Sudan security forces reportedly shot and killed at least seven protesters on Monday. The incident occurred as anti-coup protests in the capital city of Khartoum continued to intensify.
Civilian-allied organization Sudanese Central Doctors Committee (SCDC) said Sudanese security forces had opened fire into a crowd of protesters, who were marking towards the presidential palace on Monday. More than 100 people were reportedly seriously injured during the incident. The people were marching in opposition to the recent military coup, which brought down the civilian government in October last year.
Footage of the incident was uploaded online by Sudanese activists that joined the protests. In the video, Sudanese troops can be seen firing tear gas at protesters who were blocking the roads leading to the presidential palace. In another video, gunfire can be heard going off in the distance.
The deadly clash between demonstrators and security forces occurred as Sudan's ruling military government, led by General Abdel Fatah al-Burhan, announced that it would be establishing a new anti-terrorism task force to take down insurgent groups that are threatening the country's stability. The Sovereign Council said that it is prepared to counter the growing threats against it.
Since the October 25 coup, there have been multiple major rallies against the forced military rule. The SCDC said since the coup; security forces have killed at least 71 people in different clashes.
In reaction to Monday's violence, the Forces of Freedom and Change, a coalition of civilian political parties and groups, called for two days of civil disobedience and a countrywide strike. The coalition called on other resistance groups to block neighborhoods and major streets to protest the violence.
Sudan has been controlled by an uneasy combination of military and civilian factions since 2019. However, the military finally took over in October, dissolving the power-sharing Sovereign Council and the transitional government, as well as temporarily arresting the country's prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok.
As part of a settlement between the military and civilian leadership, Al-Burhan restored Hamdok in November, but Hamdok resigned early this January. Hamdok's resignation was triggered after the military violated a "non-interference" agreement struck in November and relaunched the feared national intelligence agency.
The U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, and Assistant Secretary Molly Phee are due to arrive in Khartoum this week to support the movement led by the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission to Sudan. The UNITAMS aims to facilitate Sudan's transition to democracy. Over the past months, United Nations has been working with Sudanese officials and the military to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
