Sudan foils coup months after al-Bashir's ouster

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Sudan has been on a fragile path to democratic rule since the military ousted al-Bashir in April 2019 [File: Reuters]

KHARTOUM, Sudan - The government of Sudan on Tuesday foiled a coup, reports have emerged, just over two years after the ouster of Omar al-Bashir, the one time strongman who is now facing crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court [ICC] at The Hague.

State media reported that the coup "failed" on Tuesday morning but did not mention plotters. The country has been under both the civilian and military rulers since the ouster of al-Bashir, with Abdalla Hamdok heading the government.

“There has been a failed coup attempt, the people should confront it,” state media reported, without giving much needed details about the unfortunate events.

However, the situation has been put and control, a member of the country’s ruling council told Reuters. This is the second time the junta has tried to instigate a coup after the fall of al-Bashir, with the first one coming weeks after the former dictator's ouster.

Sources said interrogation of suspects involved in the attempted coup on Monday was due to begin and the military would issue a statement shortly, spokesman Mohamed Al Faki Suleiman said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source told AFP that the coup had involved an attempt to take control of state radio in Omdurman, across the river Nile from the capital Khartoum.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has instigated sweeping reforms in the country including starting negotiations on rejoining of ICC. The country is set to handover al-Bashir to The Hague where he will face crimes against humanity case in coming months.

To showcase commitment, Sudan also promised to compensate families of victims of 1998 bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, which left over 214 people dead. It's believed that the mastermind of the attacks, Osama bin Laden, was hosted in Khartoum when he planned the attacks.

al-Bashir was ousted in 2019 following a civilian uprising which saw the military intervene. Since then, both the civilians and the military have been leading the country but there is an increasing pressure to have the military return to the barracks.

In Africa, cases of coups are common, with West Africa being the most affected. The most recent took place in Guinea where strongman Alpha Conde was thrown out of power. Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia have also witnessed coups in Horn of Africa.

GAROWE ONLINE

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