Sudan Coup d’état 2021: Global Reactions and Statements

By IndraStra Global News Team

By IndraStra Global News Team

Image Attribute: File photo of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan / Source: Getty Images

On October 25, 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan-led Sudanese Armed Forces (Al-Quwwat al-Musallaha as-Sudaniyah) took control of the country's administration (led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok) in a coup d’état. While the country was already being governed by the Transitional Military Council, security forces by General al-Burhan seized complete power last month. Since the coup, at least 13 people have been killed while more than 300 have been injured. Additionally, “numerous arrests” and disappearances of civil society members, journalists and activists have been reported.

Here are the collection of statements issued by various countries and global institutions;

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet'S statement (Speaking at a Human Rights Council Session in Sudan on November 5, 2021)

“Events since the coup have recalled a sombre page in the country’s history when freedom of expression was stifled and human rights were comprehensively repressed,” said Bachelet, in reference to the 30-year rule of Sudan by former autocrat Omar al-Bashir. "

“I urge Sudan’s military leaders, and their backers, to step back in order to allow the country to return to the path of progress towards institutional and legal reforms,” she added.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss' Statement (issued on November 5, 2021)

"The United Kingdom strongly condemns the military coup in Sudan on 25 October. In 2019, the Sudanese agreed on a unique partnership between civilians and the military in order to steer Sudan's transition to full democracy. That partnership delivered huge progress, from abolishing oppressive laws to economic reforms and the Juba Peace agreement to help end decades of conflict. The military's unilateral actions threaten all of these gains. In detaining civilian politicians and activists, and unilaterally amending the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, the military have undermined the spirit and letter of both that hard-won 2019 compromise, and also the Juba Peace Agreement. The Sudanese people have taken to the streets in their millions in recent days to reject these actions. International condemnation has been fast and widespread."

"It is still however possible for Sudan's transition to get back on course. The United Kingdom welcomes and supports mediation efforts and urge the military to engage in a spirit of compromise. We note the release of four detainees on 4 November, but call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained since 25 October, the restoration of the Constitutional Declaration as a starting point for dialogue, and for security forces to respect the right to peaceful protest. The United Kingdom will continue to support the Sudanese people in their demands for freedom, peace and justice. The military have the opportunity to put the transition back on course; the United Kingdom urges them to do so now," she added. 

France’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre's statement (issued on November 5, 2021)

According to the spokeswoman's statement; Paris had been an "unwavering" partner for Sudan and that the general debt cancellation program as part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative was agreed at the Paris Club conference in Paris in May.

"A Paris Club agreement was reached on July 15, each creditor now having to sign a bilateral agreement with Sudan," Legendre told reporters, responding to a question on whether Paris was reviewing its debt cancellation promise. "It is clear that the military coup of October 25 calls into question this process."

U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman statement (issued by U.S. State Department's Bureau of African Affairs  on October 25, 2021)

In a statement issued by the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman said the U.S. was "deeply alarmed at reports of a military take-over of the transitional government." He argued a new coup "would contravene the Constitutional Declaration" adopted in August 2019, as well as "the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people and is utterly unacceptable."

"As we have said repeatedly," he added, "any changes to the transitional government by force put at risk U.S. assistance."

UN Security Council's statement (issued on October 25, 2021)

The Security Council demanded the release of detained civilian leaders and the restoration of the civilian-led transitional government in Sudan. In a press statement, the members of the Security Council expressed serious concern about Monday's military takeover in Sudan, the suspension of some transitional institutions, the declaration of a state of emergency, and the detention of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other civilian members of the transitional government. The council members called for the immediate release of all those who have been detained by the military authorities, and in this regard, took note of the reported return of Prime Minister Hamdok to his residence.

About General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan (born 1960) is a Sudanese politician and Sudanese Army general who is the de facto head of state of Sudan as the Commander-In-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces after leading a coup d'état in October 2021 that deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Al-Burhan was the former chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, the country's collective head of state, which was established following the Sudanese Revolution in 2019 to guide a Sudanese transition to democracy.

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