Coup d’etat in Sudan: thousands of people take to the streets in new protests

Thousands of people are organizing protests across Sudan against this week’s military coup, calling for a return to a civilian-led government.

Protesters in the capital Khartoum and other cities say ousted Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok must be reinstated immediately.

Security forces are in force in Khartoum, reports a BBC correspondent in the city.

On Monday, the leader of the coup, General Abdel Fattah Burhan, dissolved the civilian government and arrested political leaders.

The general, who also called a state of emergency, said his actions were justified in avoiding “civil war” and stopping internal political struggles.

The military takeover drew condemnations from around the world.

On Saturday, protesters in Khartoum were seen marching with Sudanese flags and chanting “No to the military government!”

There have been no reports of violence so far.

“The people here are very peaceful. These protests will continue to be peaceful even in the face of guns,” Shaheen al Shaheef, a member of the Khartoum Resistance Committee, told the BBC.

“However, we realize the current situation of Burhan: he has lost all his support. This is really a coup of one person, there is nothing, no one else to support him.”

At least 10 protesters were reportedly killed in clashes with security forces this week.

The Sudanese authorities have cut off the internet and other communications, as well as impose traffic restrictions.

Civilian leaders and their military counterparts have been at odds since longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019.

The agreement between civilian and military leaders signed that year was designed to lead Sudan towards democracy, but has proved fragile with a series of previous coup attempts, the most recent just over a month ago.

General Burhan, who headed the power-sharing council, said Sudan is still committed to the transition to civilian government, with elections scheduled for July 2023.