It is a knock-back as the Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok exits leadership with a stiff warning against a potential catastrophe after surrendering the throne to the military council.
The resignation came after prior alerts and mass protests against the military inclusion in the government six weeks after his reinstatement as Prime Minister. His return was occasioned by a deal he signed with the military council in November 2021.
The Sudanese government has now remained under the sole control of the military council which staged a coup against Hamdok on October 25, 2021, leaving observers in question for the political future of fragile Sudan.
Backing Hamdok’s stern warning, many observers have expressed views on what they think should become of the nation in the hands of the military.
A Somali political activist who formerly served as the special envoy to the United States, Abukar Arman warned of trouble after Hamdok’s resignation saying that he was yet to believe that Hamdok had indeed washed his hands.
“Anyone who listened to Abdel Fattah Al Burhan’s coup speech knew that he was emulating the other Abdel Fattah or Sisi. So, more violence is likely. But don’t count Hamdok out yet. He is to lead one of mini Sudan,” said Arman.
The Sudanese lawyer and legal commentator, Ahmed El Gaili, called on the international community to install civilian rule after the failure of the son of the soil to better the country’s political future.
“His removal as for their concern was to remove the last fig leaf that was covering this regime and what remains is a full-fledged military dictatorship, so, I think the International community will now— arm the military regime, with the hope of heeding the men of the Sudanese reach and installing a full civilian rule,” says Ahmed El Gaili.
In his resignation speech, Hamdok noted that his attempts to transition the country’s leadership from military to civilian rule and prevent the country from falling prey to catastrophe were futile. He warned that the country was at a “dangerous turning point” following his resignation.
“In the past few days, I met all stakeholders of the transitional period, the political and military components and the peace partners, to explain and brief them and to put the national and historical responsibility before them,” the Sudanese Prime Minister said.
“I tried my best to avoid our country slipping into a catastrophe, and now our country is going through a dangerous turning point, that may threaten its entire survival if it is not remedied soon,” Hamdok said.
Hamdok speaks
The Sudanese Prime Minister however called for a roundtable discussion on the “national charter” and to “draw a roadmap” for the accomplishment of the country’s transition from military to democracy in an election scheduled for July 2023.
“My honourable people, based on all that I have mentioned, I have decided to return your trust to you and announce to you my resignation from the position of prime minister to make way for another one of the sons or daughters of this generous country to lead our dear homeland and carry it through the transition towards a reviving, civil and democratic state,” he added.
The Bureau of African Affairs has called upon Sudanese leaders to reach a consensus towards the continuity of the civilians’ rule.
“After PM Hamdok’s resignation, Sudanese leaders should set aside differences, find consensus, and ensure continued civilian rule. Sudan’s next PM and cabinet should be appointed in line with the constitutional declaration to meet the people’s goals of freedom, peace, and justice,” read the tweet from the Bureau of African Affairs.
Sounding alarm
Last month, the Sudanese Prime Minister raised an alarm of resignation in a quest to restore political stability, through civilian rule.
However, demonstrations remained the order of the day since his reinstatement as the country’s prime minister. Reports show that over 50 protesters have been killed during protests with gross human rights concerns, including 13 women reportedly gang-raped.
Hamdok fronted accusations of political obstinacy and failure to reach a consensus between the civilian and military governments that have attempted to tear the country apart.
Irrespective of numerous calls to withhold his decision to resign, Hamdok embraced his decision to leave power to the military and give way to a fresh mind to champion the transition.
Late in November, Hamdok vowed to investigate army officers that brutalised protesters since his ouster on October 25 after he met with members of Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) at his residence in Khartoum.
FFC dropped their failure to recognise the peace deal between Hamdok and the military, calling for the Juba peace agreement that led to the reinstatement of Hamdok to be implemented in letter and spirit.
The Sudanese economy had crumbled, leaving civilians with dire living costs.
Protests
The protests on Sunday which were closely followed by Hamdok’s resignation were the “12th major protest” since the military took over the leadership.
The announcement by Central Doctors Committee that is aligned with the pro-democracy movement announced that the killing of protesters was by the army soldiers.
“The shooting was unnecessary since no one planned to march across the Nile to the Republican Palace as announced,” Sulaima Ishaq, an activist in Khartoum, was quoted saying in The National.
“It was tragic again today in Umm Dorman,” she told The National.
According to The National, the protesters pressed on, that they would not give up as they were seen wrapped in the Sudanese flag.
“The people are stronger; going back is impossible,” they chanted
“The revolution is the revolution of the people, to whom power belongs, and troops go back to their barracks.”
During the 66th independence anniversary, Al Burhan was quoted saying that the country was facing threats that needed urgent attention and called for dialogue to end the crisis.
“The council commended the efforts made by the security agencies and the wisdom they have shown in dealing with security threats,” said the statement issued by the Sovereignty Council, a collective presidency led by Gen Al Burhan.
There were also reports that security forces had been beating children, chasing protesters, firing tear gas in hospitals treating wounded protesters and stopping ambulances from ferrying the injured for medical attention.
The Sudanese Prime Minister was ousted on October 25, 2021, and placed under house arrest by the military council.
Relations with Sudan
But his reinstatement of Hamdok restored a beacon of hope in the political and economic life of South Sudan.
There had been a view that the bilateral relations would be revisited, and the borders would be reopened, thus salvaging the dwindling economy and skyrocketing food prices.
Hamdok being the chairman of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), was key in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The was also the hope to reignite the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between South Sudan and Sudan which included the four freedoms of the 2012 cooperation agreement.
This agreement allows freedom of residence, freedom of movement, freedom to undertake economic activity and freedom to acquire and dispose of the property.
Peace in Sudan allows for a space for dialogue between the SPLM/A-IO led by Dr. Riek Machar and the Kit Gwang faction led by Simon Gatwech Dual who have recently been exchanging offensives.
Peace in Sudan gives a safer haven to South Sudanese refugees seeking refuge in Sudan making the two countries’ political, social and economic dependence of greater affinity.