Tension is heightening in Sudan as protesters demonstrate on Monday to push for the exit of President Omar al-Bashir.
Workers unions on Sunday urged Sudanese to throng the streets in continued protests. They want protesters to march on the presidential palace in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum.
In a statement a group calling itself a Sudanese Professionals’ Association said “We are again calling for a rally on December 31 at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT).”
Police officers have been deployed across Khartoum to crackdown on protesters.
President al-Bashir who is under pressure has called for minimum force against demonstrators.
Previous protests have resulted in over 22 deaths. The United Nation is demanding a probe into those deaths.
#SudanProtests #SudanUprising #Sudan_revlots #مدن_السودان_تنتفض #موكب_31ديسمبر pic.twitter.com/8kBUxRGN02
— Amel Kahin (@AmelKahin) December 31, 2018
There are reports of security forces firing tear gas into protesters to disperse them as large numbers of Sudanese throng the streets.
Seeing small groups of protesters get teargassed on Hospital Street. Just saw someone get manhandled by NISS officers for trying film on his phone.
— Yousra Elbagir (@YousraElbagir) December 31, 2018
Protests over economy
There have been agitations over the country’s worsening economic situation.
The protests were triggered after bread prices increased from one Sudanese pound ($0.02) to three Sudanese pounds ($0.063).
Bread prices in Sudan are said to be astronomically higher as a result of the country’s economic challenges.
The prices of bread have more than tripled since the start of 2018. It was caused by the government decision to stop importing wheat from overseas.
وبدأ تنفيذ أوامر #البشير بالأمس .. قتل وإصابة المتظاهرين مباشرة #موكب_31ديسمبر #مدن_السودان_تنتفض #السودان #Sudan_Revolts #SudanProtests pic.twitter.com/uLLPpBRBwl
— Sudan News (@Sudan_tweet) December 31, 2018
Demand for the exit of Bashir
The protesters continue to demand the exit of President Bashir who seized power in a 1989 military coup, overthrowing an elected government.
He is a career soldier and had support from Islamists during the 1989 military coup. Bashir recently received the backing of the country’s military that assured him of their support.
He is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for committing crimes against humanity and genocide in the western Darfur region.
It is not clear how sustained these agitations for his exit will be following moves by the parliament to prolong his reign.
Source: Africafeeds.com
