The US administration has intensified its diplomatic efforts to put the civilian-led transition process in Sudan back on track.
US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee on Tuesday held meetings in Khartoum with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, Foreign Minister Maryam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, and Army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Phee affirmed to al-Mahdi the US support for the civilian-led transitional government, saying the Foreign Minister has emerged as a powerful voice for the movement to restore democracy and fulfill the aspirations of the Sudanese people for freedom, peace, and justice.
Burhan told the US official that steps for releasing political detainees arrested during last month’s coup had begun.
Prominent leaders of the Forces of Freedom and Change quoted the US official saying that Washington will not recognize any government that is not led by Hamdok.
Phee tweeted that she was grateful for the opportunity to meet with Hamdok, who is under house arrest at his residence in Khartoum, to discuss ways forward to restore Sudan's democratic transition.
The US embassy in Khartoum affirmed Washington's support for the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people and the transitional framework laid out in the Constitutional Declaration.
The embassy issued a statement announcing that Phee met with many Sudanese actors from the government, political parties, and civil society.
"Her [Phee] visit seeks to encourage a Sudanese-led resolution of the crisis, including the release from detention of Sudanese political and civilian leaders, the return of Prime Minister Hamdok to office, and the restoration of a civilian-led transitional government," read the statement.
It stressed Washington's support for the Sudanese people's right to demonstrate and condemned violence against peaceful protesters.
