By Agencies
Khartoum: The political situation in Sudan is deteriorating and analysts fear that a deadly civil war might break out soon in the country.
There is currently heavy gunfire rocking various parts of Khartoum and reports indicate that so far nine civilians have been shot dead by the army while dispersing them. Reports indicate that security forces forcefully moved in to clear a protest camp that had been the central point in the demonstrators’ months-long struggle for civilian rule. The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, a medical group linked to protesters, said at least nine people were killed and several wounded in the Monday morning raid, which was still in progress by press time. The Committee also said security forces used live ammunition inside East Nile Hospital in Khartoum where some of the wounded were been treated. In a post on Twitter, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) said the country’s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) had assigned a large number of troops to disperse the protest camp.
The sound of heavy gunfire was heard in footage broadcast from the scene, while plumes of smoke rose into the sky. Mohammed Alamin, a journalist in Khartoum, revealed that troops from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) first used teargas then sound grenades to disperse protesters. Soldiers then fired live rounds at the remaining protesters. “They are now in control of most of the sit-in area and have burnt down the make-shift clinics. Most of the protesters have been dispersed. Soldiers are blocking all entrances to the area with military vehicles to stop protesters from returning,” Alamin said. Madani Abass Madani, one of the protest leaders, has been injured as troops dispersed the protesters, Alamin added. Sudanese people have been demanding the army to relinquish power to a civilian government ever since former president Omar Bashir was ousted in a coup two months ago, following months of mass protests.
