What You Need to Know About What’s Happening in Sudan Right Now

Hospitals are overrun by critically injured patients

At dawn on Monday, 3 June and the 29th day of the holy month of Ramadan, government forces began shooting at peaceful protesters in an attempt to disassemble the mass sit-in in Al Qeyada at the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which has left at least 35 protesters dead and over 100 critically injured. (Update: Death toll has reached more than 100 and at least 300 injured.)

Death toll ‘rises to more than 30′ from raid on protest camp, says Sudan Doctors’ Committee https://t.co/L2QFkXkyXe pic.twitter.com/Xm9qkt9AZh

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 3, 2019

Smoke was seen rising from several locations in Khartoum as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) burnt tents and destroyed equipment within Al Qeyada. RSF surrounded and entered hospitals, firing weapons, beating medical staff and further injuring protesters.

This is the third attack on protesters during the holy month of Ramadan – each leading to casualties.

Who is shooting at protesters?

Paramilitary government forces known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) along with other police  forces are shooting, beating and arresting protesters in Khartoum. RSF is operated by the Sudanese government and administered by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). The Deputy Head of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), is current commander of the RSF. Protesters are currently referring to RSF as Janjaweed.

What triggered the shooting?

RSF used live ammunition, tear gas and other weapons in an attempt to disperse protesters from the mass sit-in in Al Qeyada in the HQ of SAF, after protesters refused to leave until their key demands are met, where an interim government that would be civilian-led, not military-led.

The violent attack on protesters followed a series of meetings between the leaders of TMC and leaders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt. Protesters have blamed the Arab countries for this brutal attack.

الدماء السودانية تسيل في الشوارع
لن ننسى يا السعودية والإمارات ومصر لن ننسى pic.twitter.com/CraAVzWU2d

— Wli (@WALEED_M07) June 3, 2019

What has been happening in Sudan and in Al Qeyada?

The mass sit-in, known as Al Qeyada, surrounds the HQ of SAF where protesters have been demanding a full civilian government. Ten of thousands of demonstrators have been occupying the streets in front of the HQ of SAF since 6 April, five days before Sudanese former President Omar Al Bashir was overthrown by the military.

Since the ousting of Al Bashir, the Transitional Military Council (TMC) has been ruling, led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan as the head of TMC. Ongoing negotiations between TMC and the Alliance of Freedom of Change have not led to an agreement to determine or finalise an interim government that would be civilian-led – a key demand of protesters. TMC have suspended negotiations, which led to a two-day national strike on 28 and 29 May 2019.

Protests in Sudan have been taking place in Sudan since December 2018. More than 100 people have been killed, hundreds injured and more than 1,000 arrested. The protests were triggered by a hike in prices of basic commodities such as bread and fuel shortages, thousands of protesters have taken to streets across Sudan, calling for the downfall of Al Bashir and his regime. Government forces have responded to protests with live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas.

The ongoing protests in Sudan have been referred to as the Sudan uprising and Sudan revolution.

What will happen now?

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) and the Alliance of Freedom and Change have called on protesters from across Sudan to take to the streets and demand the overthrow of TMC as well as to continue blocking main roads, streets and bridges with barricades of rocks, stones, burning tyres and more. In addition, SPA has called on an indefinite national strike or civil disobedience until TMC specifically Burhan and Hemedti step down.

نداء عاجل

يد الغدر والبطش تعيث في دماء الشعب وتقتل وتسحل وتحرق منطقة الاعتصام. لا مناص سوى الخروج للشوارع حماية للثورة وما تبقى من الكرامة. سلاحنا السلمية وشجاعتنا نستمدها من إباءنا والعزم والجرائم لا تسقط بالتقادم.#مجزره_القياده_العامه

— تجمع المهنيين السودانيين (@AssociationSd) June 3, 2019

Mosques have also joined the calls for civil disobedience.

المساجد تعلن عن العصيان المدني
المعمورة#تسقط_تالت#اعتصام_القياده_العامه pic.twitter.com/Jm0ObJS7qy

— Asma Sulfab (@Ebtihal_Taj) June 3, 2019

Sudanese Air Pilots Association have joined SPA’s call for civil disobedience as local flights have been cancelled. A few international flights have followed pursuit due to safety and security reasons. However, Khartoum International Airport remains open and operating.

توقف كل العمليات والرحلات في مطار الخرطوم

— سكاي نيوز عربية-عاجل (@SkyNewsArabia_B) June 3, 2019

*Update: In the early hours of Tuesday, 4 June 2019, in a televised statement, Burhan announced that TMC has decided to cancel all agreements with the the Alliance of Freedom and Change and will move ahead with elections to be held within nine months. TMC will now set up an interim government to prepare for elections, which would be internationally supervised.

*Update: After three days of civil disobedience, the Alliance of Freedom and Change has suspended the nationwide civil disobedience campaign. Work is to resume on Wednesday, 12 June 2019. According to Ethiopian meditator Mahmoud Drir, the Alliance of Freedom and Change and the TMC leaders in Sudan have agreed to resume talks to restore a formation of a transitional sovereign council and possibly a civilian administration. In addition, according to Drir, the TMC had also agreed to release political prisoners as a goodwill gesture. After a visit by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on 7 June 2019, Drir has been appointed to be a mediator between protest leaders and military leaders. Read more here – ‘Sudan Opposition Suspends Nationwide Civil Disobedience‘.

Additional notes:

• Dozen of protesters are still missing within the camp and neighbouring streets. Many others are critically injured. The death toll is most likely to rise. Dead bodies from the camp in Al Qeyada were thrown into the Nile River by RSF.
• Protesters were camping at Al Qeyada throughout the holy month of Ramadan, protesting while fasting.
• Protesters have lost complete faith and trust in SAF and any other government forces for their lack of action as RSF shot and beat protesters.

Sudanese Armed forces who have sworn to protect Sudan and its people, spectate while the Rapid Support Forces, Police Forces and Security Forces shoot to kill the peaceful protestors‼️‼️‼️‼️#SudanUprising #SudanRevolts #اعتصام_القياده_العامه #تسقط_بس #مجزرة_القيادة_العامة pic.twitter.com/WfSa8Ph13n

— Fresh Prince of Omdurman (@EhabTheBeast) June 3, 2019

Sudanese woman asks a soldier: Will you protect us? I’m your sister, they’re coming will you protect me? Before the bullets explode and the lady runs away screaming: Army finished army finished! https://t.co/D8q2pB4Kvk

— ود البيه (@khalidalbaih) June 3, 2019

• Protests in Sudan began in December 2018. On 6 April, tens of thousands of protesters gathered at the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), where they were camped for two months. On 11 April, former Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir was overthrown in a military coup, which led to the formation of a Transitional Military Council (TMC) led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan. To date, at least 300 people have been killed and at least 1,000 arrested.