Tuesday September 21, 2021
Sudan’s PM Abdalla Hamdok says people involved in coup attempt were ‘arrested for the first time’, adding that previous attempts were made.
Sudanese soldiers block the road for taking precautions after a failed coup attempt in Khartoum, Sudan [Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency]
Sudan’s prime minister Abdalla Hamdok says Tuesday’s coup attempt was organised by elements in and outside the military establishment.
He added that previous attempts to create insecurity, especially in the country’s east, had been made in the past.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Sudanese government said military officers and civilians linked to the deposed regime of longtime deposed President Omar al-Bashir had attempted a coup but that it was swiftly brought under control.
Interrogation of suspects involved in the attempted coup was under way after several arrests were made, spokesman Mohamed al-Faki Suleiman said.
Sudan has been on a fragile path to democratic rule since the military’s overthrow of al-Bashir in April 2019, following four months of mass protests.
The country is now ruled by a joint civilian and military government that faces towering economic and security challenges.
Sudan PM says coup plotters arrested for ‘first time’
Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok says the coup attempt was organised by members within and outside the military establishment.
Hamdok said: “For the first time, people involved in the attempt were arrested… They are being interviewed to discover their intentions and the truth behind this. There is a special committee investigating what has happened.”
Hamdok said that Monday’s coup attempt was preceded by others attempting to create insecurity, especially in the east of Sudan.
“What happened in this coup attempt, is an extension of previous attempts against the Transitional Council… They tried to take advantage of the situation in different towns by closing ports and roads… tried to stop us from moving forward during this transitional period,” he added.
Sudanese Prime Minister Hamdok says coup attempt was preceded by others [File: Marwan Ali/AP]
Coup attempt a ‘boost’ to military
Jonas Horner, senior analyst at International Crisis Group, says the recent events had boosted the position of the military in Sudan.
“There is some concern that this attempt was a test balloon to see how the street might respond to this coup if something larger were to come along in the future,” he said.
“Perhaps there was an idea that the street might respond differently. But people in Khartoum have been quite relaxed and calm with regards to the coup,” he added.
Sudan says failed coup linked to deposed gov’t
The Sudanese government says military officers and civilians linked to the deposed regime of deposed President Omar al-Bashir had attempted a coup but were swiftly brought under control.
“We brought under control a coup attempt by military officers early Tuesday,” said Information Minister Hamza Baloul.
Authorities “have arrested leaders of the failed plot, which involved military officers and civilians belonging to the defunct regime”, he added.
Failed coup attempt leaders arrested, says gov’t spokesman
The leaders of the failed coup attempt in Sudan have been arrested, a government spokesman said on state TV.
More than 40 officers arrested
“More than 40 officers have been arrested,” reported Al Jazeera’s Zeinab Salih from Omdurman, the Sudanese capital’s twin city.
“It is important to note that this follows agitation after the closure of highways connecting Khartoum to Port Sudan by supporters of former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir,” she added.
Information on coup helped thwart attempt
A government source tells Al Jazeera that information about the coup attempt was made available to the government on Monday evening, which helped thwart it quickly.
“We still don’t know why there was a coup attempt, but military sources we spoke to said they had the information from last night, which made it easier to foil,” reported Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan from Khartoum.
“There is still no word from the government as to why there was a coup attempt. There has been a war of words between the parties who are the ruling coalition, so lots of tensions, lots of politics which could potentially be the reason as to why there was an attempted coup,” she added.