Sudan's security forces dispersed demonstrators and detained more than 100 people in the capital of Khartoum on Sunday, in the latest crackdown on pro-democracy protesters after last month's military coup.
The Sudanese military seized power on October 25th, dissolving the transitional government and arresting dozens of officials and politicians. The coup has drawn international criticism and massive protests in the streets of Khartoum and elsewhere in the country.
The takeover has upended the country’s fragile planned transition to democratic rule, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government.
Teachers and education workers protested against the coup outside the education ministry in Khartoum’s district of Bahri, according to the Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA), which led the uprising against Mr al-Bashir.
Security forces used tear gas to disperse the protesters and arrested at least 113 people, mostly teachers, lawyer Moez Hadra said.
There were sporadic protests elsewhere in Khartoum, the lawyer added.
Local authorities announced the resumption of school classes in the capital for the first time since the coup.
Nationwide strikes
Sunday was the first of two days of nationwide strikes called by the SPA, which vowed to continue protesting until a full civilian government was established to lead the transition.
Several shops and businesses in Khartoum were seen to be open, according to a video journalist with the Associated Press.
The fresh crackdown has also come as mediation efforts between the military and civilian leaders have stumbled, according to one military official.
Mediators, including the United Nations envoy in Sudan, were continuing to work to soften each side's stand, as both were sticking to their pre-conditions before engaging in "meaningful, possibly direct talks", the official said.
The deposed prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, who is still under house arrest in his residence in Khartoum, has called for the release of government officials and politicians detained in connection with the coup. He also wants “guarantees” that the military will return to the pre-coup powersharing arrangements, the official said.
The military, on the other hand, insists that the October 25th events did not amount to a “coup”, and that it had stepped in to “correct the course” of the transitional period, the official added.
Mixed signals
The military has given mixed signals. It allowed four ministers to return to their homes under house arrest, according to Mr Hadra.
The four included minister for information and culture Hamza Baloul, minister for communications Hashim Hasabel-Rasoul, minister for trade and international co-operationAli Gedou and minister for youth and sports Youssef Adam. They were among more than 100 government officials and politicians detained following the coup.
The military also arrested three leaders from the Forces for Freedom and Change, a coalition that was born out of the 2019 protest movement, shortly after they met with UN officials in Khartoum. The meeting was part of UN-led mediation efforts. – AP