Sudan’s al-Burhan in London to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

September 18, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan head of the Sovereign Council arrived in London on Saturday to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth will be held on Monday, September 19 at 1000 GMT. She died on Sept. 8, after seven decades on the throne.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Sovereign Council announced the arrival of “Al-Burhan in London at the official invitation of King Charles III, to participate in the funerals of the late Queen.”

“The participation of the Chairman of the Sovereign Council on this occasion reflects the depth of the relationship between the two countries and their peoples, and the status of Her Majesty the late Queen among the Sudanese people,” said the Sudanese Chargé d’Affairs Khalid Mohamed.

Al-Burhan is accompanied by the acting Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadiq.

Lt Gen Shams al-Din Kabbashi was in his Farwell at Khartoum airport.

Over 100 heads of state and government and some 20 royals are expected to attend the funerals in London.

Despite his criticism of British colonialism in a speech delivered on the 124th anniversary of the Battle of Kararri in the western city of Omdurman on September 6, the funerals will give him the opportunity to meet world leaders.

After his coup of October 25, 2021, al-Burhan is facing international pressures and isolation to force him to hand over power to a civilian government.

(ST)