Sudan police attempt to break up Khartoum sit-in protest

Sudanese police used tear gas yesterday to push back a sit-in protest in Khartoum, witnesses said.

They said the anti-government protesters, who have been on the streets for a week, pushed deeper into the heart of the capital early in the morning, closing several main roads and a bridge over the Blue Nile.

Their actions created long traffic jams on the first day of the business week after a long weekend.

There were no reports immediately available on injuries or arrests.

The protesters belong to splinter groups that broke away from the Forces of Freedom and Change, a pro-democracy alliance that orchestrated an uprising against former president Omar Al Bashir.

It went on to become the power base and political patron of the civilian-led government, handpicking Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his Cabinet members.

The sit-in protest outside the Republican Palace – historically the seat of the head of state – embodies tensions between the military and the government.

Generals want the current government replaced with one they claim would be more representative.

But FFC leaders claim the generals want a government that would allow the military to be the only source of authority.

Yesterday’s attempt to expand the sit-in area came after hundreds of thousands of FCC supporters took to the streets in Khartoum and across Sudan on Thursday to demand the resignation of Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan. The army chief is head of the Sovereign Council that serves as a collective presidency made up of civilians and generals.

Gen Al Burhan, is scheduled to make way for a civilian chairman of the council this year. However, opponents fear he may not follow through.

The two sides dispute the date of the handover, and the Justice Ministry has been asked to arbitrate.