North Kordofan: Urgent call to investigate the killing of six peaceful protesters including 3 minors in El Obeid.

(2 August 2019) The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) calls on the international community to urgently investigate the killing of six peaceful protesters that occurred on 29 July 2019 in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, Sudan. The international community, including the United Nations Human Rights Council should urgently set up an independent and impartial commission to ensure an immediate and effective investigation into the full scale of the killing, identify those responsible, and recommend ways to hold them accountable.

On 29 August 2019, more than 500 high school students across El-Obeid participated in a peaceful protest denouncing the shortage of fuel and bread in the state which has caused a hike in costs of public transport from 2 to 3 Sudanese Pounds per passenger and long queues in front of bakeries.

The peaceful protest started at about 7:30 a.m in Kerima market after hundreds of students found themselves stranded at the bus station as many were unable to afford the new bus fares. The students gathered in the market and started chanting, “no transport, no bread” as they peacefully marched along the streets of El Obeid.

According to a reliable source, the government-backed Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) started firing gun shots in the air as protesters approached the Sudanese French Bank. The student protesters ignored the gun shots and continued with their peaceful march. A few minutes later, the RSF indiscriminately fired live ammunition at the students killing five people instantly, including three minors. Another male adult was shot when he tried moving closer to talk to the RSF. ACJPS was informed that after the gun shots, some members of the Sudanese Armed Forces joined in to whip the student protesters with sticks, lashes, wood and iron bars.

The ACJPS has obtained the following details of the deceased:

1. Ahmed Abdul Whab (m), 15 years old, a student at Abdul Hussein Jafar high school
2. Hassan Saad (m), 17 years old, student at Al-Obied Industrial high school
3. Mohamed Al-Fatih (m), 17 years old, a student at Ismail Alwali high school
4. Badur Eldien Abdulla Ismail (m), 23 years, a student at Heath Academic
5. Ahmed Abdul Karein (m), 40 years old
6. Younies Adam Younies Malla (m), 45 years old, he was shot while asking RSF forces to stop shooting at the crowd. He was a businessman in El-Obied

Reports indicate that at least sixty-two people suffered injuries from the gunshot wounds, teargas and whipping. Most of the injured were taken to different hospitals in El Obeid including Health Insurance hospital, Primary Hospital, Extra Care hospital and Alawia Yassin Hospital whilst four were transferred to Khartoum for medical care.

On 30 July, the Chairperson of the Transitionary Military Council (TMC), Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan condemned the killing in El Obeid and ordered the Governor of North Kordofan, Al-Sadiq Al-Tayeb Abdalla to establish a committee to investigate the incident. Mr Al-Sadiq Al-Tayeb Abdalla has issued a decree declaring a night time curfew in the state from 9 pm to 6 am. Local authorities have also issued a decision suspending classes at all schools in the state until further notice.

The massacre in El Obeid has stirred anger and protests across Sudan. On 30 July 2019, thousands of students took to the streets in Khartoum, and cities across the country demanding for justice for students killed and injured. The Sudanese Professional Association has also called on Sudanese to take to the streets to denounce the El Obeid massacre and demand that perpetrators be brought to justice.

On 2 August 2019, the TMC stated nine members of the RSF have been arrested and dismissed from service following their actual or suspected participation in the massacre and that the office of the prosecutor general will be considering charges against them. We urge that all perpetrators should be held to account, including the commanders.

The enjoyment of freedom to peaceful assembly, association and expression by Sudanese citizens is very crucial for the transition into a new regime and a civilian government. We urge Sudanese authorities to respect these rights which are guaranteed in the Constitution and International treaties ratified by Sudan.

ACJPS also reiterates its calls to the Transitional Military Council to;

• Respect citizen’s legitimate demands for democracy
• Offer free treatment and rehabilitation for all those injured by security forces during protests since December 2018.
• Remove all militias, including the Rapid Support forces and child soldiers from towns of Sudan.

 Background

In December 2018, thousands of Sudanese including the opposition, activists, students and professional groups launched nationwide protests against mounting economic hardships and long-term leader al-Bashir.

On 11 April 2019, the Sudanese army ousted al-Bashir but the protests continued as shortages of fuel and basic commodities persisted. Until June 2019, pro-democracy protesters kept up their demonstrations, pressing for the military to quickly cede power to a civilian authority and calling for justice for people killed protesters.

Following the massacre in El Obeid, the Alliance for Freedom and Change Forces, an umbrella group of the opposition and protests leaders postponed scheduled negotiations with the TMC over plans to create a civilian government and they demanded an independent investigation into the killings.

Annex:

List of Injured people

ACJPS has obtained details of the following people injured;

1. Adam Omer Eltigani (f)
2. Ahmed Elnoor (m)
3. Al-Hafiz Adam Abakar (m), 26 years old, shot in the left side of the body.
4. Arafa Salah Bashir Al-Sanwsie (f), 17 years old, shot in the stomach.
5. Awatif Abdul Aziz (f)
6. Aymen Abdul Rahman (m), 17 years old, shot in the chest.
7. Buthina Musa (f)
8. Elnoor Taha (m)
9. Elteyeb Emad Jar Al-Nabie (m), shot in the head.
10. Fatima Dai Elnour (f)
11. Gasan Salah Eldien (m), 15 years old, shot in the joint of the right foot.
12. Hadil Al-Aagib (f)
13. Hadil Moahmed Al-Aliem(f), sustained injuries from whipping
14. Hihad Ahmed Hussien (f), 17 years old
15. Husham Adam Mohamed (m)
16. Islam Mohamed Abbas (f)
17. Isra Omer (f)
18. Jad Kariem Yousef Hamid (m), 15 years old, shot in the head.
19. Malaz Mahadi (f)
20. Malaz Mudawi(f)
21. Marawa Hassan (f)
22. Mohamed Al- Hadi (m), 17 years old, shot in the head.
23. Mohamed Hamid (m), 18 years old, shot in the right leg
24. Mohamed Khalid (m), 15 years old, shot in the stomach.
25. Mohamed Mahmoud Al-Obied(m), 40 years old, shot in the right side of the chest.
26. Mohamed Nasur Eldien (m) 14 years old, injured in the head with breaks.
27. Mohamed Sidiq (m), 14 years old, injured in the left shoulder with an iron bar.
28. Mohamed Taj Elsir (m), 24 years old, shot in the chest
29. Musaab Adil (m), 16 years old, shot in the right feet.
30. Najat Alterifie(f), 18 years old, sustained injuries from whipping with sticks
31. Nasrieen Mohamed (f)
32. Nasrieen Mohamed Abdallah (f)
33. Omer Suleiman(m)
34. Rabaah Elfatih (f)
35. Remaaz Abdul Gaioum (f)
36. Remaaz Abdul Nasir (f)
37. Ruaa Atif (f)
38. Sabah Khalil(f)
39. Sadia Suleiman (f)
40. Saleh Ibrahim Saleh (m), 19 years old, shot in the chest.
41. Salma Abdul Haie Bakhit (f), 15 years old, shot in the head and right hand.
42. Sara Bashir Taha (f), 38 years old, injured to the head with breaks.
43. Sujood Musa (f)
44. Suleiman Abdulla Elbagir (m), 18 years old, shot in the left feet.
45. Tagwa Ismail Mahmoud (f), 17 years old, shot in both of her feet.
46. Tasineem Abakar Adam (f), 18 years old, shot in the back.
47. Um Salma Eltigani (f)
48. Umnia Mohamed Hilal (m), 15 years old, shot in the head and shoulder.
49. Yassin Adam Ali (m), 16 years old, shot in the leg
50. Younies Adam Younies (m), 38 years old, shot in the head.
51. Zinab Mohammed(f)
52. Amna Alzain (f), 17 years old.
53. Awadai Jad Khalil(f).
54. Eshraga Daw Al-Biet (f), 20 years old
55. Manal Badawi (f)
56. Marwa Mohamed Jawdat Allah (f)
57. Ruaa Elsharif (f), 17 years old
58. Safa Abu Bakar (f)
59. Tarteel Hummida (f)
60. Tasabieh Mohamed (f), 19 years old

Contact:

Mossaad Mohamed Ali, Executive Director, African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS. (English, Arabic, Swedish): +46764325862