Sudan: Further protests planned January 11, 13, and 17 /update 17

Event

Opposition activists, along with the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), are calling for anti-government demonstrations to take place throughout Sudan in the coming days. Protests are scheduled to take place nationwide, notably in the town of Atbara, on Friday, January 11, following afternoon prayers. On Sunday, January 13, protesters are expected to gather in Khartoum North and other urban areas. Further nationwide protests have also been called for next week, notably on Thursday, January 17.

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.

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 10.

Context

The Sudanese government blocked social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as of 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), and Khartoum - 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 22 people have died in the protests and over 800 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.