Sudan: Police disperses rally near presidential palace
Rallies in several Sudanese cities to observe 2nd anniversary of uprising and removal of Al-Bashir government

By Buhram Abdel-monem
20.12.2020
KHARTOUM, Sudan

The Sudanese security forces on Saturday evening dispersed thousands of protesters who had gathered near the presidential palace, to commemorate the second anniversary of the uprising.

According to eyewitnesses, thousands of Sudanese who had gathered near the presidential palace were holding banners against Abdullah Hamdok's government. They vowed to continue to fight for freedom, justice, and peace – the primary motive of the Sudanese uprising.

So far, no injuries were reported.

Another rally was held near the Sudanese Parliament in Khartoum, where eyewitnesses reported that the security forces fired teargas canisters to disperse the protesters.

The protesters' demands across the Sudanese cities varied between removing the government as they believed it has failed to meet their demands and calling for economic reforms.

In December 2018, Al-Bashir was removed from power by the military after mass protests against his three-decade-long rule.

Later a Sovereignty Council was formed after the Sudanese army and opposition leaders agreed to lead the country for a three-year transitional period.

-Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara

Sudan marks 2nd anniversary of uprising

Bashir was removed from power by the military after mass protests against his rule

FILE PHOTO

Talal Ismael |19.12.2020

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in several cities across Sudan on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of protests that led to the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir.

Protesters waved banners calling for freedom, justice and peace – which were the main demands of the revolution against the Bashir regime, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter.

They also chanted slogans against the military component in the transitional government, amid calls for scrapping the Transitional Partner Council (TPC), which was recently formed as part of a peace agreement between the government and rebel groups.

Demonstrators also called for accelerating the formation of parliament, bringing those responsible for killing protesters during the anti-Bashir uprising to accountability and the dissolution of the companies owned by the military.

Ahead of the protests, the head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, pledged to protect the gains of the revolution.

"On this anniversary, we renew our pledge that the armed forces will remain the guarantor and protector of the revolution and its gains,” al-Burhan said on Twitter.

Al-Bashir was removed from power by the military after mass protests against his three-decade rule.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara