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Sudan to establish emergency prosecutions 

February 27, 2019 at 9:17 am

Sudanese protesters attend an anti-government demonstration in the capital Khartoum on 14 February 2019 [AFP/Getty Images]

Sudanese Attorney General Omar Ahmed Mohamed issued an order yesterday to establish emergency prosecutions across the country.

On Monday, Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir issued emergency orders empowering security forces to search any building, restrict the movement of people and public transport, arrest persons suspected of involvement in crime and seize assets or property during investigations.

Al-Bashir’s orders also banned reducing the standing of the state and any symbols of its sovereignty or any of its public institutions or employees by any means or action. Furthermore, unauthorised public gatherings were prohibited.

Since 19 December, Sudanese cities have been witnessing protests against rising prices and cash shortages, the demonstrations quickly turned to calls for President Al-Bashir to step down after his nearly three-decade rule. Protests were accompanied by violence in which around 32 people were killed, according to the latest government release, although Amnesty International put the number at closer to 51.

READ: Is the 30-year rule of Sudan’s President Al-Bashir coming to an end?

Protests in Sudan - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

Protests in Sudan – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]