Turkey welcomes deal in Sudan to reinstate ousted premier

By Behlul Cetinkaya

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey on Sunday welcomed a deal that Sudan’s ousted prime minister signed with the country’s army chief that will see him reinstated to the post nearly a month after he was toppled by a coup.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Turkey was pleased with the agreement reached between Abdalla Hamdok and Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the ruling military council, putting an end to a weeks-long crisis that threatened to undermine the country’s political transition.

“We emphasize the importance of taking into account the expectations of all segments of the Sudanese people and preserving peace and stability in the country in this sensitive process that Sudan is going through,” the statement said, noting that Turkey will continue to stand by Sudan and the Sudanese people.

The 14-clause agreement stipulates that a 2019 political declaration will be the basis for the transition in Sudan and that elections will be held in 2023 as scheduled. It also provides for Hamdok to form an independent “technocratic Cabinet” that will be led by him until elections can be held.

The agreement also calls for the formation of all transitional institutions, including the legislative assembly and the constitutional court, and the appointment of an attorney-general and chief justice.

Before the 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) alliance.