President Biden Firmly Warns Sudan's Military Junta: Restores Civilian Government, Allows Peaceful Protests

JAKARTA - The United States and the United Nations have stepped up pressure on Sudan's military junta, as confrontations between the army and anti-coup protesters brought the death toll to at least 11 people.

After the 15-member UN Security Council called for the restoration of a civilian-led government, President Joe Biden said his country was on the other side, standing by the demonstrators.

"Together, our message to the Sudanese military authorities is overwhelming and clear, the Sudanese people must be allowed to protest peacefully, a civilian-led transitional government must be restored," he stressed, cited from Reuters, October 29.

"The events of the last few days are a major setback, but the United States will continue to support the Sudanese people and their non-violent struggle," said President Biden, whose government has frozen aid to Sudan.

Interestingly, President Joe Biden said he admired the courage of the Sudanese people.

"We firmly believe in Sudan's economic potential and its future promises, if the military and those opposed to change do not hold back," President Biden said.

With thousands of people taking to the streets to oppose the takeover led by Armed Forces General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, witnesses said live ammunition and rubber bullets were used against anti-coup protests in Bahri, across the river from the capital Khartoum as night protests escalated.

A committee of doctors, which tracks the violence, said one martyr was killed in the clashes, while two others were injured and in critical condition. Earlier, a 22-year-old man died from gunshot wounds, medical sources said. That brings the total deaths in four days to at least 11, medical sources said.

On Thursday evening, General Burhan said in a speech to groups that helped topple dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, consultations were underway to choose a prime minister, according to a video broadcast by Al-Jazeera TV.

In addition, General Burhan said the army was negotiating with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of the now-disbanded transitional council, to form a new government.

"Until tonight, we sent him people and told him, settle the road with us, until this meeting with you, we sent him people to negotiate with him and we still have hope," said General Burhan.

"We told him we cleared the stage for you, he is free to form a government, we will not interfere in forming a government, whoever he will bring, we will not intervene at all."

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council, along with other foreign powers, called for restraint, dialogue and the freedom of prisoners.

UN special representative for Sudan Volker Perthes has offered to facilitate dialogue between General Burhan and ousted Prime Minister Hamdok.