Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, civilian face of the transition in Sudan, announced his resignation on state television on Sunday evening, more than two months after a coup followed by a crackdown that left 56 dead in the country . “I tried my best to prevent the country from sliding into disaster, as today it is going through a dangerous turning point that threatens its survival (…) Despite everything that has been done to reach a consensus (…) This does not happen“, He argued in his address to the nation.
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The UN economist has failed in his bet of consensus and partnership with the generals to lead his country to democracy, after 30 years of dictatorship. He who, thanks to the pledges given to international donors, had obtained a considerable relief of the national debt and a lifting of American sanctions, no longer wanted to play the role of civilian face of a military coup that has awakened the specter of ‘international isolation.
In August 2019, he embodied the hope of handing over power to civilians: for a time he was to share the leadership of this great East African country, one of the poorest in the world, with the army. almost always at the helm since independence. But the man who made a career in international and regional organizations, notably as deputy executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, suffered a first setback.
“Hostage” then “traitor“
On October 25 at dawn, soldiers disembarked at his home, taking him with his wife to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, the head of the army who shortly after announced the dissolution of all the country’s institutions and de facto put an end to the democratic transition. The day before, however, the two men met the American envoy Jeffrey Feltman, both pleading for a democratic transition.
A month later, on November 21, the Prime Minister, who came to power with the support of supporters of a complete transfer of power to civilians, was released from house arrest and returned to his post under an agreement with the same General Burhane. .
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But on December 19, for the third anniversary of the launch of the “revolution“, He recognized”a big step backwards on the revolutionary path», Denouncing violence and political blockage. The father of two boys who studied agricultural economics in Khartoum before obtaining a master’s degree in Manchester, Britain, finally announced his resignation on Sunday, in a televised address to the nation.
Peace and good governance
In addition to the economic gains, among his feats of arms is the conclusion of a peace agreement in October 2020 with a coalition of rebel groups. Like Darfur and Blue Nile, South Kordofan has for several years been the scene of conflict between rebels and government forces.
But in a country where essential infrastructure is lacking, economic austerity has only increased the discontent of a population impoverished by inflation to more than 300%. In addition, faced with the all-powerful military, his government has never managed to obtain justice for the relatives of the more than 250 dead from the repression of the “revolution»Of 2019. Since the coup of October 25, 56 new deaths have been added to this long list of bereaved families.