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Sudanese People Continue Protests to End the Military Coup, Despite Deploying Security Forces

January 2, 2022

 

Sudanese anti-coup demonstrators rally in al-Daim neighborhood in the capital Khartoum, January 2, 2022

 

Death toll in December 30 protests in Sudan rises to six

Sudan Tribune, January 1, 2022 (KHARTOUM) –

The death toll from the bloody crackdown of anti-coup protests on December 30 rose to six people on Saturday, said the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD).

According to the CCSD, the last victim Abdallah Abbas Aroussi “died of gunshot injuries to his pelvis” during his participation in the December 30th demonstration in Khartoum twin city, Omdurman.

With Aroussi’s death; the overall death toll since the 25th October coup has risen to 55.

The Sovereign Council on Friday decided to investigate brutal repression on December 30 and to hold accountable the security forces responsible for the grave human rights violations.

Last week, the head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan decided to give the General Intelligence Service (GIS) the power to arrest civilians during the state of emergency

The Emergency Order also provides immunity for the agents and protection from civil lawsuits for the GIS’s officers and other public officials.

The repression of protesters has intensified after the appointment of Ahmed Ibrahim Ali Mofadl, as a new appointed Director-General of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) on November 27.

Mofadl, a known Islamist, recently reappointed several former security officers who like him were part of the former National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

He appointed  Lt. Gen. Taj Elsir Osman Alsanjek, former NISS Director of the Internal Security Service, as Assistant Director for Internal Security Affairs, Gen Yasir al-Tayeb al-Mahdi, as Adviser on Foreign Security and Intelligence Affairs, and Babikir al-Austa as Manager of Detention Facilities.

Death toll in December 30 protests in Sudan rises to six - Sudan Tribune

Sudan security forces deployed to block anti-coup rallies

AFP - January 2, 2022

Sudanese security forces deployed in large numbers Sunday, setting up road blocks in the capital Khartoum amid calls for pro-democracy rallies in "memory of the martyrs" killed in recent protests.

Communications including internet and phone lines have been severely restricted, while armed officers blocked key bridges across the Nile river connecting Khartoum to its suburbs.

Web monitoring group NetBlocks said mobile internet services were cut from mid-morning ahead of the planned protests, the first of the year.

Activists use the internet for organising demonstrations and broadcasting live footage of the rallies.

Sudan, with a long history of military coups, has undergone a fragile journey toward civilian rule since the 2019 ouster of autocrat Omar al-Bashir following mass popular protests.

But the country has been plunged into turmoil since military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan -- de facto leader since the ouster of Bashir -- launched a coup on October 25 and detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

Hamdok was reinstated on November 21, but mass protests have continued as demonstrators distrust veteran general Burhan and his promises of seeking to guide the country toward full democracy.

Activists have kept up a more than two-month-long campaign of street demonstrations against the army's takeover, despite a crackdown that has seen at least 53 people killed and hundreds injured in protest-related violence, according to the pro-democracy Doctors' Committee group.

Those rallies have been repeatedly broken up by security forces firing rounds of tear gas, as well as charges by police wielding batons and shooting bullets into the air.

On Thursday, five people were shot dead in Khartoum when security forces cracked down on mass rallies that saw tens of thousands take to the streets chanting "no to military rule".

On Sunday, soldiers in armoured vehicles mounted with heavy machine guns were posted at strategic road crossings, an AFP reporter said.

Activists say 2022 will be "the year of the continuation of the resistance" in posts on social media.

They demand both justice for the dozens killed since the coup, as well the more than 250 killed during the mass protests that began in 2019 that paved the way for the toppling of Bashir.

Over 14 million people, one in three Sudanese, will need humanitarian aid next year, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the highest level for a decade.

Sudan security deploys to block anti-coup rallies (msn.com)

Sudanese security forces storm TV channels, beat journalists

Sudan Tribune

December 30, 2021 (KHARTOUM) –

Security forces in Sudan stormed the offices of Al-Arabiya – Al-Hadath – and Al-Sharq channels, and assaulted journalists and their employees.

The security forces on Thursday carried out unprecedented assaults targeting journalists who covered the 30th December 30 protests in Khartoum in a bid to discourage them from covering the anti-coup protests.

Dozens of members of the security forces stormed the office of Al-Arabiya – Al-Hadath television where they beat journalists, seized mobile phones destroyed equipment, and threw tear gas in the different offices.

The director of the Al-Hadath TV office in Khartoum, Lina Yaqoub, after the assault, stated that a joint security force expressed anger over the channel coverage of the protests and accused her of taking the side of the street.

“They further beat me when I intervened to protect a colleague they were beating,” she said adding that three of the staff members were at the hospital.

It reported that the attack took place after the broadcast of direct footage of the security forces firing tear gas and beating demonstrators harshly.

Surveillance cameras broadcast by the channel documented the assault and the security members who attacked them.

Later, the channel, which broadcasts from the Emirates, said that the head of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, had sent a representative to its offices in Khartoum to apologize for the attack.

The Saudi funded Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath channels have the same office in Khartoum.

On the other hand, the director of the Al-Sharq channel, Nabil Al-Khatib, said deeply concerned about the security of the channel’s staff members in Khartoum after the security forces stormed their office.

He said that security officers prevented the journalists in Khartoum from “complete the live broadcast of what is happening in Khartoum.”

He added that the security members cut off the internet lines and seized the broadcasting camera before returning it later.

In the same way, The security forces launched tear gas canisters inside the offices of the Arabia Sky News channel, causing suffocation injuries.

A photojournalist for Al-Hurra was arrested by the security forces while covering the protests on Al-Qasr Street. They brutally assaulted him and confiscated his cameras and phone.

On Thursday, the Resistance Committees organized mass protests against the coup leaders. 4 people were killed by gunshots and over 200 wounded.

Sudanese security forces storm TV channels, beat journalists - Sudan Tribune

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Security forces fire tear gas at protesters in Sudan

KHARTOUM, Jan 2, 2022 (Reuters) -

Security forces fired tear gas at anti-military protesters in Sudan's capital Khartoum, televised images showed, as demonstrators marched towards the presidential palace in the 12th round of major protests since a coup on Oct. 25.

Internet and mobile services appeared to be disrupted in Sudan's capital Khartoum on Sunday ahead of planned protests against military rule, Reuters witnesses said.

All bridges directly connecting to Khartoum were also closed, one Reuters witness said.

Sunday's protests come after six people died and hundreds were injured in nationwide demonstrations against military rule on Thursday. The death toll since the security forces' crackdown began in October is now 54, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said.

The military took power in an Oct. 25 coup that ended a power-sharing deal with civilian political forces. That deal, agreed in 2019, was supposed to pave the way for a transitional government and eventually elections following the overthrow of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir.

Protests against military rule have continued even after Abdallah Hamdok was reinstated as prime minister last month.

The demonstrators have demanded the military play no role in government during a transition to free elections.

Some people managed to post images on social media showing protests in several other cities, including Ad-Damazin and Port Sudan.

Al Hadath TV quoted an adviser to military leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan as saying the military would not allow anyone to pull the country into chaos and that continued protests were a "physical, psychological, and mental drain on the country" and "would not achieve a political solution."

On recent occasions when communications have been disrupted, sources at telecoms companies have told Reuters that authorities demanded providers cut their services. Officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Sunday.

In a televised speech on Friday, Burhan said disputes over power and the loss of lives meant everyone "should use the voice of reason.

"The only way to rule is by popular mandate through elections," Burhan said.

Sudan's Sovereign Council, which Burhan leads, on Friday denounced the violence that accompanied Thursday's protests, adding it had ordered authorities to take all legal and military measures to avoid a recurrence and "nobody will go unpunished".

Last week, the council reinstated powers of arrest and detention to the intelligence service.

Security forces fire tear gas at protesters in Sudan | Reuters 

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