The resignation of Sudan’s civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has pushed the country, already battered by political instability, anti-military protests and violence, into further chaos.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan disbanded the Sovereignty Council and ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in a coup in October 2021.
As military rule became unsustainable and due to international pressure military agreed on power sharing agreement.
Mr. Hamdok called for a dialogue to agree on a “national charter” and to “draw a roadmap” to complete the transition to democracy.
In November 2021 Mr. Hamdok was reinstated following the deal to calm tensions and anti-coup protests.
However the deal was rejected by the pro-democracy movement.
It wants the power to be handed over to a fully civilian government tasked with leading the transition.
Since then, Hamdok was unable to form his Cabinet amid relentless protests.
According to Mr. Hamdok the deal with the military was meant to preserve achievements his government made in the past two years, and to protect Sudan from sliding to a new international isolation.
Having failed to convince the protesters Sudan’s Prime Minister announced his resignation.
Prior to his resignation, Sudanese security forces violently dispersed the latest demonstrations by pro-democracy protesters.
There are allegations of killing, using tear gases, sound grenades blockade of roads and bridges, sexual violence, including rape by security forces against female protesters.
This would push Sudan into further Chaos.
What will be the implications of recent events?
The military miscalculated the will of the protesters. The military has power, but is in a difficult situation.
When Mr. Hamdok was reinstated the coup, he may have calculated that the military could exercise greater control over the civilian government and elections.
But with Mr. Hamdok’s resignation, this plan seems to have collapsed.
A direct takeover of the government by the military would be extremely unpopular.
Finding a legitimate Prime Minister would not be easy either.
According to the constitutional declaration of 2019, the Prime Minister should be selected by a legislative council and then endorsed by the Sovereignty Council.
The legislative council was never formed and the Sovereignty Council was disbanded.
The military could appoint another technocrat.
If the protesters fail to accept Mr. Hamdok, they are certainly not going to accept anyone the military appoints next.
How did it affect the economy?
Protests have paralysed an already weak economy.
Inflation has soared to over 400%.
At least 1/3rd of the country’s population needs humanitarian assistance in 2022.
Only a stable and responsive government can address these critical challenges.
What needs to be done?
The military has the moral and political responsibility to resolve the crisis.
It should immediately end the crackdown, respect the power-sharing agreement, restore the Sovereignty Council and allow the country’s full transition into democracy.
