Blinken Speaks to Sudanese Prime Minister and Welcomes His Release

The U.S. State Department reported that Secretary Antony Blinken spoke with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok late Tuesday and welcomed his release from detention. The department stated in a release that Blinken reiterated his call for the Sudanese armed forces to release all detained civilian leaders. Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan defended the military's hold on power on Tuesday, stating that he ousted Hamdok's government to avoid civil war, while protests erupted in the streets to denounce the military's actions following deadly clashes.