Omar al-Bashir charged over dead Sudan protesters

Africa World

Mon 13 May 2019:

Sudan’s public prosecutor has charged ousted President Omar al-Bashir with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters. The charges stem from an inquiry into the death of a medic killed during protests that led to the end of his rule last month. Mr Bashir’s fate is unclear. He was reportedly arrested after being ousted. He is also facing an investigation over allegations of money laundering and terror financing. Some Sudanese people will not believe that Mr Bashir is really in trouble for such crimes until they see him in a court, reports the BBC’s Will Ross. In December, protesters started demonstrating against a government decision to triple the price of bread. The protests soon morphed into widespread anger against the president’s 30-year rule, led by doctors.

Five weeks into the protests, on 17 January, witnesses said state forces fired live ammunition at protesters and killed a doctor. He was been treating injured protesters in his home in Khartoum when police fired tear gas into the building. A witness told the BBC that the doctor had walked out with his hands in the air, told the police he was a doctor and was instantly shot. He is one of dozens of people killed during the anti-government protests. The protesters later staged a sit-in outside the military headquarters to demand the military force the president out.

A military council assumed power on 11 April, but demonstrators are insisting that it hands over to a civilian administration. Talks between the military and an opposition coalition have been taking place in an effort to establish a joint transitional body to run the country.

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