Sudan: Violent protest in Khartoum January 17 /update 19

Event

As of Thursday, January 17, police forces dispersed with tear gas protesters attempting to march towards the Presidential Palace in Khartoum, where an increased security deployment was reported. Protests also reportedly erupted in the cities of Port Sudan and Al-Qadarif. Further protests are also likely to take place in Wad Madani, El-Obeid, and Atbara, among other cities, throughout Thursday. Heightened security measures and localized transportation disruptions are to be expected around any demonstration sites, and further clashes between protesters and security forces are likely. Further such protests are likely to continue in the coming days.

Opposition organizations are also calling for nightly protests to be held in Khartoum and other urban areas in the near-term.

Furthermore, doctors nationwide stated that their strike ongoing since December 24 will continue indefinitely to denounce violence at the Omdurman hospital on January 9. Pharmacists, who also announced a general strike and closure of all pharmacies from December 25 in solidarity with the doctors, also remain on strike as of January 17.

Context

The Sudanese government blocked social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, on December 31 to suppress ongoing anti-government protests in the country. Anti-government protests broke out on December 19 as hundreds of protesters gathered in major urban centers - notably in Atbara (Nile River state), Al-Qadarif (Al-Qadarif state), Port Sudan (Red Sea state), Khartoum, and even in the Darfur region in Al-Fasher and Nyala - initially to demand increased government transparency and the implementation of anti-inflation measures; their demands have since broadened to demand that President Omar al-Bashir, in power since 1989, step down. Curfews have been implemented in at least eight cities in response to the unrest, including in Kosti and Rabak (White Nile state), Al-Qadarif (Al-Qadarif state), Atbara, Al-Damir, and Berber (River Nile state), as well as in Dongola and Karima (Northern state). At least 24 people have died in the protests and over 1000 others have been detained since they began.

Advice

Individuals in Sudan are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate telecommunication disruptions, obey all instructions issued by their home government as well as those of the local authorities (including curfew orders), and avoid all protests due to the risk of violence and arrest.