Death toll rises in continuing unrest in Sudan after military takeover
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Khartoum: After a military coup disrupted Sudan's transition to democracy, protestors and security forces clashed in Khartoum. At least one protester died, and the death toll has reached eight.
Sudan was in a transition phase to a full civilian rule and a joint civilian-military council was governing since 2019.
Sudan's civilian leader, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is under house arrest. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dissolved the fragile democratic government on Monday. The civil unrest has led to barricaded roads, burning cars, black smoke across the city, and shut down shops.
A protester told AFP that the people of Sudan do not want military power but free democratic life. The data given by health officials say that about 170 people were wounded in an attack using tear gas and rubber-coated bullets.
The United Nations and the US have already reached out to the new Sudanese military government to restore peace. The UN Security Council said that there is "serious concern" about the army power grab and encouraged "dialogue without pre-conditions," reported Al Jazeera.
US President Joe Biden in his message to Sudan's military authorities said that people must be allowed to protest peacefully and the civilian-led transitional government must be restored. The US has already frozen aid to the poverty-stricken Northeast African nation. "The events of recent days are a grave setback, but the United States will continue to stand with the people of Sudan and their non-violent struggle," said Biden.
The African Union has suspended Sudan's membership and called the coup an "unconstitutional" takeover. The World Bank also has frozen aid and denounced the army's move.
Several nations including the US, the UK, European Union members released a joint statement saying that they continue to recognise the prime minister and his cabinet of democratic government, reported Al Jazeera.