Sudanese military clashes with protesters after coup

Following Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan’s declaration that the military was dissolving Sudan’s transitional government, thousands flocked to the streets to protest. They burned tire barricades throughout Monday and resumed early Tuesday. The Sudan Doctors’ Committee reported military forces fired tear gas and bullets into crowds, killing at least four and wounding roughly 80. Protesters in the capital of Khartoum and twin city Omdurman chanted “The people are stronger, stronger!” and called for Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s release. The military took Hamdok, his wife, and several senior officials to an undisclosed location.

What is the military’s plan? Burhan said faction infighting forced the military to intervene. The transitional government was supposed to shift to a fully civilian government by Nov. 17. The country has been in a state of transition since the ouster of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Burhan said the military will create a technocratic government and is still open to holding elections, but not until July 2023. The military closed the airports and shut down internet access. The State Department on Monday suspended $700 million in financial aid to the country. Spokespersons from the United Nations, European Union, African Union, and the United States urged the military to restore Hamdok and a civilian-led government.

Dig deeper: From the archives, read Onize Ohikere’s report in World Tour on tensions between Sudan’s military and civilians after the 2019 coup.