Sudan: Deposed President Abdalla Hamdok to come back into office

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Protests in Sudan's capital Khartoum

Photo: - / AFP

The military rulers in Sudan want to reinstate the civilian prime minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was overthrown in a coup.

Hamdok is allowed to form a cabinet with civilian representatives, according to a statement from the so-called Initiative for National Reforms on Sunday.

After lengthy negotiations between the putschists and the group of civil representatives, an agreement was reached on the release of all political prisoners who had been arrested during the coup on October 25th.

However, the agreement still has to be signed by both negotiating parties on Sunday, it said.

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Abdalla Hamdok: First pushed away, then brought back

Photo: OMER MESSINGER / EPA

It was initially unclear whether the new government would also include military representatives.

Most recently, the crisis state on the Horn of Africa was led by a transitional government made up of military and civilian representatives.

After the coup, military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency and placed Hamdok under house arrest.

Tear gas against demonstrators

There was to be a meeting between the army chief and the deposed Prime Minister on Sunday.

Its supporters gathered for a demonstration and wanted to move to the presidential palace in Khartoum, reported the Reuters agency.

The demonstrators carried Sudanese flags and pictures of those killed in protests against the coup.

An eyewitness said they were critical of military chief Burhan in chants.

Sudanese security forces then fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.

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In the past few weeks there had been repeated protests by thousands of Sudanese who called for more democracy and a civilian government in the country with 44 million inhabitants.

A few days ago at rallies for democracy at least 15 civilians were killed by the use of live ammunition.

The international community also calls for the restoration of constitutional order.

him / dpa / Reuters