Demonstrations calling for a civilian government in Sudan… and international requests for concessions

Demonstrations calling for full civilian government have been renewed in Khartoum in Sudan. The demonstration also falls on the anniversary of the November 17 protests, in which 15 protesters were killed.

Thousands of Sudanese demonstrated on Thursday in Bahri, north of Khartoum, against last year’s coup and the depth of the country’s economic crisis, according to an AFP correspondent.

The demonstration is the latest since Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army chief, assumed power on 25 October 2021, replacing the civilian government that assumed the reins of power after the overthrow of former president Omar al- Bashir in 2019.

The protests are repeated weekly and the authorities deal with them violently, causing 119 deaths, according to the Central Committee of pro-democracy doctors, in parallel with the intensification of the economic crisis and the increase in ethnic conflicts.

Thursday’s demonstration, which was concentrated in the Bahri region north of the capital, falls on the anniversary of the November 17, 2021 protests, which saw the largest number of deaths in one day since the start of the protests. At the time, the number approached 15 dead.

Protesters chanted “the military to the barracks”, while other slogans targeted the Alliance for Freedom and Civil Change, which shared power with the army after the fall of al-Bashir until his exit from the power.

The coalition is currently negotiating an agreement with the military to get out of the crisis, and it is based on a new proposal developed by the Bar Association.

The Alliance for Freedom and Change announced on Wednesday that it had agreed to a deal in two phases based on this initiative, which specifically provides for the formation of a civilian government, provided that the issue of transitional justice and the reform of the military institution is discussed afterwards.

On Sunday, Al-Burhan said, “We have been presented with a document and we have made remarks on it to preserve the dignity and independence of the army,” putting in guards political parties against “interference in the military”.

An international call for concessions

On the other hand, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that all parties involved in the political process in Sudan must make concessions and prioritize the country’s interest.

Türk stressed the need to reach a comprehensive national consensus that helps achieve Sudan’s interest locally and internationally, indicating that he stands in solidarity with Sudanese as they call for the realization of their aspirations towards a better future.