Six demonstrators sustained live bullets injuries, some in serious conditions, during five-hour protests staged yesterday 25 December 2018 in Khartoum, according to the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA). Security agents broke down the door of Al Mawada medical facility located in the heart of Khartoum and fired teargas inside the facility to flush out demonstrators who have taken cover in the building.

According to Radio Dabanga, the SPA, an umbrella of several professional unions including doctors, lawyers and journalists, urged its members and the people of the Sudan to take part in a peaceful march on 25 December to hand over a petition to the President of the Republic demanding him to step down.

Managing editor of Al Tayar newspaper Mr. Khalid Fatehi said the demonstrations served their full purpose given the participation of a large number of people despite the fact that the petition was not handed over to the Presidency. He said forces in police uniform fired live bullets on the protesters and pointed out the heavy security and police deployment that turned capital Khartoum into a military zone.

Article 40 of the Sudanese Interim Constitution 2005 provides: The right to peaceful assembly shall be guaranteed; every person shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form or join political parties, associations and trade or professional unions for the protection of his/her interests. The Article guarantees and safeguards the right to peaceful assembly and other rights connected with it, the right to expression, sit-ins and demonstration.

Source: Dabanga Sudan