According to coup leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the absence of consensus between political parties necessitates the military to keep control in Sudan. He also accused demonstrators of attacking security officers.
Al-Burhan seized power and abolished the civilian government on October 25, 2021, claiming that it was ruled by a small group of political forces.
In fact, the erstwhile ruling Forces for Freedom and Change split up with him because they disagreed on the rotation of the Sovereign Council chairmanship to a civilian leader, security sector reform, and the turnover of their enterprises to the civilian administration.
Al-Burhan disputed blame for the military’s ongoing hold on power in an interview with the US-funded Al-Hurra TV, claiming that the military wished to return civilian power as quickly as possible, but that a lack of political accord forced them to stay in power.
“On October 25, we were prepared to put an end to the coup if a political compromise could be achieved. “We remind people who are discussing ending the coup that this measure (the coup) was required at the moment (…) and that we will cease our efforts whenever an agreement is achieved to restore the democratic road,” he stated.
Negotiations with the coup government, according to the FFC, should result in the restoration of civilian governance and the complete elimination of the military component from power.
The head of the military-controlled Sovereign Council also accused protesters of breaching public order and storming police stations and government headquarters in an attempt to excuse the deployment of extreme violence against them.
“Security forces have been given explicit orders not to assault demonstrators who are peacefully expressing their views.” They’ve also been told not to carry guns or chase demonstrators, but to stay still and protect state institutions,” he stated.
The security forces used excessive force against protesters, killing 102 people. Furthermore, security agents are accused of rapping female demonstrators who have been imprisoned.
The police are now striking protestors’ gathering locations in order to prevent them from staging protests, and they are still hunting protesters in residential areas after they have dispersed.
Sudanese police, in a separate development, denied using the internationally banned cartridge weapon to disperse anti-coup rallies on Sunday.
In statements to the Sudan Tribune about the usage of cartridge guns on Sunday, Police spokesman Brig Gen Abdallah al-Badri claimed, “The police forces do not use any firearms against the demonstrators, and they do not have any prohibited weapons in their depots.”
According to a report released on Saturday by the independent Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, the globally outlawed weapon killed 8 of the 102 victims.
A total of 747 people were hurt by cartridge guns during the opposition committees’ protests, according to the medical group.
When asked about the reunion with the previous ruling National Congress Party (NCP), al-Burhan stated that the military and the outlawed party do not have an alliance.
“We don’t ally with any political party because that goes against the military establishment’s beliefs,” he stated.
He made it clear that this party will not be allowed to participate in the transitional period.
Hundreds of NCP cadres were reinstated to the civil service and different security organs after the coup.
He also enabled wanted NCP leaders to make public appearances and coordinate protests against the UN operation in Sudan.
He simply stated that his government “rejects any conditional support” in response to the suspension of international economic help to Sudan.
Resumption of economic aid to Sudan is conditional on the return of a civilian-led administration, according to the international community.
