Washington D.C., 6 November 2021 (TDI): US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a telephonic conversation with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok on Thursday. The leaders expressed mutual concerns over Khartoum’s political and humanitarian crisis following the recent military coup.
The US official reiterated Washington’s support towards Prime Minister Hamdok to restore democracy in Sudan. While condemning the detention of civilian political figures by Sudan’s military, Bliken called for their immediate release and anticipated bringing a civilian-led transition to democracy.
In a call with Prime Minister Hamdok, I relayed U.S. calls for an end to detentions of civilian political figures in Sudan and for an immediate return to civilian-led government.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 5, 2021
While exhibiting the US’ relentless support towards Abdallah Hamdok, Secretary Blinken aspired for an end to the state of emergency in Khartoum. He also stated that a return to Sudan’s democratic transition will allow Washington to resume its bilateral partnership with the country, encompassing diplomatic, economic, political, and security cooperation.
Prime Minister Hamdok expressed his gratitude towards the US government’s continued economic and political support towards the state’s civilian leadership. Earlier on October 27, Blinken also consulted Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi on how Washington could assist the democratic transition under Sudan’s Constitutional Declaration.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s top General, led the military coup on October 25, 2021, dismissing the state’s joint civilian-military council. Thousands of civilians took to the streets protesting against the arrest of civilian political leaders and the military’s seizure of power, following which many have been killed and injured amid clashes with the security forces.
