From unity government to military junta: Sudan's shifting seat of power

History · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2019, Sudan's leadership was designed as a delicate balance of civilian and military power. But a 2021 coup fundamentally altered that architecture, transforming a shared governance model into a military junta. This transition reveals how constitutional frameworks can be dismantled and reconstituted to consolidate control.

The Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) was established on August 21, 2019, following a period of civil disobedience and a shift of power from Omar al-Bashir. Under the original August 2019 Draft Constitutional Declaration, the council was intended as a unified head of state. The FFC alliance nominated five civilians, the TMC appointed five military figures, and a third civilian was picked by both parties to join the body. This design was meant to balance diverse interests, including a specific provision for Raja Nicola, a member of the Sudanese Copt community, to symbolize respect for religious diversity.

The power dynamics were strictly timed: military members were to chair the council for the first 21 months of a 39-month transition, after which the chairmanship would shift to the civilian members. This equilibrium ended on 25 October 2021, as Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ousted Abdalla Hamdok and disbanded the council via a coup d'état. While the TSC was reconstituted on November 11, 2021, the new membership effectively shifted the body from a unity government to a military junta. Although a subsequent deal in November 2021 reinstated Hamdok as prime minister and restored the 2019 Declaration, the council's composition remained fundamentally altered.

The council holds significant authority, including the power to appoint the prime minister, declare states of emergency, and ratify international agreements. Decisions are made by consensus or a two-thirds majority of the members. Despite the 2019 goals of inclusion, the council has faced criticism; for instance, the Sudanese Professionals Association accused civilian members of overstepping constitutional bounds by coordinating with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on health matters. Furthermore, while the Sudanese Women's Union advocated for a 50-50 gender split in leadership, the council remained predominantly male, with only two of the initial eleven members being women.

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