Blinken speaks with Sudan’s prime minister after African leader’s detainment

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Sudan’s prime minister following the African leader’s detainment by the military, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his wife were released from detainment on Tuesday after a military coup in the country Monday that overthrew the transitional civilian-military government, The Associated Press reported.

“The Secretary welcomed the Prime Minister’s release from custody and reiterated his call on Sudanese military forces to release all civilian leaders in detention and to ensure their safety,” Price said.

A military official told the AP the prime minister and his wife were under “heavy security” during their detainment. 

Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s military, said the prime minister was detained for his own safety as pro-democracy protests broke out after the military takeover.

Blinken called on Sudan’s military not to use violence against the demonstrators and supported the international condemnation that followed the military coup.

“The Secretary emphasized U.S. support for the civilian-led transition to democracy and for a return to the principles of Sudan’s transitional framework, as laid out in the 2019 Constitutional Declaration and the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement,” Price stated.

Burhan said other leaders of the deposed government will stay in detainment and could face trial for inciting an alleged rebellion against the military.

The U.N. Security Council had a closed-door meeting Tuesday regarding the situation in Sudan with one diplomat telling the AP a joint declaration against the coup could be adopted soon.