Burhan: The Coup Aimed to Reform Sudan

Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. (AP)
Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. (AP)
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Burhan: The Coup Aimed to Reform Sudan

Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. (AP)
Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. (AP)

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, affirmed on Saturday that the military rule will end when the situation returns to normal in Sudan.

Addressing civilians demanding the end of the military rule, he stressed that the purpose of the coup was to reform the country and once this is achieved then the armed forces would withdraw from power.

“The army is an independent institution and if it gets involved in politics then the country would be ruined,” he said, adding that “if politics gets engaged as well in the army, it ruins it.”

Burhan stressed that the army would not be dragged into a confrontation with any party or group in the country.

Speaking on Thursday before a huge mass, he said that the greatest challenge facing the Framework Agreement is the integration of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti”.

In remarks delivered at a mass marriage ceremony north of the country, in the Zakiab locality of the River Nile state, Burhan confirmed that the military is not an enemy to the Forces of Freedom and Change or the Democratic Bloc.

Sudan's military leader went on to say that the military approved the Framework Agreement because it tackles the army unity matters, Juba Agreement, and transitional justice.

He expressed his will to bring together the biggest number of supporters to the Agreement and to avoid “repeating previous scenarios”.

He further called for refraining from bidding in the name of the army or exploiting it in favor of another party.

On Oct. 25, Sudan's military seized power after it ousted the ruling FFC civil alliance.

Burhan and Hemetti signed on Dec. 5 the Political Framework Agreement on handing over power to civilians.

Burhan has been leading mediation efforts to bring the points of view of the FFC and Democratic Bloc closer.

The Bloc consists of armed factions who reject the Framework Agreement.

The mediation resulted in declaring a joint political agreement that stipulates their participation in the current political process in the country.



Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
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Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)

Informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that US-President elect Donald Trump agreed on the steps that President Joe Biden’s administration will take to ensure the success of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel approved the ceasefire on Tuesday night after Lebanon had already agreed to it.

The sources, which followed up on the negotiations for the 60-day truce, said the steps call for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters and their weapons from the South where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is deployed. In return, Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon.

More negotiations through American mediators will take place throughout the process.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump “gave his blessing” to the process during his meeting with Biden at the White House two weeks ago.

A committee led by the US will oversee the implementation of the withdrawal. France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL are also part of the committee.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Hezbollah’s withdrawal will take place in three 20-day phases. The first withdrawal will take place in the western sector.

It will coincide with an Israeli pullout from areas it occupied in that region. A strengthened Lebanese army force and UNIFIL troops will deploy in their place.

The second phase will cover the central sector and follow the same process.

The residents of the frontline southern villages will not be allowed to return to their homes immediately until they are deemed safe and after ensuring that no Hezbollah members or weapons remain there.

Residents of the so-called second and third line of villages south of the Litani River will be allowed to return to their homes immediately.

The source expected the US to play an “effective role” in the mechanism to oversee the withdrawal. It did not clarify whether any American forces will take part in the process.

It revealed that Britain and other countries will “exert special efforts to verify whether illegitimate weapons are being smuggled to Hezbollah.”

The five-member committee will not replace the tripartite committee already in place and that includes Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL.