Sudan’s army vows to exit politics, protect transition

By Buhram Abdel-Men'em

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Sudan’s army chief said Tuesday the military is committed to exiting political life.

"The armed forces will work to protect the transitional period and safeguard the country's security and safety," Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said in a speech at a security conference in the capital Khartoum.

He said the military will “leave the room open to political parties to reach an agreement to form a transitional civilian government (to prepare) for free and transparent elections,” he added.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since last year when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency, a move decried by political forces as a "military coup."

Talks have been ongoing between the military and political parties in recent weeks under the auspices of the United Nations Integrated Transition Mission in Sudan to reach an agreement to resolve the country’s political deadlock.

The QUAD mechanism, which includes the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has also been pushing the country’s rivals to reach a political deal to bring the country back to transition.

Last week, the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change coalition announced a framework agreement with the military to resolve the country’s political crisis.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar