Protesters march through Khartoum on Thursday.
(dpa) During demonstrations against the participation of the military in the East African Sudan, security forces used tear gas against thousands of protesters. The Sudanese medical committee announced on Thursday that live ammunition was also used in the Omdurman district of the capital Khartoum. In the local hospitals, injured people are treated, some of whom are in critical condition, according to the medical committee. According to the committee, four people were also shot, as reported by the Reuters news agency.
According to the Arabic-language broadcaster Al-Jazeera, the demonstrators gathered in front of the presidential palace in Khartoum and demanded a transfer of power from the military to a civilian government. Since the morning, both the Internet and the cellular network have been blocked in large parts of the country.
On October 25, the military took power in the country of 44 million people. After pressure from home and abroad, the ousted head of government Abdalla Hamdok was reinstated on November 21. According to an agreement between Hamdok and military ruler General Abdelfatah Burhan, Hamdok was allowed to form a cabinet with civilian representatives. However, as the leader of the Sovereign Council, Al-Burhan heads the new interim government together with Hamdok. The Sovereign Council also includes representatives of the military who are accused of serious human rights abuses and corruption. Since then there have been repeated protests against the continued involvement of the military. The protesters accuse Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok of treason.