Protestors flooded the streets of Sudan today following the arrest of civilian leaders of the democratic transition – including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several of his cabinet members – as part of a military coup d’état. Led by military General Abdulfatah Burhan and paramilitary RSF militia leader Mohamed (Hemedti) Hamdan Dagalo, this unconstitutional military takeover has been accompanied by widespread shutdowns of internet, cellular and landline phone services and, not coincidentally, deadly attacks on peaceful demonstrations.

This coup is contrary to the will of the Sudanese people and must be immediately reversed. Sudan's Prime Minister and other civilians unlawfully detained must be immediately released and security forces must cease all attacks on protesters (who have adhered to a strict code of nonviolence since the revolution began in 2018). The actions of the military are a betrayal of the revolution, of the agreed upon democratic transition, and of the legitimate aspirations of the Sudanese people for human rights, peace, justice and democracy.

AMEL urges the United States, the European Union and the international community to act swiftly to pressure, isolate and sanction coup leaders and partners. Allies in the Gulf and the wider region are urged to play a positive role in the immediate reversal of this coup and in the perseverance of the civilian-led democratic process.

AMEL calls on the public in the US and Europe to raise awareness about the situation in Sudan by lifting up Sudanese activist voices and by calling elected representatives. Let your representatives and your network know about what is happening in Sudan, your opposition to the coup and your support for pressuring, isolating and sanctioning coup partners that are sabotaging Sudan's historic democratic transition.