Protester killed as Sudanese rally against coup, economic crisis

In Khartoum, thousands of people shot a protester in the chest at a rally against a military coup and deteriorating living conditions.

A Sudanese demonstrator has died in a crowd of thousands against a military coup last year and deteriorating living conditions, doctors have said.

The Central Committee of Sudanese doctors identified the victim as Assem al-Rasool, 23, who was shot in the chest by a “living bullet” during an anti-coup protest in the capital Khartoum on Thursday.

His death brought the death toll to 93 in mass protests that began after army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a military coup on October 25, according to a toll placed by a committee of medics. an independent group.

The committee noted that the authorities are “still using lethal violence against peaceful revolutionaries”.

In addition to the killings and injuries of protesters, security forces have detained around 200 since the crackdown. Many political figures and anti-coup activists are among them. taken into custody,

The United States has already banned Sudan’s Central Reserve Police, accusing it of using more loud against peaceful protesters.

In Khartoum, protesters chanted, “The army must go back to the barracks.” “Down with the government of hunger,” he said.

The military power grab drew widespread international condemnation and sparked a transition to civilian rule, which followed the 2019 ouster of longtime leader President Omar al-Bashir.

Sudan’s already ailing economy has been dealt a severe blow since the coup, as Western donors cut critical aid to restore the transition to civilian rule.

‘Extreme economic pressure’

In recent weeks, the Sudanese pound has fallen against the US dollar as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed up prices for food, fuel and basic goods. Both the countries are major producers of wheat.

On Monday, the UN Special Representative for Sudan Volker Perth warned that the country was headed for an “economic and security collapse” unless civilian-led infections were restored.

He said the United Nations – along with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Regional Development (IGAD) – have agreed to join efforts to facilitate Sudan-led political dialogue.

The Friends of Sudan, a group that includes the US, the United Kingdom and the European Union, warned on Wednesday of “extreme economic pressure” facing Sudanese citizens.

The group also said a civilian-led resumption of the transition would “pave the way for restoring economic aid and international debt relief”.

This week, al-Burhan dismissed senior members and boards of some 30 public universities in Sudan in the latest sign that he is tightening his grip on power.

The move has prompted many professors to submit mass resignations, while others have launched an open strike.

“The decision is a gross violation of the freedoms of universities,” a consortium of professors from a Sudanese university and higher institution said in a statement.

Sudan has yet to appoint a prime minister since the January resignation of Abdullah Hamdok, who was briefly removed in a coup before returning to office.

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