Demo in Atbara, Sudan quelled with ‘heavy hand’

Security services and police reacted ‘with harsh force’ when citizens of Atbara in Sudan’s River Nile State took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the increase in fuel and electricity prices.

Witnesses reported to Radio Dabanga that about 25 students from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Wadi El Nil in Atbara were detained.

One of the students said that the demonstrators filled the Atbara roads on Wednesday morning, and were joined by the residents until they all converged at the city market.

He added that student leaders addressed the people in the street before being dispersed by police.

He confirmed that the security apparatus arrested 25 students, including Ahmed El Zaatar, Mowafag Mohammed, Muntasir El Haj, Mohammad Abdullah, and Ahmad El Obeid.

At midday, the students of Faculty of Engineering of Atbaratook, to the streets again in a demonstration. They were confronted and dispersed by police again using tear gas and sticks.

He said that security forces have imposed a siege on the faculty building, saying that “the situation remains tense in Atbara”.

Pictures below: Residents take to the streets of Atbara in River Nile State  on Wednesday in protest against price rises.