Sudan’s 25 October military coup, which has seen Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok placed under house arrest, is facing international pushback with both key Gulf states and Western powers calling for the return of civilian rule.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have called on military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to restore Mr Hamdok to power, while the US and World Bank announced they are freezing aid disbursements. This will add pressure to the cash-strapped nation which had its arrears at the IMF cleared in June (MEES, 25 June). (CONTINUED - 184 WORDS)