the FFC and re-appointed officials from the Bashir government and Islamist elements.
On November 21, he signed with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok a political agreement that included 14 articles, among others, stipulating the formation of a government of technocrats. And the adoption of a political declaration aimed at including the political forces that were allied with Al-Bashir in the transitional government.
The Sudanese Islamists kept demanding to be allowed to participate in the transitional legislative council and in the constitution-making process to defend the adoption of an Islamic constitution in Sudan.
(ST)