Sudan news: What is happening in Sudan – Why is world worried about worsening situation?

Sudan has been in the midst of a political crisis since December when the country had an uprising. More than 100 people were killed and as many as 700 were injured in an attack last Monday. Doctors also believe paramilitary troops carried out more than 70 rapes during the attack. So what is happening in Sudan and what happened to affect the level of widespread violence?

Massive protests began in Sudan on December 19, 2018, after the government decided to triple the price of goods.

The country was already suffering an acute shortage of foreign currency and inflation had hit 70 percent.

Cuts to bread and fuel subsidies sparked demonstrations in the east of the country and anger spread to the capital Khartoum.

On top of this, Protesters demanded the removal of President al-Bashir and his government, who has led the country since 1989.

Sudan news: Sudan protester

Sudan news: Sudanese protesters burn tired after attack on June 3 (Image: MAHMOUD HJAJ/ANDALOU AGENCY/GETTY)

But Mr Bashir refused and to step down, leading to the convergence of opposition groups to form a united coalition.

The government retaliated by arresting more than 800 figures from the opposition camp.

According to the Human Rights Watch, this led to the deaths of around 40 people, although the number was much higher according to local and civilian reports.

The tensions in the country reached a climax on April 6, when demonstrators occupied the square outside the military’s headquarters to demand that the army force the president to step down.

Sudan news: Former Sudan president Omar al-Bashir

Sudan news: Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addressing parliament in April (Image: ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/GETTY)

Five days later on April 11, 2019, Mr Bashir was ousted in a military coup d’état and on April 17, he was moved from house arrest to Khartoum’s Kobar prison.

In May, prosecutors charged Mr Bashir with “inciting and participating in” the killing of protesters.

The charges are related to laws on “suspected illicit wealth and emergency orders”, the public prosecutor’s office said, without giving more details.

Sudan news: Sudanese woman protester

Sudan news: Sudanese woman who went viral after leading protest chants (Image: -/AFP/GETTY)

What happened after the president was overthrown?

A council of generals assumed power after Mr Bashir on April 11 but the country has struggled to return to normality.

The seven-member Transitional Military Council is led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan.

The council said it needs to be in charge to ensure order and security, but the army is not a unified force in Sudan.

Some paramilitary organisations and Islamist militias are influential in the country.

Sudan news: Transitional Military Council

Sudan news: Sudan’s Transitional Military Council spokesman Shams-Eddin Kabashi on June 13 (Image: JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/GETTY)

On June 3, Sudanese security forces launched a violent attack on protesters in Khartoum.

There were mass fatalities after heavily armed paramilitaries attacked the site of a sit in which had been at the centre of a campaign to bring democratic reform to Sudan.

The paramilitaries reportedly fired tear gas and live ammunition at the protesters when they raided pro-democracy camps.

No one knows exactly how many people died but the Sudanese Doctors’ Committee, which is part of the protest movement, on Wednesday released the names of 112 people confirmed dead.

Sudan news: Protest outside the White House

Sudan news: Protest in support of Sudanese outside the White House (Image: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/GETTY)

However, the list did not include around 40 bodies that were pulled from the Nile.

As well as these deaths, there have been a number of credible reports that indicate beatings and systemic rape of protesting women has been undertaken by security forces.

The African Union, a union comprised of 55 African countries and nations aimed at creating greater unit, cohesion and solidarity, has suspended Sudan for this violence.

Talks between protesters and the council broke down after the attack on June 3.

Sudan news: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

Sudan news: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Sudan on June 7 to discuss the unrest (Image: MAHMOUD HJAJ/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY)

Since then much of the country has been shut down after the opposition called for an open-ended strike.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed flew to the region to try to broker a new agreement between the two sides.

After days of talks, special envoy to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Mahmoud Dirir, announced on June 11 that protest leaders had agreed to suspend widespread strikes and return to the negotiating table.

Mr Dirir said that, in return, the military had agreed to release political prisoners.

However, no set date for the resumption of talks was given.

source: express.co.uk