Two killed in protests in Sudan against the coup

Protests against the coup in Sudan. / AFp

The victims were shot in the Million March against the military, which was held in 25 cities and left another 66 injured

Two protesters were killed and another 66 injured by shots fired by security forces in protests called this Saturday in Sudan against the coup, according to sources from the Medical Committee. The victims participated in the Million March, a civil society initiative that took place in 25 cities of the African country and that seeks to restore power to the transitional government established after the fall of dictator Omar al-Bashir and which was dissolved on 25 October.

The slogans against the military regime and Abdelfatá al Burhan, instigator of the riot, accompanied the protesters, who also set fire to barricades formed by tires. The Police prevented their access to the center of Khartoum by cutting off key arteries and bridges over the Nile River. There were also heavy displays and checkpoints around the Presidential Palace, the Armed Forces Headquarters and other important headquarters. The deaths took place in Omdurman, the city parallel to the capital, and were due to gunfire.

The ‘no to the military regime’ was accompanied by other allusions to his refusal to return to the list of countries that support terrorism. Sudan was blacklisted by the White House until 2020, a circumstance that led to harsh financial sanctions. The US has expressed its rejection of the coup and the African Union has suspended its participation as an active member. President Joe Biden and the UN had already warned the regime against the use of force to suppress civil society.

Avoid a civil war

The coup general has assured that his action has been motivated by his intention to avoid a civil war and that the putsch of last Monday was only intended to “rectify the course of the transition.” The Sovereign Council of Sudan, dissolved six days ago, intended to lead the country towards holding elections in 2023. A month ago, this body resisted a coup attempt and two weeks ago, a demonstration demanded the establishment of a military regime. This initiative already announced military purposes and was responded to by popular concentrations of rejection.

Abdelfatá al Burhan, the new strongman, has assured that Abdallá Hamdok, the former prime minister, is being held in his own residence. The country remains isolated and paralyzed since the uprising. Numerous institutions have joined the civil disobedience and several embassies have joined the popular resistance. Communications with the outside world are cut off and there are no telephone and internet services, common ways of hindering opposition protests.

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source https://pledgetimes.com/two-killed-in-protests-in-sudan-against-the-coup/