U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariam al-Mahdi to show U.S. support for the Sudan civilian-led transitional government in Khartoum Nov. 15, 2021. (twitter.comusembassykrt)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee traveled on her first trip to the Horn of Africa in her new position this week going to Sudan to show U.S. support for the civilian-led transitional government in Khartoum. Ambassador Phee urged the return to office of ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok . America’s top diplomat to Africa met with the Chairman of Sudan Sovereignty Council Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariam al-Mahdi. General Al-Burhan told visiting ambassador Phee that the new Sovereign Council he created is not opposed to the return of ousted PM Hamdok to lead the civilian government, according to local media reports in Sudan. The U.S. said Minister of Foreign Affairs al-Mahid “has emerged as a powerful voice for the movement to restore democracy and fulfill the aspirations of the Sudanese people for freedom, peace, and justice.” Last month, the military seized power and dissolved the government and arrested PM Hamdok. The U.S. has reiterated that it supports the Sudanese people in their call for a civilian-led transition to democracy, in accordance with the Sudanese Constitutional Declaration.
U.S. Calls For The Return of Ousted PM Hamdok to Office
Credit: Photo / By Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times / Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of Sudan at United Nations world headquarters in New York October 2019.
The purpose of ambassador Phee’s trip to Sudan is to encourage a Sudanese-led resolution of the crisis, including the release from detention of Sudanese political and civilian leaders, the return of PM Hamdok to office, and the restoration of a civilian-led transitional government. According to a report in The East African, Burhan blamed “foreign interference and certain political forces” for distorting the reasons behind the coup last month. He argued the military had adhered to the constitutional declaration, the guiding document for the transitional government which he ousted last month in a coup, The East African reported.
In October, the U.S. Senate confirmed ambassador Phee, a career Foreign Service member, as President Biden’s top diplomat in Africa. Phee was most recently the Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. Prior to this, Phee served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan from 2015-2017 under President Obama.
10 Anti-Coup Protesters in Sudan Killed Wednesday Nov. 17, 2021: Reuters
According to Reuters news, 10 anti-coup protesters in Sudan were killed Wednesday by security forces, and dozens wounded as thousands of Sudanese protested against the military coup.
