The United States will not resume economic assistance to Sudan, paused after the October 25 coup, unless there is an end to violence and a civilian-led government is restored, a statement issued by the US Embassy in Khartoum on Thursday said.
The statement was issued during the visit of Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa David Satterfield to Sudan.
It said the US would consider measures to hold accountable those responsible for a failure to move forward on a political transition and create a “peaceful environment” for it to proceed. It did not say what such measures could involve.
The two senior US envoys called for independent investigations into deaths and injuries among those protesting against the military since the Oct. 25 coup.
“They strongly condemned the use of disproportionate force against protesters, especially the use of live ammunition and sexual violence and the practice of arbitrary detention,” the statement said.
The two envoys met with military leaders in the Transitional Sovereign Council, political officials, and civil society organizations.
Sudanese authorities say peaceful demonstrations are allowed and any violations against protesters will be investigated.
October's military takeover interrupted a transition that began after the ouster of former leader Omar al-Bashir in a 2019 uprising and was meant to lead to democratic elections.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s Sovereign Council agreed with the US delegation on amending the constitutional document governing Sudan’s transition to democracy to bring it into line with new developments in the country, it said in a statement on Thursday.
The Sovereign Council, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, also agreed on forming a national independent technocratic government and starting a comprehensive national dialogue to end the current political crisis.
