US Deputy Assistant Secretary Urges Sudan TMC To Ensure Quick Transition To Civilian Rule

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published April 23, 2019 | 08:11 PM

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Makila James held a meeting with Sudan's Transitional Military Council (TMC) chief Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan and urged him to ensure a quick transition to a civilian government amid ongoing protests in the African country

KHARTOUM (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd April, 2019) US Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Makila James held a meeting with Sudan's Transitional Military Council (TMC) chief Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan and urged him to ensure a quick transition to a civilian government amid ongoing protests in the African country.

"Our conversation focused on the need to be inclusive in the discussions, to engage with the Sudanese people and to be sure that the transition is underway ... Our conversation was very constructive. We think that much more dialogue to be held ... We want to underscore that this is the time for the government here now to engage with the people. The street made its demands very clear � we would like to see a civilian government as soon as possible. The time line should be as quick as possible, because the street is demanding .

.. a quick transition," James told reporters after the meeting.

Sudan has been gripped by protests since December. The rallies were initially triggered by the rise in prices for bread and other consumer goods that greatly increased the vulnerability of Sudanese citizens. The protests then took on a new dimension as Sudanese citizens started calling for the resignation of President Omar Bashir, who has been in power for nearly 30 years.

On April 11, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf announced that Bashir had been detained and TMC had been established to govern the country for the next two years before ceding power to a civilian government. However, protests have continued, with the demonstrators now demanding that the military hand power over to a new civilian administration as soon as possible.