Sudanese Army chief discloses place of Hamdok, future of transitional period after dissolution of interim government

CAIRO – 26 October 2021: General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fatah al-Burhan addressed the nation Tuesday saying that the dissolved interim government of Abdalla Hamdok "neglected the treatment of many crises."

Burhan added that the Sudanese Armed Forces refused the control of Sudan by any entity or party, and made compromises to fulfill the people's wishes about a civil government. Yet, a "state of mistrust" occurred among transitional parties after the signing of the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement because of the government's practices, he pointed out.

The general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces stated that quotas caused fragmentation in the country so that Hamdok's initiative was hijacked by a precise group, which worked on alienating other groups, including the army. Those belong to The Forces of Freedom and Change, according to Burhan.

"We sensed hostility and targeting against the military establishment…A specific group was attempting to monopolize the transitional period in a way that undermines the security and stability of the country. Thus, we recommended Hamdok to expand scope of political participation and mend the rift," the Sudanese Army chief stated.

Burhan highlighted that Hamdok himself had warned several times of dangers engulfing the country, and that he was working without aiming for any personal gains. "We had begun to garner real benefits [of the revolution], and we feared we would lose them because of conflict, fragmentation, and political selfishness," the Sudanese Army chief said.

"Hamdok is at my home to ensure his safety. He is living normally now, and he will go home later…We may allow some journalists to meet him in the future and listen to what he has to say," the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces revealed.

Burhan asserted that the Sudanese Army has no ambitions, and that its responsibility toward the homeland is inhibiting the fate feared by everybody. "We want our only mission after transferring power to civilians to be defending Sudan," he added.

The general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces elaborated that the transitional period will be accomplished with the participation of civilians, and that the Sudanese Legislative Council will comprise youths who were part of the 2019 revolution. Burhan stated that the justices of the Constitutional Court as well as those of other judiciary entities will be appointed this week without the intervention of the Armed Forces.

As for the next interim government, the Sudanese Army chief stated that its members would not be affiliated to any political forces. Rather, they would be "competent independents."

Burhan had announced Monday the state of emergency all over the country, the dissolution of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, which he was its chairman, and the government, and the suspension of some articles of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration designating the roadmap of the the transitional period in Sudan.

The Sudanese Army chief said that a number of political forces incited chaos and violence, and started to fight each other, which threatens Sudan’s security. He pledged commitment to the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement, and to the transition process until handing over the authority to a newly elected government by July 2023.