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Western nations urge swift Sudan accord to install civil rule
KHARTOUM, May 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The United States, Britain and Norway
called for a swift agreement between Sudanese protesters and generals on
installing civilian rule, saying it would be harder for them to work with any
other new authority.
Talks between protest leaders and army generals who seized power after
ousting longtime leader Omar al-Bashir last month have stopped since late
Monday following disagreement about who should lead a new ruling body — a
civilian or a soldier.
The Western troika, which has previously been involved in mediation in
Sudanese conflicts, said the country “urgently needs an agreement” to end the
period of uncertainty, according to a joint statement released late Tuesday.
“Any outcome that does not result in the formation of a government that is
civilian-led, placing primary authority for governing with civilians, will
not respond to the clearly expressed will of the Sudanese people for a
transition to civilian rule,” it said.
“This will complicate international engagement, and make it harder for our
countries to work with the new authorities and support Sudan’s economic
development,” added the statement, which was posted on the Facebook page of
the US embassy in Khartoum.
Washington has consistently called for civilian rule in Sudan since Bashir
was ousted by the army on April 11 after months of nationwide protests
against his iron-fisted regime of 30 years.
It has also suspended talks with Khartoum for removing Sudan from the US
list of state sponsors of terrorism, a key factor which for decades has made
foreign businesses wary of investing in the northeast African country.
Sudanese protest leaders are now preparing plans to call for a general
strike to build pressure on the generals to cede power.
The ruling military council has been pushing for its chairman General Abdel
Fattah al-Burhan to head the new sovereign body but protest leaders want a
civilian.
The new ruling body when finalised is expected to install a transitional
civilian government for three years after which the first post-Bashir
election would be held.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1440 hrs