Under the title "After Sudan's Bloodiest Day.. Unrest and Calls for Escalation," Sky News reported that opposition groups in Sudan pledged to intensify protests following reports of 15 civilians killed in the most violent day since the events began last month. After Wednesday's fatalities, counted by medics sympathetic to the protest movement, the total death toll since the unrest began on October 25 has risen to at least 39.
The latest outbreak of violence has provoked condemnation from Western countries, which halted their economic aid to Sudan. Despite the economic pressures given Sudan's urgent need for assistance, mediation efforts to find a way out of the crisis have stalled. A senior U.S. State Department official described the situation as a "critical moment," expressing a "somewhat positive" feeling after recent talks held by Deputy Secretary of State Molly in Khartoum, while acknowledging that "this may seem illogical."
Protesters described police behavior during Wednesday's protests as more aggressive than before, while the military claims that peaceful demonstrations are allowed. Clashes continued Thursday in the Bahri neighborhood in northern Khartoum, which witnessed the worst violence on Wednesday. A witness reported that security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition while removing barriers set up by protesters, who were dispersing and regrouping.
In Omdurman on the opposite bank of the Nile, security forces were reported to be dismantling barricades, using tear gas, and arresting demonstrators. A group of resistance committees coordinating protest movements in eastern Khartoum issued a statement announcing their entry into an "open escalation schedule until the overthrow of the coup authority." A senior member of the coordination, who requested anonymity, mentioned that consultations were underway among the resistance committees regarding the escalation.
During the protests on Wednesday, demonstrators carried images of individuals killed in previous protests. The United Nations condemned the repeated excessive use of force against peaceful protesters. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that the organization calls on authorities and security forces to exercise restraint and cease further human rights violations, demanding the release of all those arrested since the coup.
On Thursday, Sudanese police announced that security forces had faced unwarranted violence during the recent protests that have taken place since October 25. Khartoum Police Chief Lieutenant General Zain Al-Abidin Othman stated that some of the demonstrations held in Sudan over the past days "were not peaceful and involved attacks on security forces," affirming that the police "work to secure protesting gatherings and will continue to protect state institutions." Othman pointed out that police forces have been protecting demonstrators for years, referring to the protests that ousted Omar al-Bashir's regime in December 2018. He added, "Throughout this period, the police have worked to secure the movement and protesters. All declared gatherings passed peacefully under the protection of the security apparatus."
In a briefing to reporters aboard a flight from Nairobi to Abuja during U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s tour of Africa, a senior U.S. State Department official hinted at a point of optimism regarding Sudan when he said, "It seems to me that everyone wants a way back."
Last week, Burhan appointed a new ruling council, a move that Western powers said complicates efforts to transition back to democracy; however, he has not yet appointed a new government, leaving the door at least slightly open for a potential compromise on a new administration. Analysts say this highlights the difficulties Burhan faces in securing civilian support for a new government.
Internet services are gradually resuming, according to the official Sudanese news agency (SUNA), as the disruption of internet and phone services complicates efforts to mobilize demonstrators. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for the return of Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok to the scene and the release of other detained civilians. Borrell stated, "If the constitutional order does not return immediately, there will be serious consequences regarding our support, including financial support."
