Brutal assault on FFC protest against tribal violence in Sudan

July 26, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Unidentified youth group attacked a demonstration for peaceful co-existence organized by the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), whereas some suspect a Resistance Committee in Khartoum, the political coalition accused the security apparatus of concocting the assault.

On Tuesday the FFC organized a demonstration libelled “Sudan One Homeland” to condemn the recent tribal violence in the Blue Nile State. However, some neighbourhood resistance committees groups slammed the initiative saying the failure of political groups led to this situation.

The Resistance Committee in Aldyiom Alsharquiya suburb of Khartoum city went further and warned that they would not allow the FFC to gather at the Bashdar area, which is located in their neighbourhood and is a meeting point for their protests.

Upon the arrival of the protesters including prominent FFC figures, a youth group started to chant slogans against the demonstration, before launching an attack using tear gas, knives and batons.

Dozens of protesters were injured including FFC leadership member Kamal Bolad who was stabbed in the leg, Sudanese Professional Association Spokesman Al-Rayah Mohamed Al-Sadiq, and a number of the Sudanese Congress Party leaders and the National Umma Party, including the son of Secretary-General, Alwathiq Albereir.

Shehab al-Tayeb FFC leading member denounced the violence, accusing unnamed groups of targeting the leaders of the former ruling coalition.

“The assailants, in particular, targeted the FFC leaders, inflicting injuries on some of them,” al-Tayeb said.  He further stressed that the demonstration successfully expressed rejection of tribal conflicts and insecurity in a number of states.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Sudanese Professionals Association, Balqis Faisal, said that more than 10 people were injured some of them in a serious conditions that required hospitalization.

The FFC media committee accused the security services of being behind the assailants.

The coalition claimed that the security service transported the aggressors to Bashdar where they attacked the protesters.

The attack sparked widespread condemnation among the resistance committee in the different parts of Khartoum state. They said this attack is against the freedom of expression, guaranteed by the revolution

While the Aldyiom Alsharquiya committee denied their responsibility for the attack.

“We categorically reject and condemn the events of this afternoon that have nothing to do with the Aldyiom Alsharquiya committees, revolutionaries and residents,” read a statement the committee issued on Tuesday evening.

“We affirm that sue the use of violence do not resemble us and do not resemble our peaceful revolution, which we will always and forever adhere to,” stressed the statement.

(ST)