Sudan: Military pull out of political scene
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Sudanese military leader Lt Gen. Abdul Fatah Burhan has pulled out of an ongoing political dialogue, saying the army has now left the scene for the political parties, forces and youth to decide the political future of the country.
In a major political development in the Sudan, the head of the Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Burhan, told the nation he had decided that the "Army will no longer participate in the tripartite negotiations".
This, he said, would open the space for the political and revolutionary forces and other national components to sit down and form a government by independent national qualified persons to run the country until elections are held and a government is formed.
The announcement comes following intensive western pressure led by the United States and ceaseless lobbying by the United Nations, African Union and IGAD, along with incessant demonstrations calling on the army to distance itself from the political scene.
The last of such demonstrations took place on Thursday that resulted in the death of nine youth, raising the number of those killed since October last year to over 120 youth.
Burahan said the sovereign council that he headed would be resolved upon the formation of the said caretaker government, adding that the military would form along with the Rapid Support Forces a National Defense and Security Council to oversee the security and national integrity of the country.
Burhan in a televised statement called on the youth to appreciate this move and resort to peaceful demonstrations.
He equally urged the political forces to listen to the voice of wisdom and genuinely engage in the political process facilitated by the UN, AU and IGAD to help usher in a democratic transition.
He underlined that the army would not take sides, thus brushing away accusations that the army was in fact in support of the elements of the ousted regime of Omar Bashir
Burhan underlined that the Sudanese Armed Forces would work with all components of the Sudanese people to achieve national consensus.
Observers believe this could not be but a move agreed upon by local, regional and international forces with strong vested interest in the Sudan.
It will nevertheless stir the stalemate in the negotiations that have been going on for months without tangible results now that the military are at least nominally, out of the scene of negotiations.
It would also mean that such mighty political parties like the Umma National Party and the Democratic Unionist Party, would be able to step in and take part actively in the negotiations.
However, the questions would remain in the decision by the army to pull out of the active political scene would allow the little popular but still politically and economically strong, the National Congress Party of Omar Bashir, to surge once again on the political scene, having to distance itself from the Islamic National Front, bringing in moderate right wing politicians.
-0- PANA MO/RA 4July2022
