Sudan security forces fire tear gas at anti-coup protesters
13 December 2021, 15:34
Thousands of people took to the streets in Khartoum and other Sudanese cities on Monday.
Security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Sudan’s capital in the latest street demonstrations against the October military coup and subsequent deal that reinstated deposed prime minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Khartoum and other Sudanese cities as part of relentless demonstrations that have engulfed the country since the military seized power on October 25.
The coup upended a fragile planned transition to democratic rule more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019.
Mr Hamdok was reinstated last month amid international pressure in a deal that calls for an independent technocratic cabinet under military oversight led by him. The agreement included the release of government officials and politicians detained since the coup.
But the November 21 deal was rejected by the pro-democracy movement, which insists power should be handed over to a civilian government to lead the transition. Their protests follow the slogan “No negotiations, no compromise, no power-sharing” with the military.
Footage circulated on social media on Monday appeared to show demonstrators marching in different locations in Khartoum and its sister city Omdurman. One video showed thousands of protesters in Khartoum’s district of Bahri, many of them waving Sudanese flags.
Activist Nazim Sirag said security forces used tear gas to disperse people marching in a street near the presidential palace in Khartoum.
Protesters were seen in online videos throwing tear gas canisters back at forces.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The US embassy in Khartoum said in a tweet: “We stand with the Sudanese people as they seek freedom, peace, and justice in today’s demonstrations, and welcome their government’s commitment to protection of peaceful protesters.”
Monday’s protests were called by the Sudanese Professionals Association and the so-called Resistance Committees, which spearheaded the uprising against Mr al-Bashir and then the military coup.
The protests came a few days ahead of the third anniversary of the start of the uprising against Mr al-Bashir.
In past rounds of demonstrations, security forces used violence, including firing live ammunition at protesters, according to activists. At least 44 people were killed and hundreds wounded in protests triggered by the coup.
The protests have increased pressure on the military and Mr Hamdok, who has yet to announce his cabinet.
On Sunday, the prime minister appointed new acting governors of the country’s provinces to replace those named by coup leader General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the ruling Sovereign Council, after the coup.
