Putsch in Sudan: arrested head of government back home

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Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was ousted in a military coup on Monday

Photo: OMER MESSINGER / EPA

Sudan's head of government, Abdalla Hamdok, who was ousted by the military coup, has been brought home after his arrest by the army. Hamdok returned to his private house with his wife on Tuesday, said the ex-prime minister's office. However, it remained unclear whether Hamdok regained freedom of movement. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces broke out again in several cities in the north-east African country.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken phoned Hamdok on Tuesday.

Blinken had "welcomed the release of the Prime Minister from custody," said the State Department in Washington.

The US chief diplomat appealed to the Sudanese army to release all "civilian leaders" arrested after the coup and to "guarantee their safety".

After the coup on Monday, the deposed prime minister was initially detained in the house of the chief Sudanese general, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Hamdok was "at my home," al-Burhan said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The ex-head of government is "in good health."

An army representative later announced that Hamdok had been "escorted back to his own house in Kafouri district."

However, the exact circumstances of Hamdok's return home were vague - it was unclear whether he was under some kind of house arrest.

The army representative said that "security measures" had been taken around the house of the deposed head of government.

According to Hamdok's office, he was "under close surveillance" at home.

In the capital Khartoum and other Sudanese cities, thousands of people again protested against the dismissal of the government on Tuesday.

The security forces used tear gas against demonstrators.

Protesters were shot at with live ammunition on Monday.

At least four people were killed and more than 80 others injured, according to a medical association.

Maas demands the release of all prisoners

Meanwhile, international pressure on the new rulers is growing.

After the USA had already frozen Sudan aid of 700 million dollars on Monday, the EU now also threatened to withdraw financial aid.

The attempt to undermine the transition process in Sudan is "unacceptable," said EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell on behalf of the 27 member states.

Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) warned the new rulers that Germany would "not continue" its support for Sudan under the current conditions.

Maas called the coup a "catastrophic development" in a statement published on Wednesday night.

The Federal Foreign Minister demanded the reinstatement of the transitional government and the release of all those arrested after the coup.

Al-Burhan declared the interim government dissolved on state television on Monday, declared a state of emergency and announced the formation of a new government with “competent people”.

In addition to Hamdok, other members of the government were arrested.

svs / AFP / dpa