United States urges Sudanese military to refrain from violence against planned protests – official

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A road barricade is set on fire in what the Information Ministry calls a military coup in Khartoum, Sudan on October 25, 2021. REUTERS / El Tayeb Siddig

WASHINGTON, Oct.29 (Reuters) – The United States on Friday urged the Sudanese military coup leaders to refrain from violence against peaceful protesters ahead of scheduled protests against the takeover on Saturday, saying the reaction of the military will be a litmus test.

“Tomorrow will be a real indication of military intentions,” said a senior State Department official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.

“We call on the security forces to refrain from all violence against demonstrators and to fully respect the right of citizens to demonstrate peacefully,” the official said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reinforced the message on Friday in a Twitter post: “Sudanese security forces must respect human rights; any violence against peaceful protesters is unacceptable.

Washington was relieved to see that ousted Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had been allowed to return home, the official said, adding that this was not enough as Hamdok was still under house arrest and unable to return to work.

Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dissolved Hamdok’s cabinet and soldiers arrested government ministers on Monday, prompting Western countries to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in desperately needed aid to the North African country .

Opponents of the coup on Saturday called for mass protests under the slogan “Go! “. At least 11 protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces this week, and residents say they fear a real crackdown.

The coup derailed a transition meant to lead Sudan to democracy, with elections in 2023, following the toppling of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir two years ago.

‘FACE OF BETRAYAL’

The US official called Burhan “the face of the flashback to Sudan” and said Washington understood the skepticism of Sudanese civilian leaders to work with him and the military, but added that a complete exclusion from the military was unrealistic.

“He is the face of the betrayal of the aspirations of the Sudanese people, the face of the hijacking of civilian institutions,” the US official said, adding that civilian leaders would seek assurances before resolving to work with him. something he said they should do nonetheless.

“Our civilian partners will not like to hear me say this – but it is unrealistic to think that you will be able to make a successful transition if you have completely excluded the military from the process,” the official said. .

Burhan said on Friday that a technocratic prime minister could be announced within a week and left the door open for Hamdok’s return and the formation of the new government.

The U.S. official said Washington knew there were issues with the transition, but Sudanese military leaders never hinted at a takeover in their relationship last weekend with the U.S. delegation.

Jeffrey Feltman, President Joe Biden’s special envoy for the Horn of Africa, visited Khartoum two days before Monday’s coup, amid concerns that the transition could face problems in due to tensions between generals and civilians.

Reuters reported that Feltman warned Burhan not to take action against the civilian administration overseeing a democratic transition, but the military ignored his advice.

Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis; edited by Jonathan Oatis, Aurora Ellis and Sonya Hepinstall

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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