Who is Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok?

Mr Hamdok was instrumental in the country being delisted as a 'state sponsor of terrorism'

Sudan's Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan announced in a televised address that he was dissolving the country's ruling Sovereign Council and the government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Gen Al Burhan said the military would run the country until elections in 2023. Photo: Sudan TV / AP

People gather on the streets of Khartoum as smoke rises after reports of a coup on Monday. Photo: Rasd Sudan Network / Reuters

People gather on the streets of Khartoum as smoke rises after reports of a coup on October 25, 2021. Rasd Sudan Network via Reuters

The scene on Khartoum's streets. Photo: Rasd Sudan Network / Reuters

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has been arrested by the military and taken to an undisclosed location, the Information Ministry reported. AFP

Political parties and pro-civilian rule groups have accused army general and head of the sovereign council Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan of ordering the military takeover. AFP

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Himediti, is the deputy head of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries, making him one of the country’s most powerful generals. AFP

The military’s move comes after protests in favour of the military and against Mr Hamdok as well as those backing civilian rule. AFP

A protester blocks a street with his car during a demonstration to demand the dissolution of Sudan's transitional government. AFP

There have been numerous protests in recent days, including outside the presidential palace in Sudan's capital, Khartoum. AFP

Protesters camping outside the presidential palace demand the dismissal of the government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. AP

Protesters chant 'one army, one people' and 'the army will bring us bread' slogans during their demonstration outside the presidential palace in Khartoum. AP

Pro-military protesters hold a rally demanding the dissolution of Sudan’s government, outside the presidential palace. AP

Mr Hamdok has issued a warning that the transition is facing its 'worst and most dangerous' crisis. AFP

A person does a handstand in front of a burning pile of tyres during a pro-civilian rule protest against any military takeover in Khartoum on October 21. Reuters

Thousands rallied to back Mr Hamdok’s government after protests by pro-military supporters. EPA

Thousands of people marched during a demonstration called by the Alliance of Forces for Freedom and Change, the Central Council Group to support the government of Abdullah Hamdok, while the army and police forces closed the roads leading to government headquarters and main markets. EPA

People attend demonstrations in support of the civilian government on October 21. EPA

Sudanese demonstrators take part in a protest in the city of Khartoum Bahri, the northern twin city of the capital, to demand the government's transition to civilian rule. AFP

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At the head of a transitional government since August 2019, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has been instrumental in a number of breakthroughs in the country's recent history, following a popular uprising against the decades-long rule of former dictator Omar Al Bashir in April 2019.

Mr Hamdok's achievements include securing Sudan's removal from the US state sponsors of terrorism list, a first step towards receiving much needed financial aid and improving Sudan's international status.

On Monday, Sudan's military arrested Mr Hamdok and other members of his civilian-led government, which was formed following the uprising that ended Bashir's 30 years of Islamist rule.

Until his arrest, Mr Hamdok's extensive background in finance and connections proved effective in alleviating the country's economic woes, although major issues such as a lack of basic necessities, including fuel and bread, remain.

Despite this, Mr Hamdok retains popularity among civilian opposition groups, including the Forces for Freedom and Change and the Sudanese Professionals' Association, which were both key groups in the 2019 revolution.

Who is Abdalla Hamdok?

Born in 1956, Mr Hamdok, served as an official in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in his 30s before working in the private sector with one of the 'Big Four' auditing companies, Deloitte & Touche.

He then rose in seniority and held several positions in the International Labour Organisation and the African Development Fund, as well as the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

He was sworn in as Sudan's 15th prime minister on August 21, 2019, after the military coup that toppled Bashir, to lead a transitional civilian and military-led government.

Under his rule, the Juba Peace Agreement was signed on October 3, 2020 to effectively end a decades-long conflict between the government and rebel groups in the south of Sudan.

Why was he arrested?

Although specifics about his arrest, including his whereabouts, remain unknown, Mr Hamdok had reportedly refused to support a military coup against the transitional government's ruling Sovereign Council.

Instead, he and other groups called on the Sudanese public to hold their ground and "resist" military intervention, the Ministry of Information said.

A statement from Mr Hamdok's office on Facebook said that the Prime Minister and his wife were "kidnapped at dawn", adding that the military takeover is akin to "tearing up the constitution."

The office held the military responsible for Mr Hamdok's wellbeing and safety and repeated calls for the public to protest peacefully to "retrieve the revolution from its abductors".

Opposition groups continued to organise protests as demonstrators flooded the streets of the capital, Khartoum, setting tyres alight and blocking roads.

Following Monday's events, internet connectivity monitor NetBlocks confirmed "significant disruption" in Sudan's internet services, affecting major telecommunication providers, in an apparent attempt to prevent public gatherings from growing.

A military takeover would "contravene the Constitutional Declaration and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people," Jeffrey Feltman, US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, said in a post on Twitter, calling the move "utterly unacceptable".