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.



US Sees Indications of Imminent Iranian Missile Attack on Israel

People take shelter during an air raid siren after which Israel's military said a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 28, 2024. (Reuters)
People take shelter during an air raid siren after which Israel's military said a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 28, 2024. (Reuters)
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US Sees Indications of Imminent Iranian Missile Attack on Israel

People take shelter during an air raid siren after which Israel's military said a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 28, 2024. (Reuters)
People take shelter during an air raid siren after which Israel's military said a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 28, 2024. (Reuters)

The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel that could be at least as large as a strike that Tehran staged earlier this year, US officials said on Tuesday.

The United States is actively supporting preparations to defend Israel against a new Iranian missile attack, a senior White House official said.

"A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran," the official said.

A second US official said that the Iranian strike could be as large or potentially bigger than one on April 14 in which Tehran launched more than 300 missiles and drones.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The April attack - the first-ever direct Iranian strike on Israel - was in retaliation for what Iran called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate that killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers, including two senior commanders.

It caused only modest damage inside Israel due to air defense interceptions not only by Israel, but by the United States, Britain and other allies in the region.

The US warning of a looming Iranian strike followed Israel's announcement that its forces staged raids into southern Lebanon in a limited incursion as it pursues two weeks of strikes against Hezbollah militants that have killed the Iran-backed group's leader and senior commanders.

Israeli leaders have vowed to pursue operations against the fighters until it is safe for civilians to return to their homes in northern Israel from which they were evacuated after Hezbollah began missile strikes on Oct. 8, a day after Hamas' assault into Israel.

The Hamas assault triggered the ongoing Israeli offensive that has devastated Gaza.

The Pentagon has said that the United States would come to Israel's defense if Iran launched another attack.

It has moved thousands of additional US forces into the region to bolster its ability to defend Israel and US forces in the region. Pentagon officials say it is even better prepared for a new Iranian attack than it was in April.

An Iranian attack, should it occur, could pose a major challenge to President Joe Biden's administration goal for his Middle East policy: preventing the Israel-Hamas war from ballooning into a regional conflict.