Sudanese celebrate with song, music, meat and a clean-up
Several cows and sheep were slaughtered on Tuesday as Sudanese protesters celebrated the ouster of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir outside the army complex where they have been camped for days.
“We will distribute this meat among protesters. We are celebrating the dictator’s ouster,” a demonstrator said.
Thousands of protesters have camped outside the army complex since April 6.
They first demonstrated to demand the resignation of Bashir and are now insisting on a swift transfer of power to a civilian government.
“People have been continuously protesting, They didn’t have time to celebrate after Bashir was toppled,” said Ahmed Naji, a regular at the sit-in. “We also have a musical evening planned later for the day where some well-known Sudanese musicians will perform.”
While some groups prepared food, there were others cleaning the entire area of the protest site. Wearing medical masks and carrying brooms, men and women cleaners worked away under a hot afternoon sun, an AFP photographer said.
At the centre of the protest site, groups of men and women danced as musicians played African tunes, while others chanted revolutionary slogans. But protest organisers cautioned that the “revolution” has still not achieved its goal.
“Yes, we toppled the dictator, but his laws are still there,” the Alliance For Freedom and Change, the umbrella group leading the protests, said.
Protest organisers called on supporters to continue with the sit-in. On Tuesday, a witness said several vehicles carrying members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Force were deployed on a bridge connecting north Khartoum to the protest area. “There could be another attempt by the troops to disperse us, but we will continue,” vowed one demonstrator.