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| Sudan’s Military Abandons Talks and Opens Fire on Democracy Protesters | Sudan’s Military Abandons Talks and Opens Fire on Democracy Protesters |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Sudan’s security forces stormed a major protest camp in the nation’s capital of Khartoum on Monday, killing an estimated 31 people and wounding hundreds, protest organizers said, in a day of violence that plunged the country’s once-hopeful revolution into chaos and uncertainty. | Sudan’s security forces stormed a major protest camp in the nation’s capital of Khartoum on Monday, killing an estimated 31 people and wounding hundreds, protest organizers said, in a day of violence that plunged the country’s once-hopeful revolution into chaos and uncertainty. |
| The dawn raids, led by a paramilitary unit notorious for atrocities in the western region of Darfur, appeared to signal that the military was intent on breaking the pro-democracy movement that galvanized Sudan following the ouster in April of the longtime dictator and president Omar Hassan al-Bashir. | The dawn raids, led by a paramilitary unit notorious for atrocities in the western region of Darfur, appeared to signal that the military was intent on breaking the pro-democracy movement that galvanized Sudan following the ouster in April of the longtime dictator and president Omar Hassan al-Bashir. |
| Soldiers fanned out across the city from first light, opening fire on protesters, burning their tents and thrashing civilians with sticks. The brutal crackdown came days after the collapse of power-sharing negotiations between civilian and military leaders over who should run Sudan during a planned transitional period. | Soldiers fanned out across the city from first light, opening fire on protesters, burning their tents and thrashing civilians with sticks. The brutal crackdown came days after the collapse of power-sharing negotiations between civilian and military leaders over who should run Sudan during a planned transitional period. |
| On Monday that transition was cast into doubt as Sudan lurched toward the kind of bloody authoritarianism that quashed the Arab Spring in 2011. The crackdown confirmed protesters’ fears that Sudan’s military, backed by the wealthy rulers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, was never serious about its claims to support civilian rule. | On Monday that transition was cast into doubt as Sudan lurched toward the kind of bloody authoritarianism that quashed the Arab Spring in 2011. The crackdown confirmed protesters’ fears that Sudan’s military, backed by the wealthy rulers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, was never serious about its claims to support civilian rule. |
| “All hell broke loose,” said Mohamed Azharri, 25, a doctor and protester who sprinted for cover early Monday, after gunfire erupted soon after morning prayer. He said he watched helplessly as soldiers beat an old man in the street. | “All hell broke loose,” said Mohamed Azharri, 25, a doctor and protester who sprinted for cover early Monday, after gunfire erupted soon after morning prayer. He said he watched helplessly as soldiers beat an old man in the street. |
| By early Tuesday morning, the head of the Transitional Military Council that has been ruling Sudan since Mr. al-Bashir’s ouster addressed the nation, according to news reports. | |
| Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the military council’s head, announced that elections would be held within nine months. And he said that the civilian negotiators were just as responsible as the military for the delay in coming to an agreement on the country’s future leadership. | |
| But his remarks came after nearly 24 hours of violence by men in uniform that upended Sudan and unsettled international observers. | |
| Videos posted to social media showed soldiers firing on civilians or trashing the deserted protest zone. Bloodied protesters lay on the ground. Plumes of smoke rose over Khartoum as demonstrators blocked streets in some parts of the city, burning tires at barricades. | Videos posted to social media showed soldiers firing on civilians or trashing the deserted protest zone. Bloodied protesters lay on the ground. Plumes of smoke rose over Khartoum as demonstrators blocked streets in some parts of the city, burning tires at barricades. |
| By nightfall, Mr. Azharri was vowing to continue his protests. | By nightfall, Mr. Azharri was vowing to continue his protests. |
| “We can’t let people die for nothing,” he said in a phone interview. “That’s why we are going back out tomorrow. This revolution is not over.” | “We can’t let people die for nothing,” he said in a phone interview. “That’s why we are going back out tomorrow. This revolution is not over.” |
| Khartoum was on lockdown for much of Monday, with cellphone networks restricted and the internet sporadically cut off. Protest organizers declared a general strike and called on the international community to shun the Transitional Military Council. | |
| Wounded protesters reported that the security forces were raiding homes in search of protest leaders and had dumped the bodies of slain protesters in the Nile. | Wounded protesters reported that the security forces were raiding homes in search of protest leaders and had dumped the bodies of slain protesters in the Nile. |
| Speaking by phone from Khartoum, a doctor at the Royal Care International Hospital, who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals, said soldiers positioned outside were stopping medical staff from entering the hospital, where many of the wounded were taken. | Speaking by phone from Khartoum, a doctor at the Royal Care International Hospital, who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals, said soldiers positioned outside were stopping medical staff from entering the hospital, where many of the wounded were taken. |
| The violence drew stinging condemnation from the United Nations, the African Union and Western governments, but a more qualified response from the Arab nations that have sided with Sudan’s military leaders. | The violence drew stinging condemnation from the United Nations, the African Union and Western governments, but a more qualified response from the Arab nations that have sided with Sudan’s military leaders. |
| The United States Embassy in Khartoum blamed the country’s military leaders for the violence and called for an immediate halt. “Sudanese security forces’ attacks against protesters and other civilians is wrong and must stop,” the embassy wrote on Twitter. | The United States Embassy in Khartoum blamed the country’s military leaders for the violence and called for an immediate halt. “Sudanese security forces’ attacks against protesters and other civilians is wrong and must stop,” the embassy wrote on Twitter. |
| Britain’s ambassador to Sudan, Irfan Siddiq, who said gunfire erupted near his residence in central Khartoum, joined the American call for a cessation. “No excuse for any such attack. This. Must. Stop. Now,” Mr. Siddiq wrote on Twitter. | Britain’s ambassador to Sudan, Irfan Siddiq, who said gunfire erupted near his residence in central Khartoum, joined the American call for a cessation. “No excuse for any such attack. This. Must. Stop. Now,” Mr. Siddiq wrote on Twitter. |
| The Western calls for nonviolence were likely outweighed, however, by the tacit support that wealthy Gulf countries and other Arab allies have given to Sudan’s generals since the protests toppled Mr. al-Bashir. | The Western calls for nonviolence were likely outweighed, however, by the tacit support that wealthy Gulf countries and other Arab allies have given to Sudan’s generals since the protests toppled Mr. al-Bashir. |
| The rulers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt view the popular revolution in Sudan as a dangerous example to their own countries, where the Arab Spring revolt of 2011 was either quashed or never allowed to take root. | The rulers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt view the popular revolution in Sudan as a dangerous example to their own countries, where the Arab Spring revolt of 2011 was either quashed or never allowed to take root. |
| After Mr. al-Bashir was ousted on April 11, the Saudis and Emiratis offered $3 billion in aid to shore up the military’s popularity and to strengthen the generals’ hand in power-sharing negotiations with civilian leaders. | After Mr. al-Bashir was ousted on April 11, the Saudis and Emiratis offered $3 billion in aid to shore up the military’s popularity and to strengthen the generals’ hand in power-sharing negotiations with civilian leaders. |
| In recent weeks, Sudan’s top generals traveled to the Gulf for talks with their allies, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates. | In recent weeks, Sudan’s top generals traveled to the Gulf for talks with their allies, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates. |
| As the violence unfolded on Monday, though, it was unclear which parts of Sudan’s fractious military and security establishment was driving the crackdown. The United States Embassy blamed the ruling Transitional Military Council led by General al-Burhan. | |
| “Responsibility falls on the T.M.C. The T.M.C. cannot responsibly lead the people of Sudan,” the embassy added in its post on Twitter. | “Responsibility falls on the T.M.C. The T.M.C. cannot responsibly lead the people of Sudan,” the embassy added in its post on Twitter. |
| But videos and eyewitness accounts pointed to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary unit drawn from the janjaweed militias that carried out atrocities in Darfur in the 2000s, and which has now emerged as a powerful force in the capital. As the power-sharing talks have dragged on in recent weeks, Rapid Support Force soldiers have gradually fanned out across Khartoum. | But videos and eyewitness accounts pointed to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary unit drawn from the janjaweed militias that carried out atrocities in Darfur in the 2000s, and which has now emerged as a powerful force in the capital. As the power-sharing talks have dragged on in recent weeks, Rapid Support Force soldiers have gradually fanned out across Khartoum. |
| The group’s leader, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, widely known as Hemeti and seen as one of the most powerful figures in Sudan, consolidated his power by meeting with Prince Mohammed of Saudi Arabia. | The group’s leader, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, widely known as Hemeti and seen as one of the most powerful figures in Sudan, consolidated his power by meeting with Prince Mohammed of Saudi Arabia. |
| For the protesters, the brutal operation to clear them from the protest zone was the moment they had been dreading for weeks. | For the protesters, the brutal operation to clear them from the protest zone was the moment they had been dreading for weeks. |
| Mr. al-Bashir’s ouster, after four months of street protests, brought tens of thousands of young Sudanese to the gates of the military headquarters in joyous scenes that celebrated the demise of a hated dictator and, they hoped, heralded a return to full civilian rule. | Mr. al-Bashir’s ouster, after four months of street protests, brought tens of thousands of young Sudanese to the gates of the military headquarters in joyous scenes that celebrated the demise of a hated dictator and, they hoped, heralded a return to full civilian rule. |
| In the weeks since, thousands of young Sudanese have gathered nightly at the protest site for concerts, to hear speeches or just to mingle freely, savoring new social freedoms that were impossible under Mr. al-Bashir. | In the weeks since, thousands of young Sudanese have gathered nightly at the protest site for concerts, to hear speeches or just to mingle freely, savoring new social freedoms that were impossible under Mr. al-Bashir. |
| Despite punishing summer temperatures, the sit-in continued into the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which ends this week. The protesters enjoyed the backing of the United Nations and the African Union, which on May 1 warned it would suspend Sudan from the bloc if the military did not transfer power to a civilian authority. | Despite punishing summer temperatures, the sit-in continued into the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which ends this week. The protesters enjoyed the backing of the United Nations and the African Union, which on May 1 warned it would suspend Sudan from the bloc if the military did not transfer power to a civilian authority. |
| But political talks to end the crisis were scuttled by the military’s obduracy. Opposition and military leaders have spent weeks arguing over who should head a sovereign council to rule Sudan during a transitional period leading up to elections that both sides agree should last about three years. | But political talks to end the crisis were scuttled by the military’s obduracy. Opposition and military leaders have spent weeks arguing over who should head a sovereign council to rule Sudan during a transitional period leading up to elections that both sides agree should last about three years. |
| General al-Burhan and the military have said publicly that they agreed to strong civilian participation in a transitional government, but insist they should retain overall power. In an effort to break the deadlock, civilian negotiators offered compromises that included rotating power between civilian and military leaders, according to Western officials. | General al-Burhan and the military have said publicly that they agreed to strong civilian participation in a transitional government, but insist they should retain overall power. In an effort to break the deadlock, civilian negotiators offered compromises that included rotating power between civilian and military leaders, according to Western officials. |
| But the talks collapsed and the civilians showed their muscle by calling a two-day strike that was respected across the country. Monday’s raid appeared to be an effort to break that strength. | But the talks collapsed and the civilians showed their muscle by calling a two-day strike that was respected across the country. Monday’s raid appeared to be an effort to break that strength. |
| Analysts have long warned that Sudan’s transition to democracy, if it goes awry, could plunge the country into much greater chaos. | Analysts have long warned that Sudan’s transition to democracy, if it goes awry, could plunge the country into much greater chaos. |
| One of Africa’s largest countries, it is awash in arms after years of battle between the government and rebel groups in the Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions. The United States, which once led Western policy on Sudan, has largely ceded that role in recent years. Gulf countries are filling the vacuum, looking to safeguard the own interests. | One of Africa’s largest countries, it is awash in arms after years of battle between the government and rebel groups in the Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions. The United States, which once led Western policy on Sudan, has largely ceded that role in recent years. Gulf countries are filling the vacuum, looking to safeguard the own interests. |
| For the Saudis and Emiratis, Sudan is a major troop contributor to the war they are fighting in Yemen. Last month Anwar Gargash, the de facto foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, called for an “orderly transition” in the country. “We have experienced all-out chaos in the region and, sensibly, don’t need more of it,” he said. | For the Saudis and Emiratis, Sudan is a major troop contributor to the war they are fighting in Yemen. Last month Anwar Gargash, the de facto foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, called for an “orderly transition” in the country. “We have experienced all-out chaos in the region and, sensibly, don’t need more of it,” he said. |
| Such statements stoked fear among Sudanese protesters that the military might try to forcibly disperse them, much as Egypt’s military did in 2013 when it killed more than 800 people in Cairo to end street protests led by the Muslim Brotherhood. | Such statements stoked fear among Sudanese protesters that the military might try to forcibly disperse them, much as Egypt’s military did in 2013 when it killed more than 800 people in Cairo to end street protests led by the Muslim Brotherhood. |