Sudan General Al Burhan dissolves government, declares state of emergency
Earlier, armed forces detained Sudan's prime minister on Monday, the information ministry said, after weeks of tensions between military and civilian figures who shared power since the ouster of Omar Al Bashir.
FollowKhartoum (Sudan): Sudan's ruling council head Abdul Fattah Al Burhan on Monday dissolved the government and declared a state of emergency, hours after his forces arrested the acting prime minister and disrupted the internet in an apparent coup as the country was nearing a planned transition to a civilian leadership.
He also said that infighting between various political factions and incitement to violence forced the military to act, and promised that Sudan will hold elections in July 2023.
Earlier, armed forces detained Sudan's prime minister on Monday, the information ministry said, after weeks of tensions between military and civilian figures who shared power since the ouster of Omar Al Bashir.
Civilian members of Sudan's ruling council and ministers in Abdullah Hamdok's transitional government were also detained by the joint military forces, the ministry said in a statement on Facebook.
Earlier in the day, the armed forces after putting prime minister Hamdok under home arrest, deployed troops in the capital city, and seized control of state TV and radio centres.
In response, thousands flooded the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman to protest the apparent military takeover. Footage shared online appeared to show protesters blocking streets and setting fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them, AP reported.
Protesters could be heard chanting, “The people are stronger, stronger” and “Retreat is not an option!” as plumes of smoke filled the air. Videos on social media showed large crowds crossing bridges over the Nile to the center of the capital.
At least 12 protesters were wounded in demonstrations, according to the Sudanese Doctors Committee, without giving details, the report stated.
A Reuters witness saw joint forces from the military and from the powerful, paramilitary Rapid Support Forces stationed in the streets in Khartoum.
A takeover by the military would be a major setback for Sudan, which has grappled with a stop-and-go transition to democracy since long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled by mass protests two years ago.
