Protesters march in Khartoum to mark 27th anniversary of Bashir’s coup
June 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The opposition Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) on Wednesday evening staged a protest procession to mark the twenty seventh anniversary of the coup d’état that brought President Omer al-Bashir to power on June 30, 1989.
Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, the government has stopped the celebration the “National Salvation Revolution” anniversary. But the opposition groups used to issue statements to remind the illegitimacy of a regime that overthrow an elected government.
The demonstrators marched through the streets of central Khartoum before gathering at the main transport station in the capital where they held a meeting to denounce the policies of the Salvation government, and called on the Sudanese to escalate mass action against the regime.
Some protesters carried banners condemning the regime, while others held portraits of imprisoned opponents and students. Also, they chanted demanding the release of SCoP and student activists.
The opposition party distributed a statement describing the Salvation coup d’état as “ominous”, adding that it bears the responsibility of the South Sudan secession in July 2011. Also, it pointed to the lawless violence in South Kordofan, Blue Nile states and Darfur.
The statement expressed hope that this 27th anniversary be the last one the regime and called on Sudanese to work for the overthrow of the “regime which stole the present and the future” of the Sudanese.
The SCoP is a member of the National Consensus Forces, a coalition of left parties that reject any dialogue with the regime. However, its leader Omer al-Digair recently appeared more willing to participate in an “equal dialogue” if the government implements need confidence building measures for such process.
(ST)