Sudan’s coup leader reappoints self interim head

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s coup leader,  has named himself the new interim ruler of the country.

He also replaced civilian members of the previous council.

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Al-Burhan was sworn in on Thursday.

However, Gen Burhan retained his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, alias Hemeti, as well as other senior military leaders to the positions they held before the 25 October coup.

Even though none from the political coalition that was in power before the coup was included, the 14-member transitional council also includes civilians

Sudan’s ousted Information Minister Hamza Balloul termed the new move an extension of the coup and said the people “can defeat [it] and continue the transition”.

Burhan was able to announce the new council despite increasing domestic and international pressure to reverse the coup.

The UN envoy in Sudan, Volker Perthes, said Burhan’s “unilateral appointment of the council makes it increasingly difficult for the country to return to constitutional order.”

Volker Perthes called for an urgent negotiated solution to restore political and economic life to normalcy.

He also urged the military to take other “confidence-building measures, including the restoration of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s full liberty”.