Sudanese protesters launch general strike after crackdown
Sudanese protesters began a nationwide civil disobedience campaign on Sunday as part of pressures on the ruling military council to hand over power to a civilian government. The civil disobedience was called by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) after the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) launched a violent crackdown on protesters in Khartoum, leaving dozens dead.
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 01:35 | 09 June 2019
- Modified Date: 01:35 | 09 June 2019
Shops are closed and streets are empty across Sudan's capital on the first day of a general strike called for by protest leaders demanding the resignation of the ruling military council.
The Sudanese Professionals Association had called on people to stay home Sunday in protest at the military's deadly crackdown last week, when security forces violently dispersed the group's main sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum.
The SPA spearheaded months of mass protests that led to the military overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir in April, and had called on people to remain in the streets until a full handover of power to civilians.
The group posted photos it said were of an empty Khartoum International Airport. It says airport workers and pilots are taking part in the civil disobedience.
Earlier this week, military forces cracked down on a main protest camp in Khartoum, in which over 100 protesters were killed and hundreds injured, according to the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors.
Sudan has remained in turmoil since April 11, when the military establishment deposed long-serving President Omar al-Bashir after months of popular protests against his 30-year rule.
Following the move, the TMC is now overseeing a two-year "transitional period" during which it has pledged to hold free presidential elections.
Demonstrators, however, have remained on the streets to demand that the military council hand over power -- at the earliest possible date -- to a civilian authority.