US, EU Alarmed by Developments in Sudan

Arab World

October 25th, 7:15am

Asharq Al-Awsat

People gather around as smoke and fire are seen on the streets of Khartoum, Sudan, amid reports of a coup, October 25, 2021, in this still image from video obtained via social media. Rasd Sudan Network via Reuters

US Special Envoy Jeffrey Feltman said on Monday the United States is deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover of the transitional government in Sudan. On the official Twitter of the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, Feltman warned the military takeover would contravene Sudan’s Constitutional Declaration and puts at risk US assistance to the country. Soldiers arrested most of the members of Sudan’s cabinet and a large number of pro-government party leaders on Monday in an apparent military coup, three political sources said, throwing a fragile transition towards democracy into disarray. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had been placed under house arrest and military forces arrested four cabinet ministers, one civilian member of the ruling Sovereign Council, and several state governors and party leaders, reported Al Hadath television. Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said on Monday that he was following events in Sudan with the utmost concern. "Following with utmost concern ongoing events in #Sudan. The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process," he wrote on his Twitter account. The United Nations is deeply concerned about reports of the coup in Sudan, and attempts to undermine its political transition, said Volker Perthes, the special representative of the UN secretary general for the country. Sudan has been on edge since a failed coup plot last month unleashed bitter recriminations between military and civilian groups meant to be sharing power following the 2019 ouster of former leader Omar al-Bashir. Bashir was toppled and jailed after months of street protests. A political transition agreed after his ouster has seen Sudan emerge from its isolation under three decades of rule by Bashir and was meant to lead to elections by the end of 2023.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3265386/us-eu-alarmed-developments-sudan