(Credit:  Gary Raynaldo ©Diplomatic Times) António Guterres at press briefing after being re-appointed to second term as UN Secretary General at  UN world headquarters in New York City June 18, 2021.

By  Gary  Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED  NATIONS   –   NEW  YORK  –    UN Secretary-General, António Guterres on Monday condemned the “ongoing military coup” in Sudan.  The UN Secretary-General said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and all other officials, “must be released immediately.”  He called for the “immediate reconstitution” of the Government, which is due to guide Sudan through to democratic elections.  The military seized power on Monday, dissolved the government and arrested the prime minister. 

Prime Minister  Hamdok and his Wife Arrested and Detained 

Credit: Photo/ By Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times / Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of Sudan at United Nations world headquarters in New York  September  27,  2019.

Prime Minister Hamdok and his wife were arrested, detained and taken to an undisclosed location. Several other government ministers and officials were also arrested.   In September 2019,  Sudan installed a civilian-led government in the Eastern African nation following the overthrow of long-time authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir. Sudan named Hamdok as prime minister, who then formed the country’s first Cabinet since  al-Bashir was ousted April 2019. 

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the ongoing military coup d’état in Khartoum and all actions that could jeopardize Sudan’s political transition and stability. He calls for the immediate reconstitution of the governing arrangements provided for under the Constitutional Document.   The unlawful detention of the Prime Minister, government officials and politicians is unacceptable and contravenes the Constitutional Document and the partnership critical for the success of Sudan’s transition. The Secretary-General calls for the immediate release of the Prime Minister and all others who have been detained arbitrarily.  Sudanese stakeholders must immediately return to dialogue, and engage in good faith to restore the constitutional order and Sudan’s transitional process.”

-Statement by  UN Secretary General 

He added that the UN “will continue to stand with the people of Sudan as they strive to fulfil their aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future.”