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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/04/sudans-military-council-calls-for-snap-elections-in-wake-of-deadly-protests
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| Sudan: opposition rejects army's plan for snap elections | Sudan: opposition rejects army's plan for snap elections |
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| Democracy campaigners in Sudan have rejected a plan by military authorities to hold elections within nine months, one day after heavily armed paramilitaries attacked a protest camp in the capital, Khartoum. | Democracy campaigners in Sudan have rejected a plan by military authorities to hold elections within nine months, one day after heavily armed paramilitaries attacked a protest camp in the capital, Khartoum. |
| More than 35 people are thought to have been killed and several hundred injured at the sit-in, which had been at the centre of a campaign to bring democratic reform to Sudan. The death toll is expected to rise. | More than 35 people are thought to have been killed and several hundred injured at the sit-in, which had been at the centre of a campaign to bring democratic reform to Sudan. The death toll is expected to rise. |
| Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said in a statement on national television early on Tuesday morning that polls were planned and and that all previous agreements with the main opposition coalition had been cancelled. | Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said in a statement on national television early on Tuesday morning that polls were planned and and that all previous agreements with the main opposition coalition had been cancelled. |
| Burhan is the leader of the transitional military council (TMC) that 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. | Burhan is the leader of the transitional military council (TMC) that 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. |
| Madani Abbas Madani, a leading figure in the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF) opposition alliance, said: “We reject all that was stated in [the] statement.” | Madani Abbas Madani, a leading figure in the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF) opposition alliance, said: “We reject all that was stated in [the] statement.” |
| Individual pro-reform 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 an opposition organiser who is in hiding in Sudan. | Individual pro-reform 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 an opposition organiser who is in hiding in Sudan. |
| Rosalind Marsden, associate fellow at Chatham House and an expert on Sudan, said the military council intended to use the election as a means of legitimising their interests. | Rosalind Marsden, associate fellow at Chatham House and an expert on Sudan, said the military council intended to use the election as a means of legitimising their interests. |
| “The concern is the TMC … will now link up with old regime elements and so the elections will open the way for the old regime to come back into power. It is very worrying,” Marsden said. | “The concern is the TMC … will now link up with old regime elements and so the elections will open the way for the old regime to come back into power. It is very worrying,” Marsden said. |
| The country is now braced for further violence. Hundreds of activists have been detained and many more are missing. | The country is now braced for further violence. Hundreds of activists have been detained and many more are missing. |
| Large crowds attended mosques on Monday across Sudan to mark the Islamic festival of Eid. The military council told worshippers that they should mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday instead. | Large crowds attended mosques on Monday across Sudan to mark the Islamic festival of Eid. The military council told worshippers that they should mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday instead. |
| There were some reports of further violent clashes in Khartoum and elsewhere. | There were some reports of further violent clashes in Khartoum and elsewhere. |
| Talks between the ruling military council and the DFCF alliance broke down last month after weeks of negotiations. | Talks between the ruling military council and the DFCF alliance broke down last month after weeks of negotiations. |
| Opposition groups wanted a lengthy transition period to allow time for parties that had been badly weakened by repression under Bashir to be able to compete. | Opposition groups wanted a lengthy transition period to allow time for parties that had been badly weakened by repression under Bashir to be able to compete. |
| The former ruling National Congress party is currently the only organised political party with significant resources and will be in a position to dominate the forthcoming elections. There are widespread fears that any poll would be rigged. | |
| “The revolution has gained real momentum over the last five months but it is very difficult to predict if the professionals, youth and women who have been a driving force will be prepared to carry on,” said Marsden. | “The revolution has gained real momentum over the last five months but it is very difficult to predict if the professionals, youth and women who have been a driving force will be prepared to carry on,” said Marsden. |
| In his statement, Burhan said the coalition was equally responsible for the delay in coming to a final agreement and promised an investigation into the violence. | |
| 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, which has been accused of systematic human rights abuses, is led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who also serves as deputy head of the TMC. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Sudan: how Arab autocrats conspired to thwart reformists' hopes | Sudan: how Arab autocrats conspired to thwart reformists' hopes |
| 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. |
| The violence drew strong criticism from the US, UK and other nations. The UN secretary general, António 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. | 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”. | 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”. |
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| Africa | Africa |
| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
| Protest | |
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