Political unrest in Sudan
Hyderabad: Abdalla Hamdok had served as prime minister for more than two years under a power-sharing arrangement between civilians and the army, until the military toppled him in October, accusing politicians of hostility to the army. Sudan’s Abdalla Hamdok has resigned as prime minister, six weeks after returning to his post following a military coup […]
Hyderabad: Abdalla Hamdok had served as prime minister for more than two years under a power-sharing arrangement between civilians and the army, until the military toppled him in October, accusing politicians of hostility to the army.
Sudan’s Abdalla Hamdok has resigned as prime minister, six weeks after returning to his post following a military coup by, military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in October. The move deepens uncertainty around Sudan’s political future and a transition towards elections since the 2019 downfall of long-serving ruler Omar al-Bashir.
Abadalla Hamdok’s resignation
Hamdok had served as prime minister for more than two years under a power-sharing arrangement between civilians and the army, until the military toppled him in October, accusing politicians of hostility to the army. Under an agreement to partly reverse that coup, he returned to lead a government of technocrats, intended to serve until elections in 2023. But his deal with the military was opposed by key political parties and by the protest movement that had brought down Bashir.
Factions fail to unite
Hamdok had said he would only stay in his post only if he could mobilise political support. But on Jan 2 in a televised address he said he had been unable to unite polarised factions sufficiently to be able to move forward with the transition.
No successor yet
Though democracy activists questioned whether Hamdok’s consensus-building style could work amid the political turmoil of Sudan’s transition, he was widely respected at home and a key partner for the international community. Military leaders worked hard to persuade him to come back after the coup, and it is unclear what other figures they might call on next.
Has the military taken full control now?
Since Hamdok’s return on Nov. 21, he rolled back some appointments to senior State posts made by the military after the coup, including Bashir-era veterans. Whether these reversals stick will be one test of the military’s intentions.
Stability to secure foreign aid
The fate of the transition will determine the balance of power in Sudan, a country of 46 million people in which a popular uprising had carved a way out from decades of autocracy, internal conflict and economic isolation under Bashir.
Hamdok’s government had secured agreement for relief on more than $56 billion in foreign debt – a step thrown into doubt by the coup. It had carried out painful economic reforms that it said were starting to bear fruit against a backdrop of shortages and widespread poverty.
It had also agreed to take steps to follow other Arab states in normalising ties with Israel. Transitional authorities had struck a partial peace deal with rebels in Sudan’s south and in Darfur, where unrest and displacement has increased.
Republic of Sudan
Capital: Khartoum
Population 39.5 million
Major languages Arabic, English (official)
Life expectancy 63 years (men), 66 years (women)
Currency Sudanese pound
A timeline of key developments
The coup
On Oct 25, 2021, military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
launches a coup.
Soldiers arrest civilian members of transitional government, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok
Crackdown
Protesters take to the streets and security forces launch a bloody crackdown. At least 57 protesters killed since the coup
International pressure
The African Union suspends Sudan, World Bank freezes vital aid, UN Security Council calls on military rulers to restore civilian-led government.
Reinstatement
On Nov 21, Hamdok is reinstated under a deal promising elections for mid-2023, and the release of detained civilian leaders
Resignation
On Jan 2, 2022, Hamdok resigns following another deadly crackdown on protesters, with the military back in full control.
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