SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: New York Times - Sudan Leaders Say They Thwarted Coup Attempt by Loyalists of Former Dictator
Declan Walsh’s report on the failed coup attempt in Sudan quotes from former and current civilian officials.
Two unnamed Forces of Freedom Change (FFC) coalition officials said the attempt was orchestrated by the military commander in charge of Omdurman. Starting at 0300, officers tried, but failed, to read a statement on the state radio station. It remains unclear what the statement would have said.
Despite several coups attempts from “disgruntled” officers being foiled since Omar al-Bashir’s ouster, Amjad Farid, former deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, said the latest attempt “was the first time that an attempted takeover spilled onto the streets”.
It underscored the urgent need to get Sudan’s military under full civilian control, Farid said.
“There will be no stability without civilian oversight over all the state apparatus, including military and intelligence agencies”. Farid concluded that “a genuine reform process needs to start now.”