Blinken calls on Hamdok, Burhan to put Sudan’s transition back on track

November 22, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday called to release political detainees and to put Sudan’s democratic transition back on track.

Blinken spoke by telephone separately with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chair of the Sovereign Council in Sudan, a day after the signing of a political agreement ending the one-month coup d’état.

The Secretary of State urged the release of all political detainees and pressed for the immediate lifting of the state of emergency, said a statement released by the State Department

Also, he said the two parties must renew their focus on completing Sudan’s transition to democracy by implementing the transitional tasks outlined in the Constitutional Declaration and the Juba Peace Agreement.

Hamdok and al-Burhan agreed to release all the remaining political detainees involving Mohamed al-Faki Member of the dissolved Sovereign Council, Cabinet Affairs Minister Khalid Omer Youssif, Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh and Mohamed Nagi al-Asam of the Sudanese Professionals Association.

However, they are still in jail.

Blinken further called to respect peaceful protests and to desist from the use of violence against demonstrators.

The U.S. top diplomat called to create a transitional legislative council, judicial structures, electoral institutions, and to hold a constitutional convention.

(ST)