Sudan's PM Hamdok survives assassination attempt: state

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. A car bomb exploded as his convoy passed through a Khartoum suburb on March 9, 2020. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• A car bomb, that seemed to target him, exploded moments after his convoy had passed the... scene of the blast.

By MAWAHIB ABDALLATIF
More by this Author

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Monday morning survived an assassination attempt, a statement released by his office says.

A car bomb, that seemed to target him, exploded moments after his convoy had passed the Cooper suburb, northeast of the capital Khartoum.

The PM was taken to a secure location after the incident.

No details were released about the perpetrators.

An emergency meeting of the Sudanese Security and Defense Council has been called and will be chaired by the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.

PM Hamdok assured citizens that he was safe. “I assure the Sudanese people that I am well and completely healthy. What happened will not stop the march of change and will only be an additional inspiration for the revolution,” he said on Twitter.

“This revolution is protected by its peacefulness and its price was the blood that was shed as [a] sacrifice made for a better tomorrow.”

Sudanese Minister of Information Faisal Muhammad Saleh said the convoy was targeted by a terrorist. He said one person suffered an injury on his shoulder when he fell off his motorcycle.

Authorities have begun investigations, Mr Saleh added.

The United States of America, the United Kingdom and Egypt condemned the attack.

The US embassy in Khartoum expressed shock and reaffirmed Washington’s support for the transitional government.

The UK called for a thorough investigation, saying the attempt was very disturbing.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ahmed Hafez called for regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

Mr Hamdok has been in power since August 2019, heading a transitional government that is comprised of military officials and civilians.

He has been pursuing reforms that include purging remnants of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir’s security forces.

In February, some soldiers mutinied, protesting against a move to send home some colleagues and have their units disbanded and merged with another.