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SUDAN-UNREST-DEMONSTRATIONS
Sudan protesters rally as demonstrations to enter 4th month
KHARTOUM, March 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Scores of Sudanese protesters
chanting “freedom, peace, justice” rallied in the capital Monday, witnesses
said, as a campaign against President Omar al-Bashir’s rule prepared to enter
its fourth month.
Three months ago on December 19 deadly protests erupted in the east
African country over soaring inflation and have since turned into rallies
against Bashir’s 30-year rule, with demonstrators demanding he step down.
Anger has been brewing for years in Sudan over the country’s financial
woes with demonstrators accusing Bashir’s administration of mismanaging the
economy.
On Monday protesters took to the streets in Khartoum’s northern suburb of
Bahari and in an area called Street 60, witnesses said.
“Protesters are chanting freedom, peace, justice,” a witness said,
referring to a slogan that has become the movement’s catchcry against
Bashir’s rule.
Police fired tear gas at demonstrators in Street 60 area, while some
students also protested in a college in an upmarket Khartoum district,
witnesses said.
“Who killed our martyrs?” asked protesters as they gathered in the
capital’s Street 60 area, a witness told AFP.
Officials say 31 people have died in violence during the protests so far,
but Human Rights Watch has put the death toll at 51 including medics and
children.
The campaign against the veteran leader’s administration was initially led
by the Sudanese Professionals’ Association, a group of teachers, doctors and
engineers.
Since then, several political parties have joined the SPA to form an
umbrella network called the Alliance for Freedom and Change, which is now
leading the campaign.
Bashir, 75, has remained defiant and imposed a nationwide state of
emergency on February 22 to quell the protests after an initial crackdown
failed to rein in the movement.
A slew of measures accompanied the state of emergency, including a ban on
unauthorised rallies, the setting up of special courts to investigate
violations and more powers were granted to the security forces to carry out
raids without warrants.
Bashir also dissolved the previous federal government and installed a new
cabinet tasked with tackling the worsening economic crisis, the key factor
behind protests.
The protest campaign is seen as the biggest challenge Bashir has faced
since he swept to power in 1989 in an Islamist-backed coup.
BSS/AFP/RY/1852 hrs