Multiple protests in Sudan’s capital

Hundreds of people in the districts of Rumaila and Alamab in southern Khartoum took to the streets on Monday to protest against the sale of plots of public land in their areas. On the same day, employees of the Civil Aviation Authority demonstrated against their dismissal. On Sunday, employees of the National Laboratory for Public Health protested against the closure of almost all departments. In the Rumaila and Alamab neighbourhoods, the police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrations that developed into a hit and run between policemen and protesters and lasted for more than three hours.A protester told Radio Dabanga that the Khartoum State government plans to sell the open spaces in the districts to investors. “The open spaces and squares are used by the residents to play football, develop greens, or just to get out for some fresh air. If the plots are sold, there will no space anymore for us to breath during our leisure time.” The sale of plots in Sudan’s capital has increased lately. Last January the residents of El Shaabiya district in Khartoum North protested against the sale of two squares and one open space. Civil Aviation Authority On Monday too, Khartoum witnessed a demonstration of employees dismissed by the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). They raised banners in front of the court, chanting slogans, peacefully demanding compensation. A group of 786 employees gathered in front of the District Court in Khartoum where they filed a complaint against the corporation, demanding their return to service. The employees want to be re-employed by state-owned companies affiliated with the CAA, and rejected re-employment in private companies, as was proposed by the CAA. National Laboratory Employees of the National Laboratory for Public Health in Khartoum protested on Sunday against the closure of about 90 percent of its departments. The decision to close the departments was taken due to suspension of the management budget and staff incentives since February. Hassan Saeed, head of the Workers Union section of the National Laboratory, explained to Radio Dabanga that the departments of Food and Water Tests, Clinical Chemistry, and Intake of Samples have entirely stopped working, owing to the lack of the required laboratory supplies. The employees have not received their benefits for three months. News photo: Rumaila district, southern Khartoum, on Monday (sent to Radio Dabanga by a listener)