Sudan releases four jailed civilian ministers following military coup

Sudan military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced on state television Thursday that the country’s military would be releasing four civilian ministers that were detained after the Oct. 25 coup.

The ministers in question were Hamza Baloul, Ali Jiddo, Hashim Hasabalrasoul and Yousef Adam, the military general said, according to Reuters.

The release of the ministers comes after the United Nations special envoy for Sudan said a potential deal could be made to allow the civilian-military government to be restored with ousted Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok returning to power, according to Reuters.

The military led a coup dissolving the country’s transitional democratic government in October. The coup occurred just weeks before the military was set to relinquish much of its power to the civilian side of the government. Burhan has said, however, that it was necessary to prevent a civil war.

After the coup, many civilian politicians were arrested and charged with encouraging a rebellion against the military. Hamdok was detained but released shortly thereafter. 

The civilian-military government was established in 2019 after autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir was ousted from power. The goal was to eventually have a fully run civilian government.

Protests have erupted since the military coup occurred, with Sudanese citizens demanding the restoration of the ousted transitional government.