Sudan coup 2021: Live updates
Live Updates
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he called an "attempted coup" on Monday.
In a tweet, he wrote: "France condemns in the strongest terms the attempted coup d'état in Sudan.
"I express our support for the Sudanese transitional government and call for the immediate release and respect for the integrity of the Prime Minister and civilian leaders," he added.
Despite reports of an internet shutdown in Sudan, videos on social media show demonstrators blocking roads in Khartoum following the news of the detention of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
The US embassy in Sudan's capital Khartoum called on Monday for those blocking the civilian-led transition to stand down.
In a tweet, it wrote that the US was "gravely concerned by reports that the armed forces have taken action against Sudan's civilian government, and condemns actions that are undermining Sudan's democratic transition."
"We call on all actors who are disrupting Sudan's transition to stand down, and allow the civilian-led transitional government to continue its important work to achieve the goals of the revolution," it added.
Sudan's ruling council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced on Monday a state of emergency across the country and the dissolution of the transitional sovereign council and the government.
The army commander also announced he would form a "competent" government, adding that it would rule Sudan until elections in July 2023 and that the army would continue with the democratic transition until the handover to a civilian elected government. When that might be, however, is unclear.
Sudan's information ministry said Burhan's announcement amounted to a military coup.
Weeks ago, Burhan called for the dissolution of the civilian government led by Hamdok, arguing that the move would resolve the current political deadlock in the country.
Sudan's information ministry said on Facebook that the military had fired live rounds at protesters, without giving further details.
The Sudanese doctor's committee said that at least 12 people had been wounded in clashes, but didn't specify what exactly had happened.
The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called in a statement on Monday for the "immediate resumption" of talks between civilian and military groups, adding that "dialogue and consensus is the only relevant path to save the country and its democratic transition".
"The Chairperson further calls for the release of all arrested political leaders and the necessary strict respect of human rights," the statement added.
Videos on Twitter showed civilians protesting the arrests, after Hamdok and pro-democracy groups called on people to take to the streets.
A livestream from the Rasd Sudan Network showed a group of men shouting "the people are stronger, there is no turning back".
The United Nations said on Monday that Sudanese security forces' detention of civilian leaders, including premier Abdalla Hamdok, was "unacceptable".
"I am deeply concerned about reports of an ongoing coup and attempts to undermine Sudan's political transition. The reported detentions of the Prime Minister, government officials, and politicians are unacceptable," said Volker Perthes, UN special representative to Sudan.
"I call on the security forces to immediately release those who have been unlawfully detained or placed under house arrest," he said in a statement on Twitter.
Germany also condemned the coup attempt and called for an "immediate end" to the action.
"The news of a new coup attempt in Sudan is troubling," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement.
"I call on everyone in Sudan responsible for security and order to continue Sudan's transition to democracy and to respect the will of the people. The attempted overthrow must come to an immediate end."
The African Union is yet to respond to Monday's developments. The US was the first to condemn the coup.
Video footage and images captured by eyewitnesses in Khartoum showed tyres burning and smoke and fire rising as people gathered on the streets of the capital after hearing reports of the attempted coup. AFP published the following photos:
Good morning.
Early on Monday Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several other ministers from the country's civilian government were arrested in their homes, in what appears to be a military coup.
We'll be following the story today on our live blog. What we know so far:
- Saudi-owned broadcaster Al Hadath reported that military forces besieged Hamdok's home early on Monday, before placing him under house arrest.
- A statement from the information ministry on Facebook said the detentions were carried out by "joint military forces" and those arrested were being held in "an unidentified location".
- Hamdok called on the Sudanese people to take to the streets to defend their revolution peacefully. The information ministry said Sudan's prime minister had issued this statement from where he is being held.
- The army has not commented. Pro-democracy groups have joined Hamdok in urging people to take to the streets.
- The army and paramilitary have been deployed across the city, restricting the movement of civilians, Reuters quoted a witness as saying.
- Jeffrey Feltman, the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, who days before had met with Hamdok, said the United States was deeply alarmed by reports of a military takeover.
