Liberation: Hamdok’s resignation… revealed the nakedness of Sudan’s generals | ...

The resignation of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok dispelled the ambiguous democratic fog that was surrounding the existing regime in Khartoum and showed it for what it is, a military dictatorship, as it deprived him of the civil facade and communication with the international community, leaving the military council alone in power, ending a comedy that was not deceived. one in Sudan.

In two separate reports, Le Figaro newspapers agreed (Le Figaroand “liberation”LiberationThe French stressed that Hamdok’s departure constituted a blow to the army and clearly showed that the coup was nothing more than a return to the military policies of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, especially that the army commander, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the second man in the regime (commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces) Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo – the well-known Basem Hemedti – they were previously close to Al-Bashir.

Under the title “False democracy has gone unheeded”, Le Figaro reported that the coup of last October 25, carried out by Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, overthrew the civil-military team that had ruled the country since the fall of Omar Al-Bashir in 2019, arrested Hamdok, and placed him under house arrest. The proof justified this seizure of power by the necessity of preserving the unity of the country threatened by angry movements, such as the strike that paralyzed Port Sudan, and which the military largely supported behind the scenes, according to the newspaper.

military policy

Although Hamdok was reinstated a month later as prime minister, he found things different. So that there is no longer any talk about transferring the presidency of the Sovereignty Council, which was scheduled – according to the constitutional document at the beginning of 2022 – and although the Sovereignty Council remained, it was purged of all its civilians for the benefit of loyalists, and the authority (the Empowerment Removal Committee) – which was from It is supposed to track down and arrest the beneficiaries and the corrupt of the Bashir regime, including a number of well-known officers – it has been disbanded.

Under these circumstances – as Le Figaro sees – Hamdok’s return to leadership was nothing but a trick that stripped him of his reputation and a great deal of his honor, although he said upon his return – as Liberation reported – “We signed a framework agreement with the army to try to restore the path of civil democratic transformation, and prevent spilling bloodshed, liberating detainees, preserving the achievements made during the past two years, and adhering to the constitutional document that governs the transition.”

After Hamdok’s resignation, expert Kholoud Khair said – on Twitter – that “his resignation clearly shows that the coup is nothing more than a return to Bashir’s Islamic military policies,” and thus the fragile democratic facade has fallen, leaving the soldiers and the street full of protesters, face to face, according to the French newspaper. .

Under the title “Sudan: The Generals..After the leadership abandoned them, their nakedness was exposed,” Liberation indicated that the agreement under which Hamdok returned to his position was nothing more than a new attempt to bring the parties to the dialogue table and agree on a charter to complete the remainder of the transitional period, but without Feasible, although he assured the armed forces that “the people are the final sovereign authority.”

With this resignation – says the newspaper – Hamdok leaves the youth who imposed the departure of Omar al-Bashir and has returned to the street despite the arrests and bullets, as at least 57 demonstrators have been killed since last October 25, and “hundreds were injured and many women were raped, with the Internet cut off. and the arteries of the capital, Khartoum, regularly.

Le Figaro warned that the decree signed by General Al-Burhan, which guarantees impunity for security forces in the name of “emergency laws”, raises fears of a more severe repression against pro-democracy, a movement made up mainly of young people – without real leaders – concentrated in Khartoum and major cities, It has a certain legitimacy and very lukewarm support from the West.

negotiating or clashing

By returning to his position, Hamdok provided – even in the face of street challenges – an elegant civilian face for the military council to address the international community, at a time when Sudan was in dire need to revive its stricken economy, and without this face – as Liberation says – Al-Burhan and Hemeti find themselves in the front line. , Especially since appointing a new prime minister is not easy.

The only thing left for the military deprived of Hamdok’s seal is to negotiate or clash, and the first scenario is for the representatives of the forces of freedom and change to sit at the military table and re-discuss an acceptable framework for the transition, under the auspices of an independent mediator, which needs the trust that was destroyed by the coup, the pursuit of activists, and the brutal suppression of demonstrators. As for the second and tragic scenario, it is the escalation in the popular rallies and the killings in return, especially since both sides of the forces of freedom and change have proven in recent weeks the strength of their determination and determination, and that they are democrats with unwavering courage and ruthless soldiers.

Liberation concluded that the international community does not seem in a hurry to play the role of judge, as its reactions to Hamdok’s resignation were lukewarm. The United Nations envoy, Volker Peretz, said, “We regret that (the decision)” but “we respect it.” Putting their differences aside, to ensure the continuity of civilian power,” she said, “The next prime minister must be appointed in accordance with the constitutional declaration and to reflect the aspirations of the people for freedom, peace and justice.” This is almost exactly what France said, which called for “the re-establishment of transitional institutions that represent the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people.” “.

Despite the aforementioned international reactions, the military – according to Figaro – enjoys the support of Egypt and the UAE in what they are doing.