Sudanese security forces fired rubber bullets and arrested scores of protesters in attacks against rallies in several cities Nov. 7, part of an ongoing wave of actions against the Oct. 25 military coup led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Thousands had rallied in the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman, as well as in Wad Madani to the south and in the northern city of Atbara.
In several cities, protesters attempted to build street barricades in response to calls for civil disobedience by the Sudanese Professionals Association.
Police fired tear gas at teachers who “were simply standing on the streets and carrying banners,” Mohamed al-Amin, a geography teacher, told Agence France-Presse. Around the country a number of trade union leaders were detained. All media not controlled by the military was shut down.
At least 14 demonstrators have been killed and some 300 wounded in the crackdown on protests, like that shown above in Khartoum Oct. 30. Dozens of members of the two-year-old ruling council tasked with leading a transition to civilian rule have been detained. Ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok remains under house arrest.
“The Sudanese people have rejected the military coup,” Sudanese Professionals Association leaders said. They have vowed “no negotiation, no partnership, no legitimacy” with the military chiefs, rejecting army control over both the government and the economy. The association is resisting calls from Washington and Arab League governments to return to a coalition “transitional” government with the same army generals who seized power.