EU expresses 'utmost concern' over Sudan upheaval

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) – The EU is following the coup attempt in Sudan with "utmost concern," calling on the parties to continue the transition process as planned, the union's foreign policy chief said on Monday.

"Following with utmost concern ongoing events in Sudan," Josep Borrell said on Twitter. "The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process."

Sudan's military arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and members of the civilian government in the capital Khartoum early Monday.

The Ministry of Culture and Information said the military arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok after he refused to support what it described as a "coup".

Later Monday, Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan's ruling military council, declared a state of emergency and dissolved the Sovereign Council, which was created to run the country after the ouster of long-serving President Omar Al-Bashir in 2019, and the transitional government.

After a failed military coup last month, deep tensions between the military and the civilian administration erupted in Sudan amid recent rival protests in Khartoum.

Before the dissolution, Sudan was administered by the Sovereign Council of military and civilian authorities, which oversaw the transition period until elections slated for 2023, as part of a precarious power-sharing pact between the military and the Forces for Freedom and Change coalition.