Sudan’s donors warn about appointing new PM without civilian nod

Sudan’s major Western donors say they will not work with a new prime minister if appointed without the input of civilian movements.

In a joint call, two days after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok quit office following weeks of protests against the military junta, the European Union, UK, US and Norway said a replacement must be a product of dialogue.

The US, UK and Norway are often known as the ‘Troika’ on Sudan. And, alongside the EU, have been financial supporters of the transitional project, which now may stall after Hamdok quit on Monday.

“His resignation as Sudanese Prime Minister, two months after the military’s unconstitutional seizure of power, reinforces the urgent need for all Sudanese leaders to recommit to the country’s democratic transition and deliver on the Sudanese people’s demands for freedom, peace, and justice. No single Sudanese actor can accomplish this task on their own,” the donors said in a joint statement.

“The European Union and the Troika will not support a Prime Minister or government appointed without the involvement of a broad range of civilian stakeholders.

“We look forward to working with a government and a transitional parliament, which enjoy credibility with the Sudanese people and can lead the country to free and fair elections as a priority.”

Hamdok had only returned to the position following weeks of house arrest after the October 25 coup that saw the military forcefully retake power.

But even after he agreed a political deal with his detainers and returned to power, civilian groups that had been part of his transitional government rejected the coup, and the military’s influence on the transitional programme.

The civilians had poured into the streets since the coup, protesting the army’s involvement. The military responded by crushing the protests and there have been reported sexual violations as well.

Transitional Sovereign Council

Mélanie Joly, the Canadian foreign minister, echoed the donors’ call for a civilian-led leadership. “Canada calls on all parties to work toward the common goal of getting this transition back on track. The gains made since the Sudanese revolution must not be lost,” she said on Wednesday.

“Canada stands with the Sudanese people and supports their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Canada calls for a quick resumption of the transition to democracy and for an immediate end to all forms of violence being committed against protesters.”

The worry of donors is that the military coup may have stalled the transition, which began in August 2019 with the appointment of Hamdok, who was to lead the country until it reviewed the constitution and conducted elections within about 30 months.

Under the arrangement, the Transitional Sovereign Council (TSC), an overall governance body, was to be led first by a military head followed by a civilian one, while allowing Hamdok to lead the government and his cabinet.

Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was to lead the TSC and later hand over to a civilian. A military coup occurred just weeks before that could happen in November last year.

The EU and the Troika said they will continue to support the transition, but it must be based on the 2019 power-sharing arrangement, otherwise known as the Constitutional Declaration.

The civilian groups that have rejected the military junta were influential in pushing former leader Omar al-Bashir out of power in April 2019. But the military had attempted to stick to power by creating a Transitional Military Council. They later accepted a power-sharing deal with civilians following pressure from the international community.

It was unclear on Wednesday whether the junta had agreed to discuss the next government with protesting movements.