Abdalla Hamdok

Sudan's General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok have reached a deal for his return and the release of civilian leaders detained since a military coup, mediators said on Nov. 21.

Protesters were defiant on the streets of Sudan on Oct. 26 demonstrating against a military coup, as international condemnation of the country's security forces ramped up with the U.N. Security Council expected to meet later.

"Returning to the past is not an option," chanted the crowds, who remained outside despite soldiers opening fire and reportedly killing at least four people.

Sudanese officials say military forces have detained at least five senior government officials, and the main pro-democracy political group has called on people to take to the streets to oppose an apparent new military coup, according to Britain's The Guardian.

Joint military forces were behind the detention on Oct. 25 of civilian members of Sudan's ruling council and ministers in the transitional government, the information ministry said, in what activists denounced as a "coup".