According to eyewitnesses, cited by Reuters, local security forces trying to break up the protest by force.
Thousands of protesters reportedly took to the streets in the capital Khartoum over the weekend to call for the resignation of Sudan’s longtime ruler Omar Bashir and urge the army to side with the people.
READ MORE: Thousands of Protesters Heading to Anti-Government Rally in Sudan (PHOTOS)
The Sudanese Army cordoned off on Monday the main street of Khartoum, leading to the presidential palace since several thousands of Khartoum residents were reportedly gathering there in order to stage a new rally.
#Soudan Des coups de feu et des gaz lacrymogènes ont été tirés sur les manifestants ce soir alors qu'ils faisaient un sit-in pour demander le départ de #Bashir #Sudan #Khartoum pic.twitter.com/ZdVuyqTHcc
— Rebecca Rambar (@RebeccaRambar) 9 апреля 2019 г.
Toute la nuit, les manifestants de #Khartoum ont redouté une attaque d’une force des miliciens et forces des services de renseignement. Cela ne les a pas fait fuir. Au contraire leur nombre a augmenté. Ce nombre et cette ferveurs sont époustouflants. #Soudan pic.twitter.com/FT9Rxp9fh8
— Jean Philippe Remy (@jpremylemonde) 9 апреля 2019 г.
According to AFP, citing local protesters, Sudanese security forces fired tear gas on Tuesday outside the army headquarters in Khartoum in a bid to disperse the demonstrators from the military complex.
#Soudan Au début du 4ème jour, entre 4 et 5h du matin, nouvelle intervention des "forces de sécurité". Echanges de tirs près du QG de l'armée où les manifestants tiennent leur sit-in. Un témoin sur place me confirme que des militaires bas gradés les protégent. #SudanUprising pic.twitter.com/IyNauYlWUY
— Sébastien Duhamel (@sebduhamel) 9 апреля 2019 г.
Local eyewitnesses told AFP it was unclear who was firing the gunshots.
Rallies have been ongoing in Sudan since December and were initially triggered by rising bread prices. Protesters, outraged with the tough economical situation and rising living costs, are calling for the resignation of President Omar Bashir, who has been ruling the country for 30 years. Mass rallies have prompted Bashir to dissolve the cabinet and declare a year-long state of national emergency in order to take emergency measures and resolve the crisis.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the full respect of human rights, including the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly, as well as the release of the detained demonstrators. The UN secretary-general has also urged the government of Sudan to create favorable conditions for resolving the current situation and to promote dialogue among all parties.
READ MORE: Russia Denies Reports of Alleged Mercenaries Quelling Sudan Rallies — Embassy
