Sudan’s PM Hamdok under house arrest

Military forces in Sudan have put Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok under house arrest, according to Al-Hadath TV, and detained several members of the country’s civilian leadership.

Citing unidentified sources, the Dubai-based broadcaster said a military force besieged the prime minister’s home early on Monday (October 25) before placing him under house arrest.

It said civilian officials taken into custody include Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh, Information Minister Hamza Baloul, and media adviser to the prime minister, Faisal Mohammed Saleh.

The spokesman for Sudan’s ruling sovereign council, Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, and the governor of Sudan’s capital Khartoum, Ayman Khalid, were also arrested.

Al-Sheikh’s daughter and Khalid’s wife confirmed their arrests to Al Jazeera.

Sudan has been on edge since a failed coup plot last month unleashed bitter recriminations between military and civilian groups meant to be sharing power following the toppling of the country’s long time leader Omar al-Bashir.

Al-Bashir was toppled after months of street protests in 2019, and a political transition agreed after his removal was meant to lead to elections by the end of 2023.