Sudanese generals want new talks as death toll rises to 60

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The Sudanese military council said on Wednesday that the ruling generals are ready to resume negotiations with the opposition after three days of violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters who have killed 60 people across the country.

The head of the council, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, said that there would be no restriction in the discussions with the leaders following the street protests that have been going on for months.

"We are opening our hands to negotiations with all parties (…) in the interest of the nation," said Burhan, adding that those responsible for the violent establishment of the sit-in protesters in the capital, Khartoum, would be held responsible.

There was no immediate reaction from the protest movement.

The reasons for Burhan's reversal – if they were sincere – were not immediately clear. Burhan had previously cut off negotiations and canceled all points agreed between the army and the forces for the declaration of freedom and change, an alliance that represents the protesters.

At the same time, the number of dead in the violent crackdown by the army on the protesters reached 60, Wednesday, announced the organizers.

The rising number of casualties is the latest challenge to the protest movement. It aims to show that he can keep up the pressure in the streets after his central rallying point – the sit-in of several weeks outside the army headquarters in Khartoum – has was annihilated on Monday. .

In April, the movement managed to force the army to dismiss Omar al-Bashir, a long-time strong man in Sudan. He then maintained his sit-in, demanding that the generals who took power cede power to civilians.

The latest death toll is 40, but Sudan's Medical Committee said security forces killed at least 10 people on Wednesday in Khartoum and Omdurman's twin city. This occurred after the deaths of 10 other people on Tuesday, including five in the White Nile State, three in Omdurman and two in the Bahri district of Khartoum.

The doctors 'committee is the medical organ of the Sudanese Professionals' Association, which leads demonstrations against the army regime. The medical group also said that at least 326 people had been injured in clashes over the past two days. The group expressed concern that the final balance will be much higher.

Activists Mohammed Najib and Hashim al-Sudani said that there was street fighting on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning in Bahri and Buri districts of Khartoum between protesters and security forces, mainly paramilitary forces in Khartoum. Rapid Support (RSF).

"In Buri, there were a lot of shootings and tear gas," al-Sudani said. "They tried to force people into narrow streets" to beat them.

On Monday, RSF members allegedly raped, tortured and murdered civilians in the Darfur region of Sudan were reportedly raped, while other soldiers entered the protest camp in front of the army headquarters. in Khartoum, opening fire and setting fire to tents. Other troops crushed two other sit-ins organized by protesters elsewhere.

After the dismissal of Al-Bashir, the army and leaders of the demonstrations negotiated for weeks on the constitution of a transitional council supposed to lead the country for three years before the elections. Protesters demand that civilians dominate the council, but the generals resisted.

The crackdown puts an end to the relative peace surrounding the negotiations and signals that the military has lost patience with the demands of the militants, placing both sides on the path to potentially longer confrontation in the face of increasing violence.

Burhan's latest remarks marked a significant shift from his Tuesday morning televised speech, when the general blamed the leaders of the protests for their instability, accusing them of prolonging the talks and trying to prevent some "political forces". and security "to take part in any transitional government.

He also announced that the army would unilaterally form an interim government and hold elections earlier, within seven to nine months, under international supervision, and stated that any agreement reached earlier in the negotiations with the protesters was canceled.

The protesters rejected this proposal, which would have the effect of instructing the army to lead the elections.

Since Monday, tensions remained high in Khartoum and elsewhere, with demonstrators organizing dispersed rallies and blocking main roads with barricades. Security forces were seen in online videos patrolling Khartoum districts.

Madani Abbas Madani, one of the main activists, said protesters would continue their campaign of endless civil disobedience, until the overthrow of the ruling military council.

"What happened on Monday was a systematic and planned attempt to impose repression on the Sudanese people," he said in televised commentary on Tuesday.

In a joint statement, the United States, Norway and Britain condemned the Sudanese security forces for violently attacking protesters.

The statement, released Tuesday night, said the Sudanese military council "has jeopardized the transition process and peace in Sudan" by ordering attacks on peaceful protesters.

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Magdy brought back from Cairo.

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