U.S. reiterates support for power transfer to civilians in Sudan

March 30, 2023 (KHARTOUM)  – US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee reiterated Thursday that Washington supports the ongoing political process in Sudan.

Phee spoke by telephone with the head of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, according to a statement released in Khartoum and a tweet from Washington.

The diplomat “made clear U.S. respect for Sudanese-led process and support for Sudanese people’s pressing demand to transfer power to a civilian-led government,” read a short tweet posted by the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs.

For its part, Khartoum stated that the U.S. diplomat reaffirmed U.S. support for the political process and every single effort that would achieve peace and stability in Sudan.

Al-Burhan on Thursday missed the closing session for the security and military reform workshop and the army’s delegation withdrew from the meeting.

The move may disturb the agreed timeline for the formation of the civilian government.

Military officials accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of demanding 10 years to integrate its troops. Also, they accused the civilian groups of supporting the paramilitary force.

However, it appeared that the regular army diverged with the civilians and RSF on several files including the trial of the soldiers involved in the bloody repression against pro-democracy civilians, the purge of the Islamist military personnel, and the formation of RSF officers.

The Department of State said that Phee welcomed al-Burhan’s commitment to the political process and contribution to reaching a final political agreement.

(ST)