Sudan uprising: Khartoum and Omdurman marches face tear gas, arrests

Marches took place in Khartoum yesterday as part of the March for the Detainees and Victims of Torture and to call for the stepping-down of President Omar Al Bashir.

Yesterday, thousands of Sudanese demonstrated in Khartoum to honour the detainees and victims of the current protests. The march was called for by the Sudanese Professionals Association and signatories of the Declaration of Freedom and Change.

Witnesses and journalists told Radio Dabanga that “thousands of Sudanese demonstrated, demanding the immediate step-down of Al Bashir and his regime from the government”.

In central Khartoum, one part of the march started from the Khartoum Stadium and the other from Jakson Square heading towards El Soug El Arabi.

The security forces confronted the demonstrators with tear gas, hit them with batons and electric wires, and have arrested dozens of demonstrators.

The demonstrators managed to reach the starting points despite the strict security measures in the area. Demonstrations continued in El Soug El Arabi for more than three hours despite the excessive violence used by the security forces, the firing of tear gas and numerous arrests.

Other peaceful demonstrations took place simultanously in more than 10 districts in Khartoum, as part of the March for the Detainees and Victims of Torture.

Demonstrations continued in the capital for long hours in the districts of Burri, El Dareisa, Arkaweet, Khartoum Talata, El Duyoum, and El Sahafa.

Dramatists joined and held a protest in front of the National Theatre in Omdurman yesterday

Omdurman

In Omdurman, demonstrations were organised in Wad Nubawi, El Abbasiya, and El Sawra where the demonstrators chanted slogans calling for the immediate step-down of Al Bashir and his regime from the government. They condemned the killing and the torture of protesters.

One of the protests was carried out by dramatists in front of the National Theatre, along the Nile. They also carried banners calling for the overthrowing of the regime. “The revolution is the choice of the people,” the dramatists chanted.

Kassala

Various Sudanese towns joined the March for the Detainees and Victims of Torture in Khartoum. In Port Sudan in Red Sea state and Khashm El Girba in Kassala people held vigils to call for the exit of President Al Bashir from power.

On Thursday, a march started from the house of the killed teacher Ahmed El Kheir in Khashm El Girba. He was reportedly tortured to death by security officers last week.

Women organised a protest as well, carrying banners saying “All of us are Ahmed”, “Just fall, that’s all” and demanding retribution for his death.

Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of demonstrators left the street in front of El Kheir’s house, marching towards the offices of the security apparatus in the town to demand the punishment of his killers.

Port Sudan university lecturers organise rally at campus

Port Sudan

On Thursday, lecturers of the Red Sea University organised a protest at the university’s main campus in Port Sudan. There, they praised the demonstrators’ “commitment to peacefulness despite the fact that they are confronted with extreme violence”.

The lecturers released a joint statement in which they declared their total rejection of the killing, torture and detention of protesters. One of their demands to the government is to preserve the people’s right to express their opinion.

El Gezira

In Wad Madani, lecturers of El Gezira University declared their support to the peaceful movement of the country, the Declaration of Freedom and Change and the Sudanese Professionals Association.

In a memorandum signed by approximately 300 lecturers at the University of El Gezira, they condemned the widespread violence against the peaceful demonstrators which has resulted in deaths and injuries.

They also declared their support to the numerous initiatives of teachers at Sudanese educational institutes.

Journalists arrested

Yesterday, the security apparatus arrested journalists Rashan Oshi and Amaniyat Mohamed Ali during their coverage of the demonstrations, a few hours after President Omar Al Bashir pledged to release all detained journalists.

Since the outbreak of the anti-government protests in mid December, many journalists were detained by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). Some of them were released after questioning, others are still being held.

Journalist Adam Mahdi was sentenced to three months in prison under the emergency measures and transferred to a prison in Nyala, South Darfur, to serve his sentence.