Hamdok: We Want to Ensure the Success of Democratic Transition

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (File photo: Reuters)
Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (File photo: Reuters)
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Hamdok: We Want to Ensure the Success of Democratic Transition

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (File photo: Reuters)
Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (File photo: Reuters)

Sudan should not meet the fate of many regional countries that faced difficulties and challenges during their transition, leading to their collapse, said Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok.

Speaking at the first meeting of the national mechanism to implement the "National Crisis and Transition Issues - The Way Forward" initiative, Hamdok called on the Sudanese people to ensure the success of the transitional period and its goals.

The PM said that he did not hold clear or direct consultations with the military. However, they are aware of all the initiative developments, indicating that he met the Head of Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy, Mohammad 'Hemdeti' Hamdan.

The meeting addressed the tasks of the initiative, and they asserted the need to include issues of democratic transition.

Hamdok asserted that dialogue and consultation with the military component would continue because its role is vital to complete the transition and agree on the axes of the initiative, not just security and military reform.

The Prime Minister stressed that the mechanism for implementing the initiative is temporary to accomplish specific tasks within two months.

He called on the Sudanese to maintain "the unique Sudanese experience towards democratic transition."

Sudan's comprehensive national crisis is political, said Hamdok, reiterating that Sudan "will not succeed in moving from this stage to democratic civil rule unless it confronts these issues with courage and clarity."

He said that the initiative's main objective is to unite the forces of the revolution to support and accomplish the transition.

For his part, the head of the mechanism, Fadlallah Barama Nasser, said that the national initiative comes at a critical stage.

Nasser indicated that the mechanism is the last chance and a lifeline to ensure the country doesn't slip into chaos.

Nasser, who is also the designated head of the National Umma Party, stressed that the mechanism would include opinions vital for its implementation, tasks, and chances of success.

He said: "We have less than 60 days to accomplish a great task," adding that "it is a difficult task, but not impossible."

The National Mechanism includes 71 members from leaders of political parties, indigenous administrations, Sufi orders, and civil society organizations.

It calls for extensive dialogue and discussions to achieve the most significant degree of consensus among Sudanese components on construction and democratic transition issues.



Israeli Bombardment Kills at Least 31 in Gaza as Fighting Rages

A relative mourns over the bodies of Palestinians from the al-Durrah family, who were killed in an Israeli strike, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
A relative mourns over the bodies of Palestinians from the al-Durrah family, who were killed in an Israeli strike, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Bombardment Kills at Least 31 in Gaza as Fighting Rages

A relative mourns over the bodies of Palestinians from the al-Durrah family, who were killed in an Israeli strike, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
A relative mourns over the bodies of Palestinians from the al-Durrah family, who were killed in an Israeli strike, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 31 people in Gaza on Tuesday, local medics said and fighting ramped up, as the Israeli military said it had been targeting command centers used by its foe Hamas.

Palestinian health officials said at least 13 people, including women and children, were killed in two Israeli strikes on two houses in Nuseirat, one of the enclave's eight historic refugee camps.

There has been no immediate comment by the Israeli army on the two strikes.

Another strike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinian families in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City killed at least seven people, medics added.

The Israeli military said in a statement the air strike targeted Hamas fighters operating from a command center embedded in a compound that had previously served as Al-Shejaia School.

It accused Hamas of using the civilian population and facilities for military purposes, which Hamas denies.

Later on Tuesday, two separate Israeli attacks killed five Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, medics said.

In Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave, six Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a tent housing displaced people, medics said.

The armed wings of Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and other smaller armed factions said in separate statements that their fighters attacked Israeli forces operating in several areas of Gaza with anti-tank rockets, mortar fire, and explosive devices.

The renewed surge in violence in Gaza comes as Israel began a ground operation in Lebanon, saying its paratroopers and commandos were engaged in intense fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah. The conflict follows devastating Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah's leadership.

The operation into Lebanon represents an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran-backed militants that threatens to suck in the US and Iran.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel almost a year ago, in support of its ally Hamas in the war in Gaza, which began after the group staged the deadliest assault in Israel's history on Oct. 7.

The assault, in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage, triggered the war that has devastated Gaza, displacing most of its 2.3 million population and killing more than 41,638 and injuring 96,460 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

Some Palestinians said they feared that Israel's shift in focus to Lebanon could prolong the conflict in Gaza, which marks its first anniversary next week.

"The eyes of the world now are on Lebanon while the occupation continues its killing in Gaza. We are afraid the war is going to go on for more months at least," said Samir Mohammed, 46, a father of five from Gaza City.

"It is all unclear now as Israel unleashes its force undeterred in Gaza, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and God knows where else in the future," he told Reuters via a chat app.