The authorities have assured that the situation "is under control"

Failed coup attempt in Sudan

photo_camera AFP/ ASHRAF SHAZLY - Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (centre) and Major General Malik Tayeb Khojali (left) inspect a guard of honour in El-Fasher, North Darfur.

During the early hours of Monday morning, the city of Omdurman, adjacent to the capital Khartoum, witnessed an attempted coup d'état. According to local sources, the military commanders of the coup attempted to seize the offices of the state radio station. In response to this offensive, forces loyal to the transitional government were deployed in both cities to surround the area and try to capture those involved as quickly as possible. However, some have managed to escape, and a search operation has been launched throughout the region. As a first step, the bridge across the Nile was closed, cutting off communication between Omdurman and Khartoum.

Military sources explain that a group of officers "were involved in the attempt, but were immediately suspended". In addition, the government claims that "the coup has been aborted, but some are still on the run and a search operation is underway". The spokesman for the Sovereign Transitional Council, Muhamad Faki Suleiman, has communicated the latest news of the event, and has appealed for calm, saying that "it is under control" and adding that the "revolution is victorious", in reference to the coup that brought his people to power in 2019.

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The main unknown is who are the military who have carried out the coup and what is the main motivation behind it. According to sources consulted by the Al-Ain media, the protagonists are corporals from the 39th and 40th groups of the Sudanese army, specifically the Armoured Corps. Abdel-Baqi Bakraw, a major general, is also said to be among those arrested, according to the Council spokesman. In addition to them, some of those already arrested are said to belong to the Muslim Brotherhood, an organisation considered terrorist by the United States and the European Union, among others, and linked on numerous occasions to the Turkish government.

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At the moment, the situation in the country appears to be under control and intensive efforts are being made to track down those individuals who have managed to escape following the coup attempt. Sudan is currently under the command of a transitional government composed of both military and civilian representatives, established after the overthrow of the 30-year president, Omar al-Bashir. The primary objective of the current executive is to oversee and secure the transition to a new fully civilian government, although the country's economic situation has greatly complicated the transition.

Sudan's debt to the International Monetary Fund has forced the government to take harsh measures. The drastic reduction of subsidies and the managed float of the Lebanese pound have not gone down well with the population, who see these measures as too harsh. However, the IMF itself has supported these initiatives, which are seen as the only short-term alternative for Sudan to alleviate its debt to the Fund. Despite this, many Sudanese have staged sporadic protests against the rising cost of living in the country.
 

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