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Sudan’s PM and government officials detained in military coup

Military forces detained the Sudanese Prime Minister and other senior government officials on Monday in an apparent coup d’etat.

Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was detained and moved to an undisclosed location after refusing to issue a statement in support of the coup, Sudan’s ministry of information said.

“The PM was detained after he refused to issue a statement in support of the coup. Joint military forces holding Hamdok under house arrest were pressuring him to issue a supportive statement,” the ministry added.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital Khartoum in retaliation to the military takeover.

Videos surfaced online, where the protesters appeared to be blocking the streets, setting tires on fire as the security forces were shown using tear gas to halt them.

Sudan was also deprived of internet access as the state news channel played patriotic songs.

The military forces invaded Sudan’s state-run television offices in Omdurman and detained a number of employees, according to the information ministry.

The military and civilian groups were meant to be sharing power after the 2019 ouster of long time ruler Omar al-Bashir.

Bashir was ousted and imprisoned after months of protests, ending his rule of three decades. A transitional government was formed and elections were to be carried out by the end of 2023.

A failed coup attempt in September had induced a form of distrust between the military and civilian groups – The pro-democracy groups that had toppled the dictatorial government following mass protests.

US special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, said the United States was “deeply alarmed” by the coup reports.

Sudan was removed from United States’ list of terror supporting countries in 2020, which made way for international aid through loans and investments.

The UN, EU and Arab League were also deeply concerned by Monday’s development. EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Joseph Borrell, said in an online post that he is following the ongoing events in Sudan with “utmost concern.”

As Sudan is in turmoil, Islamist groups is support of the coup may get an opportunity to form a far-right Islamist government.