Troops shield protesters as Sudan President Omar al-Bashir faces mounting pressure to go
- Since December 19, Sudan has been rocked by protests sparked by the government’s attempt to raise the price of bread, and an economic crisis that has included fuel and cash shortages
- There are signs of growing divisions among security forces that could pose a serious challenge to the repressive rule of the president
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is coming under mounting pressure to step down as three Western nations pushed for a political transition after months of unprecedented protests against his rule.
Thousands of Sudanese protesters remained at the army’s headquarters on Wednesday, where they have been encamped since Saturday.
Crowds of demonstrators continued to throng the sprawling complex through the night, singing and dancing to the tunes of revolutionary songs, witnesses said.
“The night passed peacefully without any incident,” said a protester who had spent the entire night at the complex.
“We believe that the support from the soldiers on the ground and now the police is definitely growing.”
However, Bashir loyalists have called for a support rally for the president on Thursday, and urged all members of the ruling party to take part.
“The National Congress Party’s executive bureau supports the national dialogue partners’ initiative to organise a gathering to be seen by all the people on Thursday,” the acting chief of Bashir’s ruling party, Ahmed Harun, said in a statement.“I call on all members of NCP across the state of Khartoum to participate in this rally.”