Thousands rally against former ruling party in Sudan

Thousands of Sudanese have rallied in several cities, including the capital Khartoum, urging the country's new authorities to dissolve the former ruling party of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir.

Crowds of men and women rallied in Khartoum, its twin city of Omdurman, Madani, al-Obeid, Port Sudan and in the town of Zalinge in war-torn Darfur, expressing their support for the new authorities who are tasked with the country's transition to a civilian rule.

Monday's gatherings also marked the October 21, 1964 uprising that had ousted the then military leader Ibrahim Abboud.

A key demand of the rally, called by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) that spearheaded anti-Bashir demonstrations that led to his overthrow, was to hold accountable those responsible for a deadly raid on a sit-in near the Defense Ministry on June 3.

Late on Sunday, after the SPA called for the rally, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok named a commission to investigate the raid in which security forces killed dozens.

The number of victims has been disputed. Doctors linked to the opposition said nearly 130 were killed in the raid and ensuing violence. Officials have acknowledged 87 deaths.

The SPA welcomed the appointment of the commission, calling it "the first brick in the structure of a fair investigation and the revelation of the perpetrators of the crime."

The commission will be headed by human rights lawyer Nabil Adib. It will include senior security officers as well as other lawyers.

Protesters demanded a swift response in its investigation of the raid on the sit-in, which was a culmination of 16 weeks of protests that led to army officers turning against Bashir and replacing him with a military council.

"I am taking part in this rally to demand accountability for the murderers of the revolution's martyrs," said Mazen Mostafa, a 20-year-old university student.

In August, civilian and protest groups, including the SPA, and the military, signed a three-year power-sharing deal leading to the formation of a sovereign council and the appointment of a technocratic, transitional government under Hamdok.

The investigative commission will be charged with identifying those responsible for breaking up the sit-in, establishing the number of dead, wounded and missing, and the financial losses incurred by those affected.

It is supposed to finish its work in three months, with possible one-month extension if it submits progress reports.

"We want the investigative commission to work transparently and investigate all the suspects, including the members of the former (military) council who are now members of the sovereign council," said Hadeel Ahmed, a 28-year-old demonstrator.

"We will not accept any complacency in the commission's work and we will guard the blood of the martyrs."

Bashir and his National Congress Party ruled Sudan for three decades since 1989 when he came to power in a coup.

Protests had erupted against his government in December 2018, and quickly turned into a nationwide movement against him that finally led to his ouster.

Bashir is being held in a prison in Khartoum and on trial on charges of corruption.

Several other officials of his government and senior party members are also in jail.

Sudan is now ruled by a joint civilian-military sovereign council that is tasked with overseeing the country's transition to a civilian rule, the key demand of the protest movement.

A civilian-led cabinet led by reputed economist Hamdok as prime minister is charged with the day to day running of the country.

Hamdok is due to deliver an address to the nation later on Monday.

(Source: Agencies)

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