SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: BBC – Sudan coup: Why the army is gambling with the future

27/10/2021: BBC – Sudan coup: Why the army is gambling with the future, by Alex de Waal

Africa analyst Alex de Waal argues that coup leader Abdulfattah al-Burhan has endangered Sudan's diplomatic, economic and security prospects.

Highlighting al-Burhan’s motivations for the coup, de Waal notes that the transfer of leadership of the ruling Sovereign Council to a civilian raised the prospect of al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces commander-in-chief Himedti being transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and held accountable for the June 3 2019 massacre in Khartoum.

Tackling corruption and implementing security sector reform also worried the military, as the Tamkeen committee seeks to challenge the military’s “still-increasing share of the national budget, [as] military-owned companies operate with tax exemptions and often allegedly corrupt contracting procedures.”

Finally, the coup threatens renewed conflict with holdout rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdelwahid al-Nur and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement of Abdelaziz al-Hilu, who had confidence in Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok in peace negotiations.