’Million signatures campaign’ to remove governor, protests in eastern Sudan

On Sunday, a “million signatures campaign” was launched in eastern Sudan’s Red Sea state with the purpose to remove the state governor from his post; parents held a sit-in in protest against the selling of public schools; in Oseif, people demonstrated against the deterioration of public services, while El Gedaref witnessed also protests.  “A group named the High Committee for the Withdrawal of Confidence from the Governor organised the million signature campaign,” an activist told Radio Dabanga from Port Sudan, aimed at the removal of Governor Mohamed Tahir Eila. The signatures are gathered through mosques and cafes.” The campaign coincided with a sit-in, organised by a group of Port Sudan residents in front of the Deim Arab Basic School on Sunday. They protested against the State government’s decision of selling public schools to investors and affiliates of the ruling National Congress Party. The students have to be replaced and divided over the remaining public schools, as most parents are unable to pay high school fees. The protesters called the replacement of the students a “humanitarian crime”. OseifIn Oseif town, Halayib locality, people went to the streets on Sunday, in protest against the deterioration of services and the lack of drinking water in the area.GedarefEastern Sudan’s town of Gedaref witnessed a protest in front of the municipality on Sunday. It was organised by the Sunrise Cultural Forum after its premises were closed and properties confiscated by the authorities.In Gedaref State, on the same day, members of the Farmers and Herdsmen Union of demonstrated against the decision of the National Forest Corporation to confiscate an area of ​​5,000 acres of the Wad Kabu forest in order to offer it as agricultural land to investors. News photo: People protesting against the selling of schools in Port Sudan, 5 May 2014  (source Radio Dabanga)