Sudan’s Kassala state plans to sell residential land

On Wednesday, the state government of Kassala in eastern Sudan began demolishing El Salam district in Kassala town amid protests of tens of thousands of people.

The police arrested dozens of protesters who barred bulldozers removing their homes. The operation was halted, activist Mahmoud Azhari reported to Radio Dabanga. The protesters were released later that day.

The activist said that two basic schools and a health centre were shut down weeks ago in preparation for the demolition.

The El Salam district is inhabited by more than 40,000 former displaced who fled the fighting in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, and around Hameshkoreib in Kassala state more than 15 years ago.

Azhari explained that “years ago” the Kassala Ministry of Urban Planning conducted a social survey, after which the family heads received home ownership documents.

The residents were “surprised and shocked” about the decision to demolish the houses.

The source accused the Kassala state government of putting financial profit above the interests of the people. “The authorities plan to sell the land for huge amounts of money to livestock owners who intend to build barns on the plots.”