Day 32 of the Military Coup
Summary of Events
Marking one month since the beginning of #SudanCoup, Sudanese people nationwide once again took to the streets today to express their rejection of military rule. This is the fifth mass demonstration of its kind.
Planned and coordinated by the respective resistance committees, today's #Nov25March brought out people from at least 26 cities nationwide, as well as the 3 cities of the capital (Khartoum, Bahri, Omdurman). The estimated count of total protesters is in the millions.
Besides rejecting military rule, protesters today chanted in honor of the martyrs of the revolution, and highlighted the recent events in Jebel Moon, West Darfur, where armed groups have launched repeated attacks on citizens, burning villages and displacing thousands.
The Doctors Committee of West Darfur reported 17 killed and 12 injured in the events in Jebel Moon, with displaced people relocating to neighboring cities, as well as over the border into eastern Chad. Such attacks have reportedly been happening in the area for 2 years.
By and large, coup authorities practiced restraint in Khartoum today, and had a limited presence on the streets. This, however, doesn't mean that authorities were peaceful; protests across all 3 cities of the capital were teargassed. In Omdurman, over 20 injuries were reported as a result of direct hits of teargas canisters, mostly to the head. One 17yr old protester in Omdurman was also shot in the back (with live ammunition) by police.
As expected, the restraint practiced in Khartoum today (a city under the watchful eye of international community and media) meant that in other cities, peaceful protesters suffered the price. In ElObeid and Nyala, protests were reportedly heavily suppressed by coup forces.
Into the evening, coup forces began releasing political detainees nationwide, unlawfully imprisoned by coup leadership after they took power, some since the first day of the coup. In Sennar, released detainees affirmed plans to resist until the fall of military rule. In Khartoum, cabinet ministers and prominent figures were all released, including activist Nazim Siraj, Dr. Mohamed Naji Elassam, and PM Hamdok's former media advisor Faez ElSelik. However, still no word on detainees in Darfur, including 5 members of the union of Zalingei Hospital staff, in unlawful custody of coup authorities since November 17. Sudan authorities have always sudden actions or decisions made in the capital to turn people’s attention away from marginalized areas.
Coup leadership announced today the formation of a new high commission tasked with solving the Eastern Sudan crisis. The commission is headed by Coup Council vice-chair Mohamed Hamdan Himedti Dagalo, whose experience includes contributing to the 20-year Darfur crisis.
