Sudan.. Demonstrations today towards the presidential palace and the political forces are discussing the UN initiative

The resistance committees in Sudan said that the expected demonstrations in the capital Khartoum today will head towards the presidential palace to oppose the "coup" carried out by the army last October, while the parties to the crisis in the country continue to discuss the United Nations proposal to launch political consultations to break the deadlock between the military and civil forces.

The Resistance Committees - consisting of activists and organizing the demonstrations - stated in a statement that there are 10 places for protesters to gather in central Khartoum before heading to the presidential palace at 1:00 pm local time (11 GMT).

The committees called on the demonstrators to barricade the streets (block them with stones) to protect against the security forces.

statement |

Millionaire paths January 17 - Khartoum State Resistance Committees Coordination

The masses of the great Sudanese people have long perpetuated the darkness of this unfortunate coup regime, which has lost all its legitimacy, which is essentially missing… https://t.co/OwNs81gtEO

— Resistance Committees (@ResistCommittee) January 16, 2022

In a related context, the US Embassy in Khartoum called on its citizens to be vigilant on the occasion of the upcoming demonstrations today in Khartoum and several states in the country.

Since last October 25, Sudan has witnessed protests, in response to exceptional measures taken by the army chief, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, most notably the imposition of a state of emergency and the dissolution of the Sovereignty Councils and the Transitional Ministers, which political forces consider a military coup, in exchange for the army’s denial.

Sunday demonstrations

Yesterday, Sunday, groups of medical personnel organized a protest sit-in in front of the Public Prosecution office in Khartoum to demand civilian rule and the removal of the military from power.

The protesters condemned the incidents of attacks on hospitals and good staff during the popular demonstrations, and appealed to international organizations to pressure the authorities to limit the use of violence during peaceful demonstrations.

The World Health Organization has said that attacks have taken place on health care facilities and their workers since last November in Khartoum and other cities, and the organization has confirmed 11 attacks.

Families and friends of political detainees also held a protest sit-in on Sunday in front of the Public Prosecution Office in Khartoum, and demanded the release of the detainees or their bringing to trial.

In the north of the country, citizens demonstrated yesterday, Sunday, against the high cost of living, after the Ministry of Finance announced last week that it would double the price of electricity, but it faced widespread indignation that prompted it to freeze the decision.

However, the freeze did not convince everyone, as hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads in the north of the country linking them with Egypt, demanding that the increase be permanently cancelled.

diplomatic efforts

The protests continue in parallel with international and regional diplomatic efforts to break the stalemate between the military and civilian forces, following the army's actions that were described as a coup.

Yesterday, the "Freedom and Change-Central Council Group" forces expressed their acceptance of the UN proposal.

Her delegation met with the United Nations Mission in Sudan, where the Central Council handed over its vision on the UN proposal for dialogue between the parties.

During a press conference after meeting the UN representative, Wagdy Saleh, a leader in Freedom and Change-Central Council, announced the decision of the forces to deal positively with the UN proposal, on the basis of ending what he described as the revolutionary situation in Sudan, and drafting a new constitution.

He stressed the forces' categorical rejection of any negotiations with the military.

The Central Council of the Forces of Freedom and Change also called for expanding the UN proposal to include the Troika and the European Union, and that the consultations be set according to a specific time limit.

The leader of these forces explained - in an interview with Al Jazeera - that the popular movement will continue in the street, calling on the military establishment to take confidence-building measures such as releasing detainees and stopping repression.

For its part, the United Nations Mission (UNITAMS) said - in a briefing on its proposal - that the internal Sudanese efforts have not yet succeeded in confronting the crisis.

Yesterday, Sunday, the African Union envoy met in Khartoum with members of the Sovereign Council of Sudan Malik Agar and Al-Taher Hajar, and the envoy stressed the importance of continuing dialogue between the various parties to reach a common ground that makes a solution to the crisis possible.

solo encounters

And "UNITAMS" added that it will hold meetings individually with all political forces, parties and actors, both civil and military.

Movements that have not yet completed the peace process will also be invited to participate, in order to make the consultations as inclusive as possible.

In the same direction, the African Union envoy, Adewe Bankole, met yesterday in Khartoum with members of the Sovereign Council in Sudan Malik Agar and Taher Hajar, and the African envoy stressed the importance of continuing dialogue between the various parties to reach a common ground that makes a solution to the crisis possible.

The head of the Sovereignty Council had received the day before yesterday, Saturday, a written message from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, regarding the union's vision on political developments in Sudan and ways out of the crisis in the country.

The African move came after the United Nations launched individual preliminary consultations last Monday with all Sudanese parties with the aim of resolving the political crisis in the country.

America and Britain

In the context of international support for the UN proposal, the US State Department announced that a delegation led by the Assistant Secretary of State and its envoy for the Horn of Africa will start a tour from January 17 to 20, which includes Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Ethiopia.

The US delegation will attend the "Friends of Sudan" meeting in Riyadh, before heading to Khartoum, where it will meet with military leaders, activists and political figures.

Yesterday, Sunday, British Ambassador to Khartoum Giles Leafer said during a meeting with member of the Sovereign Council Taher Hajar that his country supports the initiative of the United Nations mission to hold consultations between the parties to the political crisis, and the British diplomat described the UN initiative as a step in the right direction to address the political situation in Sudan.

It should be noted that the President of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok signed on November 21, a political agreement that included the latter's return to his position after his dismissal, the formation of a government of competencies, and the release of political detainees.

But on January 2, Hamdok resigned from his position, in light of protests rejecting his agreement with Al-Burhan and demanding full civilian rule, especially with the deaths of 64 people during the demonstrations since last October, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee.