SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Army leader Al-Burhan explains military takeover

27/10/2021: Multiple sources – Army leader Al-Burhan explains military takeover

• Guardian, by Peter Beaumont

• New York Times, by Abdi Latif Dahir and Simon Marks

• Bloomberg, by Tarek El-Tablawy and Abdel Latif Wahba

Explaining the military takeover, but denying that it was a coup, Lt. Gen. Abdulfattah al-Burhan, the commander-in-chief of the Sudanese army, said it was a necessary measure for stability – accusing political factions of inciting against the Sudanese army and derailing the democratic transition, claiming that coup was necessary to avoid a “civil war”.

“The whole country was deadlocked due to political rivalries. The experience during the past two years has proven that the participation of political forces in the transitional period is flawed and stirs up strife,” al-Burhan said.

Despite stating that “not all ministers and politicians were arrested”, al-Burhan warned that some detained government officials and political leaders could face trial.

Al-Burhan vowed to scrap emergency laws after the necessary institutions are formed, said internet access would be gradually restored and elections held in July 2023.