The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Chief on Thursday condemned the killing of at least 39 people by Sudanese security forces since the military coup took place in the country in October, reported The Middle East Monitor.
Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said 15 people lost their lives on Wednesday during protests in Khartoum, Khartoum-Bahri, and Omdurman.
“Following our repeated appeals to the military and security authorities to refrain from the use of unnecessary and disproportionate force against demonstrators, it is utterly shameful that live ammunition was again used yesterday against protesters,” the UN Human Rights Chief said.
She said firing at unarmed protesters was aimed at suppressing the expression of public dissent, and amounts to gross violations of international human rights law.
At least 15 people were killed during the crackdown on Wednesday, taking the total death toll since the coup to 39, according to medics. More than 100 others were injured, including 80 who sustained gunshots on their upper bodies and heads, the UN rights office said.
The Sudanese Police had issued a statement that 89 officers had been injured on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the anti-coup supporters vowed to step up protests after Wednesday’s crackdown, risking more confrontation as the junta shows no sign of backing down.
Sudanese military chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency last month and dissolved the transitional Sovereign Council and government amid rival protests and accusations between the military and civilian politicians in the country.
Al-Burhan claims that his measures were aimed at protecting the country from imminent danger. He also reappointed himself as the head of the new Sovereign Council, the interim governing body.
The UN Human Rights head appealed to the Sudanese authorities to release all those who were detained during the coup for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
