Troika and EU statement on the resignation of Sudanese Prime Minister Hamdok – Sudan

NOTE TO THE MEDIA
SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE
JANUARY 4, 2022

The Troika (Norway, United Kingdom and United States) and the European Union underline their continued support for the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people. Abdallah Hamdok has played a major role in leading the democratic and economic reforms in Sudan. His resignation as Prime Minister of the Sudan, two months after the unconstitutional takeover by the army, reinforces the urgent need for all Sudanese leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the country’s democratic transition and to respond to demands for freedom. , peace and justice for the Sudanese people.

No Sudanese actor can accomplish this task alone. As the Troika and the European Union continue to support the democratic transition in Sudan, Sudanese stakeholders will need to work on the basis of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration on how to overcome the country’s current political crisis, select new leaders civilians and identify clear deadlines. and the processes for the remaining transitional tasks – including establishing the legislative and judicial branches of government, creating accountability mechanisms, and preparing the groundwork for elections.

Unilateral action to appoint a new prime minister and a new cabinet would undermine the credibility of these institutions and risk plunging the nation into conflict. To avoid this, we strongly urge stakeholders to engage in an immediate dialogue, led by the Sudan and facilitated by the international community, to address these and other transitional issues. Such a dialogue should be fully inclusive and representative of historically marginalized groups, include youth and women, and help put the country back on the path to democracy.

The Troika and the European Union will not support a prime minister or an appointed government without the participation of a wide range of civilian stakeholders. We look forward to working with a transitional government and parliament, which enjoys credibility with the Sudanese people and can lead the country to free and fair elections as a priority. This will be necessary to facilitate the delivery of economic assistance by the Troika and the European Union to Sudan. In the absence of progress, we would seek to accelerate efforts to hold those who hamper the democratic process to account.

At this critical juncture, we continue to hold the military authorities accountable for human rights violations contrary to national and applicable international law. The right of the Sudanese people to assemble peacefully and to voice their claims must be protected. We expect the security services and other armed groups to refrain from further resorting to violence against peaceful protesters and civilians across the country, particularly in Darfur.

The murder of dozens of Sudanese, the sexual violence and injuries of hundreds more by the security services and other armed groups since the October 25 military takeover are unacceptable. We reiterate the need for independent investigations into these deaths and the violence associated with them, and demand that the perpetrators be held to account. Attacks on hospitals, detentions of activists and journalists, and communication cuts must also end. We once again call for the release of all those unjustly detained and the immediate lifting of the state of emergency.

The Sudanese people have spoken as loudly and clearly as in 2019. They reject the authoritarian regime and want the transition to democracy to continue. Sudanese leaders must now show that they are listening.