Sudan: in Khartoum, strong mobilization to demand the "return of the military" to power
Thousands of demonstrators demanded the return of the army to business in Khartoum on October 16, 2021. REUTERS - EL TAYEB SIDDIG
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Khartoum on Saturday October 16 in front of the presidential palace where the transitional authorities sit.
Coming from across the country, they responded to the call of a dissident faction within the Forces for Freedom and Change.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Khartoum,
Eliott Brachet
The mobilization is led by two former rebel leaders, including the Islamist and current Minister of Finance Gibril Ibrahim.
Protesters demand the fall of Abdalla Hamdok's government.
►
See also:
Sudan: the shadow of militia leader Hemeidti hangs over the civilian forces
The "
return of the military
" and "
neutral technocrats
"
In the streets of Khartoum, many demonstrators, including supporters of the ousted regime of Omar al-Bashir, demanded that power be completely returned to the military.
In the crowd, the message is rather clear: "
We do not want civilians, but the return of the soldiers
".
Some do not even hide their membership in the party of ousted President Omar al-Bashir: “
I sincerely and proudly affirm my membership of the Islamist movement.
We have regressed in all areas: safety, health.
We want the fall of this government and the alternative is the military.
"
These demonstrators directly ask the army chief, General al-Burhan, to protect the people and give them bread.
“
No running water, no gasoline for the buses, no doctors, drugs, education or gas.
Our problem is not politics, it is the economic crisis,
”protests Ikhlass, who comes from Zalengi, in Darfur.
Buses and pick-ups disembark protesters.
Many have traveled from the east of the country where blockades have been in progress for a month.
For this tribal leader, there is only one solution: “
We don't want a dictatorship.
We want the army to regain power temporarily and hand it over to neutral technocrats, until the elections to respect the voice of the people.
"
The fear of a counter-revolution
At nightfall, demonstrators start a sit-in in front of the presidential palace.
Tents are pitched.
They won't budge as long as Hamdok stays put, they say.
For the opposing camp which supports the civilian government, this coup is a sign that the counter-revolution is underway.
Abdalla Hamdok held a speech of appeasement on Friday, October 15.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to continue the democratic transition and to "
not give in to attempts to abort the transition period by coups d'état or acts of sabotage
".
The resistance committees as well as many groups of militants, spearheads of the revolution against Omar al-Bashir, announced large demonstrations next Thursday, October 21 to support the government.
►
To read also:
Sudan: Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok refuses to comply with the request of the military
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Sudan
Abdalla Hamdok
Omar al-Bashir