Sudan’s Army Chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan, said Wednesday that the military will accept any non-partisan government that maintains the country’s unity. Al-Burhan’s comments come as Sudan faces a major constitutional crisis after the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir.
The Sudanese military has been in control of the country since al-Bashir’s ouster, and has been working to form a transitional government. However, the military has faced significant pressure from protesters, who have demanded a civilian-led government.
Al-Burhan’s comments come as Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and civilian opposition groups continue to spar over the composition of a new government. The TMC has insisted on having a role in the government, while the opposition has demanded a civilian-led government.
The statement from Al-Burhan, who is the head of the TMC, appears to be an attempt to find a compromise between the two sides. He suggests that a unity government, which includes both military and civilian leaders, would be acceptable to the Sudanese Armed Forces. This type of unity government could help to preserve stability in Sudan and ensure that the country’s disciplined forces are respected.
In a recent speech, the Army Chief of Sudan reiterated his earlier promises that the military will eventually exit from the country’s political scene, once a new government has been formed through agreement among various political groups.
The army chief stated that the Sudanese people have made great progress in recent months in coming to a consensus on the formation of a new government, and he believes that an agreement will be reached in the near future. Once this happens, he said, the military will step aside and allow the new government to take over. This promise from the Army Chief is likely to be welcomed by many Sudanese citizens who are eager to see a return to civilian rule in their country.
Sudan has been without a functioning government since last year, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency.
This move was decried by political forces as a “military coup”, and it has left the country in a state of flux ever since. Without a stable government, Sudan has been beset by various problems, from economic turmoil to increasing insecurity. This has led to a worsening humanitarian crisis, as millions of people are now at risk of starvation. The situation in Sudan is dire, and it desperately needs a functioning government in order to start rebuilding.
Talks between the military and political parties in Sudan have been ongoing in recent weeks in an effort to reach an agreement to resolve the country’s political deadlock. The talks have been facilitated by the United Nations Integrated Transition Mission in Sudan and have been focused on finding a way forward for the country.
The military has been in control of Sudan since the ousting of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, and the political parties have been calling for a civilian-led government. However, the two sides have so far been unable to agree on a way forward. The military has been adamant that it will not give up power without a guarantee of immunity from prosecution, while the political parties have been demanding a civilian-led government.
The QUAD mechanism, which includes the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has also been pushing the country’s rivals to reach a political deal to bring the country back to transition. Last week, the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition announced a framework agreement with the military to resolve the country’s political crisis.
The agreement includes a three-year transition period during which a civilian-led government would be formed, followed by elections. The military would retain control over defence and security during the transition period.
Anadolu News Agency contributed to this report