Sudan protest organizers suspend talks with military

Opposition groups in Sudan on Sunday accused the military of a “lack of seriousness” in handing power to a civilian government following the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir, as they called for the continuation of protests in capital Khartoum.  

“We will continue the revolutionary escalation in the streets until the implementation of the demands of Sudanese people [are] fully met,” the umbrella opposition group Declaration of Freedom and Change said.  

Thousands of Sudanese protesters demanding that the military hand over power to civilian rule have been staging a sit-in at the army headquarters in Khartoum.  

The demonstrations began with the call for long-time president al-Bashir to go. The protesters got their wish on April 11, when the military deposed and arrested him.  

But participants say the new military rulers are a continuation of al-Bashir’s former regime and have clamoured for more concessions.  

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), one of the main protest organizers, on Sunday accused the interim military government of being an “extension of [al-Bashir’s] regime” as it echoed the call for more demonstrations.  

Earlier on Sunday, it emerged that investigators discovered more than 7.5 million dollars’ worth of cash in al-Bashir’s home.  

A state prosecutor employee told dpa that a case into suspected corruption and money laundering had been opened and that searches would now target other members of al-Bashir’s earlier leadership circles.   
Khartoum (dpa) 22 April 2019