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SudanTribune.com: Rebellious military declare their support for Sudan’s protests

Posted by: Berhane.Habtemariam59@web.de

Date: Tuesday, 09 April 2019

 
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April 9, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - Some young army officers have joined the protesters Tuesday and called on their colleagues to back the popular uprising against President Omer al-Bashir.

There were reports about frictions within Sudanese army following the night attacks by the security agents who sought to dislodge the protesters from out the army headquarters in Khartoum.

Also, the military clashed with the security agents for the second time on Tuesday preventing attacks on the protesters who have been holding a sit-in since Saturday outside the premises of the army command.

On Tuesday for the first time, a young army officer flanked by three other armed colleagues addressed the protesters saying they are here to protect them.

“This is a message to our brothers in the armed forces, come up to stand with the people here until (regime) change has happened,” said the rebellious army officer.

“We are not here because we want to take power but we are here with the people to topple the regime,” he further stressed when the protesters chanted slogans praising his gesture and calling him to take power.

Sudan Tribune was not able to verify the rank of the junior officer and the number of those he represents inside the army headquarters.

But it seems he is a first lieutenant in the Sudanese army.

Several other army officers were seen with the protesters outside the army headquarters on Tuesday morning following the clashes with the assailants.

The move reflects the complex situation Khartoum is experiencing on Tuesday as a split may happen inside the armed forces.

In April 1985, the junior and medium ranking officers put pressure on the army high ranking commanders and forced the late Defence Minister Abel-Rahman Swar al-Dahab to take power.

President al-Bashir chaired on Monday evening a meeting of the ruling National Congress Party to discuss the political developments in the country.

“Bashir said that maintaining (Sudan’s) security and stability is a priority and that the Sudanese people deserve the protection. He stressed that they will overcome the crisis more strong and cohesive,” according to a statement released by SUNA on Monday evening after the meeting.

In a related development, a police traffic officer First Lieutenant Taha Hassan Ali released a video announcing his defection from the police, saying he decided to join the protest at the headquarters of the army.

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Sudanese army clash again with security apparatus to protect protesters

April 9, 2019 (KHARTOUM) -Sudanese army for the second time repulsed a new assault by the security services who attempted to drive the protesters by force outside the army headquarters where they have held a sit-in since 6 April.

Hundreds of protesters shelter inside the army headquarters in the first hours of 9 April 2019 (ST photo)Despite international calls to not use violence against peaceful protesters, the security agents for the second night attacked them while the army opened the doors of the headquarters to shelter them.

Also, the army soldiers clashed with the assailants for hours until the dawn.

The protesters, men and women who spent the night inside the military headquarters broadcasted live videos through the social media. The clips show military vehicles going out of the premises of the army command also was heard the sound of bullets firing.

The peaceful protesters launched calls for the Sudanese to join them at the army headquarters to back the military and to continue the sit-in.

Sudanese First Vice-President Awad Ibn Ouf who is also the Defence Minister Monday said the army and the security apparatus are coordinating and there is no conflict on how t deal with the protesters.

"There are parties trying to exploit the current situation to create a rift in the armed forces and create strife between the components of the security system in the country," Ibn Ouf said following a briefing he held with the army command.

However, the clashes in the early morning of Tuesday confirm that the Sudanese military disagree with the approach of the political leadership on how to deal with the protests.

Also, it hits that the high ranking commanders are not able to make their voice heard, and at the same time, they do not want to confront the medium ranking officers who command the troops.

Unconfirmed reports claim that the assailants are in fact the notorious militiamen of the ruling National Congress Party known as "the Popular Security".

Last December and January, they had been deployed and committed atrocities against the protesters before to prevent them from taking part in the crackdown of protests.

There is no official statement about the human causalities of the clashes until now but eyewitnesses give various statements between 3 to 14 people and army soldiers killed during the night clashes.

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) directed in a message released this morning its medical teams to go immediately to the army headquarters.

The group which coordinate the protests further called on the Sudanese to protest across the country and to hold sit-ins at the premises of the army command in the different states.

"We are the only guarantors of the success of our revolution and nobody else (...) as the regime commits these crimes under the eyes of the international community," said the SPA in a statement released on Tuesday morning.

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Sudan says protests death toll rises to 46


April 8, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government on Monday said the death toll from the ongoing protests has risen to 46 people pointing out that 7 protesters have been killed on 6 and 7 April.

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Medical activists provides medicines to the protesters in the sit-in outside the army headquarters on 8 April 2019 (ST photo)

Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December 19, with demonstrators holding nationwide rallies calling on President Omer al-Bashir to resign.

Last February, Sudan’s attorney general’s office said the death toll in the ongoing popular protests has risen to 31 people.

However, opposition sources and rights groups including Human Rights Watch said the death toll is over 50 people.

Speaking to the lawmakers on Monday, Minister of Interior Bishara Aror described the 6 April rally as “surprising development’ in the course of the popular demonstrations.

“33 protests have erupted at various areas in Khartoum State last Saturday,” he said

“More than 10,000 people organized a sit-in in front of the Sudan Armed Forces headquarters from Saturday to 7 April morning” Added Aror

It is noteworthy that the opposition forces of the declaration of Freedom and Change on Saturday declared a general strike as well as an open-ended sit-in in front of the General Command of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) demanding the removal of the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

Opposition sources say more than 600,000 people have joined the sit-in on Saturday pointing the numbers have increased dramatically on the following couple of days.

The interior minister added similar protests have erupted on Saturday in eleven states including Sennar, Red Sea, Kassala, Gazira, North State, South Darfur, West Darfur, East Darfur, Central Darfur, North Kordofan and the White Nile.


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