Thousands Of Sudanese Protesters Call For An End To The Country’s Government

Protesters gathered in front of Sudan’s Presidential palace in Khartoum on Saturday, with chants saying “down with the government of hunger’’ as the North African country struggles with its biggest political crisis in two years. The protesters believed to be aligned to the country’s military gathered in thousands to lend their voices to the movement.

Since President Omar Al-Bashir was ousted in 2019, military and civil groups have been sharing power in Sudan but following September’s failed coup attempt which have been linked to forces loyal to Bashir, the country’s military chiefs have called for reforms to the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition and the civilian cabinet. Meanwhile, civilian leaders have accused the military of aiming for power.

Saturday’s protests were called for by the military faction of the FFC alongside armed groups that took part in the rebellion against Bashir. The State governor of Khartoum Ayman Khalid said that before the demonstrations began, a group of unidentified armed men removed security barriers positioned around government buildings and hindered the police and other security forces from carrying out their duties.

Issues relating to justice, restructuring the country’s military, and dismantling president Bashir’s financial apparatus, were at the root of the conflict. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had in a speech on Friday presented a roadmap out of the crisis and warned that failure to reach a resolution would throw Sudan’s future “to the wind.’’

In a retaliatory move, pro-civilian groups have called for protests in the country on Thursday.

Source

Reuters

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