Demonstrations renewed in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum - today, Saturday - to demand "civilian rule", while the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) called for holding those responsible for the violence to account, expressing concern over the killing of dozens in West Darfur (west).

Hundreds of protesters carried Sudanese flags in the Al-Massa area in Khartoum North, and chanted slogans, including "The people are stronger people and apostasy is impossible" and "Oh, racist and arrogant... the whole country is Darfur", in reference to solidarity with the victims of violence in West Darfur.

And local media reported that the authorities closed the Mak Nimr Bridge, which links the cities of Khartoum and Khartoum North, to prevent protesters from reaching the sovereign institutions in the center of the capital.

On Wednesday, the coordination of the Resistance Committees in the state of Khartoum issued a schedule for the activities of this month, which includes the "We are all with you" procession today in Khartoum North, vigils tomorrow, and a procession of solidarity with the detainees next Monday.

On Thursday, hundreds of Sudanese went out in night demonstrations in a number of Khartoum neighborhoods, denouncing the killing of demonstrators east of the capital as a result of being shot by the security forces, according to the (non-governmental) Sudan Doctors Committee, while the resistance committees announced a "revolutionary escalation."

On August 21, 2019, Sudan began a transitional phase that ends with holding elections in early 2024, during which power is shared by the army, civilian forces and armed movements that signed a general peace agreement with the government.

Since October 25, 2021, the country has witnessed a political crisis and protests rejecting exceptional measures taken by 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.

One of the effects of violent incidents in West Darfur about two years ago (Associated Press)

West Darfur

In another context, Volker Peretz, head of the Unitams mission, said - in a statement today - "during the past week, the United Nations received reports of violent incidents in and around Jebel Moon in West Darfur."

He added that the violence includes the burning of villages and the killing of dozens of Sudanese, which represents another sign of the increasing instability in Sudan, according to his description.

The UN official pointed to other violence in Khartoum, "including the killing of two protesters during last Thursday's demonstrations," denouncing what he called the use of excessive force against demonstrators.

He called for stopping the violence in all parts of Sudan, and holding those responsible for it accountable, expressing deep concern about these developments, according to the statement.

Peretz also called on the Sudanese authorities to work hard to restore stability in West Darfur, calling for "the implementation of the national plan to protect civilians supported by the United Nations, and to seek a common way to respect human rights, sustainable peace, democracy and stability."

On Thursday, the Sudanese Doctors Committee announced that the number of victims of armed attacks in West Darfur had risen to 35, and 21 others were wounded, within a week.

And local media reported Thursday that tribal violence had renewed in the Seleia area in West Darfur, without mentioning the cause of the outbreak of fighting.