Sudanese police fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters who gathered in Khartoum on Thursday to demand the reinstatement of soldiers forced to retire in support of the 2019 revolution, an AFP journalist said.
Hundreds of young people demonstrated in Khartoum near the presidential palace, waving Sudanese flags and crossed-out signs with the slogans "The army is the army of Sudan" and "No to the dismissal of free men from the army" . Tires were burnt and roads blocked by protesters. The police then arrived at the scene and fired tear gas to disperse it. Earlier this week, the military released a list of officers of various ranks forced to retire after expressing support for the revolution that led to the removal of President Omar el-Bashir in April 2019. This list was published "as at the beginning of each year (...) in accordance with the internal policy of the Sudanese armed forces , " said army spokesman Amer Mohammad Al-Hassan, quoted by the official news agency. Suna.
Read also: Sudan: five killed in the repression of a "rebellion" in the security services
On social networks, a campaign was quickly launched by activists to support Mohammad al-Sadiq, a lieutenant dismissed by the army for having supported their revolt which had been launched in December 2018 against the increase in the price of bread before claim the fall of the regime of Omar el-Bashir, now in prison. The Association of Professionals of Sudan (SPA), spearhead of the revolt, is behind the demonstration on Thursday.
Sudan has established in August 2019 a Sovereign Council, a body with a civilian majority called to oversee the political transition, under the terms of an agreement between the Military Council, which had succeeded Mr. Bashir, and the leaders of the dispute.
Read also: South Sudan: Kiir and Machar agree to form a government on Saturday
