Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al Burhan has issued a decree forming a new ruling Sovereign Council, state TV said on Thursday evening.

Sudan has been without a Sovereignty Council for over two weeks, after an October 25 takeover led by Gen al Burhan dissolved the old body and detained dozens of government officials.

He will keep his position as head of the transitional body and Gen Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, remains his deputy.

Other military figures on the new council include Shamsaldine Al Kabashi, Yasser Atta, and Ibrahim Gaber.

Civilian members include Abou Al Qassem Bortoum, Salma Abdelgaber, Youssef Karim from North Kordofan state, Abdelbaqi Al Zubair representing Khartoum state and Rajaa Nicola.

Ex-rebel leaders Malik Agar, Alhady Idris and Altaher Hagar, who signed a 2020 peace deal with the government, also secured seats.

“The commander-in-chief of the armed forces issued a constitutional decree to form the Transitional Sovereignty Council,” said Gen Al Burhan.

The military took control of Sudan on October 25, ousting civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and detaining dozens of government officials, most of whom remain in custody. Mr Hamdok is under house arrest at his home in Sudan’s capital Khartoum.

Sudan’s ousted Information Minister Hamza Balloul called the announcement an extension of the coup. He said in a statement that he was “confident that the Sudanese people can defeat the coup and continue the transition.”