US Envoy Unable to Get in Touch with PM Hamdok

The U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa said on Monday he couldn't reach Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok after the army takeover.

Jeffrey David Feltman said he tried to get in touch with Hamdok after the military's takeover of the transitional government but was not able to reach him.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Feltman called for the release of all detainees in Sudan, adding that he has confidence in Sudan's ability to come over this crisis. He also stressed that the Sudanese people have the right to demonstrate peacefully.

The US envoy noted that Washington was “deeply alarmed” about the events and warned that a military coup could jeopardize American aid to Sudan.

Sudan’s top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared a state of emergency and dissolved the authorities leading the country’s democratic transition. Al-Burhan announced the formation of a new government after soldiers detained civilian leaders in what activists denounced as a “coup”.

Thousands of people have flooded the streets to protest the military coup that threatens the country’s shaky progress toward democracy.