Sudan’s military has imposed a state of emergency, dissolved the civilian government, and arrested several political leaders.
Protesters have gone to the streets of Khartoum’s capital, and shooting has been reported.
Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan, who had been leading a joint council with civilian leaders, blamed political turmoil.
Since long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted two years ago and a transitional administration established, military and civilian officials have been at odds.
Protesters manning illuminated barricades and accessing the area near the military’s headquarters were seen in video footage from the north African nation’s capital on Monday.
Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, as well as members of his cabinet and other civilian officials, are said to have been placed under house arrest.
A statement from the information ministry on Facebook said those arrested were being held in “an unidentified location”.
Mr Hamdok was reportedly persuaded to endorse a coup, but he refused, and encouraged people to maintain nonviolent demonstrations to “defend the revolution,” according to reports.
The Sovereign Council has been led by Gen Burhan, as part of a power-sharing agreement between military and civilian officials.
He claimed in a televised speech that political infighting, ambition, and incitement to violence had prompted him to act to preserve the nation’s safety.
He said Sudan remained committed to “international accords” and the transition to civilian rule, with elections scheduled for July 2023.
Thousands of protestors have already flocked to the streets to denounce the coup, and the military’s action has been widely condemned internationally.
The UK’s special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Robert Fairweather, tweeted that military arrests of civilian leaders was “a betrayal of the revolution, the transition and the Sudanese people”.
The United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Arab League have all voiced grave concern.
According to witnesses, the internet has gone down, and army and paramilitary soldiers have been deployed around the city. The airport in Khartoum is presently closed, and foreign flights have been suspended.
