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Sudan's military council calls for snap elections in wake of deadly protests Sudan's military council calls for snap elections in wake of deadly protests
(about 4 hours later)
Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC) has called for snap elections and said it had cancelled all previous agreements with the main opposition coalition. Sudan’s military leaders have called for elections and cancelled all previous agreements with the main opposition coalition.
Tuesday’s announcement follows deadly violence in the capital, Khartoum, in which more than 35 people are believed to have died when security forces moved to disperse a main protest camp outside the defence ministry. The announcement, early on Tuesday morning, comes less than a day after heavily armed paramilitaries attacked a protest camp in the capital, Khartoum, that has been the centre of a campaign to bring democratic reform. More than 35 people are believed to have died in the violence and hundreds more were injured. The death toll is expected to rise.
Talks between the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF) alliance have come to a standstill despite weeks of negotiations. There has been no official reaction from the opposition to the announcement of elections but individual leaders told the Guardian they will escalate a campaign of civil disobedience in response.
“The struggle will continue to bring true democracy to our country,” said one opposition organiser who is currently in hiding in Sudan.
At least 30 Sudanese protesters feared killed as security forces attack Khartoum sit-inAt least 30 Sudanese protesters feared killed as security forces attack Khartoum sit-in
Despite settling on a three-year transition before elections and the composition of a legislative body, talks over whether civilians or the military will have the upper hand in a sovereign body to lead the country during a three-year transition to democracy were deadlocked. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) took power in April after ousting president Omar al-Bashir after 30 years of brutal, repressive rule. The military’s move against Bashir followed months of protests that culminated in a massive demonstration outside the defence ministry in Khartoum.
In his address, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that the coalition was equally responsible for the delay in coming to a final agreement. Talks between the ruling military council and the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF) alliance, a pro-reform coalition, broke down last month after weeks of negotiations.
Burhan said elections would be held within nine months. Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the TMC, said that the coalition was equally responsible for the delay in coming to a final agreement.
On Monday morning, heavily armed paramilitaries attacked the site of a sit-in in the capital that has been the centre of a campaign to bring democratic reform, firing teargas and live ammunition. In his televised statement, Burhan said elections would be held within nine months and promised an investigation into the violence.
Witnesses reported that the security personnel belonged to the feared Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary force that was heavily armed by Omar al-Bashir, the former president. The RSF have been accused of systematic human rights abuses. They are led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who also serves as deputy head of the transitional military council, the country’s governing committee. Witnesses reported that the security personnel who attacked the protest site belonged to the feared Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary force that was heavily armed by Omar al-Bashir, the former president. The RSF have been accused of systematic human rights abuses. They are led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who also serves as deputy head of the transitional military council, the country’s governing committee.
Bashir’s repressive 30-year rule ended in April when he was ousted by the army following months of massive pro-democracy demonstrations in Khartoum and elsewhere. The news of the crackdown sparked unrest around Khartoum on Monday. Hundreds of protesters were also reported to have blocked roads with stones and burning tyres in Omdurman, the twin city neighbouring the Sudanese capital.
Opposition-linked medics said more than 35 people were killed in what is the worst violence since the overthrow of Bashir in April. Burhan promised an investigation into the deadly events. Hospitals in central Khartoum struggled to cope with the numbers of injured and appealed for surgeons to volunteer to help.
Hospitals in central Khartoum struggled to cope with the numbers of injured and appealed for surgeons to volunteer to help. “Wounded people are lying on the ground in the reception area as there are not enough beds,” sad Azza al-Amel, a doctor at the Royal Care hospital. The violence drew strong criticism from the US, UK and other nations. The
Reuters contributed to this report UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the excessive use of force against protesters and called for an independent investigation.
The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss Sudan, after Britain and Germany requested the talks, diplomats said.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chair of the African Union, said he strongly condemned the violence and called on the council “to protect the civilians from further harm”.
SudanSudan
AfricaAfrica
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
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