Sudanese Army May Make Concessions to Avoid US Sanctions

The head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. (AFP)
The head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. (AFP)
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Sudanese Army May Make Concessions to Avoid US Sanctions

The head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. (AFP)
The head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. (AFP)

Sources close to the European Union attributed the “anger” of the head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and his warning to diplomatic missions not to “incite against the army and interfere in the affairs of the country” to the increasing Western pressures demanding the return to the pre-coup situation.

A source close to the European Union told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that the EU ambassadors, when meeting Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok last week, insisted on restoring the federal governance structures stipulated in the constitutional document, before engaging into any new negotiations between the parties to the transitional process.

The support to be provided to the country’s economy and political backing would depend on convincing confidence-building measures and the achievement of a true national consensus.

In a statement released after their meeting with Hamdok, the ambassadors underscored that the October 25 coup “effectively derailed the coalition of civilians and the military”.

They called for a “national consensus”, stressing it is crucial for democratic rule.

“These confidence-building measures include creating an inclusive national constitution-making process, implementing and extending the 2020 peace agreement, preparing for credible elections and continuing the economic reform agenda,” they stressed.

Western pressure on the Sudanese military authorities increased, with the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US House of Representatives imposing sanctions on “those responsible for destabilizing Sudan.”

In a statement to Reuters last week, Sudan’s Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim said that his country was unable to access USD 650 million in international funding in November when assistance was paused after the coup - a freeze that puts in doubt basic import payments and the fate of economic reforms.

The imminent US sanctions are expected to exacerbate economic and political crises at a time when the military authority has no practical options, political analyst Jamil al-Fadel told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Fadel pointed to leaks that talk about the transition of the presidency to civilians and a review of the composition of the Sovereign Council. He referred to Burhan hinting for the first time about the possibility of stepping down, during a speech, in which he assured: “If Burhan leaves, the army is present.”

He added that Burhan was aware of the real dangers facing his rule.



UN Calls for Independent Probe into Civilians Harmed Trying to Get Food in Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
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UN Calls for Independent Probe into Civilians Harmed Trying to Get Food in Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday slammed as "unacceptable" the deaths of Palestinians seeking food aid in Gaza, a spokesman said, calling the loss of life in the territory "unthinkable".

"The Secretary-General continues to call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for the perpetrators to be held to account," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

"We are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza (and) the secretary-general condemns the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid," he said. "It is unacceptable civilians are risking and in several instances losing their lives just trying to get food."

At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, local health authorities said, in the third day of chaos and bloodshed to affect the aid operation.

A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross told Reuters that its field hospital in Rafah received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were declared dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after.

The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting.

The Foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles.

The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early on Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site".

However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies.

On Sunday, Palestinian and international officials reported that at least 31 people were killed and dozens more injured. On Monday, three more Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli fire.

The Israeli military has denied targeting civilians gathering for aid and called reports of deaths during Sunday’s distribution "fabrications" by Hamas.