Sudan's PM Abdalla Hamdok resigns amid massive anti-coup protests

Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced his resignation Sunday amid political deadlock and widespread pro-democracy protests following a military coup that derailed the country’s fragile transition to democratic rule.

Sudan had been undergoing a fragile transition toward civilian rule since the 2019 ouster of autocrat Omar al-Bashir, but was plunged into turmoil when military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan launched his coup on October 25 and detained Hamdok.

Hamdok was reinstated on November 21 under a deal promising elections for mid-2023, but local media had recently reported he had been absent from his office for days, with rumours swirling over his possible resignation.

"I have tried my best to stop the country from sliding towards disaster," Hamdok said Sunday evening, addressing the nation on state television.

Sudan "is crossing a dangerous turning point that threatens its whole survival," he said.

Mass protests against the coup have continued even after Hamdok was reinstated as demonstrators did not trust general Burhan and his promise to guide the country toward full democracy.

Protesters have also alleged that the deal to reinstate Hamdok was simply aimed to give a cloak of legitimacy to the generals.

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