Sudan’s top general Abdul Fattah Al Burhan said on Tuesday the decision to dissolve the government of Abdullah Hamdok was taken in order to avoid civil war, accusing political forces of incitement against the armed forces.
Al Burhan said he was keeping Hamdok at his own house. He told a news conference in Khartoum that Hamdok was safe and kept away “for his own safety.” He said that Hamdok was “in good health” and would “return home when the crisis is over”.
He said that a sovereign council and cabinet will be formed but with real representation from all states.
Al Burhan said: “We (the armed forces) did not carry out a coup, we are trying to rectify the path of the transition.” He said the emergency law will be scrapped as soon as institutions are formed and Internet will be gradually restored.
He said declared a nationwide state of emergency and dissolved the transitional cabinet and the Sudan Sovereign Council.
The sovereign council is a joint military and civilian body created after the removal of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019 amid widespread protests led by the Forces of Freedom and Change movement. It was established to lead the country until democratic elections to be held in 2023.
On Monday, General al-Burhan said the military will continue the process towards democracy and elections in 2023, but he also announced the suspension of several articles related to the constitutional document governing the transitional period.
“We have started our path towards the state of freedom and peace but some political powers are still trying to maintain everything in their hands, without giving attention to political, economic and social threats,” he said.
But according to Article 78 of the constitutional document, amendments or suspensions to the document require the support of two-thirds of the members of the Transitional Legislative Council.
