Sudan: Disruptions at Khartoum airport amid general strike May 28-29 /update 76

Event

Operations at Khartoum International Airport (KRT) are expected to be disrupted on May 28-29 amid a 48-hour nationwide general strike. Badr, Tarco, and Nova Sudanese airlines suspended flights on Tuesday, while Sudan Airways aircrafts are expected to remain grounded for the duration of the strike. Egypt Air airline has also announced the cancelation of its Cairo-Khartoum flights on Tuesday, May 28. Other flights have reportedly been canceled or disrupted, including flights from Saudia Airline and Air Arabia. Hundreds of passengers at KRT and the Sudanese capital's main bus terminal are being stranded as of May 28. Further disruptions are to be anticipated on Wednesday, May 29.

Other disruptions to daily life activities (business closures, transportation disruptions) are to be expected across the country on May 28-29, amid a heightened security presence. Related protests and sit-in demonstrations, notably in the capital Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman, are also to be anticipated. Clashes between protesters and security forces cannot be ruled out.

Context

President Omar al-Bashir was removed from office on April 11 following a military coup led by Defense Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf. Following the formation of the Supreme Security Committee, Ibn Auf announced that the military had dissolved the government, suspended the constitution, and would rule the country for two years in a transitional government - known as the Transitional Military Council (TMC) - after which time fresh presidential elections would be held. However, Ibn Auf and his deputy resigned on April 12; Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan was later named the head of the TMC.

Opposition leaders and the TMC have since then held negotiations over the composition of the sovereign council - which would rule the country until the elections - and the duration of the transitional period, and were about to complete the agreement on a three-year transitional period, before it was halted until further notice on May 20.

A three-month state of emergency remains in place and Sudanese border crossings have been closed until further notice. The US State Department issued a notice on April 11 calling for all non-emergency government employees to evacuate from Sudan as a precaution. US diplomatic authorities have also warned US citizens to refrain from all travel to the country until further notice.

Advice

Individuals in Sudan, particularly those in Khartoum and surrounding areas, are advised to closely monitor the situation, refrain from all nonessential travel, remain vigilant of their surroundings and be aware of possible spontaneous protest activities, adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments, and avoid all public gatherings and common demonstration sites due to the risk of violence and arrest.