KHARTOUM: Freshprotests over the rising cost of bread broke out in Sudan yesterday, witnessessaid, as troops deployed after two days of deadly clashes that left eightprotesters dead. A government decision to raise the price of a loaf of breadthis week from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents)sparked protests across the country.
In the capital'stwin city Omdurman, a witness-who declined to be named-said demonstrationserupted as worshippers emerged from a mosque frequented by followers of theAl-Ansar sect, which is linked to the Umma Party, Sudan's main oppositiongroup. Protesters chanted "the people want the fall of the regime"and "freedom, freedom," said the witness. "Riot police firedtear gas at the demonstrators," the witness added. The Umma Partyovernight Thursday issued a statement calling on its members to join theprotest movement.
Dozens alsodemonstrated on Road 60, a main artery in eastern Khartoum that links the citycentre to the south of the capital, another witness said. They demanded thegovernment's ouster, the witness said on condition of anonymity, adding thatthe protesters were dispersed by riot police. Protests were reported in othercities, including in El Obeid, southwest of Khartoum, and in Rabak, south ofthe capital. In Rabak, the capital of Sudan's White Nile state, protesterstorched the local headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir's National CongressParty (NCP) and a government charity, witnesses told AFP.
White Nileauthorities on Friday declared a state of emergency and announced a curfewuntil the following morning. The protests first erupted in the eastern city ofAtbara before spreading to Al-Qadarif, also in eastern Sudan, and then to thecapital. Two demonstrators were killed in Atbara and six others in Al-Qadarif,officials said on Thursday, as protesters torched an NCP offices. Governmentspokesman Bashar Jumaa warned that the government "will not be lenient"with those who set state buildings on fire or caused other damage to publicproperty.
Schools orderedto close
The state-runSUNA news agency said the protest had initially been "peaceful", butlater drifted off course. Sudan's education ministry on Friday announced in astatement that schools across Khartoum would be closed and classes suspended"indefinitely from Sunday". Rights group Amnesty International calledon the government to stop firing on protesters and open up a probe into the deaths."These killings must stop," Amnesty's Deputy Director for East AfricaSeif Magango said. "Opening fire on unarmed protesters cannot be justifiedand what is clearly needed now is an independent, efficientinvestigation," he added. Friday, the weekly day of rest, had started withcalm returning to Khartoum, Al-Qadarif and Atbara, witnesses said.
While trafficreturned to normal, police patrolled some streets in Khartoum, and soldiersdeployed around petrol stations and banks in the north of the capital. Policein patrol cars were seen carrying clubs and tear gas canisters while the troopsheld Kalashnikov assault rifles, the witnesses said. An AFP reporter said linesformed outside bakeries in north Khartoum as residents waited to buy bread.Residents in Al-Qadarif and Atbara also reported that security forces haddeployed to secure government buildings and banks. "Today the city is calmand most of the shops in the main market have reopened," Mohammed SharifOmar said in a telephone interview from Al-Qadarif.
Economic woes
The Umma Party'scall for members to join the protest movement came after its leader SadiqAl-Mahdi returned home Wednesday from almost a year in exile. Sudan has beenfacing a mounting economic crisis over the past year. The cost of somecommodities has more than doubled, inflation is running at close to 70 percentand the pound has plunged in value. Shortages have been reported for the pastthree weeks across several cities, including Khartoum. Protests broke out inJanuary over the rising cost of food, but they were soon brought under controlwith the arrest of opposition leaders and activists. - AFP