US suspends $700 million in aid after Sudan coup: State Department

The Biden administration has suspended $700 million in emergency assistance to Sudan following a coup in the African nation, the US State Department said on Monday.

The full amount of the aid package had been put on “pause” pending a review of the developments in Khartoum, State Department spokesman Ned Price said. The money, which was direct financial support, was intended to help the country transition to a fully civilian government. Price said additional US assistance could also be affected.

Just weeks before Sudan’s military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians, the army seized power on Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister, and thousands flooded the streets to protest the coup that threatened the country’s shaky progress toward democracy, according to Associated Press inputs.

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The security forces opened fire on some of the protestors and three were killed, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Committee, which also said 80 people were wounded.

Meanwhile, the United States administration condemned the military takeover and dissolution of a transitional civilian-led authority and demanded the release of all officials detained in the overnight coup, which led to the arrest of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Price, furthermore, said the administration was watching developments “very closely” and “will not hesitate” to hold those responsible for the coup to account.

The takeover has already drawn condemnation from the United Nations and the European Union. It comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military.

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White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said the US was “deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover” and called for the immediate release of the prime minister and other officials.

“The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice,” Jean-Pierre said.

With inputs from the Associated Press