Earlier on Sunday, Sudanese security forces violently dispersed pro-democracy protesters, killing at least two people, a medical group said
Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok announced his resignation on Sunday amid a political deadlock and widespread pro-democracy protests, following a military coup that marked the country’s fragile transition to democratic rule.
Mr Hamdok called for talks to agree a “national charter” and “draw a roadmap” to complete the transition. The October coup upheld Sudan’s plans to go to democracy after a popular uprising in October 2019 forced the overthrow of long-autocratic Omar al-Bashir and his Islamic government.
On Sunday, ahead of his resignation, Sudanese security forces violently dispersed pro-democracy protesters, the latest demonstrations denouncing the takeover and a subsequent deal that restored the prime minister but sidelined the pro-democracy movement. done. A medical group said at least two people were killed.
The Sudan Doctors Committee, which is part of a pro-democracy movement, said one of the dead had been hit “violently” in the head while taking part in a protest march in Khartoum. The second bullet hit his chest in the twin city of Khartoum, Omdurman. The group said dozens of protesters were injured.
Activist Nazim Sirag said security forces used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the protesters and chased them through streets across the capital.
Protests also took place in other cities, including Port Sudan and Nyala in the Darfur region.
The protests took place despite tight security and blocking of bridges and roads in Khartoum and Omdurman. According to advocacy group Netblox, internet connections were also disrupted prior to the protests. Authorities have repeatedly used such tactics since the October 25 coup.
The death toll among protesters since Sunday’s deadly coup has risen to at least 56, according to the medical group. Hundreds have also been injured.
According to the United Nations, allegations of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape by security forces against women protesters, surfaced last month.
The ruling Sovereign Council has vowed to investigate the violence against the protesters.
On Saturday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged security forces to “immediately cease the use of deadly force against protesters” and hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
He called on Sudanese leaders to accelerate their efforts to create a “credible cabinet”, an interim parliament and judicial electoral body that would prepare for the country’s planned 2023 elections.
Mr Blinken said the rotating leadership of the sovereign council, now headed by General Abdel-Fatah Burhan, should be transferred to a civilian, as had been planned before the coup.
“We do not wish to return to the past, and are prepared to respond to those who seek to block the Sudanese people’s aspirations for a civilian-led democratic government,” he said.
The October military takeover preserves a delicately planned transition to democratic rule following a popular uprising that forced the military to overthrow longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamic government in April 2019.
Hamdok, a former UN official seen as the civilian face of Sudan’s transitional government, was reinstated in November amid international pressure in a deal that would allow an independent technical cabinet under military oversight under his leadership. demands.
However, that deal was rejected by the pro-democracy movement, which insists that power be passed entirely to the civilian government tasked with leading the transition.
Mr Hamdok defended the November 21 agreement with the military, saying it was to preserve his government’s achievements over the past two years, and “to keep our country from slipping into a new international isolation”.
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