Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok stated on Monday that he will have the authority to form his independent government, according to the agreement he signed on Sunday with senior leaders of the Sudanese army. Hamdok explained that he expects the next government to focus on reshaping the country’s constitution and conducting elections as scheduled. He added, "This was an essential part of the political agreement we signed... that the Prime Minister has the power to form an independent technocratic government, with complete freedom and without any pressure."
Hamdok told "Sky News Arabia" that signing the political agreement with Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan was necessary to prevent bloodshed among the youth and to cut off the path for the return of the National Congress through a coup. Hamdok clarified that the agreement is vital for preserving the gains in the fields of economy, peace, and freedoms in Sudan. He mentioned that concern for people's livelihoods and maintaining economic gains over the past months of the transitional period motivated him, among other reasons, to sit at the table and sign the political agreement.
The Sudanese Prime Minister indicated that he has begun consultations to form a technocratic government, emphasizing that the political agreement was necessary to prevent bloodshed. He continued, "Completing the peace process with armed factions is a priority. The agreement was essential to preserve the gains of the revolution, and we are committed to democracy and protecting rights." He added, "Maintaining economic gains is one of the reasons for my return."
Meanwhile, a group of doctors in Sudan reported that at least 41 civilians have been killed during protests in Sudan since the events of October 25. The last victim was a 16-year-old protester who died from a gunshot wound to the head during demonstrations against a new power-sharing agreement between army leaders and Hamdok. In recent days, the Sudanese police attempted to distance themselves from any role in the violence, claiming that their forces on the streets were unarmed and that there were incidents of violence committed by protesters, and they promised to investigate repeatedly.
On Sunday, Hamdok signed an agreement that reinstates him to his position after about a month since the start of events in Sudan that put him under house arrest. The agreement stipulates the formation of an independent technocratic government led by Hamdok until elections, which will remain under army oversight. In response, thousands of Sudanese took to the streets to condemn what they described as the betrayal of the democratic cause by the Prime Minister, who was the civilian face of the transitional government that took office after the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
