Protesters march during a rally against military rule in Khartoum, Sudan, on Tuesday. Reuters
Protesters march during a rally against military rule in Khartoum, Sudan, on Tuesday. Reuters
Protesters march during a rally against military rule in Khartoum, Sudan, on Tuesday. Reuters
Protesters march during a rally against military rule in Khartoum, Sudan, on Tuesday. Reuters

Protester killed in Sudan rallies on military coup anniversary


Hamza Hendawi
  • English
  • Arabic

A protester was killed when he was hit by a security forces vehicle during street rallies in Sudan on Tuesday, a medical group aligned with the opposition said.

The demonstrations marked the first anniversary of the military coup that upended the country’s democratic transition.

The Central Sudan Doctors Association said the victim, Abul Abdel Wahab, 20, died in Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city.

The association is known for thoroughly counting victims of political violence in Sudan in recent years.

"I dream of hearing the last gunfire shot in my country, even if it targets me," Abdel Wahab wrote on Facebook on Monday night.

In another post, he bade farewell to his friends and family and asked for forgiveness if he had wronged any of them.

"Tomorrow will not be new to us," he wrote. "We will wage a battle that history will witness. Remember us if we achieve victory."

Elsewhere in Khartoum, police used tear gas to disperse protesters approaching the Nile-side presidential palace in the heart of the Sudanese capital.

Soldiers and paramilitary units had been posted since early on Tuesday morning in anticipation of the anti-military rallies.

Waving Sudanese flags, the protesters chanted: “Soldiers, go back to the barracks” and “No partnership, no negotiation with the putschists".

Internet monitoring service NetBlocks reported “a nation-scale internet disruption in Sudan” before the protests, a measure often taken in the past by authorities on days when large demonstrations were planned.

Activists say the internet disruptions are designed to hamper attempts by protesters to organise and to help cover up human rights abuses.

At least 119 protesters have now been killed and about 6,000 injured since the coup a year ago. At least 30 people were injured in the last anti-military rallies in Khartoum on Friday.

One year on from Sudan coup - in pictures

The troops also sealed off Nile bridges linking the three towns that make up the Greater Khartoum area — Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman — to prevent large numbers of protesters from gathering.

Authorities also ordered government offices, schools, banks and universities to close for the day.

The resistance committees, grass roots pro-democracy groups, described the demonstrations planned on October 25 as a “million-man protest” and a “continuation of the courageous struggle”.

“It will be staged under the slogan of ‘bring down the coup’ and will head to the presidential palace,” the group said.

The October 25 takeover ended a partnership between the military and the pro-democracy forces behind mass street protests in late 2018 and early 2019 that toppled dictator Omar Al Bashir’s 29-year rule.

A vast nation of 44 million people, Sudan has experienced unrest in its outlying regions since the takeover, including in the Blue Nile and Darfur regions.

The deadly violence has left at least 600 dead since January and displaced tens of thousands, the UN reported.

Sudan has also been gripped by the worst economic crisis in living memory after the West suspended billions of dollars’ worth of aid and debt forgiveness following the takeover.

Sudan's military ruler Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan has said the takeover was necessary to spare Sudan from civil war. AP
Sudan's military ruler Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan has said the takeover was necessary to spare Sudan from civil war. AP

It is suffering from three-digit inflation and chronic food shortages, with a third of its population now experiencing hunger — a rise of 50 per cent over 2021, according to the World Food Programme.

The cost of food staples has also soared by 137 per cent in one year, which the WFP says has forced Sudanese to spend “more than two thirds of their income on food alone, leaving little money to cover other needs”.

Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, the army chief who led the military takeover and is now the head of state, insists that it was necessary to spare the country from civil war and restore the prestige of the armed forces.

But Gen Al Burhan has so far failed to form a government.

His repeated assertions that the military was prepared to step aside and let civilians name a head of state and a prime minister have been hedged by his suggestions that the army would remain as the source of ultimate power in Sudan, assuming the role of guardian and protector of the nation.

The general has also moved or chose not to challenge the reinstatement of thousands of Al Bashir supporters in government jobs and the judiciary from which they were purged.

He has also allowed them to engage in political activity, in what is widely interpreted as a reversal of the uprising against the dictator.

Gen Al Burhan has also dismissed a state, post-uprising commission mandated to dismantle Al Bashir's legacy.

if you go

The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip 
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles. 

MATCH INFO

Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)

Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Klipit%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venkat%20Reddy%2C%20Mohammed%20Al%20Bulooki%2C%20Bilal%20Merchant%2C%20Asif%20Ahmed%2C%20Ovais%20Merchant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Digital%20receipts%2C%20finance%2C%20blockchain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Privately%2Fself-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Super 30

Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday

Second leg

Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm

Game is on BeIN Sports

HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW

Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2

Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC

Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

Updated: October 25, 2022, 10:10 PM`