KHARTOUM: Defiant crowds have spent the night on the streets of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, ignoring a curfew declared by the military.
Long-time President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown and arrested on Thursday after months of street protests. But demonstrators say the military council which has taken power is part of the same regime. The fresh stand-off has raised fears of a violent confrontation between protesters and the army.
There is also a real danger that different elements of the security forces and militia could turn their guns on each other, says BBC World Service Africa editor Will Ross. The UN and the African Union have both called for calm.
Sudan is due to reopen its airspace on Friday, following a 24-hour suspension, but land and maritime borders will remain closed, the military council has said. The curfew, in force from 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT) to 04:00, was declared for the “safety” of citizens, state media said.
The armed forces and the security council would carry out their “duty to uphold peace and security and protect citizens’ livelihoods”, it said. Thousands of people were still camped outside military headquarters on Friday and the crowd was reportedly growing.
Thursday’s mood of celebration after news of Mr Bashir’s arrest evaporated when organisers called for the mass sit-in to continue. “This is a continuation of the same regime,” said Sara Abdeljalil of the Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA). “So what we need to do is to continue the fight and the peaceful resistance.”
An SPA statement said that “those who destroyed the country and killed the people are seeking to steal every drop of blood and sweat that the Sudanese people poured in their revolution that shook the throne of tyranny”.
The SPA has previously said that any transitional administration must not include anyone from the “tyrannical regime”. Crowds waved flags and chanted “Fall, again!” – refashioning their previous anti-Bashir slogan of “Fall, that’s all!”.
Early on Thursday, military vehicles entered the large compound in Khartoum housing the defence ministry, the army headquarters and Mr Bashir’s personal residence. State TV and radio interrupted programming and Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf announced “the toppling of the regime”. He said Mr Bashir was being held “in a secure place” but did not give details.
Trending
- Saudi businessmen to land in Islamabad today as Pakistan eyes Saudi investment
- JUI’s historic million march in Jacobabad, ready to make all kinds of sacrifices, participants
- Embassy of Vietnam in Pakistan Hosts Golf Tournament to Mark Dien Bien Phu Victory’s 70th Anniversary
- JI stands for the rights of people since first day: Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq
- City Press Club registered Sahiwal elections completed
- SNGPL Executives and Engineers Demand Removal of Disparities in Salaries
- Kashmiris pay tribute to Ashraf Khan Sehrai on his 3rd martyrdom anniversary
- MoFA Palestine Applauds Trinidad and Tobago’s Recognition of Palestine