AU calls for civilian power in Sudan in 60 days

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dissolves transitional authorities and declares a state of emergency during a statement on Sudan state television. The announcement comes after armed forces detained figures of the government in charge of leading the transition to democracy since the April 2019 ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir.

Military vehicles patrol a street in Khartoum as Sudan's top general declares a state of emergency, dissolves the authorities leading the country's democratic transition, and announces the formation of a new government. Soldiers have also detained civilian leaders in what activists denounce as a "coup".

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"The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored," State Department spokesman Ned Price tells reporters after a military takeover in Sudan.

Several people were killed and at least 140 injured in clashes between soldiers and protesters after Sudan's military seized power. The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis.

The government had said it imposed the measure to fight terrorism, while critics said it granted President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi sweeping powers to crush dissent.

In the aftermath of the Sudanese military seizing control in Khartoum, amateur footage has been emerging, some of it claiming to show violent scenes and shots fired at protesters. We have been able to verify some images showing protests in Khartoum. Also, with internet access severely curtailed as the coup happened, how is it that footage can still emerge from Sudan via social media?

It has been two and half years since Sudanese protesters peacefully overthrew their dictator Omar al-Bashir in a jubilant moment for Sudan. But the path to democracy has not run smoothly. Infighting has plagued the country's joint military-civilian coalition and steep price rises have shaken people's faith in their leaders. For weeks, rumours had swirled of a coup d'état. This Monday morning, it happened: Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was arrested and military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan appeared on television, declaring a state of emergency and dissolving the country's ruling body. Is this the death knell for Sudan's revolution? Or will the military's actions breathe new life into the protest movement?

As Addis Ababa steps up its air offensive against the TPLF, and Tigray forces advance on the ground, the situation of the civilian population grows more desperate by the hour.

Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said on Tuesday (October 26) that the military agreed to a number of initiatives suggested by prime minister Abdalla Hamdok but civilian forces refused to engage in any dialogue. Speaking at his first news conference since he announced Monday's takeover, Burhan defended the army's seizure of power, saying he had ousted the government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok to avoid civil war. Soldiers arrested the prime minister and other members of his cabinet on Monday (October 25), and hours later Burhan appeared on TV to announce the dissolution of the Sovereign Council, a body set up to share power between the military and civilians.

Lazarus Chakwera, the president of Malawi, who is also currently chair of the Southern African Development Community, gave an interview to FRANCE 24 from Dubai. He hailed Malawi and Zambia as "examples of what democracy is about". Chakwera insisted that overall, "democracy is getting consolidated" on the continent, in spite of "erratic events", referring to the recent coups in Mali, Guinea and now Sudan. He described such coups as being "not the African way".

The African Union has suspended Sudan's participation in activities until the restoration of a civilian-led authority. Earlier, the EU had condemned the army for toppling Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok's government.