Sudanese block Khartoum streets after calls for civilian disobedience

January 18, 2022 (KHARTOUM) –  Sudanese closed most of the main roads and streets in the three cities of Khartoum to protest the deadly violence against the demonstrators on Monday, while al-Burhan ordered an investigation into the killing of seven protesters.

Seven Sudanese youth were shot dead and about 100 others were injured by the security forces deployed by the military rulers to disperse peaceful protests against the coup d’état of October 25.

In support of the resistance committees, the political and civil society groups of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) called for civilian disobedience on January 18 and 19 to protest the excessive use of violence by the coup leaders.

The FFC call met with relative success, as government institutions and public schools opened as usual in the morning, while banks and shops and private companies remained closed.

By noontime on Tuesday, dozens of people angry at the violence of the security forces established barricades blocking main and subsidiary streets in the three Khartoum cities and burned tires paralyzing the capital.

The blockade continued in the evening.

The authorities at midnight deployed troops to dismantle the barricades and clean up streets from stones.

On Tuesday, the Sudanese Communist Party condemned the bloody repression of protesters Monday.

The left party, which is not part of the FFC coalition, further called for a broad coalition to bring down the putschists and establish a civilian state.

For his part, the coup leader and head of the Sovereign Council ordered to form an investigation committee into the death of the seven protesters.

The decree says that the inquiry committee should include the regular forces and the public prosecution.

Also, it should submit its findings within 72 hours.

Al-Burhan had already formed such committees to investigate the rape and killing of protesters but the results of the inquiry were not released.

(ST)