Sudan's military council suspends talks with protesters for 72 hours

World
Europe

Sudan's Transitional Military Council (TMC) is suspending talks with protesters for 72 hours after they broke a deal on de-escalation, the council head said in a televised statement on Thursday.

The council head also said that the TMC has decided to remove all barricades in central Khartoum placed by protesters beyond a designated sit-in zone outside the Defense Ministry.

Protest leaders also confirmed the suspension on Wednesday.

"They asked us to dismantle barricades in parts of the capital," Rashid al-Sayid, a spokesman for the protest group, the Alliance for Freedom and Change told reporters, referring to roadblocks put up by demonstrators on key roads in recent days, including on the Nile Street – a key avenue – that had angered the generals.

Sudanese protesters erect a barricade along a street during demonstrations in central Khartoum, Sudan, May 15, 2019. /Reuters Photo

The suspension came after at least eight people were reported wounded by gunshots near a sit-in in the capital, shortly before decisive talks were to be held between the ruling military council and the protest leaders on a transitional governing body.

Army generals and protest leaders were expected to finalize the make-up of a new body to govern Sudan for three years, the thorniest issue in installing civilian rule.

The protest movement is demanding a civilian-led transition, which the generals have steadfastly resisted since bowing to their demands and toppling longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The talks that commenced on Monday were marred by violence that left six people dead the same day at the sit-in.

Protest leaders said it was sparked by security forces trying to remove barricades put up by demonstrators on the Nile Street.

Sudanese protesters burn tires and barricade the road leading to al-Mek Nimir Bridge crossing over the Blue Nile; that links Khartoum North and Khartoum, in Sudan, May 13, 2019. /Reuters Photo

During the first two days of talks, the two sides had agreed on an overall civilian structure, including a three-year transitional period for the full transfer of power to a civilian administration. They had also agreed that parliament be composed of 300 members for the transition, with 67 percent from the alliance and the rest drawn from other political groups.

The generals want it to be military-led, while the protesters insist on a majority civilian body.

Before the suspension, General Yasser al-Atta, one of the members of the current ruling military council, had vowed to reach a deal by early Thursday that "meets the people's aspirations".

The new council is expected to form a transitional civilian government, which would then prepare for the first post-Bashir election after the three-year changeover period ends.

(Cover: A Sudanese protester gestures as they burn tires and barricade the road leading to al-Mek Nimir Bridge crossing over the Blue Nile; that links Khartoum North and Khartoum, in Sudan, May 13, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)