PROTESTERS IN SUDAN HOLD SIMULTANEOUS DEMONSTRATIONS

Protesters in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman in Sudan held simultaneous demonstrations, with some activists demanding the government transition to civilian rule, and others demanding a return to military rule on Thursday. Across the country, from Khartoum to North Kordofan, protests and marches were conducted in support of the democratic transition.

The two sides represent opposing factions. The mainstream faction backs the transition to civilian rule, while supporters of the breakaway faction are demanding the military take over.

Critics allege that these protests are led by members of the military and security forces.

Meanwhile, a group of Sudanese rights activists and lawyers in the capital Khartoum have petitioned the military members of Sudan’s transitional government to stick to the terms of the constitutional document and hand over the leadership of the Sovereign Council to civilians.

The Forces for Freedom and Change is a civilian umbrella group behind the nationwide demonstrations that led to the army’s overthrow of long time president Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

The protesters rallying in Khartoum are demanding the dissolution of Sudan’s post-dictatorship interim government, saying it has “failed” them politically and economically.

Huge crowds of people marched in several parts of the Sudanese capital and other cities on Thursday in demonstrations against the prospect of military rule, as the crisis in the country’s troubled transition from authoritarian rule deepened. Hundreds of Sudanese gathered in the capital Khartoum to call for the fall of the government that is supposed to lead the country to its first elections after 30 years of dictatorship, accusing it of having failed.

Participants in pro-military anti government demo in Khartoum scrambled for the free meals promised by the organisers of the demonstration.

Many chants were critical of the head of the ruling Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, accusing him of being loyal to Bashir. Some demanded he hand over leadership to civilians, and others demanded his removal. “This country is ours, and our government is civilian,” one chant said.

Military-aligned groups led by rebel group leaders and current government officials Minni Minnawi and Jibril Ibrahim have held a sit-in in front of the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum since Saturday.

According to Capitalists godfathers, “Sudan’s transitional government must institute urgent changes and take concrete steps to complete key transitional tasks in order to address a political crisis that is threatening Sudan”.

From an anarchist perspective, the demonstrations are about two parasitic groups wanting state power-the demonstrators are being used by mainstream power hungry political actors. The civilian elites want the military gang to give them the state gig. While the military believes the gig belongs to them alone. Also, imperialist forces are bankrolling both groups against each other. Thus, the demonstrations are not pro people, but the parasitic political class.

Joram Jojo