US ‘deeply alarmed’ by reports of possible Sudan coup
ByMichelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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ByMichelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
KHARTOUM, Sudan — The U.S. government has responded to reports that a possible military coup is unfolding in Sudan, which has been grappling with a transition to democracy in the wake of the 2019 ouster of its former autocratic leader, Omar al-Bashir.
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Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese protesters march in 60th Street in the capital Khartoum to denounce overnight detentions by the army of members of Sudan's government, on October 25, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese protesters burn tyres to block a road in 60th Street in the capital Khartoum to denounce overnight detentions by the army of members of Sudan's government, on October 25, 2021. (ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese protesters march in 60th Street in the capital Khartoum to denounce overnight detentions by the army of members of Sudan's government, on October 25, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese protesters march in 60th Street in the capital Khartoum to denounce overnight detentions by the army of members of Sudan's government, on October 25, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese protesters burn tyres to block a road in 60th Street in the capital Khartoum to denounce overnight detentions by the army of members of Sudan's government, on October 25, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese protesters burn tyres to block a road in 60th Street in the capital Khartoum to denounce overnight detentions by the army of members of Sudan's government, on October 25, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese protesters burn tyres to block a road in 60th Street in the capital Khartoum to denounce overnight detentions by the army of members of Sudan's government, on October 25, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese people take the streets after a possible military coup attempt in Khartoum, Sudan, on October 25, 2021. Sudan's military arrested the country's prime minister and members of the civilian government, officials in the capital Khartoum announced early Monday. (Rasd Sudan Network/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese protesters burn tyres to block a road in 60th Street in the capital Khartoum to denounce overnight detentions by the army of members of Sudan's government, on October 25, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Sudanese protesters flood streets amid reports of possible military coup Sudanese people take the streets after the possible military coup attempt in Khartoum, Sudan, on October 25, 2021. Sudan's military arrested the country's prime minister and members of the civilian government, officials in the capital Khartoum announced early Monday. (Rasd Sudan Network/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
In a statement early Monday, U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said officials are “deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover of the transitional government” in the northeast African nation.
“This would contravene the Constitutional Declaration and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people and is utterly unacceptable,” readthe statement posted by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs’ official Twitter account. “As we have said repeatedly, any changes to the transitional government by force puts at risk U.S. assistance.”
Special Envoy Feltman: The US is deeply alarmed at reports of a military take-over of the transitional government. This would contravene the Constitutional Declaration and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people and is utterly unacceptable. (1/2)
According to The Associated Press, the statement came as Sudan’s information ministry said military forces had detained key Sudanese officials in an apparent coup attempt.
About 8 a.m. Sudan time, the ministry said military forces had placed interim Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok under house arrest and were pressuring him “to make a pro-coup statement,” according to a Facebook post. But minutes later, the ministry wrote that Hamdok instead asked pro-democracy Sudanese “to hold on to peace and occupy the streets to defend their revolution.” Following his refusal to endorse the coup, military forces arrested Hamdok and “transferred him to an unknown location,” the ministry added.
Military forces also have “stormed the radio and television headquarters in Omdurman,” where they “detained a number of employees,” the ministry wrote shortly before 9 a.m. local time.
