On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “to urgently address the outstanding issues in Sudan, to complete the political transition in an inclusive manner while respecting human rights and the rule of law.”
This came in a press conference held by the spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, at the permanent headquarters of the International Organization in New York.
The official spokesman was responding to journalists’ questions regarding the Secretary-General’s position on the political agreement signed by Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok and Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Sunday.
On Sunday, Al-Burhan and Hamdok signed a political agreement with the aim of ending a crisis that Sudan has been going through for about a month, in light of intense international pressure and continuous internal demonstrations calling for full civilian rule and an end to the partnership in power with the army.
“For us, we consider it very important to emphasize the need to protect the constitutional order, to protect the basic freedoms of political action, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly,” the spokesman said.
“Transition partners will need to urgently address outstanding issues to complete the political transition in an inclusive manner while respecting human rights and the rule of law,” he added.
He continued, “We also, of course, reiterate our call for independent investigations into the deaths we have seen over the past few weeks and accountability for justice.”
On the Secretary-General’s position regarding the submission of 12 of the dismissed ministers by a decision of the army commander, “Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan” earlier today, their written resignation to the head of the transitional government, Abdullah Hamdok, the spokesman said: “I think that this only confirms the need to protect the transitional process.”
Since last October 25, Sudan has been experiencing a severe crisis , as Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency, dissolved the Sovereignty Councils and the transitional ministers, and dismissed the governors, after the arrest of party leaders, ministers, and officials, which sparked continuous protests rejecting these measures as a “military coup”.
The isolated government consists of 26 ministers, since Hamdok announced the formation of this government, on February 8.
According to the Al-Burhan-Hamdok agreement , which consists of 14 articles, a government of competencies (without party affiliations) will be formed.
