Sudan’s military leader insisted his coup on October 25 was not a power grab but a badly needed “correction” to the country’s transition to democracy.
But Sudanese and foreign analysts say the country has become more polarised since the military takeover, with the democratic transition still derailed and anti-coup street protests continuing.
Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, the army chief and coup leader, dismissed the civilian prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, on the day of the coup but reinstated him four weeks later in a deal that energized opposition to the October takeover and gave street protests a second wind.
“This crisis is not over yet,” Volker Perthes, the UN envoy to Sudan, told the Security Council on Friday.
The deal to reinstate Mr Hamdok was ”far from perfect” and faces “significant opposition” from some Sudanese political factions and the large protest movement, he said.
“The Sudanese men’s and women’s unwavering commitment to realise civilian-led democratic governance cannot be overlooked.”
The powerful pro-democracy movement that once supported Mr Hamdok has dismissed the deal as a fig leaf for direct army rule.
At least 44 people have been killed and hundreds injured in protests since the coup, fuelling popular discontent and casting him as part of what activists call “the coup regime”.
Beyond Sudan’s borders, major western backers have been reluctant to accept Gen Al Burhan’s assurance of a democratic transition or his pledge to respect freedom of expression and assembly. They have yet to reverse a freeze on economic aid, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, imposed in response to the coup.
In a thinly veiled warning to the military, the US Congress on Thursday passed a resolution condemning the coup and advanced legislation to impose sanctions on anyone who undermines Sudan’s democratic transition.
Mr Hamdok has yet to form the government of independent technocrats he had promised nearly three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, he has replaced all acting state governors appointed by the military, according to a document seen by Reuters on Sunday. The decision is part of efforts by Mr Hamdok to roll back changes following the takeover.
Mr Hamdok's office confirmed the decision to Reuters.
But there is hope of at least a short-term solution to Sudan’s latest crisis, said Alex de Waal, a Sudan expert at Tufts University in Boston.
“The Sudanese have a way of making the best of a bad deal and finding a workable compromise,” he said. “But it usually comes at the cost of finding any long-term solutions.
“So, the outlook is pessimistic.”
The way forward will depend on Sudan’s three major players, and the options available to them.
Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan
Central to Gen Al Burhan’s narrative is that the military’s takeover was not a coup and that it is determined to protect Sudan’s democratic transition until elections are held in 2023.
He has said he will not run for office and that the military will quit politics after the vote. In the meantime, he has projected an image of the military as the ultimate defenders of the nation, making fiery nationalist speeches to troops in a border enclave claimed by both Sudan and Ethiopia and to service members at the end of war games.
In a recent television interview, Gen Burhan said he planned to follow the model of the late Abdel Rahman Sowar Al Dahab, the general who seized power in 1985 during mass protests against the authoritarian rule of Jaafar Nimeiri but returned it to an elected government the next year.
But given that generals have ruled Sudan for more than 50 of the 65 years since independence, Gen Al Burhan’s assurances are falling on deaf ears.
Trying to silence the streets through force will not work. A new understanding between all concerned parties must be reached, but with a long-term perspective
Al Sadeq Al Magali,
Sudanese political analyst
Analysts say he needs to make more concessions to the civilian component of the transitional administration or surrender some of the sweeping powers he has given himself since the coup, to convince sceptics that he will allow the democratic transition to succeed.
“The country’s political future appears deeply uncertain now and that can only be remedied if the two parties of the November 21 deal make concessions,” said Sudanese political analyst Al Sadeq Al Magali. “Trying to silence the streets through force will not work. A new understanding between all concerned parties must be reached, but with a long-term perspective.”
Observers say Gen Al Burhan is not the only one calling the shots inside the military, and that this could mean he is under pressure from other top officers not to loosen the military’s longtime grip on power.
“There will likely be another military coup against Al Burhan if he makes too many concessions or makes good on his promise to take the military entirely out of politics,” said an Arab diplomat who recently completed a two-year posting to Khartoum. “In Sudan, the military will never entirely leave politics. They view their political role as a given right.”
The pro-democracy movement
The three major groups in Sudan’s pro-democracy movement are the Forces for Freedom and Change, the Sudanese Professionals’ Association and local resistance committees.
All three were at the heart of the street protests against former president Omar Al Bashir that swept Sudan, in 2018 and 2019, in what is known as the “December Revolution”. The protests forced the military to remove Al Bashir in April 2019.
The FFC went on to become the popular base and political patron of Mr Hamdok’s civilian-led government following a power-sharing deal with the military.
After the takeover, Gen Al Burhan repealed the parts of the deal pertaining to the FFC’s role in the transitional administration and replaced its representatives on the ruling Sovereign Council with obscure civilians, declaring himself the country’s de facto leader.
For the FFC, the SPA and the resistance committees, the November 21 deal enshrined military rule and turned Mr Hamdok into a toothless politician beholden to the generals.
They reject any political role for the military and demand that Gen Al Burhan and his associates stand trial for the deaths of anti-coup protesters and overthrowing a constitutional government. They plan to hold six more rallies this month.
Internal divisions in the FFC have often stopped it from speaking with one voice. Moreover, FFC-linked party politicians broke ranks with the rest of the movement and mediated the deal between Mr Hamdok and the military.
But the pro-democracy movement does not go far beyond removing the military from politics, Mr de Waal said. “They’ve also miscalculated the politics of rural Sudan, allowing the military to make inroads into the provincial power structures.”
Abdalla Hamdok
When Mr Hamdok took office as prime minister in August 2019, becoming the top civilian in a somewhat awkward transitional partnership with the military, he was hailed by the FFC as the people’s choice. Two years later, the UK-educated economist has been dismissed as a “traitor” by the people who propelled him to power.
Mr Hamdok says he accepted the deal with the military because he wanted to spare Sudan more bloodshed and to protect the gains made by his economic reforms. He said the deal, which secured the release of all political prisoners held since October 25, had saved Sudan from chaos.
He has tried to assure the Sudanese that his authority and independence as head of the executive branch are beyond question, and says consultations are under way to create a broader and more inclusive version of the November 21 deal.
“There is no one more concerned with a smooth transition to democratic rule than Hamdok,” said Khaled Al Oaysar, a political analyst known to be close to the prime minister.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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The biog
Name: Gul Raziq
From: Charsadda, Pakistan
Family: Wife and six children
Favourite holes at Al Ghazal: 15 and 8
Golf Handicap: 6
Childhood sport: cricket
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadeera%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERabih%20El%20Chaar%20and%20Reem%20Khattar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECleanTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHope%20Ventures%2C%20Rasameel%20Investments%20and%20support%20from%20accelerator%20programmes%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
1 Man City 26 20 3 3 63 17 63
2 Liverpool 25 17 6 2 64 20 57
3 Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50
4 Man Utd 26 13 7 6 44 34 46
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5 West Ham 26 12 6 8 45 34 42
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6 Arsenal 23 13 3 7 36 26 42
7 Wolves 24 12 4 8 23 18 40
8 Tottenham 23 12 4 8 31 31 39
New schools in Dubai
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Company%20profile%20
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Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.