Protests erupt in Sudan between military and government supporters

Khartoum: Nearly 40 people have been injured during protests in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum as pro-military supporters and pro-government protestors have taken to the streets to engage in rival demonstrations of support for their factions. The injuries occurred after police tried to use force to dispel the agitators who had gathered in front of the Presidential Palace.

Civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has called the ongoing fiasco "the worst and the most dangerous crisis" since Sudan's transition from autocracy said Reuters reports. Civilian leaders have also accused the military of aiming for a power grab. The current government is in a partnership with the military after the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

The competing rallies were organised by opposing factions of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) civilian umbrella coalition, which spearheaded mass demonstrations in 2019 that led to the removal of al-Bashir. Meanwhile, a pro-military government group has demanded the dissolution of the interim cabinet.

Anti-Hamdok demonstrators have claimed the government is mismanaging resources, leading the people to suffer in poverty and hunger.

A group of protestors last week had called for a coup to overthrow the current government. Critics of the protests say that there is an ongoing attempt by rebel groups and the military to re-impose a dictatorship. Earlier, members of an unidentified armed group removed security barriers around government buildings and prevented the police and security forces from preparing for the march, Khartoum State governor Ayman Khalid said in a statement.