2019 Sudanese coup d'état

2019 Sudanese coup d'état. The 2019 Sudanese coup d'état was a pivotal event in the Sudanese Revolution, culminating in the removal of long-time President Omar al-Bashir by the Sudanese Armed Forces on 11 April 2019. Following months of sustained mass protests, senior military figures announced the dissolution of the National Congress Party government, imposed a three-month state of emergency, and established a Transitional Military Council to oversee the country. This action triggered a complex political transition and further negotiations between military and civilian protest leaders.

Background

The coup was the direct result of the Sudanese Revolution, a series of sustained popular protests that began in December 2018 over economic hardships, including soaring bread and fuel prices. The demonstrations, initially led by the Sudanese Professionals Association and other groups like Forces of Freedom and Change, quickly evolved into nationwide calls for the end of Omar al-Bashir's three-decade rule. Al-Bashir's regime, which began after the 1989 Sudanese coup d'état, was characterized by International Criminal Court arrest warrants for alleged war crimes in Darfur, international isolation, and economic mismanagement exacerbated by the loss of oil revenues after the independence of South Sudan. As protests intensified, security forces, including the National Intelligence and Security Service and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, responded with violent crackdowns, leading to numerous casualties and drawing condemnation from organizations like Amnesty International.

Coup and removal of al-Bashir

On the morning of 11 April 2019, state television announced that the Sudanese Armed Forces would make an important statement. Military vehicles surrounded key government buildings in Khartoum, including the presidential palace and the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces. Defense Minister and First Vice President Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf appeared on television to declare that the military had detained Omar al-Bashir, suspended the constitution, dissolved the National Assembly, and imposed a nationwide state of emergency. Ibn Auf announced the formation of a Transitional Military Council, with himself as its chairman, and pledged a two-year transition to civilian rule. However, public rejection of Ibn Auf, due to his close association with al-Bashir and alleged role in the Darfur conflict, forced his resignation within 24 hours. He was swiftly replaced by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army's inspector general, while the deputy head of the council became Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (commonly known as Hemedti), the commander of the Rapid Support Forces.

Aftermath and transitional period

The immediate aftermath saw continued protests, as demonstrators occupying the sit-in square outside the Sudanese Armed Forces headquarters demanded an immediate handover to civilian authority. Tensions escalated dramatically on 3 June 2019 with the Khartoum massacre, when Rapid Support Forces and other security forces violently dispersed the sit-in, killing over 100 people. Following intense African-led mediation, particularly by Ethiopia and the African Union, protracted negotiations between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change coalition resulted in the signing of the 2019 Sudanese Constitutional Declaration in August. This agreement established a joint Sovereign Council as the collective head of state, with a 39-month transition period leading to elections. A civilian-led cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, was formed in September 2019.

International reactions

The international community responded with cautious engagement. The African Union swiftly suspended Sudan's membership, demanding a swift transfer of power to a civilian authority as a condition for reinstatement. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for calm and a transition that respected the will of the Sudanese people. Key regional powers like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt expressed support for the Transitional Military Council, pledging significant financial aid. Western nations, including the United States and members of the European Union, urged restraint against protesters and supported the subsequent power-sharing agreement, viewing it as a path toward removing Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and normalizing economic relations.

Legacy and impact

The coup marked the end of the Islamist-military rule of Omar al-Bashir but initiated a fragile and contested transition. It demonstrated the decisive power of the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces within the state, setting the stage for ongoing political struggles. The transitional government faced immense challenges, including a dire economic crisis, demands for justice for victims of the Khartoum massacre, and reforming the security sector. This unstable power-sharing arrangement ultimately collapsed with the 2021 Sudanese coup d'état led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The 2019 coup remains a critical, albeit unresolved, chapter in modern Sudanese history, representing both the triumph of a popular revolution and the resilience of military dominance in its political system.

Category:2019 in Sudan Category:Coups d'état in Sudan Category:April 2019 events in Africa