Monday’s military coup in Sudan threatens to wreck the country’s fragile transition to democracy, more than two years after an uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir
Sudanese people protest a military coup that overthrew the transition to civilian rule. Pic/AFP
What sparked the coup?
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Tensions have been growing for months between supporters of the military and civilian rule. The main protest umbrella group has been stepping up calls for the military to hand leadership over to civilians. Supporters of the military have also stepped up action. Since Sept, tribal protesters have blocked the main road to Sudan’s Red Sea port as well as fuel pipelines, demanding Hamdok’s government be dissolved.
How did Sudan get to this state?
The military dissolved the government of OM Abdalla Hamdok as well as the Sovereign Council, a power-sharing body of military officers and civilians that had been ruling Sudan since late 2019. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan said the military would hold power till elections can be held in July 2023. He declared a state of emergency.
How did it happen?
Al-Bashir, who came to power in a 1989 coup, had ruled for 30 years, backed by the military and Islamists. Months of protests finally forced the military to imprison him in 2019. Right after his ouster, the military seized power but eventually agreed to a compromise. It formed the Sovereign Council, a body made up of both military officers and civilians that was to rule the country until polls in 2023.
A suffering country
Economic reforms implemented by the interim govt have meant rising inflation and shortages of basic goods. Emboldened by the protests, Burhan called for dissolving Hamdok’s govt. He went further by saying recently that the military would only hand over power to an elected government.
Can the world help?
The US, EU and UN have denounced the coup. On the other side, Sudan’s generals have strong ties with Egypt and Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
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