Sudanese Military Council hints to early elections within six months

Sudan’s Military Council said that the Declaration of Freedom and Change Document for the transitional period had overlooked the sources of legislation, but they insist that Sharia, customs, and traditions be the source of legislation in the country.

This came at a press conference by the official spokesman of the Military Council Shamsuddin Kabbashi at the presidential palace in Khartoum, on Tuesday evening.

The official explained that the Military Council also insists that Arabic be the official language of the country.

He pointed out that the Declaration of Freedom and Change Document referred to the need to return to the former system of regions and to abolish the current 18 governorates.

Kabbashi also noted that the Military Council had rejected the mediation proposal to form a Security and Defence Council, considering that the Council already exists, and each State has a Security Council under different names.

The military council stressed its rejection of the army and security’s subjection to the sovereign civil council proposed by the forces of freedom and change, especially concerning the declaration of wars and the army’s participation in external wars.

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The spokesman stressed that the Military Council would resort to early elections within six months, in case the negotiations with the forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change reached a dead end, considering it an option to be discussed.

He also stressed that the Sudanese army is not involved in the attempt to remove the barricades and break the sit-in, and this is preferably carried out by a third force, without providing further details.

Protests in Sudan – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

He confirmed that the former director of National Intelligence and Security Service, Salah Gosh, is currently under a house arrest, and can be transferred to the prison of the Cooper Central Prison at any time.

The Military Council’s spokesman further stressed the need to disassemble the former regime, and clear the deep State, even though the matter would take up to 10 years.

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He added: We are currently working on the dismantling and clearance of the popular security (armed battalions belonging to the former regime) and limiting arms to other regime forces.

On April 11, the Sudanese army ousted Omar Al-Bashir from the presidency after 30 years in power, under the pressure of ongoing widespread protests.

Since April 6, thousands of Sudanese have been protesting in front of the army leadership headquarters in the capital Khartoum, amid fears from the army’s circumvention of the popular movement’s demands, as happened in other Arab countries, according to protesters.

The Forces of Change are demanding the formation of a civilian presidential council, which would carry out the sovereign functions during the transitional period, a private legislation council, and a small civilian cabinet consisting of national competencies to perform executive functions.