Sudan’s military Monday ousted an interim government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, hours after arresting him and other senior officials. The coup comes just weeks before the head of the military, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, was expected to hand over power to civilians. In a televised address on Monday afternoon, General Burhan announced a state of emergency across the country and said a new technocrat government would replace the country’s ruling Sovereign Council.

The military disrupted internet services across the country and also took over state TV and radio headquarters.

Civil-military leadership tensions 

The Sovereign Council, a joint military and civilian body, was formed four months after Sudan’s longtime authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir was ousted from power in August 2019.

Tensions had been mounting for weeks between civilian and military leaders over Sudan’s transition to democracy and General Burhan justified the the military intervention owing to what he described quarrels among political factions.

‘Elections in July 2023’

Burhan said the technocratic government will lead the country to elections in July 2023, but added the military will remain in charge.

“The Armed Forces will continue completing the democratic transition until the handover of the country’s leadership to a civilian, elected government,” he said. The constitution would be rewritten and a legislative body formed with the participation of “young men and women who made this revolution,” the general added.

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Sudan’s military had been pressing the council’s civilian leadership for reforms, a demand dismissed by them as an attempt by the former to strengthen their grip over power.

A failed coup last month was the latest attempt by the military to seize power since 2019.

‘Deeply alarmed’

Jeffrey Feltman, the US special envoy to the Horn of Africa, said Washington was “deeply alarmed” by the coup reports. European Union foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell tweeted that he’s following events with the “utmost concern.”

The African Union called for release of all Sudanese political leaders including Hamdok.