US asks Israel to push Burhan for end of Sudan coup: report

The US has asked Israel to use its close ties with Sudan's current leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to urge him to return his country back to civilian rule, Axios reported on Wednesday.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz last week and asked that Israel encourage the Sudanese military to end the coup, Axios said, citing Israeli and US officials.

Though Gantz does not hold the Sudan file, the Biden administration's message was also passed to officials in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the foreign ministry, according to the report.

Israel and Sudan have enjoyed stronger relations since they normalised ties last year in a US-brokered agreement.

Tel Aviv has said little of last week's military takeover, but US envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman is expected to visit Israel for talks on Sudan on Sunday and Monday. He will also travel to Sudan again in the coming days, Axios said.

On 25 October, the military branch of Sudan's transitional government - led by army head General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan - decreed a nationwide state of emergency, detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and top civilian officials, and dissolved the civilian-headed government. 

Protesters have taken to the streets en masse to denounce the coup, but have been met with deadly violence from the armed forces.

An advisor to Burhan said the return to civilian rule was imminent, Saudi news outlet Al-Arabiya reported.

The UN's Human Rights Council will debate the situation Sudan on Friday. Several countries including the United States put forward a draft resolution before the meeting, calling on Sudan to return to civilian rule as soon as possible.