US supports peace and stability in Sudan: Blinken

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday reiterated his country's support for Sudan to achieve peace and stability.

Blinken’s remarks came during a phone call with the head of Sudan’s ruling military council, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, according to a statement by the council.

The statement said Blinken congratulated al-Burhan on the signing of a political agreement with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, which ended weeks-long crisis that threatened to undermine Sudan’s political transition.

It quoted Blinken as reiterating "the United States' support for everything that would achieve peace and stability in Sudan, and build advanced and effective relations based on mutual and common interests between the two countries."

Earlier Tuesday, Blinken said on his Twitter account that he called both Hamdok and al-Burhan to express his endorsement “for initial steps to restore Sudan’s democratic transition,” while also noting that he “underscored the work that remains to rebuild confidence with the Sudanese people.”

“I made clear that the US is watching,” Blinken said.

Hamdok was reinstated on Sunday after signing a political agreement with the military. He was placed under house arrest in late October after the Sudanese military dismissed his transitional government.

The 14-point political agreement stipulates that a 2019 political declaration will be the basis for Sudan's democratic transition, and that elections will be held in 2023 as scheduled. It also provides for the prime minister to form a government of technocrats.

While the deal was largely welcomed by the international community, Sudanese political forces have rejected it as an "attempt to legitimize the coup".

Before the Oct. 25 military takeover, Sudan was administered by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials which was overseeing the transition period until elections are held in 2023 as part of a power-sharing pact between the military and the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar