Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa, a Sudanese protest leader has noted that demonstrations in the country will continue until the military reverses its recent takeover and hands over the rule of the country to a civilian government.
The Protest Leader, who doubles as a Spokesperson for the Sudanese Professional Association, insisted that those behind the takeover should be held accountable, inspite of the death of 12 protestants during Saturday’s protest.
“It is either the Military ruling with dictatorship and we stand against them every day no matter the killings, detentions and rapes, or they leave the political scene to the people to be responsible for themselves, manage the country the way they want and do what they believe is right.”
Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa
Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa outlined some qualities he believes the country needed in their next leadership. He condemned the military takeover and indicated their preparedness to hold series of demonstrations to drive home their demand for a civilian government.
“A government that the Sudanese revolution agreed on should be formed. A government that consists of skilled people who are not biased towards democracy and human rights and without any elements from the military or the political parties, who can solve the main problems in Sudan.”
Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa
The United Nations (UN) urged Sudan’s generals to reverse their takeover of the country, a day after thousands of people took to the streets in the largest pro-democracy protest since last week’s coup.
Sudan’s Neighbors, South Sudan, also deployed a delegation led by Presidential advisor, Tut Gatluak, to Sudan to mediate between the military and the civilian leaders.
Gatluak met with Burhan and stated that he would meet with Abdalla Hamdok, the deposed Prime Minister, who remained under house arrest in the capital Khartoum, as part of his mediation efforts.
Saturday’s Protest
Mass protests dubbed, ‘Marches of Millions’ took place on Saturday, October 30, after resistance committees and activist networks were against the military with marches and banners – defying the military coup and the detention campaign of the armed forces against activists and political figures. Hundreds of protesters were wounded and several were killed as security forces used heavy fire, according to witnesses.
Eyewitnesses explained that military forces fired heavily in Khartoum, Omdurman, and East Nile, causing deaths and injuries among protesters.
Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa, a Sudanese protest leader leading the protest
According to the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, the number of victims of the demonstrations against the military coup has risen to at least 12 dead and hundreds wounded. Others estimate the number of deaths to be higher.
However, the Sudanese police denied the report that suggest its forces use live ammunition against protesters.
The Sudan Coup
Sudan has been ruled by an uneasy alliance between the military and civilian groups since 2019. But on Monday, October 25, the military effectively took control, dissolving the power-sharing Sovereign Council and transitional government, and temporarily detaining Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Sudan’s top general, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, averred that the agreement with civilian members of the country’s transitional sovereign council ‘became a conflict’ over the past two years, “threatening peace and unity” in Sudan. Several articles of the constitution was suspended and state governors removed.
PM Hamdok and his wife, as well as multiple government ministers and officials, were detained. This sparked a fierce protest up to date.
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