Sudanese protest group reports army attempt to break up sit-in in Khartoum
Sudan’s main protest group says an attempt has been underway by army forces to break up a sit-in outside the Defense Ministry compound in Khartoum, calling on people to join the demonstrators there and help them block that attempt.
The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) made the call on Monday, after Sudanese troops gathered on three sides of the sit-in, while tractors were preparing to remove stone and metal barricades set by the protesters there.
In response, the protesters joined hands and formed rings around the sit-in area to prevent the forces from breaking up the sit-in.
The protesters, numbering about 5,000 with more arriving, chanted “Freedom, freedom” and “Revolution, revolution,” and appealed to the army to protect them.
In a statement published on its social media pages, the SPA said, “We hope that everyone will head immediately to the areas of the sit-in to protect your revolution and your accomplishments.”
The SPA also slammed the attempt to disperse the crowds as “an indication that the military council will not fulfill its commitment given to the people.”
The sit-in outside the Defense Ministry compound, which also hosts the intelligence headquarters and the presidential residence, began on April 6, after a brief pause in more than three months of protests triggered by a deepening economic crisis blamed on long-time President Omar al-Bashir.
On Thursday, Sudan’s military toppled and then arrested Bashir, putting an end to his nearly 30-year rule. It also formed a transitional military council to run the country.
The protesters, however, have refused to leave the streets, calling for a quick transition to civilian rule after the ouster of Bashir.
The SPA has called for the immediate handover of power to a civilian transitional government as well as the prosecution of former officials, among other demands on a list it submitted to the council on Saturday.
Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdulrahman, who was sworn in as the head of Sudan’s ruling junta on Friday, said that a civilian government would be established in the African country.
Burhan said all those linked with al-Bashir’s government will be brought to justice.
“The transitional military council will be committed to establishing a civilian government based on the following: a transitional period lasting for a maximum of two years, in which during or at the end of it, governance of the country will be handed over to the civilian government formed by the people,” Burhan said in a speech addressing the nation on Saturday.
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