Doctors ‘are state targets’ in Sudan’s anti-Bashir protests
▶ One medic killed, dozens arrested and hospitals have been stormed, sources say
Dr Babiker Abdelhamid was shot dead by police when he stepped out of his home during violent protests in Sudan’s capital last week, witnesses said.
A fellow doctor said Abdelhamid had been treating injured protesters at home after security forces cut off the road to the Royal Care Hospital in Khartoum, the nearest medical facility to the demonstration in Burri.
“Dr Abdelhamid went out holding his arms up. He said that he had some critical cases that need to reach the hospital,” the doctor told The National.
President Omar Al Bashir denied that the doctor was killed by security forces.
“The doctor killed in Burri was killed by a weapon that did not belong to the army, or NISS, or police,” Mr Al Bashir said, referring to the National Intelligence and Security Services. “He was killed by someone among the demonstrators.”
Doctors and other members of Sudan’s professional class have played a major role in Sudanese politics, helping to bring down military dictatorships in 1964 and 1985.
When Mr Al Bashir came to power in a coup in 1989, he outlawed all independent unions to secure his grip on power.
But professionals now pose a threat to his regime with their support for the anti-government protests.
Security forces have responded by arresting doctors and storming hospitals. Shortly after the demonstrations began on December 19, the doctors’ syndicate joined the Sudanese Professionals Association in leading protests across the country.
Like most protesters, doctors are fed up with high inflation, austerity and the privatisation of state services, which have resulted in the high cost of medicine and a steep decline in public healthcare services.
Dr Abdel Ibrahim, a plastic surgeon, told The National that the number of protester casualties was overwhelming doctors.
“We are just trying to help our colleagues by volunteering in hospitals because every day there are many more injured people,” he said.
“Many of the patients have been shot in the head, neck or chest ... the security forces are shooting to kill.”
Authorities also arrested doctors in Khartoum’s Al Faisal Hospital and fired teargas in the emergency room.
On January 10, military forces stormed a hospital in Omdurman, firing live bullets and teargas in pursuit of demonstrators. Dr Nuha Ali, a plastic surgeon arrested in the raid, said she was beaten with a whip and a stick, and held until midnight.
Health Minister Mamoum Humaida condemned the attack in Omdurman as unacceptable and promised an investigation.