KHARTOUM: Members of Sudan's cabinet and a large number of pro-government party leaders were arrested on Monday in an apparent coup after weeks of tension between the military and a civilian government, political sources said.
Here is some background to the events.
WHO IS IN CHARGE IN SUDAN?
Sudan began a transition to democracy after a popular uprising and the ouster in April 2019 of President Omar al-Bashir, an Islamist shunned by the West who had presided over the country for nearly three decades.
Under an August 2019 agreement, the military is sharing power with officials appointed by civilian political groups in a ruling body known as the Sovereign Council, meant to lead the country to elections by the end of 2023.
HAVE THERE BEEN TENSIONS BEFORE?
Although the military's role is supposed to be largely honorary, civilians have repeatedly complained of military overreach in foreign policy and peace negotiations.
The military has accused civilian parties of mismanagement and monopolising power. A coalition of rebel groups and political parties have aligned themselves with the armed forces and have sought to dissolve the civilian cabinet.
Authorities said in September they had foiled an attempted coup, accusing plotters loyal to Bashir.
WHAT ARE THE DISAGREEMENTS OVER?
One point of tension is the pursuit of justice over allegations of war crimes by the military and its allies in the conflict in Darfur from 2003. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking trials for Bashir and other Sudanese suspects. The cabinet has signed off on handing over suspects, but the Sovereign Council has not.
Another is an investigation into the killings of pro-democracy protesters on June 3, 2019, in which military forces are implicated. Activists and civilian groups have been angered by delays in making the investigation's findings public.
Civilians have also pushed for oversight and restructuring of the military, particularly through the integration of the powerful, paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which military leaders have resisted.
WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY?
A worsening economic crisis that sent the currency plunging and created frequent shortages of bread and fuel was the trigger for Bashir's downfall.
The transitional government has implemented harsh, rapid reforms monitored by the International Monetary Fund in a successful bid for debt relief and to attract foreign financing.
In the wake of the reforms, inflation rose to historic highs of more than 400% and many Sudanese complain of struggling to get by. There have been occasional protests over economic conditions.
HOW ARE RELATIONS WITH THE NEIGHBOURS?
Sudan is in a volatile region, bordering the Red Sea, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa. Several of its neighbours, including Ethiopia, Chad and South Sudan have been affected by political upheavals and conflict.
Since late last year, conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region has pushed tens of thousands of refugees into eastern Sudan and caused military tensions in disputed agricultural lands along the border.
Sudan is pushing, with Egypt, for a binding deal over the operation of a giant hydropower dam that Ethiopia is building near the Sudanese border. Talks have stalled but Ethiopia has started filling the reservoir behind the dam, which Sudan says could put its citizens, dams and water facilities at risk.
Reuters
Mon Oct 25 2021
People gather around as smoke and fire are seen on the streets of Kartoum, Sudan, amid reports of a coup, October 25, 2021, in this still image from video obtained via social media. - RASD SUDAN NETWORK /via REUTERS
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
Tiga Syarikat Semikonduktor umum melabur di Pulau Pinang - Kon Yeow
Tiga syarikat semikonduktor dari China menyatakan komitmen untuk membuat pelaburan baharu di Pulau Pinang.
Pindaan garis panduan lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah pada tahun lepas bagi mengukuhkan pembelajaran di luar kelas, kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
Kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak dijaga sehingga tamat sekolah - KPM
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia akan memastikan kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak 10 pegawai dan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia yang terkorban dalam nahas helikopter di Lumut, Perak, terus dijaga sehingga mereka tamat persekolahan.
Chegubard ditahan polis berkaitan hantaran mengenai kasino di Forest City
Chegubard ditahan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini berkaitan hantaran mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City pada Sabtu.
Zahid minta pihak dalam BN buka "buku baharu"
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan senario politik tanah air sudah berubah dan terdapat banyak video lama dari parti lawan yang meminta pengundi menyokong DAP.
Malaysia kongsi pengalaman dalam usaha berterusan mempertahan Palestin
Delegasi negara akan berkongsikan peranan Malaysia dalam usaha berterusan mempertahankan nasib Palestin dalam Persidangan Liga Parlimen Al-Quds kelima yang berlangsung di Istanbul, Turki pada Sabtu.
Universiti Malaya mohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia
Jabatan Pengajian Antarabangsa dan Strategik, Universiti Malaya memohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia berhubung kenytaaan tidak bertanggungjawab Profesor Dr Bruce Gilley pada 24 April lalu.
Genting Malaysia nafi terbabit perbincangan
Selepas Berjaya Corporation Bhd dan Kerajaan Negeri Johor, kini Genting Malaysia Bhd pula menafikan sebarang penglibatan dalam perbincangan mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Sabtu, 27 April 2024.
Ketua PBB gesa gencatan senjata sebelum Ramadan di Sudan
Setiausaha Agung PBB menyeru untuk gencatan senjata dalam konflik antara tentera dan kumpulan separa tentera di Sudan menjelang Ramadan.
Sudan: 700,000 kanak-kanak diancam kekurangan zat makanan
UNICEF memberi amaran bahawa puluhan ribu kanak-kanak Sudan mungkin terkorban akibat kekurangan zat makanan.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Sudan gesa pengunduran segera pasukan pengaman PBB
Sudan menggesa pengunduran segera misi pengaman Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) dari negara itu, lapor Agensi Berita Jerman (dpa).
Wabak taun terus merebak di Sudan - PBB
Wabak taun di Sudan terus menular di saat akses kepada penjagaan kesihatan berdepan kekangan manakala perang saudara berterusan.
Lebih 1.6 juta kanak-kanak kurang nutrisi pada 2024
Kawasan terjejas banjir mengalami kekurangan nutrisi makanan yang teruk akibat penularan penyakit bawaan air dan keadaan sesak.
5.8 juta orang hilang tempat tinggal akibat perang di Sudan - IOM
Pertubuhan Migrasi Antarabangsa PBB (IOM) pada Rabu mendedahkan bahawa hampir 5.8 juta orang kehilangan tempat tinggal di dalam dan di luar Sudan akibat konflik berpanjangan.
19 juta kanak-kanak Sudan tidak dapat ke sekolah akibat konflik
Daripada jumlah itu, kira-kira 6.5 juta kanak-kanak tidak dapat ke sekolah dan sekurang-kurangnya 10,400 sekolah ditutup.
Pertempuran ganas meletus kembali di Khartoum
RSF melancarkan serangan menyasarkan ibu pejabat Komando Am SAF di Khartoum dan pangkalan tentera lain di bandar Omdurman dan Bahri.
Sekurang-kurangnya 13 kubur besar dijumpai di Sudan - PBB
Sekurang-kurangnya 13 kubur besar ditemui berhampiran bandar El Geneina di Sudan.