Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was reinstated in Sudan weeks ago by making a controversial deal with the army, announced his resignation.
The Sudanese Army seized power last October and placed Hamdok under house arrest. However, he was reinstated after a power-sharing agreement with the coup leader.
Opponents of the coup refused the agreement and wanted a completely civilian administration.
“Sudan is at a dangerous turning point that threatens its very existence,” Hamdok said in a televised statement.
Hamdok said he was doing everything he could to prevent the country “sliding towards disaster,” adding that despite efforts to reach a compromise, this did not happen.
“As Prime Minister, I have decided to relinquish responsibility and announce my resignation. Thus, to give another woman or man a chance to lead this noble country’s transition to a civilian democratic government,” Hamdok added.
Civil and military leaders in Sudan have reached a power-sharing compromise aimed at bringing the country to democratic rule, after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was ousted in a popular uprising in 2019.
According to the agreement reached with Hamdok in November, the re-elected prime minister would lead a government of technocrats until the elections. But it was unclear how strong the new civilian government would be, and activists stressed that they did not trust the military.
Thousands of people participated in the demonstrations held on Sunday in the capital cities of Khartoum and Omdurman. While the protesters chanted “the people are in power”, they demanded that the army stay away from politics.
More than 50 people have died in protests since the coup, at least two on Sunday, according to the pro-democracy Sudan Central Committee of Doctors.
Coup leader General Abdel Fatteah al-Burhan argued that the army seized power to prevent a civil war that was about to break out last October. Al Burhan stated that Sudan still depends on the transition to civilian rule and the elections will be held in July 2023.