EU, Troika, Switzerland say “gravely concerned” about al-Burhan’s moves
November 12, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – The European Union, Troika countries and Switzerland said “gravely concerned” about the appointment of the new Sovereign Council by the Sudanese military and urged an immediate return to the transitional rule.
The Commander of the Sudanese army on Thursday formed a new sovereign council in Sudan and reappointed himself as of the transitional collegial presidency.
The main international political and economic supporters of the democratic transition in Sudan said the military unilateral move is a clear violation of the 2019 constitutional declaration signed with the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC).
“This unilateral action by the military undermines its commitment to uphold the agreed transitional framework, which requires that civilian members of the Sovereign Council be nominated by the Forces for Freedom and Change, and complicates efforts to put Sudan’s democratic transition back on track,” reads the statement.
The joint statement further called for the immediate restoration of Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and the civilian-led government. Also, they urged for the release of the political detainees and the left of the state of emergency.
The Sudanese military authorities on Thursday and Friday arrested two FFC leading members Mohamed Nagi Alasam the prominent figure of the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) and Alwathiq al-Breir Secretary-General of the National Umma Party (NUP).
Their detention intervenes 24 hours before a planned protest on Saturday in support of the civilian-led transition and the Hamdok government.
The Troika, the EU and Switzerland hinted reminded the military component that their support to Sudan “is predicated on a successful democratic transition in line with the Constitutional Declaration”.
“We urge an immediate and full return to this path to ensure that the hard-won political and economic gains of the last two years are not lost,” they said.
Sudan’s Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim who is supportive of the military takeover on the 4th of November regretted the suspension of economic assistance by the US and the World Bank after the coup
“Certainly the (economic) conditions will be difficult and we will be in a bad situation, but the gates of heaven are open,” said Ibrahim who is the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement a former Darfur armed group that joined the government in accordance with a peace agreement.
(ST)