Sudan protesters demand ruling military council dissolution

The anti-government sit-in outside the military compound has continued since April 6. The new military rulers are facing increasing pressure to hand power to a civilian government after a coup against Omar al Bashir.

Sudanese demonstrators sit on the railway to block the train from passing through during a protest outside the defence ministry in Khartoum, Sudan. April 14, 2019.
Reuters

Sudanese demonstrators sit on the railway to block the train from passing through during a protest outside the defence ministry in Khartoum, Sudan. April 14, 2019.

The group spearheading the protest movement in Sudan on Monday demanded the country's new ruling military council be dissolved and replaced by a civilian one with representatives from the army.

"We want the military council to be dissolved and be replaced by a civilian council having representatives of the army," Mohamed Naji, a senior leader of the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), told reporters.

The SPA also demanded the sacking of the country's judiciary chief and prosecutor general.

Earlier in the day, Sudanese protesters blocked an attempt to break up a sit-in outside the defence ministry, where demonstrators have been pushing for a quick transition to civilian rule after President Omar al Bashir was ousted, a witness said.

Troops had gathered on three sides of the sit-in and tractors were preparing to remove stone and metal barriers, but protesters joined hands and formed rings around the sit-in area to prevent them.

TRT World's Philip Owira has more.

Loading...

The protesters, numbering about 5,000 with more arriving, chanted "Freedom, freedom" and "Revolution, revolution," and appealed to the army to protect them.

Some drummed and waved national flags as they mingled in the street, while others took shelter from the sun under parasols and makeshift tents.

Reuters

Sudanese demonstrators search newcomers as they wait beside makeshift barricades in Khartoum, Sudan. April 15, 2019.

'Protect your revolution'

Earlier, Sudan's main protest group, the SPA, issued an urgent call for people to join the sit-in and foil any attempt to disperse it.

"We hope that everyone will head immediately to the areas of the sit-in to protect your revolution and your accomplishments," the SPA said.

It said there were continuing attempts to disband the sit-in.

The sit-in outside the compound, which also includes the intelligence headquarters and the presidential residence, began on April 6, after more than three months of protests triggered by a deepening economic crisis.

On Thursday, Sudan's army announced that it had removed and detained Bashir after three decades in power and was setting up a transitional military council to run the country.

Reuters

Sudanese demonstrators chant slogans as they attend a sit-in during a protest outside the defence ministry in Khartoum, Sudan. April 14, 2019.

Civilian rule?

Since then the head of the new military council and of Sudan's powerful National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) have both been replaced, as protesters have continued to call for change.

The SPA has demanded the immediate handover of power to a civilian transitional government as well as the prosecution of former officials.

On Monday, the military council said it was restructuring the joint forces command, appointing a new chief of staff for the army and a deputy.

Britain's ambassador to Sudan Irfan Siddiq said he had met the deputy head of the transitional military council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and had "asked for clarity on whereabouts of former President Bashir and other senior former regime figures."

When the military announced Bashir’s ousting, they said he had been arrested and was being kept at a “safe place.” Sudanese sources said that Bashir was at a presidential residence under “heavy guard.”

Siddiq said on Twitter he had also requested the reform of the NISS and the release of detainees, as well as the cancellation of all bureaucracy and permits for delivering humanitarian aid.

Dagalo, known by his nickname Hemedti, heads Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which human rights groups have accused of widespread abuses in the western region of Darfur. Sudan's government has previously denied wrongdoing by the RSF.

Route 6