Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council’s civilian component and several other ministers have been placed under house arrest by the joint military forces amid reports of a coup, the Ministry of Information and Communications said on Monday.
“Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, in a message from his house arrest, asks Sudanese to hold on to the peace and occupy streets to defend their revolution,” the Ministry said on its Facebook account.
“Internet service cut off mobile phone networks, and bridges closed by military forces,” it said.
“The joint military forces storm the radio and television headquarters in Omdurman, and detain a number of employees.”
The country’s military is yet to officially comment on the development and the Prime Minister’s current location remains unknown.
According to witnesses, internet services have been suspended in Khartoum and army and paramilitary troops were deployed across the capital city, the BBC reported.
The report added that the airport has been shut.
Since October 16, a group defecting from the Forces of Freedom and Change Alliance (FFC) has staged an open sit-in in front of the presidential palace, demanding the dissolution of the government.
The FFC, which represents the civilian component in the ruling coalition, rejects the dissolution of the government and accuses the defectors of attempting to jeopardize the democratic transition and support the military to turn against the revolution.
Since the announcement of foiling a coup attempt on September 21, the differences between the military and civilian partners in Sudan’s transitional government have continued to escalate.
Sudan is ruled by a 39-month transitional period under a transitional government of military and civilian elements, established after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.
The arrests followed meetings the U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman held with Sudanese military and civilian leaders Saturday and Sunday in efforts to resolve the dispute.
Monday’s development has been condemned by the US, UN, European Union and the Arab League.
U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said Washington was “deeply alarmed” over the reports of the military takeover, adding that it puts U.S. assistance “at risk.” Feltman’s reaction, the first from the Biden administration, was posted on the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs Twitter page:
“The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process,” Borrell wrote.
Germany has joined the chorus of concern and called for an “immediate end” to the action.
“The news of a new coup attempt in Sudan is troubling,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement. “I call on everyone in Sudan responsible for security and order to continue Sudan’s transition to democracy and to respect the will of the people. The attempted overthrow must come to an immediate end.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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