Committee investigating ‘January 17 massacre’ in Sudan calls for more witnesses

The fact-finding committee in Sudan that will investigate the violence used against protesters during the March of Millions on January 17, says that it has sent weapons issued to troops on that day for forensic examination, and calls upon witnesses to step forward with evidence.

The investigation committee into the events of January 17, which was formed by coup leader Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, announced that it had listened to the testimonies of witnesses from the families of the victims and the police forces, and showing a video in which one of the Sudanese army regulars was shown firing a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

The committee explained that it has seized the weapons of the individuals who were issued arms and ammunition on that day, and the weapons and the video were sent to the competent technical (forensic) authorities for the purposes of examination and audit.

The investigation committee began calling for potential witnesses via the Sudanese national radio and television. The committee also appealed to the medical staff of El Jawda Hospital in Ed Deim south of central Khartoum, and the El Bashayer mortuary, to come forward as part of the search for technical and medical evidence.

Seven demonstrators were shot dead during the January 17 March of Millions bound for the Republican Palace in Khartoum. These deaths sparked a call from the Executive Office to the Forces for Freedom and Change (FCC), to launch a comprehensive renewed campaign of civil disobedience.