The United Nations called for the abolition of the state of emergency in Sudan, and the US embassy warned its citizens, with the anticipation of a million demonstration on Thursday to demand civilian rule, while the authorities closed bridges in the capital, Khartoum.
The head of the United Nations Mission in Sudan, Volker Peretz, said that the path launched by the organization to resolve the political crisis may be the last glimmer of hope in the country, considering that Abdullah Hamdok’s resignation from the prime ministership created a great vacuum, especially among the civilian component.
In a closed session of the UN Security Council, Peretz demanded an end to the state of emergency in Sudan in order to create an environment conducive to dialogue.
He called on the security forces to stop using violence against the demonstrators, and for the protesters to maintain their peaceful movement.
Peretz acknowledged that there are important groups in the Sudanese street that are not willing to participate in the dialogue called for by the United Nations, but despite that he pledged to continue contacting them.
The United Nations Transitional Governance Support Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) had said in a statement on its Facebook page that the political process led by the United Nations in Sudan would begin with preliminary consultations with the government, actors, peace partners, armed movements and civil society.
The statement indicated that the outcome of this initial phase of consultations will contribute to designing the next steps for the process.
The United Nations stressed that it counts on the cooperation of all parties to create an atmosphere that includes ending violence against demonstrators and holding perpetrators of violence accountable.
Democracy is at stake
The 15 members of the UN Security Council expressed their support for Peretz’s efforts to conduct indirect negotiations between the civilian and military components of the country mired in a severe political crisis.
The Security Council held its meeting at the request of Britain, the United States, France, Norway, Ireland and Albania.
Ahead of the meeting, British Ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward said that given recent developments in Sudan, “democracy is now at stake.”
“The Sudanese people’s demand for democracy, which we have seen with great passion, cannot really be buried,” she added.
Be careful
For its part, the US Embassy in Khartoum called on its citizens to be wary of demonstrations in the capital and other cities.
The embassy advised its nationals to avoid unnecessary movement, and to stay away from crowds and demonstrations, and explained that the exact locations and times of these protests are unknown.
The authorities have closed a number of bridges and roads leading to the army command and the presidential palace in central Khartoum, in anticipation of demonstrations expected to take place today, Thursday, to demand civilian rule and the return of officers to their barracks.
Revolutionary epic
Yesterday, Wednesday, the Sudanese Professionals Association called for participation in the million-strong demonstrations on January 13, to complete the goals of the revolution and build a civil state.
He said in a statement, “The January 13th million comes to continue the processes of total change desired, and to complete the goals of the revolution in villages, cities, workplaces and displacement camps to build our civil state with our known peace.”
“We call on the revolutionaries and revolutionaries to actively participate in the Thursday Million, to make it a revolutionary epic, the glory of our martyrs, and the earthquake of the revolutionaries’ thrones,” he added.
The resistance committees in Khartoum state canceled demonstrations yesterday, Wednesday, for the first time since the protests began, while calling for them to be organized today, Thursday, to demand civilian rule.
Since last October 25, Sudan has witnessed protests in response to measures taken by the army chief, Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, most notably the imposition of a state of emergency, the dissolution of the Sovereignty and Ministers Councils, and the arrest of officials and politicians.