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Thousands Rally in Sudan on Anniversary of April 6 Revolution

Head of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi addresses his supporters in Khartoum, Sudan December 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Head of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi addresses his supporters in Khartoum, Sudan December 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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Thousands Rally in Sudan on Anniversary of April 6 Revolution

Head of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi addresses his supporters in Khartoum, Sudan December 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Head of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi addresses his supporters in Khartoum, Sudan December 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Thousands of people were marching towards Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's residence and the defense ministry in central Khartoum on Saturday, witnesses said, part of anti-government protests that began in December.

They said security forces were using tear gas to try to disperse the demonstrators, who had converged on the compound from three directions.

Earlier, Head of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi called on Bashir to end the state of emergency and resign, urging his followers to participate in the rallies on the occasion of the 6 April 1985 uprising that ousted Jafar Numari.

Mahdi called for setting up a 25-member council to govern Sudan. "I call on all our people to participate in widespread rallies tomorrow, on April 6, to meet the call of their homeland," Mahdi told worshippers during the weekly Muslim prayers at a mosque in Omdurman, according to a statement issued by his party.

"I call on President Bashir to resign, dissolve all constitutional institutions and form a council of 25 people to govern the country," he added, stressing that the protests are peaceful and that the dream is stronger than weapons.

Worshippers then staged a small demonstration outside the mosque but were quickly dispersed by police who fired teargas.

Bashir called off a speech that the press was invited for a few hours before Saturday protests. Presidential Affairs Minister Fadl Abdullah Fadl denied that the president had such an intention.

Sudanese Professionals Association, spearheading protests with the Freedom and the Change Coalition, said in a joint statement on Friday that rallies will kick off from Kosti, Rabak, El-Obeid, Zalingei, Singa, al-Manaqil, Al-Fashir, Atbara, and others.

The rallies concurring with April’s anniversary are considered the biggest coordinative work between the Sudanese Professionals Association and the Freedom and the Change Coalition since the protests emerged on Dec. 19, 2018.

The veteran leader has remained defiant however, imposing emergency rule and other tough measures that have seen protesters, opposition leaders, and activists arrested.

Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, but Human Rights Watch has put the death toll at 51, including children and medics.

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Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
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Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).

Discussions are underway on the role of the Lebanese army in maintaining security in South Lebanon amid rising optimism about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701

As part of these preparations, the Lebanese government has begun strengthening the army by recruiting 1,500 new soldiers out of the 6,000 needed, aligning with the outcomes of the Paris Conference held on October 23, which allocated 200 million euros to support the military institution, from a broader package intended to help the Lebanese people during the Israel-Hezbollah war.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, a security official highlighted that the army currently has 4,500 personnel stationed south of the Litani River but requires additional manpower.

The unidentified official noted, however, that any effective deployment would require a political decision and government support. “The Lebanese military will implement Resolution 1701 as is, with no intention of clashing with any party. However, if Israel violates Lebanese sovereignty, the army is fully prepared to respond,” he said.

Although Hezbollah opposes withdrawing from south of the Litani and handing over border security duties to the Lebanese military and UNIFIL, claiming the army lacks the capabilities to defend against Israeli aggression, the security source clarified that the military has been authorized to repel any attacks but will avoid initiating conflict. The army’s expanded deployment depends on a political decision, which, once made, will see the military act without hesitation to uphold Lebanese sovereignty.

While military preparedness is essential, Brigadier General Wehbeh Qatisha argues that Lebanon’s security requires more than just troops or advanced weaponry at the border. The presence of the Lebanese military as a representative of the Lebanese state is also a significant deterrent. He pointed out that prior to 1970, Israel refrained from attacking Lebanon, despite a much smaller army. However, he cautioned that even with a substantial deployment today, the persistence of Hezbollah’s military presence would continue to undermine Lebanon’s stability and security.

Since the 1969 Cairo Agreement, which allowed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to launch operations against Israel from southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army has been restricted in its ability to enforce security along the border. After the PLO’s departure in 1982, Hezbollah took over military operations in the South. Even after the 2006 war and the adoption of Resolution 1701, which called for the Lebanese military and UNIFIL to secure the border, Hezbollah retained its armed presence and continued to conduct exercises simulating conflict with Israel. The latter violated the international resolution thousands of times, until the last war broke out against the background of turning southern Lebanon into a front supporting Gaza.

Qatisha emphasized that the path to stability lies in comprehensive implementation of international resolutions, particularly 1701 and 1559, and restricting arms to the Lebanese army. He argued that achieving balanced deterrence requires not only military force but also a commitment to diplomacy and international support.