Sudan: Hundreds stage anti-government protests in Omdurman Feb. 1 /update 25

Event

Hundreds of people participated in anti-government protests in Omdurman on Friday, February 1, as near-daily demonstrations calling for President Omar al-Bashir to step down continue for a sixth consecutive week. Police reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. Heightened security measures and localized transportation disruptions are to be expected around any demonstration sites. Further protests are likely in the coming days along with possible clashes between protesters and security forces.

Context

Anti-government protests began on December 19, 2018, as hundreds of protesters gathered in major urban centers - notably Atbara (River Nile state), Al-Qadarif (Al-Qadarif state), Port Sudan (Red Sea state), Khartoum, and Al-Fashir and Nyala in the Darfur region. Protests initially demanded increased government transparency and improved economic policies but have broadened to demand the resignation of President Omar al-Bashir, who has been in power since 1989 and vowed not to step down until at least 2020. Curfews have been implemented in at least eight cities, including Kosti and Rabak (White Nile state), Al-Qadarif, Atbara, Al-Damir and Berber (River Nile state), and Dongola and Karima (Northern state). The Sudanese government has also blocked or limited access to social media sites since December 31, 2018. Continued connectivity and telecommunications disruptions are to be expected in the near term. The government has confirmed the deaths of at least 30 people due to protests, though human rights groups claim as many as 45 people have died and 1000 others have been arrested since the protests began.

Advice

Individuals in Sudan are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate telecommunications disruptions, adhere to 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.