Ο Prime Minister of Sudan, Abdullah Hamdok, was placed under house arrest by an army force whose orders it is unclear whose orders he is obeying, after a siege of his residence early Monday morning (25/10), Al-Hadath TV network reported, citing unnamed sources.
BREAKING: CIVILIAN MEMBERS OF #SUDAN GOVT TAKEN INTO CUSTODY INCLUDING CABINET AFFAIRS MIN., INDUSTRY MINISTER, INFORMATION MINISTER, @TSC_SUDAN MEMBER @melfaki_s , @Alhadath_Brk REPORTS
- Wasil Ali - واصل علي (@wasilalitaha) October 25, 2021
Earlier, the Sudanese Ministry of Information confirmed that most of the members of the cabinet and the national sovereignty council have been arrested, who took over the country's democratic transition after the overthrow of Omar El Bashir in 2019.
The same force arrested at least four ministers in Mr Hamdock's government - Communications, Information, Finance, Industry - and a civilian member of the governing council, as well as the governor of Khartoum, according to the same sources. The arrests are expected to continue.
BREAKING: A COUP APPEARS TO BE UNDERWAY IN #SUDAN 🇸🇩. MILITARY FORCES HAVE ARRESTED SEVERAL MINISTERS AND SURROUNDED THE HOME OF PRIME-MINISTER HAMDOK.
THE SPA CALLS ON THE PEOPLE TO TAKE TO THE STREETS TO STOP THE POWER GRAB. pic.twitter.com/afydRDbh38
- Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) October 25, 2021
The soldiers also invaded the house of the prime minister's communications adviser and detained him., his family members told Reuters news agency.
According to the Athens and Macedonian News Agency, the military force has blocked all entrances to the capital and several bridges.
#Sudan 🇸🇩: pro-democracy forces (including the SPA and Resistance Committees) are calling on the Sudanese people to take to the streets and occupy them now, before the internet might be cut off by the military. #SudanRevolts
- Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) October 25, 2021
Internet access has been cut off throughout the country, French Agency journalists have found. It also appears that a large part of the telephone networks have been cut off.
The head of Sudan's so-called National Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is expected to make statements on developments in the country in a few hours, Al-Hadath TV network reported.
Demonstrators are gathering in the streets of the capital to protest the arrests, while army forces have blocked the entrances to Khartoum and several bridges.
Sudan streets now!!! #الردة_مستحيلة #لا_للانقلاب_العسكري pic.twitter.com/xCqEsLt3yT
- Zee🪐 (@zainabtha) October 25, 2021
At the same time, Khartoum International Airport was closed and international flights were suspended, reports Dubai's Al Arabiya television network. There has been no announcement about the airport from Sudanese authorities, amid reports of an ongoing military coup.
Coup in Sudan: “Take to the streets” says the Prime Minister
The Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdullah Hamdok, today called on Sudanese people to take to the streets to peacefully defend the revolution, in a statement released from the place where he was being held by the military, according to the Ministry of Information.
According to the same source, the head of government was transferred to an unknown location after refusing to support the military coup.
Meanwhile, the US Special Envoy, Jeffrey Feltman, expressed his deep concern about the ongoing coup in Sudan.
Through the official account of the State Department's African Affairs Directorate, Mr Feltman warned that the military's seizure of power was contrary to the Constitutional Declaration of the transitional government and would jeopardise the continuation of Washington's aid to the country.
Borel is concerned
The High Representative of the European Union, Giuseppe Borel, today expressed his deep concern about developments in Sudan, where a military coup is taking place.
«I am following with great concern the events unfolding in Sudan. The EU calls on all parties and partners in the region to put the political transition process back on track,» Borel said via Twitter.
Following with utmost concern ongoing events in #Sudan.
The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process.
- Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 25, 2021
Yesterday, Sunday (24/10), Sudanese police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who were trying to block a central avenue in the capital.
Supporters of the army demonstrated last week, the second in a row, to demand the resignation of the government. According to the transitional authorities, the protests and riots involve supporters of the party of Omar El Bashir, who seized power in a coup and was president of Sudan until the army overthrew him in 2019.
In a statement, the Union of Sudanese Professionals - which had led the mass mobilisations that led to the overthrow of former dictator Omar El Bashir in the 2019 military coup - called on citizens to take to the streets and «resist» any new coup.
