Colonel-General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairman of Sudan's ruling Transitional Sovereign Council, has stated that the country's authorities are attempting to establish a civilian government and avoid the country falling into "authoritarian control," as per local media reports.

"The country's leadership is striving to establish a civilian rule that relies on the support of the armed forces and people [...] and to prevent the establishment of authoritarian rule in the future," the Sudanese army chief and de facto leader was quoted as saying.

He also highlighted that the country's military will support the Sudanese people and will always be on their side, noting that the army was "part of them and is the backbone for the state and people".

Last week, the council's Vice-President, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, met with the non-signatory parties to the framework agreement inked last year. During the meeting, the council reported that the non-signatory parties affirmed their desire to negotiate a political compromise to end the country's crisis.

Sudan's civic leaders and armed forces signed a framework agreement on December 5, 2022, establishing a transitional civil administration. Sudan launched a political dialogue based on the framework agreement on January 8, this year.

The agreement between the Sudanese parties aims to resolve a prolonged crisis since October 25, 2021, when the head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, imposed exceptional measures, including the dissolution of the Sovereignty Council and the Transitional Ministers, the arrest of ministers and politicians, the declaration of a state of emergency, and the dismissal of governors (governors).

Al-Burhan seized power on October 25, 2021, and overthrew the civilian government that took over the reins of power following the toppling of the former president, Omar al-Bashir, in 2019.