Sudanese opposition calls for escalating protests against deteriorating basic services
July 16, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese opposition umbrella group known as the National Consensus Forces (NCF) has urged national forces to escalate and support peaceful protests against the recent deterioration of services through uprisings, civil disobedience and strikes.
Demonstrators protested in several neighborhoods in Khartoum state against the deterioration of water and electricity services and the accumulation of garbage in what was described by activists as “silent protests” that avoided confrontations with police forces.
In the suburb of Um-Badda in Omdurman, residents threw garbage bags in front of popular committees to protest the absence of collectors while demonstrators in al-Sahafa neighborhood in South Khartoum blocked streets with containers of empty water.
Others suffering from power cuts went to the headquarters of Electricity Department to sleep in their air-conditioned offices.
“The rejection of the policies of the Sudanese regime that was culminated by the boycott the elections and the escalation of peaceful protests, demonstrates the isolation of the regime and the widening circle of protests,” said a statement by the NCF.
“What is needed from all the lively national forces is to support the protests and the legitimate demands and to escalate it and diversify its activities to include all sectors in various factional and social components down to complete civil disobedience and political strike and popular uprising”.
The alliance said that continuation of the current regime in power deepens crises towards the persistence of the war and humanitarian repercussions that threaten the country’s unity, sovereignty and independence.
It dismissed the government’s national dialogue initiative saying it must be removed from power if there is any chance to solve the country’s problems.
The statement pointed out that the structural crisis facing the Sudanese economy as a result of the secession of southern Sudan, the continuation of war, increased government spending on security and defense sector and the sovereign institutions of the ruling party and corruption has exacerbated poverty and misery under unprecedented hardship.
“All this misery coincides with power cuts and water shortages in many cities and neighborhoods despite the fact that the citizen pays the water and electricity bill in advance”.
(ST)