Five killed as Sudan crushes revolt by security agents
KHARTOUM: Five people, including two soldiers, were killed as Sudanese troops crushed a rebellion launched by agents of the country’s longfeared security agency against a restructuring plan, officials and medics said.
On Tuesday, heavy gunfire broke out at some Khartoum bases of the Directorate of General Intelligence Service, formerly known as the National Intelligence and Security Service, a er some of its agents rejected a retirement plan proposed by the country’s new authorities.
NISS agents were at the forefront of a crackdown on protesters during a nationwide uprising that led to the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar alBashir last April.
Late on Tuesday, troops from the regular army and from the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) stormed the bases amid heavy gunfire.
“We decided to storm the bases to end this rebellion... We have now taken control of these bases,” Sudan’s chief of staff Lieutenant General Osman Mohamed alHassan told reporters.
“We lost two soldiers and four others, including two officers, have been wounded.”
Doctors close to the protest movement that led to Bashir’s ouster said that three civilians — all from the same family — had been killed by bullets near a NISS base in south Khartoum. A teenager was also wounded.
Khartoum international airport reopened yesterday a er the authorities shut it when the shooting erupted. One of the NISS bases lies close to the airport.
Government spokesman Faisal Mohamed Saleh said the rebellion was launched by some NISS agents who rejected the amount of money alloted for taking retirement.
“We will not allow any coup against the Sudanese revolution,” said the chairman of Sudan’s ruling council, General Abdel Fa ah al-Burhan, speaking alongside the chief of staff.
“We will protect this transition term and anyone who tries to disturb the security and stability of citizens will be defeated.”