International Reactions To Resignation Of Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, Update
04 January, 2022
KHARTOUM (Sudanow) - Sudan’s Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, announced his resignation on Monday citing inability to forge a consensus among the components of the transitional period.
He served as Prime Minister since August 2019 following the December 2018 Revolution.
After being detained during the 25 October، 2021 military takeover, along with senior officials and political activists, Hamdok had been reinstated after signing a deal with the leader of the coup General Burhan.
Following are some international reactions to his resignation and the political situation in the Sudan:
The United Nations
Following resignation of Sudan’s Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, the United Nations’ Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the continued violence targeting protestors in Sudan, following the 25 October military takeover.
his statement, Guterres called upon the Sudanese security forces to exercise the utmost restraint and fulfil their obligations in relation to the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
The Secretary-General said the UN remains ready to support efforts to reach a lasting solution.
Mr. Guterres said he regrets that "a political understanding on the way forward is not in place, despite the gravity of the situation."
The Secretary-General encouraged all stakeholders to continue engaging in meaningful dialogue in order to reach an inclusive, peaceful and lasting solution.
“Sudanese aspirations for a transition that leads to a democratic dispensation are critical. The UN remains ready to support these efforts”, he said.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Volker Perthes, also noted the Prime Minister’s decision to step down.
In his statement, Mr. Perthes said he respects the decision and commends the accomplishments made under his leadership, as well as the significant achievements he made during the first phase of the transitional period.
The Special Representative remains, however, concerned by the ongoing political crisis following the military coup of 25 October, which risks further derailing progress made since the December revolution.
He also urges the security forces to abide by their obligations under international law and strictly uphold the rights of protestors to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Perpetrators of violence must be brought to justice”, he says.
For him, “the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a democratic path and completing the peace process should be the cornerstone of all efforts to solve the current crisis.”
“The lack of trust among Sudanese actors needs to be overcome through a meaningful and inclusive dialogue”, he added.
The Special Representative concluded saying that the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) stands ready to facilitate this process.
The European Union and Troika
The European Union and Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) said in a statement that .
Abdallah Hamdok played a major role in leading Sudan’s democratic and economic reforms. His resignation as Sudanese Prime Minister, two months after the military’s unconstitutional seizure of power, reinforces the urgent need for all Sudanese leaders to recommit to the country’s democratic transition and deliver on the Sudanese people’s demands for freedom, peace, and justice.
While the European Union and the Troika will continue to support the democratic transition in Sudan, Sudanese stakeholders will need to work on the basis of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration on how to overcome the nation’s current political crisis, select new civilian leadership, and identify clear timelines and processes for the remaining transitional tasks – including establishing the legislative and judicial branches of government, creating accountability mechanisms, and laying the groundwork for elections.
Unilateral action to appoint a new Prime Minister and Cabinet would undermine those institutions’ credibility and risks plunging the nation into conflict. To avoid this, we strongly urge stakeholders to commit to an immediate, Sudanese-led and internationally facilitated dialogue to address these and other transitional issues. Such a dialogue should be fully inclusive and representative of historically marginalized groups, include youth and women, and would help put the country back on the path to democracy.
The European Union and the Troika will not support a Prime Minister or government appointed without the involvement of a broad range of civilian stakeholders.
We look forward to working with a government and a transitional parliament, which enjoy credibility with the Sudanese people and can lead the country to free and fair elections as a priority.
This will be necessary to facilitate the European Union and the Troika’s provision of economic assistance to Sudan. In the absence of progress, we would look to accelerate efforts to hold those actors impeding the democratic process accountable.
At this critical juncture, we continue to hold the military authorities responsible for human rights violations which are against current national legislation and international law.
The right of the Sudanese people to assemble peacefully and express their demands needs to be protected.
The killing of scores of Sudanese, sexual violence and the injuries of hundreds more by the security services and other armed groups since the October 25 military takeover is unacceptable.
The United States
U.S. Senator Jim Risch, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in statement: “This weekend's resignation of Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok completes the October 25 military coup. Hamdok's “return” to the job in late November, after the military junta allowed it, forestalled the inevitable: the betrayal of the Sudanese people and the death of a fragile civilian and military transition.
“While imperfect, the 2019 political agreement was the best chance for the Sudanese people to determine a future free from military dictatorship.
“Sudan's military junta should hand over power to civilian leaders and the Biden Administration must treat what occurred on October 25 as it was – a military coup. Anything short of these actions is a failure for the people of Sudan. Congress will continue to lead by once again recalibrating the U.S.-Sudan bilateral relationship, including adjustments to commitments made before the coup. We will also support the Sudanese people by pursuing accountability for the coup leaders and those who continue to use state-sponsored violence and other means to suppress the voices of the Sudanese people.”
The US State Department’s Bureau for African Affairs said via Twitter that it hoped the country would ensure continued civilian rule. “Sudan’s next PM and cabinet should be appointed in line with the constitutional declaration to meet the people’s goals of freedom, peace, and justice … The United States continues to stand with the people of Sudan as they push for democracy. Violence against protestors must cease,” the Bureau tweeted.
Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations and the Security Council ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Sudan has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transition to a truly civilian-led democracy. We condemn the military's continued use of violence against peaceful protesters and urge Sudan’s leaders to respect the demand for civilian rule.
Chair of the US Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks said: Hamdok’s resignation signifies the further erosion of Sudan’s civilian-led transition under Generals Burhan and Hemedti.
The Sudanese people deserve leaders who respect their aspirations for democracy and peace.
Member of the Committee, Senator Chris Coons said Prime Minister Hamdok worked to try to realize the goals of the revolution and build a more free, peaceful and prosperous Sudan. His resignation cements the 10/25 military coup and exposes the intentions of Sudan’s military leaders to cling to power.
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