Cracks in the military council's ranks?

Contradictory statements from leaders of Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC) following the brutal crackdown on protesters suggest there may be a crack in the ranks of its leadership.

On Wednesday, a day after he said all doors for negotiation were shut and all previous agreements were cancelled, the head of the TMC Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan extended a hand for unconditioned talks with the opposition.

But his deputy Mohamed Hamadan Dagalo – also known as Hemeti – maintained a tone of hostility, saying “chaos” will not be accepted anymore.

Citing a credible source in Khartoum, Rashid Abdi, an analyst at International Crisis Group, said on Thursday that the TMC is “deeply split”.

From credible source in Khartoum: "TMC deeply split. Majority of its members now want Hemedti to step down. He has refused and is threatening rest of his colleagues, saying that can only happen over his dead body."

A showdown looms with prospect of serious violence.
— Rashid Abdi (@RAbdiAnalyst) June 6, 2019