Former justice minister calls on Israel to support democratic transition in Sudan

April 15, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Former justice minister called on Israel to clarify its position on the coup leaders after developing security cooperation with the isolated coup leaders who have undermined efforts to establish democracy in Sudan.

In an opinion article published in Haaretz on April 12, Nasredeen Abdulbari said the Sudanese military delegation visited Israel two weeks before the coup and maintain contacts and exchanged visits since that date.

He added that these meetings and visits were perceived in Sudan as proof of Israel’s support for the military leaders. Therefore generated a negative impact on the opinions of the public and pro-democracy forces in Sudan on the future of the normalization process between the two countries.

“For the sake of future relations, Israel must clarify its position regarding the undermining of Sudan’s transition to democracy by the military,” he wrote.

Abdulbari also underscored that the military leaders brought back to power the Islamists who backed Hamas and other terrorist groups and posed a threat to Israel’s stability.

However, the former minister did not mention the use by the coup leaders of Israeli tear gas, and Skunk Water a mal-odorant water to disperse protesters developed and manufactured in Israel.

Asked earlier this year about Israeli cooperation with them, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the military-led Sovereign Council said that their cooperation is limited to security issues.

Sudan and Israel had to sign a political agreement to normalize the relations in Washington in November 2021 but the coup of October 25, postponed the historical event.

The former justice minister who dealt with the legal aspects of the normalisation process said Israel’s interest in normalization with Sudan requires supporting democracy in Sudan.

“By doing so it will bring about a change in the perception of many Sudanese, who think that Israel is supporting the authoritarian military regime, or acquiescing to it. There is no place for this regime, in Sudan or anywhere else,” he stated.