Anti-military violence erupts in Sudan following resignation of civilian leader – World Peace Organization

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok resigned his post on Sunday despite his recent return to power following a military coup earlier this year. Hamdok’s resignation has now sparked a wave of violence, as protesters calling for mass rallies against the military regime have met with Sudanese security forces using tear gas to quell dissent. Hamdok had returned under a military-civilian power-sharing deal, leading pro-democracy protests accusing him of betraying a transitional civilian government and ensuring military rule in politics Sudanese. As the number of protesters reaches tens of thousands, security measures are increasingly violent and deadly, leading to international involvement in calling for a secure transition to civilian rule.
An Aljazeera source, reporting on the ground, said that âas long as the military is still in power⦠that’s not what revolutionaries want. They want a transitional civilian government, they want democracy, they want elections. The dismissal of Hamdok, according to Sudanese lawyer Ahmed el-Gaili, “removes the last fig leaf that covered this regime and what remains is a full-fledged military dictatorship.” Outside powers such as the UN and the United States have responded with an urgent need for civilian rule, as violence against protesters continues to grow. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a “constructive dialogue” between the Sudanese parties in order to “reach an inclusive, peaceful and lasting solution”.
At least 57 protesters have been killed since anger erupted in the streets since the military coup earlier this year, according to Reuters. Hamdok’s resignation has only fueled the flames, as growing protests meet resistance from military forces in an increasingly violent cycle. The tear gas incident that occurred this week represents the violent oppression of a group that is simply fighting for a voice in a government that has long denied them one. Although the future is uncertain due to Hamdok’s resignation, free and fair elections are the only way to a stable and lasting peace for Sudan. In the interest of the lives and safety of civilians, the parties must work together to protect a democratic transition and bring stability to the region.
Sudan’s path to democracy began two years ago, after the fall of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir caused by mass protests in 2019. A power-sharing agreement was reached between civil society and army, putting Sudan on track for a new constitution and elections in 2023. However, the October 25 military coup that detained Hamdok and rekindled anti-military protests put Sudan on the right track. way for a smooth transition to democracy. Hamdok’s resignation essentially ended the military coup, as he ultimately failed to appoint a new government and move Sudan away from military rule. Foreigners are now say that recent events see the cancellation of democratic reforms by the military government and a growing threat of outright military rule through a prime minister appointed by the military in the next election.
“People are tired, they are angry and they are ready to die, unfortunately, if that is what it takes,” said Sarah Nugdalla, a Sudanese researcher, of pro-democracy protest groups and the Sudanese civil society. Despite a strong and unwavering civil society that is firmly united against the military regime, the reach of those protesting in the streets can only extend so far in efforts to see real change. The growing divide between political forces in Sudan can only be bridged through a genuinely diplomatic process, in which all parties stand ready to protect a democratic process. While the future of the elections remains uncertain, it is also crucial to establish with absolute certainty that the violence against protesters and the loss of civilian life must end.