2/1/2022–|Last update: 1/2/202211:46 PM (Mecca)
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok announced his resignation after giving the political forces one day to reach a consensus to end the crisis in the country, and amid the continuing demonstrations calling for the return of civilian rule.
Hamdok said in a televised speech that the transitional government dealt with all the challenges it faced, and that it accomplished the Juba Agreement, which contributed to silencing the guns and providing shelter for the displaced.
He also spoke about the government’s achievements, referring to the extension of freedoms and the removal of our country’s name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
He added that his government was able to forgive many debts, and it was hoped that 90% of our foreign debt would be reduced.
He pointed out that his acceptance of the assignment was the result of political consensus, noting that the major crisis in the country is a political one, but it includes the economic and social aspects.
The army commander, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, had dismissed and arrested Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok and members of his government on October 25, but he returned him to his position without his government following international and local pressures on November 21.
The two men later signed an agreement to restore the democratic transition to its tracks and reassure the international community, which reduced its aid after the “coup.” The agreement was not satisfactory to all parties in Sudan, so protests continued in the streets.
The Sudanese Professionals Association submitted a proposal called the “Political Charter to Complete the December Revolution”.
The proposal, which Al Jazeera obtained a copy of, stipulates the necessity of overthrowing the Military Council and forming a civilian transitional authority for a period of 4 years.
It also provides for the formation of an honorary civilian Sovereignty Council, a Council of Ministers whose members do not exceed 20 people from revolutionary competencies, and a civilian legislative council.
The proposal of the gathering of professionals also called for the construction and restructuring of the regular forces and the dismantling of all militias, especially the Rapid Support Forces, and for the Prime Minister to be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Protests
On Sunday, demonstrations calling for civilian rule were renewed, in which three people were killed and others were injured while police forces dispersed the demonstrations that were trying to reach the Republic Palace in Khartoum.
The Sudanese Professionals Association – the professional entity that played a pivotal role in the uprising that toppled Omar al-Bashir in April 2019 – called in a statement on Saturday to make 2022 a “year of continuous resistance.”
He said that he calls on “the masses of the Sudanese people and the masses of Sudanese professionals and wage workers in all cities and villages of Sudan” to “go out and actively participate in the millions processions on January 2, 2022, so let us make it a year of continuous resistance.”
At the international level, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken considered that the army’s seizure of power in Sudan and the violence against demonstrators cast doubt on the chances of a democratic Sudan emerging.
Blinken expressed his country’s readiness to respond to those he called who seek to obstruct the Sudanese people’s aspiration for a democratic government with civilian leadership.