Anti-mining protests span length of Sudan

Ongoing demonstrations against toxic gold mining operations in South Kordofan have been joined by public protests at Wadi Halfa in Sudan’s Northern State.

The sit-in of the citizens of Talodi and Kalogi against the gold mining companies has entered its third week. A leader from the Forces of Freedom and Change, Mohamed El Mustafa told Radio Dabanga that the demonstrators are determined to remain there until their demands are met: expelling the companies from the area, removal of the Rapid Support Forces from the mining areas, and investigating those responsible for the presence of these companies.

El Mustafa asserts that “the decisions of the governor are no longer binding to the people of Talodi and Kalogi because people have realised that the governor is not serious in his decision to remove these companies from these areas, and is unwilling to implement his decision of expelling these troops from the gold mines. He added that these companies continue to operate despite a clear directive to leave the areas.

Yesterday, the people of Talodi organised a demonstration against a delegation visiting the town from Khartoum demanding the removal of the governor and expressing their concerns regarding the approach the government is taking to address the deterioration of the environment in the town.

The Teachers Union in Talodi conducted a public forum explaining their reasons behind the ongoing closure of schools in the town’s market. Mohamed El Fadul told Radio Dabanga that the Teachers Union confirmed its solidarity with the issues of the people of Talodi.

Further, he stressed that the schools will remain closed until all the demands of people are fulfilled, above all to eliminate environmental risks posed by the activities of the company.

Kalogi

The people of Kalogi also continued their sit-in for the third week. A representative of the Forces of Freedom and Change in Kalogi, El Wali Ismail, told Radio Dabanga that the process of dismantling and deporting the equipment of the El Tawasul company is still going on. He added that the demonstrator are determined to remain there until this company is chased out and its equipment can be removed from the area.

Yesterday, a delegation of the city’s youth arrived in Khartoum to initiate a legal process against the company concerned for the damage it caused to the community in the area, said Ismail.

Wadi Halfa

Dozens of people protested against mining operations in Sawarda in Wadi Halfa in Sudan’s Northern State yesterday against the international company's mining plant that has caused harm to the people by using cyanide in its operations in Sawarda.

Wael Hasan, spokesman for the Six-Party Committee for Resistance to Mining Damage, told Radio Dabanga that dozens of villagers gathered yesterday in front of the factory and held slogans and banners condemning the companies and demanding their immediate departure from the area.

Hasan stated that the protesters refused to obey an army force with two vehicles that blocked the protesters’ way to the factory. The protestors then set up a tent in front of the factory gate and closed all roads leading to the factory.

He said that the demonstrators had sought all peaceful means against the company, however, this has not led to a solution.

Further, Hasan stressed that the protestors will remain there until their demands are met, mainly the dismantling of the factory and deportation. He appealed to all villagers to join the sit-in and protest until all their demands can be met.

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