The Sudanese military has placed Sudan Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok under house arrest, and arrested and several members of his civilian-led government on Monday morning the country’s Ministry of Information said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Within hours, thousands of people in the capital Khartoum were taking to the streets in protest at the military’s moves.
Soldiers have stormed the headquarters of Sudan’s state broadcaster and detained some employees, the information ministry said, as part of what it has called a “coup”.
“Joint military forces have stormed the TV and radio headquarters in Omdurman and detained a number of staff,” the ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook.
The internet has been shut down in the country but images and videos have appeared on social media showing angry crowds burning tyres in the streets.
Among those arrested by “joint military forces” include various civilian ministers of Sudan’s transitional government and members of Sudan’s sovereign council, the Information Ministry said.
“Members belonging to the civilian component of the Transitional Sovereign Council and a number of ministers of the transitional government were arrested by joint military forces and taken to unknown destinations,” the statement added.
The United Nations denounced the “unacceptable”detention of Sudanese Prime Minister and civilian leaders.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday he was following events in Sudan – where an apparent military coup has taken place – with the utmost concern.
Similarly, US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said the United States was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover of the transitional government in Sudan.
The Umma party also denounced the reported coup and urged popular resistance in a Monday statement.
Similarly, the Sudanese Professionals’ Association, also called on citizens to take to the streets to “counter the coup.”
