President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan was removed from office by the military on 11 April after months of nationwide peaceful demonstrations against his 30-year rule, and the Transitional Military Council was established, now headed by General Abdel Fatah al-Burhan. But the future of the country remains uncertain as protestors in Sudan want to see an immediate transition to democratic civilian rule.
The council has made some concessions to the protestors. However, the Forces of Freedom and Change, a coalition of opposition parties, and the Sudanese Professionals Association who spearheaded the uprising with youth and women’s groups, have called for protests to continue until the military hands over power to a civilian government.
There has been a mixed reaction from international partners. Some countries - notably Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt - support the military council, while the African Union have demanded they step aside and hand over power to a transitional civilian-led authority within three months. The Troika (US, UK, Norway) and the EU have also supported such calls.
At this event, panellists assess the current situation in Sudan and the role of the regional and international community and discuss how the country can transition towards civilian rule.
Participants
Dr Sara Abdelgalil, President, Sudan Doctors Union UK
Abdul Malik Elobeid, Sudan Communist Party UK
Ali Abdelatif, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North Malik Agar UK
Nima Elbagir, Senior International Correspondent, CNN
Ihab Ibrahim Osman, Chairman, US-Sudan Business Council; General Manager, NADEC New Businesses
Tarneem Saeed, CEO, alsoug.com
Chair: Rosalind Marsden, Associate Fellow, Africa Programme, Chatham House
