Protests continue in Sudan against deal with military

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Hundreds of people demonstrated in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Monday for a third week in a row against a recent political deal between the prime minister and the military.

Demonstrators called for the handover of power to civilians, amid chants against Premier Abdalla Hamdok and the military.

“We are demonstrating against both, Hamdok and the military,” Nadir Abdul Aziz, a protester in Khartoum, told Anadolu Agency.

He accused the military of using violence “to rule the country,” adding: “Hamdok is unfortunately giving legitimacy to the coup.”

Protesters marched towards the presidential palace in central Khartoum, amid calls for accountability for those involved in the death of protesters since the Oct. 25 military takeover.

Ahmed Latif, an eyewitness, said police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and sticks to disperse protesters near the palace.

“Police used intensive tear gas against peaceful protesters, and this step is a real violation and proves that the military and Hamdok don’t respect human rights OR freedom of assembly,” he said.

There was no comment from Sudanese authorities on the claim.

According to medics, more than 40 protesters have been killed in protests in Sudan since Oct. 25, when the military dismissed Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency, amid accusations between politicians and the military.

Hamdok, however, was reinstated on Nov. 21 under an agreement for his return with Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the ruling military council, in a move that aimed to resolve a political crisis that threatened to undermine Sudan’s transition to democracy.

Before the military takeover, Sudan was administered by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials which was overseeing the transition period until elections in 2023 as part of a precarious power-sharing pact between the military and Forces of Freedom and Change coalition.