Sudanese police disperse protests over land sale

December 12, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s riot police on Friday have fired tear gas to disperse popular protests against government’s intention to sell public lands at Alhamadab neighbourhood, south of the capital, Khartoum.

Since last May, residents of Alhamadab continued to protest against government decision to sell the land being used by the Armoured Corps of the Sudanese army which residents claim its ownership.

According to eyewitnesses, violent clashes erupted between the residents of Alhmadab and the police following Friday prayer in which the latter used tear gas.

They said that Alhamadab youths set old tires on fire to block the main street, adding the police chased protesters inside the old neighbourhood.

The same witnesses also noted they saw ambulances for the first time in the protests which have been repeated for several months, pointing out the confrontations caused injuries to both sides.

The inhabitants of the capital accuse the state governments since under the regime of president Omer al-Bashir of selling public spaces and squares in Khartoum’s neighbourhoods to influential members of the ruling party or their companies, pointing to corruption and abuse of power.

Last week, the residents of Halfayat Almolook neighbourhood in Khartoum north also demonstrated against sale of land which they claim belong to them.

In June, police also used tear gas and batons to disperse protests in the suburbs of Alrumaila and Allambab in south Khartoum to express their rejection against the state government’s intention to sell one of the public squares.

Late year, hundreds of Om Doum residents staged demonstrations, blockading the main street and setting tires on fire to express fury against what they say are government plans to give away part of their lands to a Saudi investor. A teenager named Mohamed Abdel-Bagi was killed in the aftermath.

(ST)