Sudan’s army chief says not planning to turn against framework agreement

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Sudan’s army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has denied that the military was planning to turn against a framework agreement with political parties for the country’s transition.

“The armed forces are not planning to turn against what has been agreed upon,” al-Burhan said in a speech in the Nile River State in northern Sudan.

“Rather, the army seeks to get the Sudanese unite together to cruise the country out of the current situation and is trying to find solutions,” he added.

“The army is not against any party and has signed the framework agreement to include all parties,” the army chief stressed.

On December 5, Sudan’s military and political forces signed a framework agreement meant to resolve Sudan’s months-long crisis.

The deal pledges a 2-year transition period and the appointment of a civilian prime minister by the political parties that signed the agreement.

It also calls for the reform of the military and defense sector, unifying the military and integrating the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force, into the army.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021 when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency, a move decried by political forces as a "military coup."

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.