West Darfur students protest against bread high price
December 28, 2015 (EL-GENEINA) – A students demonstrations broke out in El-Geneina, capital of West Darfur State, Monday, to protest a government decision banning the use of firewood and charcoal in bakeries, that resulted in a sharp hike in the price of bread.
Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that El Geneina hospital had received 11 wounded protesters while two others had died in the rioting.
The witnesses said the police used heavy tear gas as a result of which tens of demonstrators fell unconscious. They said some security elements had used live ammunition . Tens of demonstrators were put under arrest , they said.
However, the state’s minister of culture and information al-Tijani Karshoom had denied any fatalities.
He told Sudan Tribune that only one demonstrator was hurt in the rioting. He said a female student was also hurt by flying broken glass from a car in the scene.
Karshoom said his government did not implement the central government’s ban on the cutting of trees and was waiting for the provision of alternative fuel.
He said the situation was now under control , categorically denying social media reports that the protests had coincided with the visit of political activist Taraji Mustafa to El-Geneina.
Karshoom said Taraji had ” actually arrived the in town and met political leaderships and representatives of the internally displaced.”
He said the situation has now returned to normal.
(ST)