Sudanese protesters rally in Khartoum
KHARTOUM: Scores of Sudanese protesters chanting “freedom, peace, justice” rallied in Khartoum on Monday, witnesses said, as a campaign against President Omar al Bashir’s rule was poised to enter its fourth month.
Protests erupted in Sudan on December 19 over soaring bread prices and have since turned into at times deadly rallies against Bashir’s 30-year rule, with demonstrators demanding he step down. Protesters took to the streets on Monday in the capital’s northern suburb of Bahari, in an area called Street 60 and the upmarket district of Riyadh, 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 another upmarket Khartoum district, witnesses said.
“Who killed our martyrs?” asked protesters as they gathered in Street 60 area, a witness said.
Officials say 31 people have died in violence during the protests so far, but Human Rights Watch has put the death toll at 51, with medics and children among those killed.
The campaign against the veteran leader’s administration was initially led by the Sudanese Professionals’ Association, a group of teachers, doctors and engineers.
Several political parties have since 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 granted to the security forces to carry out raids without warrants.