U.S. is ready to take measures against military in Sudan: Blinken
January 1, 2022 (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Secretary of State on Saturday warned that Washington is ready to take measures against those who obstruct the aspiration of Sudanese people for a civilian-led transition.
During the past two months, Washington made unilateral calls and initiated multilateral statements condemning the coup and urging the restoration of a civilian-led transition in Sudan.
However, the coup leader and Commander in Chief of Sudan Armed Forces Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seconded by the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces resisted calls to reverse the military takeover of 25th October.
In a statement on Sudan independence day, Antony Blinken, for the first time, showed his restlessness at the military’s refusal to heed the U.S. repeated calls.
Blinken pinpointed that the military coup and subsequent violence have hampered the U.S. hope to partner with a democratized Sudan in 2021.
“We do not want to return to the past and are prepared to respond to those who seek to block the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a civilian-led, democratic government and who would stand in the way of accountability, justice, and peace,” he further said.
The coup leaders sought to get support from the Gulf countries and Egypt.
However, the oil-rich Gulf monarchies followed Washington in its efforts to restore the civilian-led government.
Cairo refused to join the regional and international calls in support of the Sudanese people. But now, Egyptian officials complain about being marginalized in the ongoing efforts to settle the Sudanese crisis.
The way forward
After his clear warning, Blinken stressed that there is a way forward,” including two steps.
“It requires security forces to immediately cease the use of deadly force against protesters and to take action to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations,” he said.
“It also requires Sudan’s leaders to make rapid progress on forming a credible cabinet, establishing a legislative assembly, forming judicial and electoral bodies, and transferring leadership of the Sovereign Council,” he added.
The Sudanese military, on December 31, admitted the extent of the bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters and decided to investigate the killing of civilians and hold accountable the perpetrators of violence.
However, in a speech delivered on the independence day, al-Burhan did not seem prepared to renounce the idea of “military guardianship” on the transition in Sudan.
(ST)