Sudan's newly appointed head of government, Abdalla Hamdok, announced his resignation on Sunday. This was reported by the Al Arabiya television channel.
"I have decided to step down," Hamdok said, adding that there were serious "conflicts and contradictions" between the parties during the transition phase.
He explained that his decision was largely due to the ongoing protests. "I am resigning in order to regain the trust of the people and to give others the opportunity to build and preserve this country after my efforts have stalled," he said, warning that the country is currently "experiencing a dangerous moment that could jeopardize its survival." "To the political crisis has been added a socio-economic crisis that threatens to turn into a comprehensive crisis," he pointed out. - "Sudan is at a dangerous turning point that could threaten its survival."
According to Hamdok, he has recently presented a number of initiatives, but they have not been met with understanding. "Meetings held in recent days with political parties to find solutions to the crisis have been unsuccessful," the prime minister added.
A political agreement was signed last November 21 in Khartoum between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the governing Sovereign Council, and Abdalla Hamdok, which included the return of the latter to his post, the formation of a competent technocratic government and the release of all political prisoners. However, Sudanese political and civilian forces viewed the agreement as "an attempt to legitimize a military coup" and vowed to continue protests until "full civilian rule" was achieved during the transition period. On December 31, al-Burhan promised to organize free and fair elections to "protect the country from sliding into chaos and ruin."
Since October 25, there have been continuing protests in Sudan over exceptional measures, most notably the declaration of a state of emergency and the dissolution of the Sovereign Council and the government following the arrest of several high-ranking officials and politicians.
Political crisis in Sudan
On the night of October 25, Prime Minister Hamdok was arrested by the military, along with a group of ministers, officials, and party leaders. Al-Burhan dissolved the supreme authorities and imposed a state of emergency in the country, also suspending several articles of the constitutional declaration that had set the framework for the country's transition and the relationship between the military and civilian authorities. Hamdok was later released and, as al-Burhan explained to journalists, he was not arrested, but for reasons of personal security he stayed for some time in the home of the leader of the country as a guest. The army does not consider the events to be a military coup, but a surgical intervention to avoid a civil war.
The renewed Sovereign Council was formed on November 11 by decree of al-Burhan. Its composition was determined after negotiations between military and civilian representatives. Al-Burhan reappointed Mohammed Hamdan Daklo (Hamidti), commander of the so-called Quick Reaction Force (or Operational Support, Special Forces), which reports to the National Security and Intelligence Service of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), as his deputy. Most of the other members of the council, primarily from the Armed Forces, were also previously represented on it. The sovereign council is to consist of 14 people: eight representatives of the army and six civilians. At the end of November, Hamdok, who had been ousted from his post, resumed leadership of the government.
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Based on materials from TASS