Khartoum: Sudan closed down shops and barricaded streets with burning tires and rocks on Tuesday in protest in one of the bloodiest days since the country’s democratic transition to a coup.
Security forces opened fire on Monday that killed at least seven people as thousands marched against the military’s October 25 takeover, raising the total number killed in action since the coup to 71, according to doctors. according.
“No, not for military rule,” protesters chanted in southern Blue Nile state, where some carried banners with the slogan “not to kill peaceful protesters,” said witness Omar Aisa.
The protests came as Washington pressed for an end to the months-long crisis in the Northeast African nation, with top US diplomats expected to arrive in the capital Khartoum for talks.
Sudan’s main civilian bloc, the Forces for Freedom and Change, called for civil disobedience to begin on Tuesday for two days.
“Shop closed for mourning,” said a series of small signs posted on closed shops at the sprawling Sazen construction supply market in Khartoum. One of the businessmen, Othman al-Sherif, was among those shot on Monday.
Demonstrators – sometimes in the thousands – have taken to the streets regularly since a coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan nearly three months ago.
A delicate transition to civilian rule was derailed by a military power grab after autocratic Omar Bashir was ousted from power in April 2019, with Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok resigning earlier this month and warning that Sudan is a “dangerous country”. is at the crossroads which is threatening its existence.”
Following Monday’s deaths, UN Special Representative Volker Perth condemned the use of ammunition, while the US embassy criticized the “violent tactics of Sudanese security forces”, the latest such appeal by world powers, which has led to a growing The death rate has not been controlled. Police fired tear gas at dozens of protesters who were blocking a road in East Khartoum on Tuesday.
In many other parts of Khartoum, many pharmacies and other shops were closed.
According to an official statement, Sudan’s University of Science and Technology suspended all activities as part of civil disobedience.
Witnesses said hundreds of protesters outside the capital held demonstrations in other cities as well.
“We took to the streets to protest the massacre by security forces in Khartoum yesterday,” said Hassan Idris, a protester in the eastern state of Kasla.
Sudan’s ruling sovereign council said in a statement that al-Burhan on Tuesday set up a fact-finding committee to investigate Monday’s violence, the findings of which were to be presented within 72 hours.
It was expected in Khartoum of US Assistant Secretary of State Molly Fey and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa David Satterfield, where they would “reiterate our call for security forces to end violence and respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” spokesman Ned Price said.
Sudan’s police said on Monday they used “minimal force” to counter the protests, which also injured about 50 police personnel.
Sudanese officials have repeatedly denied using ammunition against protesters, and insisted that several security personnel were injured during the protests. Last week a police general was stabbed to death.
On Tuesday the “Friends of Sudan” – a group of Western and Arab countries that called for the restoration of the country’s transitional government, and which includes the US, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations – held talks in Saudi Arabia. Of.
After attending the meeting via video link, the UN envoy to Perth said on Twitter: “Deep concern about yesterday’s violence.”
“International support and leverage is needed. Along with supporting the political process, active support is needed to stop the violence.”
The EU’s foreign policy chief said Sudan’s military rulers have shown reluctance to negotiate a peaceful solution to the country’s current crisis.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said repeated calls by the Sudanese authorities to refrain from violence against protesters “have fallen on deaf ears.”
Borrell said the ongoing crackdown, including violence against civilians and the detention of activists and journalists, had put Sudan “on a dangerous path away from peace and stability”. He urged military officers to de-stress, saying: “The essence is to avoid further loss of life.”
Borrell said the action also threatened to derail the UN’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
Protest groups mobilizing protesters against the coup have rejected talks with the generals. They insist on delegating power solely to the civilian government to lead the transition.
Sudanese forces opened fire on anti-coup protesters, killing 7 Sudanese for setting up an anti-terrorist force – the Sovereign Council.