Already Warned But Sudanese Military Continues To Launch Coup, United States Suspends IDR 9.9 Trillion Aid

Illustration of a military coup protest in Sudan. (Wikimedia Commons/Abbasher)

JAKARTA - The United States government under President Joe Biden condemned the military coup that took place in Sudan, decided to suspend aid worth 700 million US dollars, equivalent to Rp. 9,911,720 million in financial aid.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the full amount of the aid package had been 'suspended', pending a review of developments in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital that saw the military topple the civilian-led transitional authority and detain many of its members.

State Department spokesman Ned Price called for the military to immediately release those arrested, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and restore civilian authority.

"A civilian-led transitional government must be restored urgently. This represents the will of the Sudanese people, as evidenced by the significant and peaceful demonstrations of support," Price said.

"We recognize legitimate complaints about the pace of transition, but the dismissal of government officials and the dissolution of government institutions both violate Sudan's constitutional declarations and ignore the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people."

"Military officials must immediately release and ensure the safety of all detained political actors, fully restore the civilian-led transitional government and refrain from any violence against protesters, including the use of live ammunition. Any changes to the transitional government by force have an impact on aid and bilateral relations. us more broadly," he said.

The deferred aid is direct financial support meant to assist the country's transition to fully civilian rule. Price said additional US assistance to the country could also be affected, along with the broader relationship.

Relations between Washington and Khartoum have warmed since Sudan agreed to pay compensation to victims of the 1998 embassy bombings in neighboring Kenya and nearby Tanzania, planned on Sudanese soil by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. Last year, Uncle Sam's country removed Sudan from the list of 'state sponsors of terrorism'.

It was not immediately clear how much aid the United States was providing Sudan with in addition to the $700 million that was suspended. Many forms of U.S. aid, including military aid, were still banned following the 1989 coup that overthrew the ruler.

Price said Washington was watching developments "very closely" and "wouldn't hesitate" to hold those responsible for the coup to account. Including through the restoration of sanctions that have been lifted or relaxed following the removal of Sudan from the list of sponsors of terrorism.

The coup comes just hours after the United States Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, left Khartoum where he had met with senior Sudanese military and civilian officials to try to press for calming tensions and reconciliation to keep the transition on track.

Price said Feltman warned Sudan's army chief General Abdel-Fattah Burhan and others that any unconstitutional change in government would have consequences. American officials said the arrests were made three hours after Feltman departed.

"To be clear, we were not briefed on this. It is clear that an act of this nature is something the United States will, and is now doing, oppose and condemn in the strongest possible terms," Price said.