The international rights group, Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday said in a report that fatal attacks on protesters in Sudan were planned and could amount to crimes against humanity, reported
Mass protests triggered by price increases began in Sudan in mid-December 2018. The demonstrations soon turned into protests against long-time president Omar al-Bashir, and his administration. In June, Sudanese security forces’ attacked protesters’ at a sit-in camp outside the military headquarters in central Khartoum. A subsequent attack on protesters took place on June 30 in Omdurman.
According to the protest-aligned Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, more than 100 demonstrators were killed following the raid on the sit-in site, while more than 700 others were reportedly injured in the attack and subsequent days of violence. The Sudanese military put the death toll at 87, including 17 inside the sit-in area.
The report entitled “They Were Shouting ‘Kill Them’’: Sudan’s Violent Crackdown on Protesters in Khartoum” claims that the attack by Sudanese security forces on unarmed protesters was a planned one. As per the report, HRW’s sources estimated that over 120 people were killed on June 3 and in the following days. Hundreds were injured and dozens more are still missing.
The government initially denied being responsible for the attacks, but a government spokesman later apologized for mistakes. In the report, the US-based rights group called on Sudan’s transitional authorities to commit to genuine accountability for the June violence.
“Sudan’s new government needs to show it is serious about holding those responsible for the lethal attacks on protesters to account after decades of violent repression and atrocities against civilians,” said Jehanne Henry, associate Africa director at HRW.
He suggested that the government should hold those responsible for the brutal attacks on protesters, ensuring that the investigations are independent and transparent, and in line with international standards.
