By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. chief Antonio Guterres assailed what he called “an epidemic of coup d’états” on Tuesday and urged the Security Council to act to effectively deter them as the 15-member body prepared to discuss the military takeover in Sudan.

The secretary-general said that the Sudanese people had shown “very clearly their intense desire to reform and democracy”. He also condemned Monday’s takeover by the Sudanese military and called on all sides to show “maximum restraint.”

Sudan’s top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Tuesday, defended the military overthrow. He claimed he had thrown out Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok so as to avoid civil war.

The latest in a long line of attempted coups and military takeovers, it includes Mali, Myanmar, and Guinea.

Security Council, which can impose sanctions on countries or authorise military actions, has split over how to deal with various conflicts. The United States and western members of the council are battling Russia and China. The Security Council was scheduled to meet behind closed doors regarding Sudan on Tuesday.

Guterres cited strong geopolitical divisions, Security Council difficulties in taking tough measures, and the economic impact of COVID-19 as factors that created “an environment where some military leaders feel they are completely impunity and can do what they like because nothing will ever happen to them.”

“My appeal, obviously, is for – especially the big powers – to come together for the unity of the Security Council in order to make sure that there is effective deterrence in relation to this epidemic of coup d’états,” Guterres said. Effective deterrence has not been demonstrated today, as we have already seen.

It has made statements condemning Mali’s military coup and expressing concern over Myanmar. Diplomats reported that it is considering a statement regarding Sudan.