Junta will face difficulties to rule Sudan again: Feltman
October 28, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said the Sudanese military would discover it is not easy to re-establish a military regime in Sudan.
Feltman was the last foreign envoy to meet the head of the Sudanese army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan who dissolved the transitional government on 25 October.
U.S. diplomats told Reuters that al-Burhan ignored warning from the Special Envoy to not seize power because he was under pressure from his deputy and head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
“I think the General Burhan is going to discover that it’s not quite it’s so easy as he and his forces may think to return Sudan to its dark past,” Feltman told the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on Thursday.
He mentioned the ongoing protests against the military and the regional and international pressures on the junta to restore the transitional government and free the detained officials and political leaders.
Feltman added that al-Burhan would realize the need to forge a “genuine partnership” with the international community and the Sudanese people.
Possible regional support
Asked about the silence of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Feltman discussed the situation in Sudan with the three countries and other countries.
“There is a shared concern about stability in Sudan, a shared concern about the potential for violence,” he said pointing to the planned mass protests on Saturday.
“But but you’re right that there are a number of countries that are more comfortable than they should be with the idea of a strongman military rule,” he added without elaborating on those other countries.
Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, condemned the coup de force following a telephone call between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Feltman further pointed to Sudan’s economic situation stressing that with $85 billion worth of debt, the three countries would not be able to replace the international community and deal with the economic challenges facing the country.
“There was excitement in the international community, a real desire to help overcome the legacy of the Bashir years. And that excitement, that enthusiasm, those helping hands are — have pulled back in a way that the other countries are going to take notice,” he said.
(ST)