Scores of Sudan journalists call for free press, expression

Scores of Sudanese journalists gathered in Khartoum yesterday calling for free press and free expression, as well as in support for popular demonstrations calling for the president to step down, Anadolu reported.

According to the news site, the journalists, who gathered in response to a call made by the Network of Sudanese Journalists, chanted for freedom of the press and expression.

Last month, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir imposed a curfew in parts of the country, banned gathering and industrial strikes in the public facilitieJourns and granted the security forces additional powers in an effort to suppress popular protests calling for the end of his rule.

READ: Hundreds protest in Sudan, keep up pressure on Bashir

Sudan’s latest protests were triggered by a government decision to triple bread prices from one Sudanese pound ($0.02) to three Sudanese pounds ($0.063). Food prices have soared since the start of this year after the government stopped state-funded imports of wheat.

The African country has been facing heightened economic uncertainty in recent years with an acute shortage of foreign currency, resulting in the Sudanese pound plunging against the dollar. Despite the US lifting economic sanctions last year, international banks have continued to be wary of doing business with financial institutions.

Since 19 December, acts of violence during the protests have caused the death of 32 people, according to government statistics. Amnesty International, however, declared on 11 February that the number of casualties amounted to 51.

Protests in Sudan – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]