Senior Sudan general warns US, Europe of refugee influx unless they back post-coup authorities

The United States and Europe must back Sudan's post-coup authorities unless they want to see influxes of Sudanese refugees, a high-level general in Khartoum has warned.

Speaking with POLITICO, General Mohamed Dagalo said it is the Sudanese army that controsl of the country's borders.

"Because of our commitment to the international community and the law, we are keeping these people together.

"If Sudan will open the border, a big problem will happen worldwide," he said.

The general's comments follows the military's seizure of power and detention of premier Abdalla Hamdok in October. The takeover was condemned by world leaders.

Hamdok regained his job in late November as part of a deal between his civilian leaders and the armed forces, though this neither satisfied international powers nor stopped demonstrators calling for full civilian rule.

Despite an influx of migrants and refugees at Belarus' borders with Poland and other EU states, European governments have continued to resist accepting them. At least 13 people have lost their lives near the border between Belarus and Poland in recent months as they try to reach the EU.

Dagalo called on the US and Europe to see himself and army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan – who is effectively also the head of state – as enforcers of stability in Sudan.

Dagalo, commonly called Hemedti, also told POLITICO that the armed forces would permit a fair vote to go ahead in July 2023. He said the military's move against Hamdok and the civilian authorities was "corrective action" within this scope.

"We need elections. The country needs an elected president," he said.

.@yassmin_a discusses the people of Sudan's refusal to stand down in the face of adversity https://t.co/jNVL38vxQz

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) November 16, 2021

He also suggested Khartoum's military could assist in stopping fighting in nearby nations like South Sudan and Libya.

"These are our neighbours, we understand each other so we can contribute to the solution," he said.