World

Renewed demonstrations in the train There were casualties with gas bombs

February 5, 2021

Demonstrations renewed in Gedaref State, eastern Sudan, Thursday, against the backdrop of the high cost of living, and some of them witnessed incidents of looting and thefts, according to the Sudanese News Agency, quoting a press release of the office of the governor of Gedaref State.

There were injuries due to the firing of tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters.

Demonstrators also set fire to the office of the administrative unit of the Gedaref market, after the security forces withdrew from the vicinity of the office.

The protests began on Wednesday in the Gedaref market, where demonstrators stormed shops and blocked roads, according to a government statement.

Gedaref State also said that “riots” broke out after “the increase in domestic transportation tariffs.” She added in a statement Thursday that “the streets were closed in protest against the high prices.”

On the other hand, a local group called “Coordination of the Resistance Committees” published a statement Thursday, in which it held the responsibility for “looting and looting” to supporters of former President Omar al-Bashir.

The army toppled al-Bashir in April 2019, following months of popular protests against his rule, which erupted after the increase in the price of bread.

Sudan has been living since a difficult political transition and an economic crisis, exacerbated by the Covid-19 epidemic.

Gedaref is an agricultural state that has long been considered Sudan’s food basket, and it borders Tigray, Ethiopia.

Officials say the state’s resources have declined further with the influx of thousands of refugees from Ethiopia as a result of the ongoing conflict there since November. Hyperinflation and lack of liquidity gave rise to a volatile black market.

The dollar is officially trading in the range of 55 Sudanese pounds, but its price on the black market exceeded 300 pounds. Inflation hit 269 percent in December, hurting the purchasing power of the Sudanese.

The authorities are struggling to restructure an economy that has been strained by decades of US sanctions, mismanagement and armed conflict.

Last month, the government approved a budget for the current year, which it hopes will lead to a reduction in inflation and the development of marginalized areas.