Sudan’s PM Hamdok Intends to Resign Soon: Reports

December 21, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok is considering quitting his position due to the lack of political support enabling him to form a government of technocrats.

Hamdok was reinstated in accordance with a framework agreement he signed with the coup leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on November 21.

According to Reuters, the Sudanese prime minister said he intends to resign from his position in the coming hours.

Sources close to Hamdok confirmed to the Sudan Tribune that he is considering resigning as a result of the general frustration in the country.

Other sources close to the ongoing consultations on the new government said that Hamdok rejects the participation of the armed groups in his new cabinet of technocrats.

He told al-Burhan that a technocratic government cannot include political leaders pointing to the ministers that joined the cabinet in line with the Juba Peace Agreement.

But the Darfur armed groups told al-Burhan they would not quit the positions adding that would breach the peace pact.

Al-Burhan maintained Gibril Ibrahim, Minister of Finance and other former rebel turned ministers in their positions after the dissolution of the cabinet on October 25.

The other issue for Hamdok is his failure to regain the support of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and the Resistance Committees which reject his deal with al-Burhan.

On December 19, protesters chanted slogans against al-Burhan as well as Hamdok who had been considered a symbol of the civilian state after the coup.

During the negotiations on the Political Agreement between Hamdok and al-Burhan, some FFC political leaders particularly Fadlallah Burma the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) were actively engaged in the mediation.

However, Burma failed to convince the NUP leadership to support the al-Burhan-Hamdok alliance. Mariam al-Mahdi former Foreign Minister has been strongly opposed to supporting the deal.

Reached by the Sudan Tribune, some FFC leaders voiced scepticism about the seriousness of his intention.

“If he plans to resign he has to do it instead of speaking about it,” said one of the FFC leaders.

However, the sources close to the prime minister said he was serious about his resignation.

“It is possible that he resigns today or tomorrow if the ongoing efforts to dissuade him fail.”

Hamdok after the conclusion of the political framework with the military said he wants to stop the bloodshed and killing of civilian protesters, and reconnect the country with the international donors.

However, the security forces continued the excessive use of force against protesters.

The recent reports about the mass rape of protesters put the prime minister in a difficult situation as the sexual violence in Khartoum confirms that the police forces and security are out of his control.

(ST)