Sudan's top general reappointed himself as head of the army-run interim governing body on Thursday, a sign that he's tightening his grip on the country two weeks after he led a coup against civilian leaders.
The move by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan - along with other appointments he announced for the Sovereign Council - was expected to anger Sudan's pro-democracy protest movement, sidelined in the coup. Since the Oct. 25 takeover, pro-democracy leaders have demanded the military relinquish power and refuse to be part of any administration in which a military maintains a role.
Sudan's culture and information minister, Hamza Baloul, who was arrested during the coup and later released, condemned the appointments. He described Thursday's announcement of the new council as “an extension of the coup” and said pro-democracy protesters are right to refuse to negotiate with military leaders. Along with rejecting internationally backed initiatives to return to a power-sharing arrangement with the military, the protest movement has also called for a nationwide strike.
A number of other members of the body sat on the previous council that Burhan headed before he dissolved it in the coup. Also reappointed to the body Thursday was the powerful paramilitary leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, as vice-president. And Burhan reappointed as council members another three generals who had served in the previous council.
The agreement under which the council was formed after Bashir's ouster stipulated that the council should include five civilians chosen by activists, five military representatives chosen by the armed forces and one civilian member to be chosen in agreement between civilians and the generals. The coup has been condemned by the United Nations, the United States and the European Union - all of which have urged the generals to restore a military-civilian transitional government. Mediation efforts are ongoing to resolve the crisis.
Woodward said the Security Council is clear that “it is important to resume dialogue, that dialogue is the way forward.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sudanese general tightens grip on power, two weeks after coupSudan’s top general tightens grip on power amid repeated promises from the military that they will hand over power to civilian authorities
Read more »
Slovakia rejects proposed law restricting access to abortionSlovakia's parliament on Thursday narrowly rejected proposed legislation that would have tightened access to abortion in the European Union country.
Read more »
Week 10 NFL panel picks: Will surging Patriots cover vs. Browns?Week 10 kicks off Thursday with the Ravens visiting the Dolphins and concludes with the Rams looking to bounce back against the 49ers in an NFC West showdown. Here's how our panel of experts think it will all play out:
Read more »
Suspicious package at Remembrance Day ceremony delays arrival of prime minister, governor generalThe delays meant VIPs were arriving at the National War Memorial after the ceremony had begun, with artillery fire in the background
Read more »
Suspicious package at Remembrance Day ceremony delays arrival of prime minister, governor generalThe delays meant VIPs were arriving at the National War Memorial after the ceremony had begun, with artillery fire in the background
Read more »
Retired General: Thousands with Canadian ties stuck in Afghanistan
Read more »