Thousands rally in Sudan against military rule, two protestors killed in clashes

Africa, News February 15, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Thousands of Sudanese protesters marched into the streets of the capital city Khartoum and the twin city of Omdurman. At least two protesters have been killed by the Sudanese security forces on February 14.

The protesters in Khartoum city carried Sudanese flags, red balloons, and banners reading that “Today is the nation’s love day” as the protests coincided with Valentine’s Day.

The Sudanese military and police said that they allow peaceful protests, however, stressed that the members of the security forces have had to defend themselves and that they are investigating the killings of protestors.

The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors (CCSD) said in a statement on February 14 that “A male protester whose identity is yet to be known, has been killed by a cartridge in the neck & chest, fired by security forces while participating in today’s anti-coup march in Khartoum city.”

One protestor named Khaled Mohamed told AFP “We are demanding the release of resistance committee members and politicians who were unjustly arrested and some of whom are facing fabricated charges.”

*^{Sudanese protestors during a rally against military rule, in Khartoum, Sudan, on January 4, 2022. (Image Credit: Marwan Ali/AP)}*

The Sudanese authorities arrested former minister Khaled Omar Youssef and Wagdi Saleh last week, the spokesman of the Forces for Freedom and Change, Sudan’s civilian bloc said.

The latest death of two protestors takes the number of civilian casualties since last year’s coup to at least 80.

According to the Sudanese Professionals Association, “The number of people detained arbitrarily and without criminal charges has exceeded 100.”