Clock ticks on Hamdok’s reign as he mulls resignation

Sudanese Prime Minister Dr Abdalla Hamdok has told his close allies that he would soon resign from his position, just a month after his reinstatement in November.

According to Reuters, Dr Hamdok would want to return the country to stability gained during the transitional period before his deposition following Saturday’s demonstration rejecting his administration and military rule in Sudan.

Dr Hamdok came back to power in an agreement reached between the Military Sovereign Council and civilians after his ousting in a coup that was criticised, both regionally and internationally in October.

The agreement, preceded by the widespread demonstration by the civil population demanding for returning the country to civil governance, has been faced by criticism from parties and the general public.

Since his reinstatement, demonstrations have continued in the capital, Khartoum, leading to the killing of about 47 people so far.

These have been in crackdowns on protesters venting against the military rule with at least 13 reportedly women gang-raped, the United Nations reported on Tuesday.

Renewed agreement

Dr Hamdok’s close allies had previously said he would remain as a Prime Minister if he had political support, as well as the agreement, was enforced.

The agreement calls on the military to release political detainees, protect freedom of expression and allow Hamdok to independently appoint a new cabinet.

However, over the weekend, Dr Hamdok was said to have pointed out that Sudan was inching towards “the abyss” which he blamed on the political intransigence and lack of consensus on a new political agreement.

According to a Reuters report published on Tuesday, the group Dr Hamdok spoke to called on him to maintain his seat but he insisted he would have to resign.

In late November, he promised to bring to book army officers responsible for brutalising protesters since the October 25 coup when his government was toppled.

During the anti-coup protest, at least 15 civilians were shot and killed after the military takeover. The military has been blamed for being aggressive and hunting down civilians from their homes and beating them up.

It was yet clear what would happen in Sudan if Dr Hamdok resigns as his reinstatement last month was recognised as a positive move towards the realisation of stability in the country.

Right now, thousands of people in Sudan have experienced one of the worst military oppression seen to be more brutal than the regime of the longest-serving military ruler Hassan Omar el Bashir, who assumed power through a coup in 1989.

The UN Security Council earlier called on the leaders as the country makes headway in transition to democracy to tackle the causes of inter-communal conflict that threatens the livelihoods of the communities in Sudan,

Over 100 people were reported to have been killed with thousands more rendered homeless. The majority of the victims are hailing from the western region of Darfur and partly from the Blue Nile region of Jebel Nubu.

The country’s economic situation continued to remain dire even though Sudan names had already been removed from the list of countries supporting terrorists and the subsequent lifting of the sanction in 2020 following Dr Hamdok’s takeover of the power in September.