Sudanese protesters make demands as military leaders demand global support



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Protesters have refused to end their rallies since the dismissal of longtime leader, Omar al-Bashir, calling for the establishment of a civilian government. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP)

Protesters have refused to end their rallies since the dismissal of longtime leader, Omar al-Bashir, calling for the establishment of a civilian government. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP)

Sudanese protesters called on new military leaders to establish a civilian government while the Foreign Ministry on Sunday called for support from the international community to help the country's "democratic transition".

Thousands of people remained camped in front of Khartoum's army headquarters overnight to keep up the pressure on a military council that took power after the overthrow of veteran leader Omar al-Bashir on Thursday.

A 10-member delegation representing protesters presented their demands during discussions with the council on Saturday night, according to a statement from the Alliance for Freedom and Change Coordination Group that led the rallies.

"We will continue … our sit-in until all our demands are met," including the formation of an all-civilian government, said one of the leaders of the government. alliance, Omar al-Degier.

Subsequently, the military council met with the political parties and urged them to agree on an "independent personality" who would be the country's prime minister, an AFP correspondent told AFP. meeting.

"We want to establish a civil status based on freedom, justice and democracy," said a member of the military council, Lieutenant General Ybader al-Ata, to several political parties, urging them to take action. agreement on the figures of the civil government.

The protesters insisted that the representatives of the civilian population join the military council and asked for the establishment of an all-civilian government to handle the day-to-day affairs.

Sudanese women have been at the forefront of protests. By Ebrahim Hamid (AFP)

Sudanese women have been at the forefront of protests. By Ebrahim Hamid (AFP)

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry urged the international community to support the military council "to achieve the Sudanese goal of democratic transition," the group said in a statement.

The head of the council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is "determined to have a complete civilian government and the role of the council will be to maintain the sovereignty of the country," the statement added.

The talks between the leaders of the protest and the new Sudanese leaders were followed on Sunday by a meeting between Khartoum's top Washington envoy, Steven Koutsis, and the military council deputy.

Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, better known as Himeidti, told Koutsis "of the measures taken by the military council to preserve the security and stability of the country," the official SUNA news agency reported.

Himeidti is commander of the Rapid Support Force (RSF) counter-insurgency unit, which human rights groups have accused of committing abuses in the torn Darfur region by the war.

Burhan speaks the speech

On Saturday, the new head of the military council, General Burhan, promised to dismantle the Bashir regime and immediately lift the night curfew.

He also promised that those involved in the killing of protesters would be brought to justice and that protesters detained under Bashir 's urgent state during his last weeks in office would be released.

Young Sudanese paint a national flag on a wall in the capital Khartoum. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP)

Young Sudanese paint a national flag on a wall in the capital Khartoum. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP)

Burhan was sworn in on Friday following the resignation of his predecessor, General Awad Ibn Phew, just over 24 hours after Bashir's ouster.

Tens of thousands of people have mbaded nonstop in front of the army headquarters since April 6, initially to urge the military to support their request to resign from Bashir.

Burhan has less baggage of the deeply unpopular law of Bashir than Ibn Uf, the former defense minister and long-standing aide to the ousted president.

But while celebrating the fall of the two men, the protesters remain cautious.

Protest officials say their demands include the restructuring of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), whose head of government, Salih Ghosh, resigned on Saturday.

The rights group Amnesty International on Saturday called on the military council to review Ghosh's actions during the crackdown on protesters in the final weeks of Bashir's reign.

"It is crucial that the new Sudanese authorities investigate the role of Salah Ghosh in the killing of many Sudanese protesters over the past four months," said Amnesty regional director Sarah Jackson.

Gulf allies support

A report on a Sudanese TV show shows General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan addressing the nation on Saturday. By - (Sudan TV / AFP)

A report on a Sudanese TV show shows General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan addressing the nation on Saturday. By – (Sudan TV / AFP)

The newly formed 10-member transition council includes several personalities from the Bashir regime.

On Saturday evening, the new military leader appointed NISS deputy leader Jalaluddin Sheikh to the council, along with Himeidti as deputy chief.

"Himeidti was part of the crimes that took place previously, but at least now he is on the side of the people," said Mohamed, a protester in front of the army headquarters, who gave only his name for security reasons.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the main players in regional power, have expressed support for the transitional council.

The appointment of Burhan "reflects the Sudanese people's ambitions for security, stability and development," WAM news agency said.

Saudi Arabia has promised a package of aid, reported Saturday the Saudi press agency.

Sudan is part of a military coalition led by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia that fights Iranian-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen.

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