Sudanese security forces have killed two demonstrators during fresh massive protests in the impoverished country’s capital against last year’s military coup.
According to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, one demonstrator died on Saturday during the thousands-strong rallies in the capital Khartoum after being targeted by the security forces with live fire in the chest.
The second fatality, the committee said, took place after the Sudanese forces used tear gas to disperse the protesters, as a result of which one protester died after inhaling “tear gas.”
Taking the new deaths into account, a total of 98 people have been killed during countrywide protests against the military takeover of power in Sudan since last October.
The new fatalities occurred after thousands took to the streets in several parts of Khartoum to protest the military power grab and renew demands for civilian rule.
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The power grab saw the military, led by Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, dismissing Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declaring a state of emergency. The North African country has yet to appoint a premier.
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After leading the takeover, al-Burhan pledged to release political detainees to set the stage for talks among Sudanese factions. Civilian forces have, however, refused to enter negotiations involving the military.
Sudan, one of the world’s poorest countries, has been reeling from a plunging economy due to decades of international isolation and mismanagement under former autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
Back in March, United Nations’ envoy Volker Perthes, said Sudan was heading towards “an economic and security collapse” unless its civilian-led transition was restored.
