Sudan locks down Khartoum ahead of planned June 30 'million march'

Protesters in Sudan are expected to flood the streets on June 30, prompting authorities to impose measures days ahead of the event.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab Staff

28 June, 2020

Authorities announced the closure of major roads, crossings and bridges [Getty]

Sudanese authorities on Saturday imposed a lockdown on the capital on Saturday, closing all bridges and crossings across Khartoum for two days in preparation for mass protests on June 30.

Governor Youssef Adam al-Dai announced the closures will cover the 29th and 30th of this month, noting markets as well as commercial and service shops will also be shut, according to a statement published by state news agency SUNA.

The statement also warned legal measures would be taken against those who violate the lockdown measures, urging protesters and citizens to cooperate with security forces.

The move comes after the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) called on citizens to regroup in the capital, saying "let's be loud on the streets again, and let's make the demonstrations on June 30th a prominent new page in the last chapter of the falling regime and its rigged council's drama".

On Saturday, the Sudanese People’s Congress party called on the transitional government, led by Abdullah Hamdok, to submit its resignation.

Read also: A year later, Sudanese raped in massacre wait for justice

Sudan has embarked on a rocky three-year transition involving power sharing between civilians and generals since August 2019, after the military ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in April on the back of months of mass protests against his rule.

The June 30 mass rally coincides with the 30th anniversary of the 1989 coup by al-Bashir.

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