Students protest price surges in Sudan

A number of demonstrations that broke out in the Blue Nile, North Darfur, and Khartoum states this weekend against the rising prices of food prompted violent reactions from police.

Student demonstrations have begun once more in Ed Damazin, capital of Blue Nile state in protest of the surge of prices and the deterioration of the economy. On Sunday, dozens of basic and secondary school students and residents of the northern part of the town participated in a demonstration against rising food prices. Demands were made to bring the price of bread below two Pounds.

The police used live ammunition, sticks, and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, causing some students to pass out.

Ed Damazin is also witnessing a severe transport crisis. Rickshaw tariffs rose from SDG 30 to SDG 50 on Saturday.

A resident of Ed Damazin told Radio Dabanga that no salaries have been paid since November.

North Darfur

Secondary school students in El Fasher in North Darfur demonstrated against the surge of prices and the deteriorating economic and living conditions yesterday.

The peaceful student demonstration took place along the main streets, leading to the partial closure of the market. Police and paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces intervened using batons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. A woman student was injured and a number of demonstrators were detained. 

Khartoum

In Khartoum state, the universities of El Nilein and Khartoum witnessed similar demonstrations on Sunday, following demonstrations on Friday against the current economic crisis and surge of prices. Protesters burned tires on the main roads to express their anger.

On Friday, El Obeid also saw demonstrations against rising bread prices, which led to the detention of 22 demonstrators. This led residents of the Burri area east of Khartoum to protest against the arrest by security forces of one of these detainees on Saturday evening.

Sudan has been suffering from chronic hard currency shortages and a soaring inflation since 2012. Prices skyrocketed in particular after the government implemented a set of austerity measures in January this year. The crises have led to recurrent shortages in commodities like bread and fuel.