Day 70 of the Military Coup
Summary of Events
Thousands demonstrated in Khartoum on January 2 (outside the preset schedule), as well as some 5 or 6 cities nationwide, rejecting #SudanCoup and denouncing extreme violence inflicted on peaceful protesters on Dec 30.
As has come to be expected, telecom services were disrupted by #SudanCoup leadership, blocking local and international calls, as well as mobile data services (10am-8pm). Bridges and main roads were also closed, along with the heavy presence of security forces around the capital.
Once again, protests in Khartoum and Port Sudan were attacked by #SudanCoup forces, using heavy teargas and stun grenades. In Port Sudan, teargas fired by authorities led to the administration building of Red Sea University to be set ablaze.
In Central Khartoum, #SudanCoup forces fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades directly at protesters, leading to several injuries. Authorities fired live ammunition at protesters in Omdurman, leading to the killing of 3 people, the youngest of whom was only 19.
An exact number of injuries in both the capital and Port Sudan, which received the strongest crackdown in today's protests - has yet to be tallied. Arrests were reportedly also many in both cities, but exact numbers are as yet unavailable.
Terrorization of citizens was not limited to protesting cities: in the main Souq of Elfashir, #SudanCoup forces accosted citizens, harassing them and shaving their heads. This is most likely an intimidation tactic meant to dissuade people from protesting.
After over a week of anticipation, PM Hamdok's televised statement was aired, in which he officially announced his resignation to the public. In his statement, he said, "I have tried as far as I am able to spare our country the danger of slipping into disaster. Despite all that was done [...] to fulfill our promise to the citizen of security, peace, justice and an end to bloodshed, this did not happen."
As Africa analyst Lauren Blanchard said in her thread, "Per 2019 constitutional charter, a new PM would be chosen by the legislature, but since that was never established, the original procedure (selection by the FFC) would apply." But with FFC excluded by #SudanCoup leaders, it's unclear how things will proceed.
All this has little bearing on the resistance, which ventures on despite continued brutality of #SudanCoup forces & political instability clouding over the country.