Sudan: Angry Protests Continue in Khartoum, Omdurman

Sudanese demonstrators burn tires at an anti-government protest in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan January 20, 2019. (Reuters)
Sudanese demonstrators burn tires at an anti-government protest in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan January 20, 2019. (Reuters)
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Sudan: Angry Protests Continue in Khartoum, Omdurman

Sudanese demonstrators burn tires at an anti-government protest in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan January 20, 2019. (Reuters)
Sudanese demonstrators burn tires at an anti-government protest in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan January 20, 2019. (Reuters)

Hundreds of Sudanese flooded the streets of Omdurman during the funeral of one of the protests’ victims, amid chants calling for retribution against his killers.

Omar al-Nimeer, a final-year engineering student at Sudan University, died after sustaining injury on Tuesday when he was shot during one of the protests in Burri neighborhood, east Khartoum.

The funeral turned into a rally attended by thousands of people chanting against the government and calling for President Omar al-Bashir to step down from office. The protests went on for hours until dawn when security forces entered the area and used tear gas to disperse protesters.

A witness said at least 20,000 people took part in the funeral.

Streets of al-Thawra town, one of the most populated cities of Omdurman, were covered with smog after protesters burnt tires. They set up roadblocks in the city’s main streets and entrances preventing security forces vehicles from entering the area.

Khartoum and other cities also had several night protests which Professionals Association called for in east Khartoum and west Omdurman.

Witnesses said the authorities transferred hundreds of heavily armed soldiers to areas of protests.

In other news, a Sudanese court acquitted a student accused of killing a police officer during protests more than two years ago. In a statement on Assem Omer's acquittal, the Association said that his legendary steadfastness, perseverance, and freedom gives the rebels hope and is a good omen for the coming victory.

“Asim Omer spent more than 30 months in prison on charges of killing a policeman, which the regime wasn’t able to prove,” adding that it became a trial for the regime.

Asim, 23-year-old and member of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), was accused of killing an anti-riot policeman who died after a hit by a Molotov cocktail during the student protests in April 2016.

Head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), General Salah Abdallah Mohamed Saleh (aka Salah Gosh), indicated that protests in many cities in the country “began to rescind” and accused, once again, “infiltrators” of killing protesters.

He affirmed that the forces deployed in Omdurman were not armed to avoid the killing of protesters, and accused a demonstrator of killing doctor Babeker Abdul Hamid last Thursday. He asserted that security forces were there to protect the protesters and only intervene if necessary, and even then, they would only use weapons within the law.

Sudan Tribune quoted Gosh as saying that officials were able to document all the demonstrations and know the size of each one, adding that participation in the largest protests did not exceed 2500 demonstrators.

On the other hand, official media in Sudan reported Tuesday that the Sudanese President will visit Qatar to meet with Emir Tamim bin Hamad.

Bashir will meet the Emir on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations as well as issues of common concern and fraternal relations between the two countries and ways of promoting them.



UK PM Starmer Recalls Cabinet to Discuss Gaza Peace Plan 

US President Donald Trump (R) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) arrive at the Trump International Golf Links course in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain, 28 July 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump (R) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) arrive at the Trump International Golf Links course in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain, 28 July 2025. (EPA)
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UK PM Starmer Recalls Cabinet to Discuss Gaza Peace Plan 

US President Donald Trump (R) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) arrive at the Trump International Golf Links course in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain, 28 July 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump (R) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) arrive at the Trump International Golf Links course in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain, 28 July 2025. (EPA)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will hold an emergency cabinet on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Gaza and a proposed peace plan as he comes under mounting pressure from his own party to recognize a Palestinian state.

Starmer has taken the rare step of recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays to discuss how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday, Starmer discussed the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and what he called the "revolting" humanitarian crisis.

Britain is working on the plan with France and Germany after a call between the leaders of the three countries last week.

Starmer has not shared details of the plan, but over the weekend he compared the proposals to the "coalition of the willing", the international effort to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire in its war with Russia.

Starmer's spokesman said he would discuss the plan with other international allies and countries in the Middle East.

War has raged in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas for the past 22 months. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which its government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

With warnings people in Gaza are facing starvation, growing numbers of lawmakers in Starmer's Labor Party want him to recognize a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel.

British foreign minister David Lammy will attend a United Nations conference in New York on Tuesday to urge support for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Successive British governments have said they will formally recognize a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions.

The issue has come to the fore after President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would recognize Palestine as a state.

Starmer has so far rejected plans to immediately recognize a Palestinian state, saying he was focused on "practical solutions".

Last week, more than 200 British members of parliament from nine parties signed a letter Friday calling for an immediate recognition of a Palestinian state.