Israel and the Military Coup in Sudan

A delegation of Israel’s Mossad secretly visited Khartoum after the military coup did take place

By Michael Pröbsting, 2 November 2021

In our analysis of the military coup in Sudan on 25 October, we have emphasized that this putsch could only take place because it did receive support from influential reactionary powers. We did demonstrate in two articles, based on concrete evidence, that General Burhan and his conspirators got such from the counterrevolutionary “Axis of Evil” – Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt’s General Sisi [1] – as well as from imperialist Russia. [2]

Concerning Israel’s support for the coup, we pointed to the positive reaction from “unnamed” government sources as well as to the fact that only three weeks before the putsch took place, a delegation of Sudan’s security apparatus visited the Zionist state. Actually, this delegation was led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemetti. This is one of the worst killers of Sudan’s army (which is not short of killers) as he commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and is known for systematic campaigns of killings of civilians and rapes in Darfur. He is also the figure responsible for the Khartoum massacre on 3 June 2019 where hundreds of demonstrators were killed on a single day. [3]

As it happens, General Hemetti is the co -leader of the coup – together with General Burhan.

Now, additional evidence has emerged which confirms our analysis about Israel’s sponsorship of the military coup. Yesterday, Israeli and other media reported that a delegation “secretly visited the Sudanese capital of Khartoum last week”. The delegation, “which reportedly consisted of Mossad representatives, met with Sudanese military personnel, most notably with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.” [4] While the media don’t name an exact date of this visit, they report that it took place “last week”. As the military coup happened in the night of Sunday to Monday (25 October), this must mean that this visit happened after the putsch was carried out.

It should be clear to everyone that such a secret visit of Israeli’s Mossad representative to the co-leader of the coup, taking place after the putsch happened, can mean nothing but that both sides discussed and negotiated how to work together closer in face of the new circumstances.

It is highly characteristic and symbolic that the leaders of this coup have close links to the Zionist state, which is responsible for the historic oppression and expulsion of the Palestinian people. As we did already report, the new military regime is a strong advocate of the notorious policy of “normalization” with Israel, i.e. the establishment of official relations with this racist settler state. [5] “General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who led last Monday's takeover, had frequently met with Israeli officials and was reportedly enthusiastic for increasing ties with Israel.” [6]

All socialists, all anti-Zionists and all democrats must rally to oppose the military coup in Sudan. We repeat that this putsch is part of the counterrevolutionary offensive against the popular uprisings in the Arab world. The coup leaders must be overthrown by a popular uprising and replaced by a workers and poor peasants government. [7]

[1] Michael Pröbsting: The “Axis of Evil” behind the Military Coup in Sudan. The rulers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Israel have instigated another putsch, 29 October 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/axis-of-evil-behind-military-coup-in-sudan/
[2] Michael Pröbsting: Sudan: The Great Powers and the Military Coup. General Burhan’s putsch reflects the decline of U.S. imperialism and the rise of its Eastern rivals, 29 October 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/great-powers-and-military-coup-in-sudan/[3] Times of Israel: Sudanese security delegation said to secretly visit Israel, 8 October 2021, https://www.timesofisrael.com/sudanese-security-delegation-said-to-secretly-visit-israel/
[4] See e.g. Jerusalem Post: Israeli Mossad delegation visited Sudan in midst of military coup, 1 November 2021, https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/israeli-mossad-delegation-visited-sudan-in-midst-of-military-coup-683757
[5] See on this e.g. ISL: What's behind the Israel-Sudan Normalization Deal? 24.10.2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/what-s-behind-the-israel-sudan-normalization-deal/
[6] Middle East Eye: Sudan coup: Israeli delegation visited country in midst of takeover, 2 November 2021, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/sudan-coup-israel-delegation-visited-sudan-midst-takeover
[7] See also: RCIT: Sudan: Down with the Military Coup! For committees of action, general strike and popular insurrection to defeat the putschists! 25 October 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/sudan-down-with-the-military-coup/. All RCIT documents on the military coup in Sudan are compiled at a special sub-page on our website: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/compilation-of-articles-on-the-military-coup-in-sudan/.

Sudan: The Great Powers and the Military Coup

General Burhan’s putsch reflects the decline of U.S. imperialism and the rise of its Eastern rivals 

By Michael Pröbsting, 29 October 2021

In a recently published article, we explained that the military coup in Sudan on 25 October could not have taken place without the support of the counterrevolutionary “Axis of Evil” – Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt’s General Sisi. [1] 

In the article at hand, we will elaborate on the approach of the imperialist Great Powers to the coup as well as the developments which that reflects. Naturally, there exist only limited information yet as such things usually take place behind the scenes. Nevertheless, diplomatic overtones and media reports published in the last days allow us to get a picture of the situation.

The most important piece of information is a report which has been published yesterday by the renowned news agency Reuters. While we are not in a position to verify if all details in this report are true, there exist various other information and diplomatic overtones which lend a lot of credibility to this report.

The Generals ignore Washington’s veto

According to the Reuters report, at least the U.S. as well as Russia were informed in advance about the plans of the army command to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. The article reports that Washington was strongly opposed to the coup and tried to convince the generals. However, General Burhan and his conspirators simply ignored America’s veto.

“Hours before Sudan's army seized power and dissolved its government, a senior U.S. envoy warned the country's top general not to take any steps against the civilian administration that was overseeing a democratic transition, diplomats said. Jeffrey Feltman, President Joe Biden's special envoy for the Horn of Africa, flew into Khartoum two days before Monday's coup, as concerns mounted that the transition was running into trouble due to mounting tension between the generals and civilians. But instead of heeding the warning, the army did just the opposite, acting on a plan to seize power that two diplomats and three Sudanese official sources said had been developed over the preceding weeks. (…) In his last meeting with Burhan, Feltman "put Burhan under big pressure not to do anything against the cabinet, to de-escalate", said one diplomat briefed on the meeting, declining to be identified.” [2]

According to the Reuters report, the United Nations special envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, also met with a military leader on the 24 October in the afternoon, i.e. hours before the coup took place. Perthes later told reporters: “"He [the military leader, Ed.] also indicated that the military might move, of course ... I strongly warned against doing this."

The information about Washington’s opposition to the coup seem credible to us since the Biden Administration has formally condemned the putsch and freeze $700 million of economic assistance for Sudan.

Russia “green lights” the coup

The Reuters report also claims that Russia was contacted by the generals ahead of the coup and Moscow assured them of its support. “The army may also be looking to build closer ties with Russia: diplomats and analysts say RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo [the No.2 of the putschist regime, Ed.] has cultivated ties to Moscow. Ahead of the coup, the military sought and obtained a "green light" from Moscow in an effort to protect themselves from any sanctions imposed through the United Nations Security Council, two official Sudanese sources said. (…) Russia already appears to be shielding Sudan's military in a possible Security Council statement. Two diplomats with direct knowledge of negotiations on the text said Russia had suggested the 15-member council express concern at developments in Sudan, rather than condemn the takeover. Negotiations on the text, which has to be agreed by consensus, are ongoing.”

Again, this information seems credible to us since Russia’s public statements in the last days point to the same direction. In contrast to Washington, Moscow has refused to characterize the events in Sudan as a “coup”. TASS – the news agency of the Russian state – quotes Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, saying: “It is difficult to say, is it a coup or not. A coup has a concrete definition. There are situations like this in many states, in many parts of the world, and they are not being called ‘coups,’" Polyansky said, adding that sometimes similar events are referred to simply as "change of power. (…) "We need to see. It’s up to the Sudanese to decide whether it’s a coup or not a coup," he continued. "There was a forcible change of power in 2019 in Sudan. Was it called a coup? (…) I don’t think it’s our task to label such situations as ‘coup’ or ‘not coup.’” [3]

While the Putin regime refuses to call the coup by name, Polyansky point to “violent protestors”: “As far as I see, they are not peacefully protesting, there are also violent protests.”

Another TASS report reflects Moscow’s desire to support the new regime of General Burhan and to shield it against pressure from Washington. According to this report, there has been a telephone call between Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov, and US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman. A statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry about this conversation points out “that the Russian side emphasized the unacceptability of external intervention in the internal affairs of this country." Translated from diplomatic to ordinary language, this means that Russia rejects any pressure of the U.S. on the Sudanese putschists. [4]

Furthermore, the Reuters report about Russia’s approach to block any condemnation and sanctions by the UN Security Council is also confirmed by another TASS report. “Members of the UN Security Council have so far failed to achieve any consent on the situation in Sudan, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky has told reporters. "I think it's too premature just to tell it so let's work. Let's work on some document. Okay, we agree on that we are preoccupied on what's happening," he said.” [5]

U.S. imperialism is no longer the hegemonic power in the Middle East

Washington’s failure to stop to putschists despite putting considerable pressure on them is an impressive confirmation of the Marxist thesis that U.S. imperialism is in decline. In fact, it is a humiliation for the former superpower. It is also indicative that the above-mentioned diplomatic phone call between the Special Envoys of Russia and the U.S. took place on the initiative of the later. It seems that Washington is asking Moscow for help.

The above-mentioned Reuters article quotes also a sobering statement by a U.S. analyst. Jonas Horner of the prestigious International Crisis Group says: "I think it's probably been very chastening for Sudan's Western allies. The military brushed aside what was being held over their heads in the end.”

Why has Washington opposed the coup? Are they honest friends of democracy? Definitely not! Just look to their long-time in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – these are totalitarian autocracies which have never seen any elections throughout their whole history! And remember the bloody military coup in Egypt in July 2013 which was green lighted by the U.S.!

No, there is another reason for the opposition of the Biden Administration to the Sudanese coup. As the RCIT has elaborated in several works, the historic decline of U.S. imperialism forces Washington to accept the loss of its hegemony in the Middle East. As a result, it has to withdraw troops. The most dramatic recent example of this development has been the hasty withdrawal of all imperialist troops from Afghanistan and the consequential collapse of the pro-American puppet regime. [6] But it is not only Afghanistan from where the U.S. are retreating. A similar process has started in Iraq and Syria some time ago and it is only a matter of time until Washington will get out all troops.

It is for the same reason that the Biden Administration has been interested in a renewal of negotiations with Iran for some time. Despite considerable pressure from Israel, Washington shows no interest to wage a war against Teheran. [7]

The main reason for the strategic retreat of U.S. imperialism from the Middle East is a very pragmatic one. The key area, where the struggle for world domination will be fought in the coming period, is not the Middle East but East Asia. American strategists have called this the “Pivot to Asia”. As the U.S. is in a period of decline, this means that it can no longer strive to dominate all regions in the world. It must rather withdraw forces from areas which is considers as secondary and focus its resources to those key regions where it has to face its Eastern imperialist rivals: China and Russia. [8]

Obviously, the regional regimes as well as the rival Great Powers are fully aware of the end of the American hegemony in the Middle East. This is why General Burhan feels confident to ignore Washington’s pressure. This is why the putschists look for a “green light” from Moscow and, after getting it, they go ahead with their plans.

In summary, the military coup in Sudan is a powerful confirmation of the RCIT’s analysis of the decay of U.S. imperialism and the rise of Russia [9] and China [10] as new Great Powers.

[1] Michael Pröbsting: The “Axis of Evil” behind the Military Coup in Sudan. The rulers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Israel have instigated another putsch, 29 October 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/axis-of-evil-behind-military-coup-in-sudan/
[2] Khalid Abdelaziz and Nafisa Eltahir, Aidan Lewis: Sudanese general ignored U.S. warning as army rolled out coup plan, 28 October 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/sudanese-general-ignored-us-warning-army-rolled-out-coup-plan-2021-10-28/
[3] TASS: Sudanese people should decide whether recent events were a coup or not — diplomat, 26 October 2021, https://tass.com/world/1354437
[4] TASS: Russian, US diplomats discuss developments in Sudan - Foreign Ministry statement, 27 October 2021, https://tass.com/politics/1354975
[5] TASS: Too early to speak about UN Security Council consent on Sudan — Russian diplomat, 27 October 2021, https://tass.com/world/1354453
[6] We have compiled the RCIT documents on the imperialist defeat in Afghanistan on a special sub-page on our webiste: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/asia/collection-of-articles-on-us-defeat-in-afghanistan/. In particular we refer readers to two key statements which have been translated into several langauges: Afghanistan: The Rats Are Fleeing! The fall of Kabul is a historic defeat for Western imperialism and a victory for the oppressed peoples! 17 August 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/asia/afghanistan-the-rats-are-fleeing/; Afghanistan: The Meaning of the Anti-Imperialist Victory and the Perspectives Ahead. Questions and Answers from a Marxist Point of View, 24 August 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/asia/afghanistan-meaning-of-anti-imperialist-victory-and-perspectives-ahead/; see also two pamphlet by Michael Pröbsting: Afghanistan: Understanding (and Misunderstanding) the Taliban. Class Contradictions, Women’s Oppression and Anti-Imperialist Resistance, 10 September 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/afghanistan-class-contradictions-women-s-oppression-and-anti-imperialist-resistance/; Afghanistan and the Left: Closet Social-Imperialism. A critique of reformist and centrist forces which are outraged about the Taliban’s victory against the U.S. occupation in Afghanistan, 24 September 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/afghanistan-and-the-left-closet-social-imperialism/
[7] See on this e.g. Ben Caspit: Lapid’s Washington visit brings Israel little assurance on Iran, 15 October 2021 https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/10/lapids-washington-visit-brings-israel-little-assurance-iran
[8] he RCIT has dealt on numerous occasions with the inter-imperialist rivalry of the Great Powers. See e.g. the RCIT document: World Perspectives 2021-22: Entering a Pre-Revolutionary Global Situation, 22 August 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/world-perspectives-2021-22/; see also: RCIT: The Coming Inter-Imperialist War on Taiwan, 10 October 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/the-coming-inter-imperialist-war-on-taiwan/; The Meaning of the AUKUS Pact. The U.S. escalates the inter-imperialist Cold War against China and provokes the EU, 18 September 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/the-meaning-of-the-aukus-pact/; Russia Fires Warning Shots against UK Warship in the Black Sea. Down with Cold Warmongering! No support for any imperialist Great Power – neither UK, US nor Russia! 24 June 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/russia-fires-warning-shots-against-uk-warship-in-black-sea/; see also the following book by Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry. The Factors behind the Accelerating Rivalry between the U.S., China, Russia, EU and Japan. A Critique of the Left’s Analysis and an Outline of the Marxist Perspective, RCIT Books, Vienna 2019, Chapter I, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/anti-imperialism-in-the-age-of-great-power-rivalry/; see also these two pamphlets by the same author: “A Really Good Quarrel”. US-China Alaska Meeting: The Inter-Imperialist Cold War Continues, 23 March 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/us-china-alaska-meeting-shows-continuation-of-inter-imperialist-cold-war/; Servants of Two Masters. Stalinism and the New Cold War between Imperialist Great Powers in East and West, 10 July 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/servants-of-two-masters-stalinism-and-new-cold-war/; for more works on this issue see these sub-pages: https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/china-russia-as-imperialist-powers/ and https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/collection-of-articles-on-the-global-trade-war/.
[9] The RCIT has published numerous documents about capitalism in Russia and its rise to an imperialist power. See on this e.g. several pamphlets by Michael Pröbsting: The Peculiar Features of Russian Imperialism. A Study of Russia’s Monopolies, Capital Export and Super-Exploitation in the Light of Marxist Theory, 10 August 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/the-peculiar-features-of-russian-imperialism/; Russia and China: Neither Capitalist nor Great Powers? A Reply to the PO/CRFI and their Revisionist Whitewashing of Chinese and Russian imperialism, 28 November 2018, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/russia-and-china-neither-capitalist-nor-great-powers-reply-to-po-crfi/; The Catastrophic Failure of the Theory of “Catastrophism”. On the Marxist Theory of Capitalist Breakdown and its Misinterpretation by the Partido Obrero (Argentina) and its “Coordinating Committee for the Refoundation of the Fourth International”, 27 May 2018, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/the-catastrophic-failure-of-the-theory-of-catastrophism/; Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism and the Rise of Russia as a Great Power. On the Understanding and Misunderstanding of Today’s Inter-Imperialist Rivalry in the Light of Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism. Another Reply to Our Critics Who Deny Russia’s Imperialist Character, August 2014, http://www.thecommunists.net/theory/imperialism-theory-and-russia/; Russia as a Great Imperialist Power. The formation of Russian Monopoly Capital and its Empire – A Reply to our Critics, 18 March 2014, in: Revolutionary Communism No. 21, http://www.thecommunists.net/theory/imperialist-russia/. See various other RCIT documents on this issue at a special sub-page on the RCIT’s website: https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/china-russia-as-imperialist-powers/.
[10] The RCIT has published numerous documents about capitalism in China and its transformation into a Great Power. See on this e.g. the above-mentioned book by Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry; see also by the same author an essay published in the second edition of The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism (edited by Immanuel Ness and Zak Cope), Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020, https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-91206-6_179-1; China‘s transformation into an imperialist power. A study of the economic, political and military aspects of China as a Great Power (2012), in: Revolutionary Communism No. 4, http://www.thecommunists.net/publications/revcom-number-4; How is it possible that some Marxists still Doubt that China has Become Capitalist? (A Critique of the PTS/FT), An analysis of the capitalist character of China’s State-Owned Enterprises and its political consequences, 18 September 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/pts-ft-and-chinese-imperialism-2/; Unable to See the Wood for the Trees (PTS/FT and China). Eclectic empiricism and the failure of the PTS/FT to recognize the imperialist character of China, 13 August 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/pts-ft-and-chinese-imperialism/. See many more RCIT documents at a special sub-page on the RCIT’s website: https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/china-russia-as-imperialist-powers/.

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The “Axis of Evil” behind the Military Coup in Sudan

The rulers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Israel have instigated another putsch

By Michael Pröbsting, 29 October 2021

General Burhan and his clique carried out the recent military coup, first and foremost, in order to smash all (albeit limited) democratic achievements resulting from the Sudanese Revolution in 2019 and to concentrate power in their hands. [1] For this, they needed to remove the civilian bourgeois politicians within the transitional government as those were based partly on mass organizations related with the popular uprising.

However, as we did already note, the Sudanese army command would not have dared carrying out the coup without the support of various regional and global power. The most important factor for this was the backing of the coup by the counterrevolutionary “Axis of Evil” of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Zionist Apartheid State.

In the first RCIT statement on the military coup in Sudan, written a few hours after news of this event have spread, we did already point to the likely forces behind this assault on the remaining achievements of the revolution in 2019. Such we wrote: “Albeit no public information has appeared so far on this issue, we have no doubt that the coup has been secretly supported (or even instigated) by Egypt’s dictatorship of General Sisi as well as by the monarchist rulers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These powers have very close relations with Sudan’s army command, and it is nearly impossible that General al-Burhan would have moved without approval by his closest ally.” [2]

Since then, diplomatic overtones and media reports have strongly confirmed our assumption. Our assumption that this counterrevolutionary “Axis of Evil” is behind the military coup led by General Burhan was fundamentally based on two facts. First, it is well known that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, General Sisi and Israel constitute a counterrevolutionary axis which try to annihilate all democratic or even semi-democratic achievements which have resulted from the Great Arab Revolution starting in 2011. [3] This is why they instigated the military coup in Egypt in July 2013 [4], supported the reactionary camp of ex-Gaddafi General Haftar in Libya’s civil war [5], invaded Yemen after the popular uprising in spring 2015 [6] and supported the recent coup of President Kais Saied in Tunisia. [7] Hence, it is in the logic of this policy that they would back a like-minded coup in Sudan.

The new rulers would not have acted alone since the Sudan is a poor semi-colonial country which, according to the United Nations, ranks near the bottom on the Human Development and Human Capital Indices. [8] Hence, it is highly dependent on financial support by the wealthy petro-monarchies at the Gulf.

General Sisi, MbS and MbZ: The Killer-Trio

There have been numerous developments which have demonstrated in the past two years the close relations between Sudan’s leading generals and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, the UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed and Egypt’s General Sisi. These figures constate a fully-fledged killer-trio as they are responsible for the coup in Egypt, for the invasion of Yemen, the savage killing of the journalist Jamal Kashoggi and many other bloody deeds.

The Associated Press reports: “Burhan has been backed in recent years by Egypt, led by a general-turned-president, and Gulf countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates. He trained in Egypt’s military college and has made multiple visits since 2019 to the Emirates’ de-facto ruler, Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.” [9]

The journalist Ayah Aman wrote already a few months ago: "There now seems to be an unprecedented strategic partnership between the two countries amid cooperation at all levels aimed at confronting regional threats.” [10]

This close relationship has resulted in various projects. “The Egypt-Sudan partnership has meanwhile taken off diplomatically, economically and militarily. On March 31, Egyptian and Sudanese air forces launched joint training exercises.” [11] Add to this "bilateral economic projects such as the railway project, an electrical connection project and others in the fields of transportation, agriculture and irrigation." [12]

Such close relationship between the Sudanese military and the counterrevolutionary “Axis of Evil” has been also recognized by various well-informed bourgeois analysts both in the Arab world as well as in the West. Amani al-Taweel, director of the African program at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, pointed out that Sudan’s army leaders have strong ties with Egypt as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. [13]

Dr Stephen Zunes, a professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco, said that the limited democratic achievements in Sudan were “obviously something [officials in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt] did not want to see succeed. They would find it very much in their interest to see it fail. (…) Whether they actually played a role in this [coup], I have no idea, but there is no question that [those regional powers] are pleased at these developments”.

And another bourgeois analyst,” Dr Andreas Krieg, an assistant professor at the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, said: “It does serve Emirati and Egyptian interests to have the last elements of civilian rule removed from that transitional government. What we see now is a proper consolidation of military power in Khartoum. (…) That the [Sudanese] military is now in charge means that the UAE is really in charge by proxy or surrogate.” [14]

Israel Supports the Coup as well

There is also little doubt about Israel’s role since this has been confirmed by Israeli media. As it is well-known Sudan announced not long ago that it would “normalize” ties with the Zionist state, under heavy pressure from the U.S. administration. [15] In February 2020, Israel’s former Prime Minister Netanyahu met in Uganda with General Burhan (the current coup plotter). In January 2021, the Sudanese government signed onto the so-called “Abraham Accords”. [16]

Israel’s leaders always had closer relations with the military personal in Sudan’s transition government then with the civilian politicians. Middle East Eye quotes Dr Jihad Mashamoun, a researcher and political analyst, saying: "The Sudanese military has always been approaching Israel or isolating the civilians from being approached by Israeli officials.“ [17]

Officially, Israel has kept silent until now. However, Israel Hayom quoted an unnamed Israeli official saying, “that Israel should support (…) General Abdel Fattah Burhan (…) because he was more likely than Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok to normalise ties with Israel.” The Israeli official added: “In light of the fact that the military is the stronger force in the country, and since Burhan is its commander in chief, the events of Monday night increase the likelihood of stability in Sudan, which has critical importance in the region, and it increases the chances of stronger ties with the US, the West, and Israel in particular.” [18]

And the Israeli journalist Barak Ravid tweeted on 25 October that several elements in the Israeli government have been involved recently in one way or another in Sudan’s domestic politics. “This raises big questions about what Israel knew over what is happening now in Khartoum and how much its moves have affected what is happening now.” [19]

In this context, it is most likely no accident that, according to Arab media, a senior Sudanese intelligence delegation had visited Israel in early October, i.e. only three weeks before the coup! [20]

Determined to Annihilate the Revolutionary Process

As we mentioned above, the main motivation of the reactionary forces behind the military coup is the desire to smash the process of mass mobilizations and self-organization in Sudan and the whole Arab world. True, the Great Arab Revolution which began in 2011 and which has spread since then to many countries, has experienced various setbacks and defeats. But the revolutionary process is continuing as the ongoing Syrian Revolution [21], the new popular uprisings in Sudan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran since 2019 [22] and the heroic Intifada of the Palestinian people have demonstrated. [23]

There can be no doubt: the seemingly omnipotent rulers in the Middle East are sitting on a volcano which may erupt anytime. They are aware of it. The events since 2011 have shown to them that their domination is not guaranteed and that they could end up like Gaddafi.

This is why they are determined to smash all forms of popular resistance and self-organization. Now they try this in Sudan.

War in the East of Africa?

Let us add, finally, that in the case of Sudan there is also an additional factor. Egypt’s General Sisi supported the coup in Sudan certainly also because he wants to strengthen his position against Ethiopia. Addis Ababa has just finished the construction of the so-called Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which will dramatically reduce Nile flows and thereby reduce water access for its neighbouring countries in the north.

It is no secret that Egypt’s army has plans to bomb the dam. In October last year, U.S. President Trump caused a diplomatic crisis when he publicly said that Egypt might “blow up that dam”. If Sisi has now a loyal ally in Khartoum, he might become bolder in starting in war in the East of Africa.

In summary, the military coup in Sudan is part of the counterrevolutionary offensive against the popular uprisings in the Arab world. It is the duty of socialists all around the world to support the struggle of the workers and oppressed in Sudan!

Note of the Editorial Board: In our next article we will deal with the position of the imperialist Great Powers on the military coup in Sudan.

[1] The RCIT documents on the Sudanese Revolution in 2019 are compiled at a special sub-page on our website: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/collection-of-articles-on-2nd-wave-of-great-arab-revolution/.
[2] RCIT: Sudan: Down with the Military Coup! For committees of action, general strike and popular insurrection to defeat the putschists! 25 October 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/sudan-down-with-the-military-coup/
[3] We have analyzed this reactionary axis on numerous occasions. See e.g. RCIT: Turkey and the Growing Tensions in Eastern Mediterranean. Theses on the complex contradictions between imperialist and regional powers, the Arab Revolution and the consequential tactics of Marxists, 28 August 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/turkey-and-the-growing-tensions-in-eastern-mediterranean/
[4] See on this e.g. RCIT: Egypt: Down with the Military Coup d’État! Prepare Mass Resistance! 8.7.2013, www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/egypt-down-with-military-coup-d-etat; Michael Pröbsting: The Coup d'État in Egypt and the Bankruptcy of the Left’s “Army Socialism”, 8.8.2013, www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/egypt-and-left-army-socialism; Yossi Schwartz: Egypt: The U.S. Support for the Military Coup and the Left’s ignorance, 11.7.2013, www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/egypt-us-support-for-military-coup
[5] See on this e.g. RCIT: Egypt’s Dictator Sisi Threatens to Invade Libya. Defeat the counterrevolutionary bandit Haftar and the powers behind him! 24 June 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/egypt-s-dictator-sisi-threatens-to-invade-libya/
[6] See on this e.g. RCIT: Yemen: Another Humiliating Blow for the Saudi Aggressors! 02.10.2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/yemen-another-humiliating-blow-for-the-saudi-aggressors/
[7] See on this e.g. RCIT: Tunisia: Kais Saied’s Coup Aims at Return to Dictatorship! 29 July 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/tunisia-kais-saied-s-coup-aims-at-return-to-dictatorship/
[8] IMF: Sudan. Enhanced Heavily-Indebted Poor Countries Initiative—Preliminary Document, IMF Country Report No. 21/66, p. 14
[9] Samy Magdy and Isabel Debre: Sudan strongman is seen as an insider with powerful allies, 28 October 2021, https://apnews.com/article/sudan-who-is-abdel-fattah-burhan-3f2d4d660fabf1b526f09f04808af7c8
[10] Ayah Aman: Egypt, Sudan step up diplomatic action as Ethiopia reaches out to regional players, 24 March 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/03/egypt-sudan-step-diplomatic-action-ethiopia-reaches-out-regional-players
[11] Sudan takes center stage in US regional strategy, 1 April 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/sudan-takes-center-stage-us-regional-strategy
[12] Mohamed Saied: Egypt, Sudan move forward with railway network, 24 March 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/03/egypt-sudan-move-forward-railway-network
[13] Mohamed Saied: Military coup opens new chapter in Sudan's regional ties, 28 October 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/10/military-coup-opens-new-chapter-sudans-regional-ties
[14] Both quotes are taken from Giorgio Cafiero: Sudan's military coup: Is this the end of the democratic revolution? 26 October 2021, https://english.alaraby.co.uk/analysis/sudans-military-coup-democratic-revolution-over
[15] The RCIT, and our comrades in Ocupied Palestine in particular, have published numerous works about the character of Zionist state and the revolutionary program to smash it. See e.g. these two books by our comrade Yossi Schwartz: The Zionist Wars. A History of the Zionist Movement and Imperialist Wars, 1 February 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/the-zionist-wars/; Palestine and Zionism. The History of Oppression of the Palestinian People. A Critical Account of the Myths of Zionism, April 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/palestine-and-zionism/; see also Michael Pröbsting: On some Questions of the Zionist Oppression and the Permanent Revolution in Palestine, http://the-isleague.com/zionist-oppression-and-permanent-revolution/ and https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/permanent-revolution-in-palestine/
[16] See on this e.g. ISL: What's behind the Israel-Sudan Normalization Deal? 24.10.2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/what-s-behind-the-israel-sudan-normalization-deal/
[17] Sudan coup 2021: Israeli official says military takeover likely to aid normalisation ties, 27 October 2021, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/sudan-coup-israel-normalisation-takeover-aid-official
[18] Quoted in: Israeli official voices support for Sudanese military coup in interview, 25 October, 2021, https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/israeli-official-voices-support-sudanese-military-coup
[19] Rina Bassist: Sudan coup puts normalization with Israel in jeopardy, 27 October 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/10/sudan-coup-puts-normalization-israel-jeopardy
[20] Rina Bassist: Sudan coup puts normalization with Israel in jeopardy, 27 October 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/10/sudan-coup-puts-normalization-israel-jeopardy
[21] The RCIT documents on the Syrian Revolution are compiled at a special sub-page on our website: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/collection-of-articles-on-the-syrian-revolution/.
[22] The RCIT documents on the Second Wave of the Arab Revolution are compiled at a special sub-page on our website: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/collection-of-articles-on-2nd-wave-of-great-arab-revolution/.
[23] The RCIT documents on the Gaza War and the Palestinian Intifada in 2021 are compiled at a special sub-page on our website: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/collection-of-articles-on-fourth-gaza-war/.

Sudan: Down with the Military Coup!

For committees of action, general strike and popular insurrection to defeat the putschists!

Statement by Michael Pröbsting, 25 October 2021 (UTC 18:30)

1.            Today, the Sudanese army command carried out a coup d'état. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, five senior government figures and others have been arrested and transferred to unknown places. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the coup leader, later announced the dissolution of the transitional government and the sovereign council and declared a nationwide state of emergency. He also announced the removal of state governors, saying elections will be held in July 2023!

2.            In response, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of the capital, Khartoum, its twin city of Omdurman as well as other cities. They are building barricades, blocking streets, and setting fire to tires. Sudan’s central bank employees have already started a strike and others will follow soon. Among the most popular slogans are “The people are stronger, stronger” and “Retreat is not an option!”. Unions support the protests, and the Communist Party calls on workers to go on strike to stop the “full military coup”. At least three demonstrators have been already killed by repression forces and dozens injured.

3.            We denounce the military coup and fully supports all forms of mass struggle. It is crucial that workers and popular organizations all over the world build an international solidarity movement with the mass protests against the coup. There can be no doubt that this is a serious attempt by the army command to liquidate all remaining achievements of the revolution in 2019. We demand the immediate release of all those arrested. We think it is urgent to build committees of action and armed self-defense units in workplaces and neighborhoods. In order to defeat the coup, it is important to launch a general strike and to prepare for an armed uprising. Likewise, activists should develop agitation among the soldiers in order to split the army.

4.            Our defense of the Sudanese government against the coup does not mean that we support their politics in any way. Quite the opposite, for more than two years the government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok worked hand-in-hand with the same generals who have carried out the coup today. They called the people to stop the mass mobilizations in summer 2019. They signed agreements with the imperialist International Monetary Fund which deepened the colonial subjugation of the country. They also supported the cynical policy of “normalization” with the racist Apartheid state Israel. In other words, the forces supporting the Hamdok government are politically responsible for the aborted revolution in 2019 and now they have become victim of their own failure.

5.            Albeit no public information has appeared so far on this issue, we have no doubt that the coup has been secretly supported (or even instigated) by Egypt’s dictatorship of General Sisi as well as by the monarchist rulers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These powers have very close relations with Sudan’s army command, and it is nearly impossible that General al-Burhan would have moved without approval by his closest ally. These forces were also behind the recent coup in Tunisia, the coup in Egypt in July 2013 and General Haftar’s reactionary civil war in Libya. It is also at least noteworthy that the coup took place only days after US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, visited Sudan and met with military and civilian leaders.

6.            The coup is a powerful lesson that a revolution which stops in the middle can easily end in a counterrevolution. The RCIT warned already in summer 2019 that the failure to complete the revolution and to smash the criminal repression apparatus would leave the reactionary ruling class in power. In a statement on 8 July 2019, we warned against the deal of the leaders of the Forces of Freedom and Change with the army command: “The Glorious Revolution is in danger of being sold out!” We said: “We repeat what we said in our last statement that “any negotiations with the army command are a dangerous diversion. Authentic freedom and democracy cannot be achieved through a collaborative effort with the army command – but only by defeating and removing it!” Given the fact that the army command retains a very strong position in the transition council, that all generals remain in place, and that they retain a monopoly of weaponry – they can remove the opposition representatives at any time.” (See links below)

7.            The only way forward is to stop the coup and to replace it with an authentic workers’ and peasants’ government based on popular councils and militias. Such a government would serve the interests of the popular masses and would remove power and wealth from the hands of the small corrupt elite of super-rich politicians, businessmen and army generals. It would also expropriate the foreign imperialist corporations which are exploiting semi-colonial Sudan.

8.            We draw attention to the fact that only three months ago, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied carried out a similar coup and currently tries to build a dictatorship which threatens the democratic liberties resulting from the Revolution in January 2011. Add to this the military coup in Burma-Myanmar in February this year, the brutal suppression of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong by the Stalinist-capitalist dictatorship in Beijing, or the repression of right-wing governments against popular protests in Chile and Colombia. All these events reflect a similar global process: in a period of deepening crisis of global capitalism and the decay of the old imperialist world order, the vanguard battalions of the counterrevolution attempt to consolidate the power of the ruling class by suppressing democracy for the people by brutal and totalitarian means. Hence, it is crucial to link the mass struggle against the coup in Sudan with the popular resistance against dictatorships in other countries in the Arab world (e.g. Egypt, Tunisia, Syria) as well as in other regions of the world.

* * * * *

We draw reader’s attention to the following statements: 

RCIT: Sudan: The Deal with the Military Council is a Sell-Out of the Revolution! https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/sudan-the-deal-with-the-military-council-is-a-sell-out-of-the-revolution/ 

RCIT: Sudan: Fight Back against the Generals with a General Strike! International solidarity with the Sudanese people! 04 June 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/sudan-fight-back-against-the-generals-with-a-general-strike/

ISL: What's behind the Israel-Sudan Normalization Deal? 24.10.2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/what-s-behind-the-israel-sudan-normalization-deal/

For more statements see the following sub-page: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/collection-of-articles-on-2nd-wave-of-great-arab-revolution/