Protesters in north Sudan town agree to end their sit-in

November 14, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The residents of Abu-Hamad town in Nile River state who staged a four day sit-in this week to protest the deterioration of security have agreed to end it after seeing a positive response from the local government to their demands.

Anger erupted in Abu-Hamad last weekend after an unknown assailant entered a female high school dormitory and stabbed one of the students leaving her badly injured in what was reported to be a rape attempt.

Hundreds took the streets afterwards and clashed with the police leading to injuries on both sides as protesters attacked a market and a local government building.

The protests later turned into a sit-in that attracted thousands of residents who submitted a petition containing their demands which included relocating Gabrona market, where mining operations and related activities take place, to an area east of Abu-Hamad.

Nile River state government formed a committee to review the performance Abu Hamad local government and legislative bodies.

It also directed the police in Abu-Hamad to monitor the entry and exit points in the town and beef up their ability to preserve security.

The state government agreed to the demands of moving Gabrona market, addressing deficiencies in electricity power generation and impediments to agricultural production.

They also dispatched a delegation to Abu-Hamad to convey their decisions to the protesters and follow up on their implementation.

But the residents warned that while they ended their sit-in, they will give the government two weeks to fully discharge their promises.

(ST)