Thousands protest in Sudan against post-coup political deal

Tens of thousands demonstrated on Thursday in Sudan to push back against a post-coup political deal signed earlier this week between its deposed prime minister and the country’s military.

In a deal signed on Sunday, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was deposed in a coup last month, would be reinstated as part of a power-sharing deal with the Sudanese military, the Associated Press reported.

Until new elections take place, Hamdok would be leading a technocratic Cabinet subject to military oversight. The Sudanese prime minister, however, contends that he will be able to choose his own Cabinet, according to the AP.

But that deal was blasted by protesters on Thursday who were concerned that it was a covert takeover by the military and that their prime minister was betraying them, Reuters reported.

Protesters took to the streets in the capital of Khartoum as well as other places including West Kordofan and North Darfur to demonstrate against the deal.

Activists and pro-democracy groups are seeking to have a more fully civil government, and while reinstating Hamdok was seen as a concession by the military, they see the political move as insufficient, according to the AP.

The demonstrations come as Sudan grapples with unrelated tribal violence as well as violent suppression of protests in the country.

Last week in West Darfur, fighting between non-Arab and Arab tribes, not related to the political protests, resulted in the deaths of 17 people, according to the Sudanese Doctors Committee, the AP noted.

Meanwhile, activists claim that over 40 people have died so far due to security forces cracking down on demonstrations in the country.