Sudanese police tear gas anti-austerity protesters

 

Khartoum

Suggested Topics

Sudanese police fired tear gas at scores of protesters at one of the largest mosques in the capital Khartoum yesterday, as demonstrations over austerity measures regained momentum.

What started on university campuses as mainly student-driven protests against government spending cuts have spread outside the capital in the past two weeks, with protesters chanting "The people want the downfall of the regime" – the refrain of last year's Arab Spring.

The witness said police had surrounded the Imam Abdel Rahman mosque, known as a centre of support for the opposition Umma party, in the suburb of Omdurman after Friday prayers, and tear gassed protesters who were hurling stones at security forces. The witness said several people were arrested.

"Freedom, peace and justice! The revolution is the choice of the people," older men and younger men in T-shirts and jeans chanted outside the mosque before the security forces moved to stop the demonstration.

More than 100 people also protested outside a mosque in the northern suburb of Bahri, the witness said, and a protest broke out in North Kordofan province in western Sudan where about 200 protesters chanted "No, no to expensiveness".

Witnesses said more than 150 protesters had blocked off the road in another area of Bahri, chanting: "Freedom, freedom". Activists have dubbed this Friday "Licking the elbow" – a phrase used by the government to mean attempting the impossible.

Sudan has suffered soaring inflation since South Sudan seceded a year ago – taking with it about three quarters of the country's oil – and activists have been trying to use public frustration to build a movement to topple the government of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, in power since 1989.

Large demonstrations have been relatively rare in Sudan and security forces move quickly to disperse protests.

Government moves to cut spending to plug a gaping budget deficit, including scaling back fuel subsidies, have sparked the spate of demonstrations over the past fortnight.

It is not yet clear whether the protests pose a real threat to the ruling National Congress Party and Mr Bashir, but the tough response by security forces shows how high the stakes are for Sudan's rulers, who are struggling to contain multiple armed rebellions as well as economic crisis.

Reuters

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
India and Shimla
14 nights from only £1899pp Find out more
Prague city break
Three nights from £199pp Find out more
4* Soreda hotel break, Malta
Seven nights all-inclusive from £399pp Find out more
Independent Dating
and  

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

Day In a Page

James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again