Sudan: Opposition, Military Disagree On Elections

The opposition in Sudan have rejected a plan announced by the Transitional Military Council (TMC) yesterday to hold elections within nine months.

The TMC made the announcement after negotiations between the two sides broke down completely when dozens of protestors were killed as the army forcefully broke up a sit-in protest outside its headquarters in Khartoum.

The military has been under pressure to handover power to a civilian-led administration since it overthrew former President Omar al-Bashir. While negotiations with an opposition alliance had previously made progress in agreeing a three-year period for the transition, the council cancelled all existing agreements following Monday’s violence.

In reaction to plans announced by the Council’s head Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to pursue elections within nine months, the opposition Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF) has called for an open-ended civil disobedience campaign. The opposition is concerned that free and fair elections cannot be held within such a short timeframe and that the military may seek to control the process.

The African Union, the US and Europe have all condemned Monday’s security operation.