America suspends $700 mn aid to Sudan

A Sudanese demonstrator carrying a national flag walks by roadblocks set up by protesters on a street in Khartoum, on Tuesday. Pic/AFP

The Biden administration on Monday suspended $700 million in financial assistance to Sudan following a coup in the African nation that US officials roundly condemned.

The State Department said the full amount of the aid package had been put on "pause" pending a review of the developments in Khartoum that saw the military oust a civilian-led transitional authority and detain many of its members. Spokesman Ned Price called for the immediate release of those arrested, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and the restoration of the civilian authority.

"The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored. It represents the will of the Sudanese people, as evidenced by the significant, peaceful demonstrations of support," Price said. "We recognise the legitimate grievances about the pace of the transition, but (the) dismissal of government officials and dissolution of government institutions, both violate Sudan's constitutional declaration and abandon the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people."

"Military officials should immediately release and ensure the safety of all detained political actors, fully restore the civilian-led transitional government and refrain from any violence against protesters, including the use of live ammunition," Price said.

Protesters block roads, burn tyres

Pro-democracy protesters blocked some roads in Sudan's capital with makeshift barricades and burning tires on Tuesday, a day after the military seized power in a coup widely denounced by the international community. The prime minister and other senior officials in the transitional government who were arrested on Monday by the military continued to be held at a military camp outside Khartoum.

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