Sudanese army steps back for civilian govt

KHARTOUM/CAIRO－General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, said on Monday that the army would not participate in internationally led talks to break its stalemate with the civilian opposition, and urged political and revolutionary groups to start discussions to form a transitional government.

In a televised address to the nation, Burhan pledged to dissolve the sovereign council after the formation of a new government, noting that a supreme council of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces will be established to command the regular forces.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis since Burhan, also the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, declared a state of emergency on Oct 25, 2021, and dissolved the sovereign council and the government. The West has cut its aid to the impoverished northeast African country.