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Judges in Sudan, US condemn anti-terrorist protests | Conflict Issues

Thousands of people have resumed anti-terrorist protests in Sudan as US ambassadors try to bolster UN efforts to persuade the military to restore order.

Sudanese judges have condemned anti-terrorist violence as the United States has said it will consider taking action against those who fail to resolve Sudan’s political crisis.

At least 72 people have been killed and more than 2,000 injured as security forces staged a series of protests since October 25, according to an independent medical team.

Led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the uprising disrupted a power-sharing agreement with the regular military that was negotiated with difficulty after the ousting in 2019 of former Prime Minister Omar al-Bashir.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Thursday, angry at the killing of at least seven people during a protest rally on Monday, one of the deadliest days since the coup.

In a repetitive manner, security forces fired tear gas at demonstrations in the twin capital of Omdurman, according to witnesses.

The rallies followed a call from Sudan’s largest civilian group – Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) – to hold “demonstrations in honor of the victims”.

Demonstrators in Khartoum played drums and chanted anti-military slogans. Many repeatedly called on the military to relinquish power altogether.

In the southern city of Wad Madani, protesters chanted “bloody blood, we will not accept payment”, according to Adel Ahmed, a witness.

Military officials have said that the right to hold peaceful protests has been protected and ordered that bloodshed be investigated. The violence has fueled tensions between pro-democracy groups and military leaders.

In a statement on Thursday, Sudan’s ruling council reiterated the need for a national dialogue, a technical ministry, and a change in the draft constitution it discussed after ousting former leader Omar al-Bashir during the 2019 protests.

The document laid the basis for a system of power-sharing between the military and the civilian population that was halted by the coup.

Following the failure of former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok to rescue civilians in the aftermath of the assassination, the United Nations has been trying to initiate dialogue between rival factions.

Fifth aid

The attack was criticized by Western nations for lack of economic support in Sudan.

Aid would resume if violence ceased and the civilian government was restored, US Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee and special envoy David Satterfield said.

In condemning the use of force by protesters, he “made it clear that the United States will look at how it can hold accountable those who have failed to move forward” by changing politics and ending violence, a US report said.

People have burned tires and chanted protests in Khartoum, Sudan against the massacre by Sudanese soldiers. [Marwan Ali/AP Photo]

The delegates called for an independent inquiry into the deaths and injuries of protesters.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement Thursday, 55 Sudanese judges to the Supreme Court said military leaders had “violated treaties and agreements since October 25, because they had committed serious crimes against defenseless protesters”.

They called for an end to violence and criminal investigations.




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