Tens of thousands of people protested in Sudan Sunday to mark the third anniversary of the uprising that overthrew longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir, and to call for civilian rule. Police responded with tear gas and a doctors group says at least one protester was killed. Political analysts say the ongoing protests underscore the public's distrust of the military, despite a deal that reinstated the prime minister after an October coup.
Sudanese protesters have vowed to continue with demonstrations demanding the removal of military officials from the daily activities of the government.
Protesters took to the streets in Khartoum and other cities Sunday, marking three years since the start of the uprising that led to the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir.
Shakur Nyaketo, a journalist and activist, says some protesters feel they have not achieved their desired goal of better governance.
“Some people are celebrating, those are people in the government, but revolutionists were not celebrating but they were protesting because they think that revolution has been stolen by the politicians and it has not given way for a civilian government. That’s why yesterday people were revolting, they were protesting in front of the palace. It was the first time that the congregation gathered in front of the palace,” Nyaketo said.
The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said one person was killed Sunday, making the 28-year-old the 45th person to have been killed since October 25.
The group accused the security forces of using bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters.
The Sunday protest was the ninth big demonstration to take place since the military coup two months ago.
In October, the military pushed out the civilian-led wing of the government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Last month, Hamdok was reinstated after a deal with the military.
Nyaketo said protesters want to see the military out of the country's governance system.
“The Sudanese people have announced the revolution to be continuous until the military handover [of power] to the government. And the only one agreed decision is that [the] Sudanese people don’t want a military government. They have announced a continuous revolt. There is a timetable [under which the] Sudanese people will go out on the 25th and 30th of December and continue until April,” Nyaketo said.
However, Hassan Khannenje, head of the Horn Institute for Strategic Studies, says it's not so easy to kick out the military.
“The only circumstance where something can change is where there is a lot more widespread protest as opposed to limited protest akin to what we saw in Tahrir Square (central plaza in Khartoum) that may force the military leadership to step down in favor of perhaps someone who is more modest but still from the military as they work out through this transition plan. But to think the military is completely going to go away from Sudanese politics right now is a pipe dream [that] is not going to happen,” Khannenje said.
Military leaders have promised to conduct elections in 2023 which they say will pave the way for a civilian-led government to be installed.
