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No debt relief<\/h2>\n
Burhan has said he removed the Cabinet to avert civil war after civilian politicians stoked hostility towards\u00a0the armed forces.<\/p>\n
He says he is still committed to a democratic transition, including elections in July 2023.<\/p>\n
Mr Hamdok, an economist, was initially held at Burhan’s residence when soldiers rounded up the government on Monday, but was allowed to return home under guard on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The US State Department official said he was, however, still under house arrest and unable to resume his work.<\/p>\n
More on this topic<\/h2>\n
The US official said tens of billions of dollars of debt relief sought by Sudan would not happen as long as the army was attempting to direct Sudan unilaterally.<\/p>\n
The US and the World Bank have already frozen assistance to Sudan, where an economic crisis has seen shortages of basic goods, including food and medicine, and where nearly a third of the population are in need of urgent humanitarian support.<\/p>\n
Several mediation efforts have emerged but there has been no sign of progress towards a compromise.<\/p>\n
Western states are not looking to engage with the military or mediate any negotiation until detainees are released and the army shows commitment to power-sharing as set out in a transitional constitutional declaration, a Western diplomat said.<\/p>\n
Many Sudanese opponents of the coup oppose a compromise with an army of which they are deeply mistrustful following several coups since independence in 1956.<\/p>\n
“All those who accept or participate in dialogue with the military do not have the street’s support,” the Sudanese Professionals Association said in a statement, demanding a full handover of power to civilians.<\/p>\n
Mr Magdi El Gizouli, a political analyst, said Gen Burhan’s calculation is that he can suppress the opposition by force if needed, while counting on the backing of people who crave stability.<\/p>\n
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