Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential circumstances of duress under which Abdalla Hamdok’s negotiated his reinstatement as President of Sudan prior to his release from house arrest.

I am pleased that Dr Hamdok has been released and reinstated as Prime Minister following the Political Agreement between the military and civilians on 21 November. The Troika (UK, Norway, US), along with Canada, the EU, and Switzerland, have recognised the Agreement as an important first step towards restoring the democratic transition, although we understand that progress will be difficult. With partners we continue to call for the transition to be restored fully, for all civilians to be released and for Sudanese people be able to protest without fear of violence. We will monitor progress and maintain pressure on the military to deliver their commitments and, through their actions, rebuild trust with civilians, the Sudanese public and international community.