US envoy urges Sudan to move towards civilian rule

WASHINGTON, Oct.2 (Reuters) – The United States warned Sudan this week that a failed transition to civilian rule could endanger Washington’s political and economic support, a department spokesperson said on Saturday. of state.

US envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman visited Sudan from September 28 to October 1, a week after an attempted coup raised tensions between civilian groups and soldiers who share power in the country.

Sudanese authorities have said that coup plotters loyal to ousted President Omar al-Bashir were trying to derail the revolution that toppled Bashir from power in 2019 and ushered in a transition to democracy. Read more

The foiled coup, which the United States condemned, highlights the difficult path that Sudan has faced in a fragile power-sharing deal between the military and civilians since the overthrow of Bashir, who has presided over Sudan for nearly three decades and has been shunned by the West.

Sudan’s current governing body, known as the Sovereign Council, has secured Western debt relief and taken steps to normalize ties with Israel, while combating a severe economic crisis. Elections are expected in 2024.

But the 11-member Sovereign Council has no date yet to hand over the leadership of the body from the military to civilians.

Feltman met with the head of the Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, as well as civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, among other political leaders, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

The US envoy urged Sudanese politicians to make “rapid progress” towards civilian rule, including a “consensus on when” a civilian would take over the Sovereign Council, according to Price.

“Deviating from this path and failing to meet key criteria will jeopardize Sudan’s bilateral relations with the United States, including significant American aid,” Price said.

Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Daniel Wallis

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