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The shops and restaurants reopened on Wednesday in the Sudanese capital after protesters canceled a national campaign of civil disobedience and agreed to further talks, although many residents remained behind after the deadly crackdown on the country. last week.
The apparent breakthrough in the confrontation between military leaders who overthrew veteran leader Omar al-Bashir and protesters demanding a civilian regime was followed by the mediation led by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis – triggered by the crackdown on protesters who killed dozens of protesters on June 3 – were revived by the arrival of US Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy. Khartoum Wednesday, announced officials.
This took place after an Ethiopian envoy sent by Abiy announced Tuesday that the rally leaders and the ruling military council had agreed to resume talks and that a three-day civil disobedience campaign was taking place. end.
Negotiations broke down last month because the two sides disagreed whether a civilian or a soldier should lead a new governing body.
On Wednesday morning, an AFP correspondent, who visited parts of the capital, saw buses waiting for pbadengers at their station, while shops in some neighborhoods were reopened.
Later in the day, several restaurants reopened and street vendors returned to work.
But the main gold market in central Khartoum remained closed and many residents remained inside.
Heavy security
"I stay at home because I am worried about the presence of armed firearms on the streets by security forces," said Samar Bashir, an employee of a private company.
Paramilitary rapid support forces – accused of playing a leading role in last week's crackdown – continued patrolling the districts in their heavy-machine gun trucks.
Other residents told AFP that they had stayed at home because Internet services – heavily cut in recent days – were still not restored, which made office work difficult.
The sweepers cleaned piles of garbage, while long queues at the banks of the banks were returning to the capital and other cities.
"I went to the bank with a check and they told me that there was no money in. It seems like all the money is just finished," said Faisal Suleiman to AFP while he was leaving a bank in Khartoum.
Sudan is ruled by a military council since the generals chased Bashir on April 11, after months of nationwide protests against his three-decade reign.
After the fall of Bashir, protesters stayed in front of the army headquarters in Khartoum for weeks to demand a civilian regime, until security forces and paramilitary forces intervened on Monday for the first time. disperse.
About 120 people have been killed since the crackdown began, according to doctors close to the protesters. The Ministry of Health has acknowledged that 61 people have died in the country.
The protest movement had initially threatened to put more pressure on the generals by publishing a list of proposed members of a new governing body – the main point of contention between the two parties – before yielding.
"The Alliance for Freedom and Change has decided to end civil disobedience (campaign) as of today," Ethiopian diplomat Mahmoud Drir told reporters on Tuesday. mediation talks on behalf of Abiy.
"Both sides also agreed to resume talks soon."
The protest movement called on its supporters to return to work from Wednesday.
Generals have not commented on this development yet.
Global diplomatic push
The UN Security Council on Tuesday called on all parties to "continue to work together to find a consensual solution to the current crisis" and expressed support for diplomatic efforts led by Africa.
He also called for the immediate cessation of attacks on civilians and stressed the importance of respect for human rights – a week after Russia and China blocked a similar draft declaration on human rights. crisis.
US envoy Nagy is expected to hold several meetings with generals and leaders of the demonstration. He also intends to travel to Addis Ababa to discuss the Sudan crisis with Ethiopian leaders and the African Union.
The African Union suspended Sudan's membership on Thursday.
Nagy "will call for the cessation of attacks on civilians and urge the parties to work for the creation of a favorable environment," said the US State Department earlier this week.
The United States has launched calls for a civilian-led transition, even as their Arab allies, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, seem to support the generals , said experts.
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