Late Monday, diplomats stated that consultations had been requested by the United States of America, France, Ireland and Norway.
The council is currently wrapping up its visit to Mali, Niger, and is expected to return to New York Tuesday afternoon. According to diplomats, the meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Eastern Time (EDT) before an official announcement.
The Sudan’s military took power Monday and arrested the prime minister as well as other transitional officials. This sparked protests from thousands across the country calling for civilian rule. The country’s fragile progress towards democracy was threatened by the takeover.
Members of the Council will discuss Wednesday the Abyei dispute at the Sudan-South Sudan border.
___
WASHINGTON — Following a coup in Sudan, the Biden administration has suspended $700 million of emergency assistance for Sudan.
Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, stated that the entire aid package was put on “pause” in the wake of developments in Khartoum. This money was meant to support the country’s transition to civilian rule. Price indicated that additional U.S. aid could be available.
The administration condemned the military overthrow and the dissolution of the transitional civilian-led authority. They demanded that all those involved in the overnight coup be released. This led to the arrest and detention of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Price stated that the administration was monitoring developments closely and would not hesitate to hold those responsible for the coup.
___
UNITED NATIONS — U.N. Special Envoy for Sudan said that barricades are being set up in Khartoum’s capital and there is a possibility of more violence or clashes.
According to the Sudan Doctors’ Association, three protesters were killed when security forces opened fire on crowds of people who flooded the streets following a Monday coup. According to the report, 80 people were injured.
Volker Perthes addressed reporters at U.N. headquarters in Khartoum Monday during a briefing. He stated that the army had carried out the coup, closing the airport, bridges and entrances to the city. Many parties and unions urged people to protest the occupation. He claims that thousands marched across the country in support of a civilian government.
Perthes claims that demonstrators tried to enter the Khartoum army headquarters Monday morning. We have seen shots and injuries since then, but we are unable to confirm any details.”
Perthes stated that he and Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. envoy, had held parallel meetings in recent weeks with Sudanese military and political leaders. They called for a return of dialogue and warned against any coup that would “squander all the achievements of two years of the transition.”
The U.N. Envoy demanded that all parties “exercise the utmost control,” that the military free all unlawfully held prisoners on Monday, and called for a return of dialogue and compliance with the constitution.
___
Here’s WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING.
___
CAIRO — U.N. top human rights official condemned the coup in Sudan and warned that the country could fall back after the 2019 uprising ended a dictatorial regime.
Michelle Bachelet (the U.N. High Commissar for Human Rights) called Monday for the release Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other government officials as well as political leaders detained.
Bachelet also called on military authorities to resolve differences with civilians of the transitional government through dialogue and negotiation.
She demanded that the military withdraw troops from the streets, and that it “refrain from excessive and disproportionately use force” against protesters who marched against the coup.
___
KHARTOUM (Sudan) — Two protesters were killed when security forces opened fire on crowds of people who flooded the streets following a Monday coup. According to the report, 80 people were injured.
After troops had arrested the prime minister, the military of Sudan seized power and dismantled the transitional government. Protests against the coup that threatened the country’s fragile progress towards democracy saw thousands of protestors marching in the streets.
This takeover comes two years after protesters forced Omar al-Bashir to resign and weeks before the military was to transfer the leadership of the government council to civilians.
___
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Following the military coup in Sudan, the Gulf Arab sheikhdoms Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have called for calm.
Along with regional allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sudan, the UAE had maintained close ties to Sudanese generals.
The Foreign Ministry of Bahrain stated that it has “confidence” in Sudan’s political establishment to “overcome the crisis through dialogue, understanding.”
They made their muted statements as Western countries and United Nations strongly condemned the army’s overthrow of Sudan. The capital was flooded with protesters after several high-ranking officials were detained by security forces, including the interim prime minster. These developments could threaten Sudan’s fragile democratic transition that began two years ago with the ouster long-serving autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
___
KHARTOUM — U.S. diplomats have warned Americans in Sudan about the closing of military areas around the capital and the reports of violence against protesters.
After Sudan’s top general declared an emergency and dismantled the civilian government, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum advised Americans to “shelter at home” and “remain alert of their surroundings”. The internet was still inaccessible across the country, and the embassy stated that it was “nonfunctional” in Khartoum.
It requested that American citizens refrain from traveling to the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, or Port Sudan. There it stated that outbound flights would be halted.
Two years ago, Sudan’s fragile political transition was plunged into uncertainty by a military coup. It happened Monday after mass protests had helped to overthrow the iron-fisted rule Omar al-Bashir.
CAIRO — A pro-democracy group has condemned the coup which returned the military to power after it reached a power-sharing agreement with Sudan’s military.
Monday’s statement by the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change called for the release of all government officials and ministers detained and for the military power to be handed over to civilian governments.
In the statement, the international community was also asked to reject the coup.
The Sudanese military took power Monday morning, dissolving the transitional administration hours after troops had arrested the interim prime minster and other officials. Protests against the coup that threatened the country’s fragile progress towards democracy saw thousands of protestors take to the streets.
___
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia issued a call to “restraint” in Sudan following the takeover of the army.
The regional powerhouse has maintained close ties to Sudan’s top generals and issued a statement of concern Monday calling for the unification of Sudanese factions and “preserve economic and political gains that have been made.”
According to the Foreign Ministry statement, the kingdom “affirms its continued support for the brotherly Sudanese people.”
Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf Arab sheikhdoms supported Omar al-Bashir for many years. However, they later backed Omar’s ouster amid massive protests against his rule two years ago.
Saudi, along with the United Arab Emirates, pledged billions in funding to Sudan’s new military rulers after al-Bashir was removed. This move raised suspicions among Sudanese protesters, who feared that their revolution might be stopped.
The Saudi statement was made as Sudan’s ruling General declared a state emergency and dismantled the civilian Cabinet. Protesters and top officials were arrested by security forces.
___
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations condemned the current military coup in Sudan, and has urgently called for the release the country’s interim prime Minister and other high-ranking Cabinet officials.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres tweeted Monday that Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and all other officials held by Sudanese security forces on Monday, “must be freed immediately.”
Guterres stated that “there must be complete respect for the constitution charter to protect the hard won political transition.”
He said, “The UN will continue its support for the people of Sudan.”
Volker Perthes (the U.N.’s Political Envoy to Sudan), echoed Guterres appeal and called the arrests of officials “unacceptable.”
Perthes said he was “deeply worried” by the “attempts” to undermine Sudan’s transition to democracy after the ouster long-serving autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
He encouraged all parties to “return for dialogue and engage with good faith to restore constitutional order.”
___
BRUSSELS — The European Union condemned the arrest of Sudan’s acting prime minister and other officials, and called for their immediate release.
This takeover comes more than two years after protesters forced Omar al-Bashir’s ouster and only weeks before the military was due to hand over the leadership of the African government to civilians.
Josep Borrell (EU’s top diplomat) stated in a statement that the coup was a “betrayal” of the revolution, transition and legitimate demands of the Sudanese for peace, justice, and economic development.
Following the arrests, thousands of protestors flooded the streets of Khartoum and Omdurman.
Borrell stated that peaceful protest must be respected, violence and bloodshed must not be tolerated; he also urged open communication networks.
___
CAIRO — Egypt has asked all parties to Sudan to cooperate to ensure stability and security in the face of the military takeover of the East African country.
Egypt shares a border with Sudan and the Nile River. It said Monday that it was closely following the country’s turmoil and stressed the need to address “current challenges in a way that ensures the safety of this brotherly nation.”
The statement of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry came after Sudan’s top General dismantled the civilian government and declared an emergency. It did not condemn the coup nor express concern overtly like many Western countries.
Egypt instead stated that it only urged Sudanese factions “to give priority to the greater interest of the country” and to reach a national consensus.
The two most senior generals in Sudan have close ties with Egypt under its own general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
___
PARIS — The French President Emmanuel Macron has joined the growing concern about the military coup in Sudan.
Macron tweeted: “France condemns strongly the attempted coup d’etat,” Macron said after the Sudan’s top general declared a state emergency and dissolution of the civilian government.
Macron stated that France supports the transitional government charged with leading Sudan towards democratic elections. Macron also demanded the immediate release of Sudan’s prime Minister and other civil leaders currently in detention.
___
CAIRO — The United States claims that the leaders of the military coup in Sudan are undermining democracy’s transition and should “stand down.”
On Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Sudan stated via Twitter that it was “gravely worried” about Sudan’s top general declaring a state-of-emergency and dissolving the ruling body jointly overseen civilian and military leaders. The embassy called on all actors that are hindering Sudan’s transition to stop and allows the civilian-led transitional government continue its important work towards achieving the goals of revolution.
This is a reference to the mass demonstrations that overthrew Omar al-Bashir, the long-serving autocrat, in 2019 and established a ruling council to guide the country towards democratic elections.
Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, stated earlier Monday that Washington was “deeply alarm” by the events and warned of a military coup that could threaten American aid to Sudan.
___
CAIRO — The Norwegian Refugee Council appealed to Sudan’s rulers for protection of civilians during the military takeover. They requested unimpeded humanitarian access to aid millions who fled war-torn countries over the years.
Will Carter, the director of an aid group for Sudan, stated Monday that any changes in Sudan’s political leadership shouldn’t jeopardize previous promises to ensure humanitarian organizations are able to assist the 13,000,000 people who urgently need aid in Sudan, which includes millions of displaced Sudanese.
“Sudan’s leaders have the collective opportunity and responsibility for breaking from a difficult history,” said the statement, exhorting “not to abandon Sudanese people in this hour”
Sudan’s top general declared an emergency and disbanded the ruling council, which had been guiding the country towards democratic elections.
Omar al-Bashir, a long-serving autocrat, was overthrown amid massive protests in 2019. In 2019, aid organisations struggled to reach the country’s most vulnerable people in war-stricken regions like Darfur, where rebels sometimes controlled food access.
___
BEIJING — China has called for dialogue between Sudanese factions in an apparent military coup that is plaguing the country.
Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated Monday that China wants all parties in Sudan to “resolve their differences through dialog so as to preserve peace and stability of this country.”
He stated to reporters that China would continue to monitor the turmoil in Sudan and take the necessary steps to protect Chinese personnel and institutions.
China is both a permanent member and major investor in Africa.
Sudan’s fragile path towards democracy was thrown into uncertainty by the arrests of Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s interim prime Minister, and other officials on Monday. China was Sudan’s largest trading partner and key international partner during al-Bashir’s brutal rule, despite claims of his government’s human right abuses.
___
CAIRO – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, based in Saudi Arabia, expressed concern about the possible coup in Sudan during a fragile transition towards democracy.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency released a statement Monday urging Sudanese leaders “to abide by the constitution document and what was agreed upon during the transition period.”
This statement comes as the international community expresses concern over the arrest of Sudan’s interim prime minister, and other high-ranking officials. Their location was not immediately known.
Fears of a military coup have gripped Sudan two years after mass protests overthrew Omar al-Bashir (an autocrat who ruled Sudan with iron fists for three decades), and thousands of Sudanese protestors have taken to the streets.
Jiddah is the Saudi Arabian base of OIC, which includes 57 nations.
___
BERLIN — Germany demanded an immediate halt in the apparent military coup in Sudan.
Heiko Mass, German Foreign Minister, condemned the attempt to take over the country in vast east Africa and called the news “disconcerting.”
He said that “this attempted coup must be stopped immediately” and urged “all those responsible for security and order in Sudan to continue peaceful political transition in Sudan towards democracy.”
Monday’s statement was just one of many from other countries that expressed concern over the arrest of Sudan’s interim prime Minister and other high-ranking officials. Their location was not immediately known.
Fears of a military coup have gripped the country after thousands of protestors from Sudan have flooded the streets two years ago. This was the aftermath of mass protests that ousted Omar al-Bashir (an autocrat who ruled Sudan with iron fists for over three decades). Sudan has been in a fragile transition towards democracy since 2019.
___
CAIRO — The United Nations Mission to Sudan issued an emphatic repudiation of what it called an ongoing coup attempt to undermine the fragile democratic transition in northeast Africa.
Before dawn Monday, the first reports of a possible military coup began to trickle out of Sudan. The information ministry confirmed that Abdalla Hamdok had been taken into custody and taken to an undisclosed place. The ministry also confirmed that several senior government officials were detained in a Facebook posting. Their whereabouts were not known, it said.
“The detentions reported of the prime minister, government officials, and politicians are unacceptable,” stated the newly formed U.N. mission. It has the mandate to support the country’s transition political and human rights.
The mission urged Sudan’s security forces to immediately release all unlawfully held or placed under house arrest and called for “extreme restraint” from all parties.
Diplomats joined the chorus of concern about the events in Sudan on Monday. Sudanese security officials were held in undisclosed places by Sudanese forces, and protestors poured into the streets two years after massive demonstrations to overthrow Omar al-Bashir.
___
CAIRO — The Arab League released a statement of concern about the possible military coup in Sudan.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit (Secretary-General of the 22-member bloc) urged all parties to adhere to the August 2019 constitutional declaration. This was meant to facilitate a transition to civilian rule, democratic elections, and the end of Omar al-Bashir’s long-term autocratic reign.
After Sudan’s military arrested the interim prime minister and other Cabinet officials, Aboul Gheit stated that “there are no problems that can’t be solved without dialogue.” Protesters flooded into Khartoum’s streets.
The statement stated that it was important to honor all agreements and decisions made. It also recommended that we refrain from taking any steps that could disrupt the transitional period or shake stability in Sudan.
___
CAIRO — The European Union joined the United States in expressing concern over a possible military coup in Sudan.
Josep Borrell, EU chief for foreign affairs, tweeted Monday that he was following developments in northeast Africa with “utmost concern” after reports that Sudanese military forces detained several high-ranking officials of the government, including the interim prime minster.
“The EU calls all stakeholders and regional partner to return to the transition process,” Borrell wrote. Borrell was referring to Sudan’s fragile transition between autocracy and democracy following the ouster Omar al-Bashir, the long-serving ruler.
Earlier, U.S. Special Representative for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman stated that Washington was “deeply alarm” and suggested that a military coup could threaten American aid to the poor country.
“As we’ve repeatedly stated, any changes to transitional government by force puts in danger U.S. aid,” U.S. Bureau of African Affairs posted on Twitter.
