Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Military Council Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan speaks during the signing ceremony of the political and constitutional declarations to mark the beginning of the transitional rule, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Aug. 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir)
The chief of Sudan's Sovereign Council expressed commitment to the constitutional document, though suspending the articles related to the coalition with the civilian component in the transitional government.
KHARTOUM, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan said on Monday that the division among partners in the transitional government prompted the military intervention to prevent the country from chaos.
Al-Burhan, also general commander of the Sudanese armed forces, made the remarks in a speech broadcast by the official Sudan TV, in which he announced the state of emergency across the country, dissolution of the sovereign council and the government, and the relief of all state governors of their post.
The Sudanese army chief expressed commitment to the constitutional document but announced suspension of the items relating to the coalition with the Freedom and Change Alliance, the civilian component in the ruling coalition that accused Al-Burhan of carrying out a military coup.
Photo taken on Aug. 16, 2021 shows Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (R) and Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan visit the border area of Al- Fashaga between Sudan and Ethiopia. (Xinhua /Mohamed Khidir)
Earlier in the day, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council's civilian component and several ministers were arrested by joint military forces, according to Sudan's Ministry of Information and Communications.
The office of the prime minister said in a statement that a security force took Hamdok and his wife to an unknown place.
The capital Khartoum is witnessing street demonstrations rejecting the military intervention and demanding a civilian government.
Photo taken on Oct. 25, 2021 shows black smoke in the sky over the Sudanese capital of Khartoum amid reports about a military coup. (Xinhua)
Since the announcement of foiling a coup attempt on Sept. 21, the tensions between the military and civilian partners in the transitional government have continued to escalate.
Sudan is ruled amid a 39-month transitional period under a traditional government of military and civilian elements, established after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The transitional period is set to be followed by elections to form a new government.■
