12 Sudanese ministers resign in protest of deal with military

By Talal Ismail

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Twelve cabinet ministers on Monday submitted their resignation to Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, in protest of a political deal with the country’s ruling military council.

On Sunday, Hamdok was reinstated after signing a political agreement with the head of Sudan’s ruling military council, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to end a weeks-long crisis that threatened to undermine Sudan’s political transition.

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

The resigned ministers include the ministers of foreign affairs, justice, agriculture, irrigation, investment and energy, according to a statement issued by the ministers.

The ministers of higher education, labor, transport, health, youth and religious affairs also tendered their resignation.

The statement said the five ministers of the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition, which had shared power with the military before last month’s military takeover, were unable to attend Monday’s cabinet meeting.

The ministers did not explain the reason behind their resignation.

The resigned ministers were part of a transitional government led by Hamdok that was dissolved on Oct. 25 by al-Burhan.

At the time, al-Burhan declared a state of emergency and dismissed the transitional government, amid rival protests and accusations between the military and politicians.

Scores have been killed since the Oct. 25 military takeover amid protests calling for civilian rule.

* Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar