The Federal Government of Nigeria, have reacted to the military coup in Khartoum, Sudan.
In a statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esther Sunsuwa, the federal government condemned the military take over in totality, calling for an immediate release of the interim prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok and others detained.
The statement read, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria strongly condemns the coup d’etat that has taken place today in Sudan, in which the military has dissolved the civilian component of the transitional government and arrested its leaders.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls for the immediate release of the Prime Minister and all other political prisoners and an immediate restoration of the transitional government and implementation of the agreed road map to return the country to constitutional democracy.”
The head of the sovereign council, General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burham, had on Monday, October 25, announced a state of emergency, and military take over.
Burham said the take over is because of political in-fighting.
Prime Minister Hamdok, his wife and others were detained, internet connection was shut down and state owned media houses were taken over by the military.
However, citizens took to the streets to protest the take over calling for a return of transitional government that had been set up to guide the country to democracy following the overthrow of long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising in 2019.
.
The Sudan military were said to have shot at the protesters, killing at least 3, while others sustained injuries.
International Bodies including the US, UN, AU, EU and the UK have all condemned the take over.
Reacting on Twitter, the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres wrote: “I condemn the ongoing military coup in Sudan. Prime Minister Hamdok and all other officials must be released immediately.
“There must be full respect for the constitutional charter to protect the hard-won political transition.
“The UN will continue to stand with the people of Sudan”.
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said;
“The Chairperson calls for the immediate resumption of consultations between civilians and military. … The Chairperson reaffirms that dialogue and consensus is the only relevant path to save the country and its democratic transition,” Mahamat said in a statement.
“We call on the security forces to immediately release those they have unlawfully detained,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
The U.S. government said it was “deeply alarmed” by reports of the military takeover, which is contrary to the will of Sudan’s people.” The US also, have suspended $700m in aid to Sudan.
