Khartoum: Thousands of Sudanese demonstrators marched in Khartoum Saturday, many reaching the army headquarters for the first time since deadly protests against President Omar al-Bashir erupted last year, witnesses said.
Chanting “One Army, One People,” the protesters rallied in the capital’s streets, following a call by organisers to march on the army headquarters.
- It is for the first time that the protestors reached the army headquarters since deadly protests against President Omar al-Bashir erupted last year
- April 6 was chosen for the nationwide rallies as it was the day of a 1985 uprising that toppled the then regime of President Jaafar Nimeiri
Protests have rocked the east African country since December, with angry crowds accusing Bashir’s government of mismanaging the economy that has led to soaring food prices and regular shortages of fuel and foreign currency.
February 22, the veteran leader imposed a nationwide state of emergency to quell the protests after an initial crackdown failed to rein in protesters.
Since the emergency rule came into effect, protests have been largely confined to the capital and its twin city of Omdurman, but organisers had called for widespread rallies and a march on the army headquarters Saturday.
April 6 was chosen for the nationwide rallies as it was the day of a 1985 uprising that toppled the then regime of President Jaafar Nimeiri.
Before the demonstrations began, security forces got deployed in large numbers in key Khartoum squares and in Omdurman, across the Nile.
Witnesses said plainclothes security agents were preventing even passers-by from reaching downtown areas.
