Sudan protests turn violent
SECURITY forces fired tear gas after hundreds of protesters took to the streets of a suburb of the Sudanese city of Atbara yesterday, chanting anti-government slogans, witnesses said.
A state of emergency was declared in the city on Wednesday after hundreds of people protested against price increases and set fire to the ruling party’s headquarters, officials from Nile River state said.
Dozens also protested against price increases in the cities of Dongola and al-Qadarif yesterday, witnesses said.
Video footage showed cars on fire and protesters throwing rocks at the headquarters of the ruling party in Atbara.
“I went out to protest because life has stopped in Atbara,” said a 36-yearold man, who took part in Wednesday’s demonstration and asked not to be named.
He said he had not been able to buy bread for four days because it was no longer available in the shops.
“Prices have increased and I have still not been able to withdraw my November salary because of the liquidity crisis. These are difficult conditions that we can’t live with, and the government doesn’t care about us.”
Inflation stands at 69% and shortages have forced people to queue at bakeries and petrol stations.
Prime Minister Motazz Moussa said Sudan’s 2019 budget included 66 billion Sudanese pounds (R20bn) in subsidies, 53 billion of which was for fuel and bread. |