Sudan’s armed forces chief and coup leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan defended the military’s actions saying that they seized power to prevent ‘civil war’ in the country.

“The dangers we witnessed last week could have led the country into civil war,” al-Burhan told a news conference.

Al-Burhan claimed that he had to arrest politicians and call for a state of emergency as they were “inciting against the armed forces”.

Speaking for the first time since announcing the takeover, the army chief on Tuesday further said the deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was being kept at the general’s house “for his own safety”, but has now returned home.

“The prime minister was at his house, but we feared that he will be harmed," he said.

“I was with him last night... and he is going about his life... he will return to his home when the crisis is over and all threats are gone,” he added.

The military chief further said Sudan was committed to the transition to civilian rule, with elections planned for July 2023.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/military-coup-in-sudan-pm-ministers-and-officials-detained-internet-access-cut-off-423768">Military coup in Sudan:&nbsp;PM, ministers, and officials detained, internet access cut off</a>

The statements by al-Burhan come in the backdrop of continuing protests against the coup in the capital, Khartoum, with roads, bridges and shops closed. Phone and internet lines have also been reportedly disrupted.

At least 10 people are said to have been killed since the unrest began.

Watch

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The sudden ouster of the civilian government has drawn condemnation from across the world.

Sudanese ambassadors to 12 countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, and France, have rejected the military takeover, a diplomatic source told Reuters on Tuesday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/military-coup-in-sudan-us-suspends-700-million-in-aid-urges-restoration-of-government-424003">Military coup in Sudan: US suspends $700 million in aid, urges restoration of government</a>

The US, the UK, EU, UN and African Union, of which Sudan is a member, have all demanded the immediate release of all arrested political leaders which includes members of Hamdok’s cabinet.

The US has halted $700m aid to Sudan and the EU has threatened to do the same. Both are demanding the restoration of the civilian government without preconditions.

There have been previous military coups in Sudan since it gained independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in a 1989 military coup that removed the country's last elected government.&nbsp;

The civilian government and the military establishment have been at odds since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019.

A power-sharing agreement between civilian and military leaders was designed to steer Sudan towards democracy but has proven fragile with a number of previous coup attempts.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sudan’s armed forces chief and coup leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan defended the military’s actions saying that they seized power to prevent ‘civil war’ in the country.

Sudan’s armed forces chief and coup leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan defended the military’s actions saying that they seized power to prevent ‘civil war’ in the country. “The dangers we witnessed last week could have led the country into civil war,” al-Burhan told a news conference. Al-Burhan claimed that he had to arrest politicians and call for a state of emergency as they were “inciting against the armed forces”. Speaking for the first time since announcing the takeover, the army chief on Tuesday further said the deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was being kept at the general’s house “for his own safety”, but has now returned home. “The prime minister was at his house, but we feared that he will be harmed," he said. “I was with him last night... and he is going about his life... he will return to his home when the crisis is over and all threats are gone,” he added. The military chief further said Sudan was committed to the transition to civilian rule, with elections planned for July 2023. Also read | Military coup in Sudan: PM, ministers, and officials detained, internet access cut off The statements by al-Burhan come in the backdrop of continuing protests against the coup in the capital, Khartoum, with roads, bridges and shops closed. Phone and internet lines have also been reportedly disrupted. At least 10 people are said to have been killed since the unrest began. Watch The sudden ouster of the civilian government has drawn condemnation from across the world. Sudanese ambassadors to 12 countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, and France, have rejected the military takeover, a diplomatic source told Reuters on Tuesday. Also read | Military coup in Sudan: US suspends $700 million in aid, urges restoration of government The US, the UK, EU, UN and African Union, of which Sudan is a member, have all demanded the immediate release of all arrested political leaders which includes members of Hamdok’s cabinet. The US has halted $700m aid to Sudan and the EU has threatened to do the same. Both are demanding the restoration of the civilian government without preconditions. There have been previous military coups in Sudan since it gained independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in a 1989 military coup that removed the country's last elected government. The civilian government and the military establishment have been at odds since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019. A power-sharing agreement between civilian and military leaders was designed to steer Sudan towards democracy but has proven fragile with a number of previous coup attempts. (With inputs from agencies)

'Wanted to prevent civil war': Sudan Army chief al-Burhan defends coup

Sudan's protest leaders and army rulers agreed Saturday to establish a joint civilian-military ruling council, a major breakthrough in talks between the two sides over demonstrators' demands for a handover to civilian rule.

The agreement on the highly disputed issue came as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-members-of-sudan-military-council-resign-after-demand-by-opposition-213453">thousands of protesters remain encamped outside the military headquarters</a> since the army ousted longtime leader Omar al-Bashir on April 11, demanding that the army rulers step down.

"We agreed on a joint council between the civilian and the military," one of the leaders of the protest campaign, Ahmed al-Rabia, who was involved in the talks, told AFP.&nbsp;

"We are now in consultation about what percentage of the council should be represented by civilians and how much by the military."

The agreement between the two sides is a major breakthrough as the current army leaders had refused to hand over power to a civilian administration despite pressure from the street and the international community.

"I'm happy with the outcome of the talks. Other protesters too will be happy," said protester Ahmed Najdi, who has regularly camped outside the army complex over the past weeks.

"We are still waiting for the final composition of the joint council."

The new council will be the sovereign ruling body that will then form a transitional civilian administration.

The decision to have a joint council came during talks held since Saturday morning by a joint committee representing the current ruling military leadership and protesters.&nbsp;

The talks were the first such by the joint committee.

&nbsp;'We won't leave'

Bashir was ousted by the army after months of protests against his three-decade rule.

Thousands of demonstrators reached the sprawling military headquarters in central Khartoum on April 6, demanding that the army support those opposing Bashir.

Five days later, the army toppled Bashir but then took power into its own hands through a 10-member transitional military council.

Another demonstrator Rawan Al-Fateh said those camped out would not leave until their demands were met.

"We won't leave until we have civil rule and laws guaranteeing freedom of expression."

Buses bringing protesters kept arriving Saturday, with hundreds of protesters coming from the eastern province of Kassala, an AFP photographer said.

Protest leaders had previously held several rounds of inconclusive talks with the military council since Bashir was ousted.

Earlier this week, the two sides agreed to set up the joint committee to chart the way forward.

The military council has so far insisted that it has assumed power for a two-year transitional period.

Western governments have expressed support for protesters' demands, but Sudan's key Gulf Arab lenders have backed the military council, while African states have called for more time for the army to hand over to civilians.

Meanwhile, the country's top opposition leader Sadiq al-Mahdi called for Sudan to join the International Criminal Court which has indicted Bashir.

Mahdi, a former prime minister and head of the opposition National Umma Party that has backed the protests, also told reporters that the army's ouster of Bashir was "not a military coup".

Call to join ICC

Mahdi also said that "it is possible to agree on a civilian authority with the military council because they did not plan a coup".

But he said his party would not join a civilian transitional government.

He insisted Sudan should "immediately" join the Hague-based International Criminal Court where Bashir is wanted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the conflict in Darfur.

Bashir, 75, has consistently denied the charges against him.

The war in Darfur erupted in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Khartoum's Arab-dominated government, accusing it of social and political marginalisation.

The United Nations says about 300,000 people have died in the conflict, with another 2.5 million displaced, many of them still living in miserable camps across the western region of the country.

Protest group spokesman Amjad Farid told reporters that Bashir and other regime figures could be tried in Sudan.

"We are not seeking retaliatory measures against them, but we want to rebuild our justice system to hold them accountable for their crimes," he said.

Mahdi, who was forced from office by Bashir in a 1989 coup, said the president's regime was clinging on despite the upheaval.&nbsp;

"The toppled regime might still try to do a coup," he said without elaborating.

As protesters were pushing the military on civilian rule Saturday, assailants hurled rocks at a meeting of members of the Islamist Popular Congress Party, an ally of Bashir's, injuring 32 of them.

The group leading the protests and the military council condemned the incident.

Sudan's protest leaders and army rulers agreed Saturday to establish a joint civilian-military ruling council, a major breakthrough in talks between the two sides over demonstrators' demands for a handover to civilian rule.

Sudan's protest leaders and army rulers agreed Saturday to establish a joint civilian-military ruling council, a major breakthrough in talks between the two sides over demonstrators' demands for a handover to civilian rule. The agreement on the highly disputed issue came as thousands of protesters remain encamped outside the military headquarters since the army ousted longtime leader Omar al-Bashir on April 11, demanding that the army rulers step down. "We agreed on a joint council between the civilian and the military," one of the leaders of the protest campaign, Ahmed al-Rabia, who was involved in the talks, told AFP. "We are now in consultation about what percentage of the council should be represented by civilians and how much by the military." The agreement between the two sides is a major breakthrough as the current army leaders had refused to hand over power to a civilian administration despite pressure from the street and the international community. "I'm happy with the outcome of the talks. Other protesters too will be happy," said protester Ahmed Najdi, who has regularly camped outside the army complex over the past weeks. "We are still waiting for the final composition of the joint council." The new council will be the sovereign ruling body that will then form a transitional civilian administration. The decision to have a joint council came during talks held since Saturday morning by a joint committee representing the current ruling military leadership and protesters. The talks were the first such by the joint committee. 'We won't leave' Bashir was ousted by the army after months of protests against his three-decade rule. Thousands of demonstrators reached the sprawling military headquarters in central Khartoum on April 6, demanding that the army support those opposing Bashir. Five days later, the army toppled Bashir but then took power into its own hands through a 10-member transitional military council. Another demonstrator Rawan Al-Fateh said those camped out would not leave until their demands were met. "We won't leave until we have civil rule and laws guaranteeing freedom of expression." Buses bringing protesters kept arriving Saturday, with hundreds of protesters coming from the eastern province of Kassala, an AFP photographer said. Protest leaders had previously held several rounds of inconclusive talks with the military council since Bashir was ousted. Earlier this week, the two sides agreed to set up the joint committee to chart the way forward. The military council has so far insisted that it has assumed power for a two-year transitional period. Western governments have expressed support for protesters' demands, but Sudan's key Gulf Arab lenders have backed the military council, while African states have called for more time for the army to hand over to civilians. Meanwhile, the country's top opposition leader Sadiq al-Mahdi called for Sudan to join the International Criminal Court which has indicted Bashir. Mahdi, a former prime minister and head of the opposition National Umma Party that has backed the protests, also told reporters that the army's ouster of Bashir was "not a military coup". Call to join ICC Mahdi also said that "it is possible to agree on a civilian authority with the military council because they did not plan a coup". But he said his party would not join a civilian transitional government. He insisted Sudan should "immediately" join the Hague-based International Criminal Court where Bashir is wanted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the conflict in Darfur. Bashir, 75, has consistently denied the charges against him. The war in Darfur erupted in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Khartoum's Arab-dominated government, accusing it of social and political marginalisation. The United Nations says about 300,000 people have died in the conflict, with another 2.5 million displaced, many of them still living in miserable camps across the western region of the country. Protest group spokesman Amjad Farid told reporters that Bashir and other regime figures could be tried in Sudan. "We are not seeking retaliatory measures against them, but we want to rebuild our justice system to hold them accountable for their crimes," he said. Mahdi, who was forced from office by Bashir in a 1989 coup, said the president's regime was clinging on despite the upheaval. "The toppled regime might still try to do a coup," he said without elaborating. As protesters were pushing the military on civilian rule Saturday, assailants hurled rocks at a meeting of members of the Islamist Popular Congress Party, an ally of Bashir's, injuring 32 of them. The group leading the protests and the military council condemned the incident.

Sudan protest leaders, army rulers agree on joint civilian-military council

After decades of intense divisions, Sudan's political opposition united recently to form a powerful three-pronged bloc that became part of the protest wave which ousted autocrat <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-demand-dissolving-of-ruling-military-council-in-sudan-210698">Omar al-Bashir</a> last week.

During Bashir's politically repressive three-decade rule, Sudan had around 100 political parties. They ranged from Islamists to leftists and ran the gamut from ardent critics to regime loyalists.

A military transitional council is now set to rule the country for the next two years.

Veteran journalist Mahjoub Mohamed Saleh, 91, mapped out the political trajectories of the burgeoning opposition movement for AFP.

Who is the Sudanese opposition?

"The opposition in Sudan now is made up of the (Paris-based) Nidaa Sudan, the National Consensus Forces and the Sudanese Professionals Association," said Saleh, who was imprisoned several times during Bashir's reign.

Collectively, the tripartite bloc is known as the Alliance for Freedom and Change.

Nidaa Sudan includes the Umma Party, the Sudanese Congress Party as well as armed movements such as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

The Umma Party is led by Oxford-educated Sadiq al-Mahdi, who was prime minister twice during the 1960s and 1980s and was ousted by Bashir's 1989 coup.

He returned to Sudan this year after a year of self-imposed exile in Cairo.

Meanwhile, the "more radical" Sudanese Communist Party and the Baath Party alongside other leftist gatherings form the National Consensus Forces.

Lastly, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) is comprised of small political cadres mostly staffed by young, urban people counting academics, doctors and engineers among their ranks.

They have been the driving force behind mobilising thousands of demonstrators through their savvy and active social media usage to protest against Bashir since December 18.

The SPA has called on the transitional military council to immediately "hand over power" to a civilian administration and urged demonstrators to continue with their sit-ins.

How strong is the opposition now?

Protesters have been camped for several weeks in front of important government buildings throughout the country.

Saleh says the opposition bloc has been the most consistent and well-organised in agitating for tangible political change.

"For four months, these people were not afraid to put their bodies on the line," he said.

Over 30 protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces since the uprising erupted.

The bloc has urged the forthcoming transitional government to arrest Bashir and a coterie of political elite figures who have been in power since the 1989 coup.

These include the powerful security and intelligence chiefs and leaders of Bashir's National Congress Party.

"All the various parties that make up the opposition are now going to unite, sort out their differences and learn from their previous mistakes at this crucial time," he added.

"But when things return to their natural state, political squabbles and factional in-fighting will ultimately emerge."

What about the Islamists and the diaspora?

"Islamists will not disappear from the scene but will not be as influential, especially with the end of the National Congress Party," the renowned journalist noted.

He told AFP that other Islamist alternatives opposing NCP policies have been a mainstay of Sudanese politics and that they will continue to survive in some form or another.

The most prominent Islamist movement which still has a massive following is the Popular Congress Party, headed by hardline ideological figure Hassan al-Turabi.

With the opposition in the diaspora -- particularly in London and Paris where exiles have been politically active -- Saleh sees them as playing a pivotal role in the future.

Around five million Sudanese live overseas, mostly across the Middle East, Europe and North America.

"All of these opposition movements have their followers overseas ... They represent a mass of human resources that can be drawn upon when it comes to forming a civilian government," Saleh said.

After decades of intense divisions, Sudan's political opposition united recently to form a powerful three-pronged bloc that became part of the protest wave which ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir last week.

After decades of intense divisions, Sudan's political opposition united recently to form a powerful three-pronged bloc that became part of the protest wave which ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir last week. During Bashir's politically repressive three-decade rule, Sudan had around 100 political parties. They ranged from Islamists to leftists and ran the gamut from ardent critics to regime loyalists. A military transitional council is now set to rule the country for the next two years. Veteran journalist Mahjoub Mohamed Saleh, 91, mapped out the political trajectories of the burgeoning opposition movement for AFP. Who is the Sudanese opposition? "The opposition in Sudan now is made up of the (Paris-based) Nidaa Sudan, the National Consensus Forces and the Sudanese Professionals Association," said Saleh, who was imprisoned several times during Bashir's reign. Collectively, the tripartite bloc is known as the Alliance for Freedom and Change. Nidaa Sudan includes the Umma Party, the Sudanese Congress Party as well as armed movements such as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. The Umma Party is led by Oxford-educated Sadiq al-Mahdi, who was prime minister twice during the 1960s and 1980s and was ousted by Bashir's 1989 coup. He returned to Sudan this year after a year of self-imposed exile in Cairo. Meanwhile, the "more radical" Sudanese Communist Party and the Baath Party alongside other leftist gatherings form the National Consensus Forces. Lastly, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) is comprised of small political cadres mostly staffed by young, urban people counting academics, doctors and engineers among their ranks. They have been the driving force behind mobilising thousands of demonstrators through their savvy and active social media usage to protest against Bashir since December 18. The SPA has called on the transitional military council to immediately "hand over power" to a civilian administration and urged demonstrators to continue with their sit-ins. How strong is the opposition now? Protesters have been camped for several weeks in front of important government buildings throughout the country. Saleh says the opposition bloc has been the most consistent and well-organised in agitating for tangible political change. "For four months, these people were not afraid to put their bodies on the line," he said. Over 30 protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces since the uprising erupted. The bloc has urged the forthcoming transitional government to arrest Bashir and a coterie of political elite figures who have been in power since the 1989 coup. These include the powerful security and intelligence chiefs and leaders of Bashir's National Congress Party. "All the various parties that make up the opposition are now going to unite, sort out their differences and learn from their previous mistakes at this crucial time," he added. "But when things return to their natural state, political squabbles and factional in-fighting will ultimately emerge." What about the Islamists and the diaspora? "Islamists will not disappear from the scene but will not be as influential, especially with the end of the National Congress Party," the renowned journalist noted. He told AFP that other Islamist alternatives opposing NCP policies have been a mainstay of Sudanese politics and that they will continue to survive in some form or another. The most prominent Islamist movement which still has a massive following is the Popular Congress Party, headed by hardline ideological figure Hassan al-Turabi. With the opposition in the diaspora -- particularly in London and Paris where exiles have been politically active -- Saleh sees them as playing a pivotal role in the future. Around five million Sudanese live overseas, mostly across the Middle East, Europe and North America. "All of these opposition movements have their followers overseas ... They represent a mass of human resources that can be drawn upon when it comes to forming a civilian government," Saleh said.

Sudan's disparate opposition comes together post Bashir

Crowds of protesters arrived at a sit-in outside the Defence Ministry in Khartoum chanting and waving flags on Monday (April 15), in a move to reinforce the demonstration after the military attempted to break it up earlier in the day.

Sudan crisis: Protesters demand immediate civilian government rule