Sudan forms new transitional council

KHARTOUM, Sudan－General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Thursday named a new transitional council headed by himself after last month's military takeover, it was reported on Sudanese television.

The military on Oct 25 dissolved the government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, detained the civilian leadership, and declared a nationwide state of emergency, sparking concerns from the international community.

Burhan's announcement came just two days ahead of planned mass protests against the takeover.

The Sudanese Professionals Association, one of the popular entities leading the protests in the streets, rejected the changes to the transitional body, known as the Sovereign Council.

"This is an unconstitutional measure. The army commander has no right to take this measure and we will resist it through our peaceful means," the association said in a statement.

In New York, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the latest developments in Sudan were "very concerning".

"We want to see a return to the transition as quickly as possible," he told reporters. "We want to see the release of the prime minister as well as all other politicians and leaders that have been detained."

'Window is closing'

At a closed-door Security Council meeting, UN special envoy Volker Perthes warned that "the window now is closing for dialogue and for a peaceful resolution", according to Britain's ambassador Barbara Woodward.

Under the decree, Burhan, who chaired Sudan's ruling council formed in August 2019 following president Omar al-Bashir's ouster, was named as chairman of the Sovereign Council. General Mohamed Hamdan Daqlu would be the deputy chairman of the 14-member council.

The mixed military-civilian body also retains Sham-Eddin Kabashir, Yair Al-Atta, and Ibrahim Jaber－all senior army figures.

Among the civilian members is former parliamentarian Abou al-Qassem Bortoum, a businessman supporter of Sudan's normalization of relations with Israel.

Last month's military takeover sparked nationwide protests that left at least 14 people killed, according to medics.

The military power grab has triggered Western condemnation, punitive aid cuts and demands for a swift return to civilian rule.

Burhan insists it was "not a coup" but a move to "rectify the course of the transition".

Sudan's army has said that the formation of a new civilian government is "imminent".

On Tuesday, Burhan met with diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway who called for Hamdok's "restoration" to office and the release of all detainees.

Earlier this month, the military released four civilian members of the government but key officials are still detained.

Xinhua - Agencies