Thursday, March 17, 2022

Thousands protest soaring prices in Sudan
Protesters blame military takeover for difficult Living conditions in Sudan

News Service March 17, 2022


Thousands of Sudanese demonstrated in the capital Khartoum on Thursday to protest price hikes and poor living conditions.

Protesters gathered near the presidential palace in Khartoum, raising banners condemning difficult economic conditions, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter on the ground.

Last week, the Sudanese government devaluated the local currency to reach 610 Sudanese pound against dollar. Authorities defended the move as necessary to unify the exchange rate in the country.

“Living conditions are deteriorating every day,” Walid Ahmed, a 51-year-old engineer, told Anadolu Agency.

“Prices in the local market are skyrocketing these days ,” he said. “Living conditions have become too bad and the expenses of the very basic needs are no longer bearable for us as ordinary citizens.”

“The government has lifted the subsidy of fuel, electricity, flour and cooking gas,” Ahmed said. “This all affected the markets amid absence of any kind of monitoring by the authorities.”

Sarah Hussein, 30, blamed the military takeover for the difficult living conditions in Sudan.

“The military coup is responsible for this economic deterioration,” she said.

“There are a lot of sanctions reimposed on the country and international donors and aid organizations have withheld billions of dollars that were supposed to be flown into the country before the coup” Hussein said.

Sudan has been in turmoil since Oct. 25, 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and declared a state of emergency, in a move decried by political groups as a “military coup.”

Prior to the military takeover, Sudan was governed by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials tasked with overseeing the transition period until elections in 2023.

Thousands protest violence against protesters in Sudan

Demonstrators denounce use of force by security forces

News Service March 15, 2022

File photo

Thousands demonstrated in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Tuesday to protest violence against protesters and demand full civilian rule.

Protesters gathered near the presidential palace in Khartoum, amid chants condemning the use of force by security forces against demonstrators, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter on the ground.

Protesters also waved banners demanding full civilian rule and the release of political detainees.

Tuesday’s demonstration was called by the Resistance Committees, a protest group that led demonstrations against the military,.

Similar protests were staged on Monday in Khartoum and other cities, during which 133 protesters were injured, according to the Central Committee of the Sudanese Doctors.

There was no comment from the Sudanese authorities on the report.

Sudan has been in turmoil since Oct. 25, 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and declared a state of emergency, in a move decried by political groups as a “military coup”.

Prior to the military takeover, Sudan was governed by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials tasked with overseeing the transition period until elections in 2023.

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