Sudan coup: At least seven killed in protest against military, say medics
Sudanese security forces shot and killed at least seven protesters in the capital Khartoum on Monday, in one of the deadliest days since an October military coup, medics said.
The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors (CCSD) said in a statement on Facebook that up to seven protesters "were killed by live bullets" when authorities attempted to break up a march in Khartoum.
"Numerous injury cases caused by live ammunition have been reported and under treatment," the group added.
Several Sudanese activists posted images and videos on social media showing authorities firing live ammunition at protesters.
Middle East Eye could not independently verify the reports.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
An eyewitness told the Reuters news agency that thousands of Sudanese had marched towards the presidential palace in the capital, drawing volleys of tear gas from security forces.
Protests also erupted in the capital's twin city of Omdurman, as well as the cities of Port Sudan, Wad Madani and the western Darfur region.
The Sudan Doctors Committee, which is part of the pro-democracy movement, said around 100 protesters were wounded in Khartoum. The group also called for a two-day civil disobedience campaign over the security forces' actions.
Turmoil amplified
The coup, led by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on 25 October, derailed a power-sharing transition between the military and civilians that had been painstakingly established in the wake of the overthrow of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
The turmoil has been amplified after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok stepped down earlier this month. Hamdok, the civilian face of Sudan's transitional government, resigned after his efforts to bridge the gap between the generals and the country's pro-democracy movement failed.
Faisal Salih, a former information minister and adviser to Hamdok, said Monday's killings were "a full-fledged crime", and urged the international community to act.
"The Sudanese people do not face an arbitrary government or authority, but rather a criminal gang that kills the youth of Sudan in cold blood, and the whole world is watching," Salih wrote on Twitter.
Monday's deaths bring the toll of protesters killed since the October coup to 71.
The killings also come as the US envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee are expected in the Sudanese capital this week.
Starting on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Satterfield and Phee were to meet the Friends of Sudan, a group calling for the restoration of the country’s transitional government.
The meeting aims to "marshal international support" for the UN mission to "facilitate a renewed civilian-led transition to democracy" in Sudan, the US State Department said.
The diplomats will then travel to Khartoum for meetings with pro-democracy activists, civic groups, military and political figures.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
