Sudan coup 2021: Live updates
Live Updates
Protesters were defiant on the streets of Sudan on Tuesday demonstrating against a military coup, as international condemnation of the country's security forces ramped up with the UN Security Council expected to meet later.
"Returning to the past is not an option," chanted the crowds, who remained outside despite soldiers opening fire and reportedly killing up to seven people.
The UN demanded detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's "immediate release," while diplomats in New York told AFP the Security Council was expected to meet to discuss the crisis on Tuesday.
The United States has said it is pausing $700m in emergency assistance funds for Sudan as a result of the military takeover, and called for a return to the democratic transition.
"In light of these developments, the United States is pausing assistance from the $700 million in emergency assistance appropriations of economic support funds for Sudan," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a news conference.
Price noted that the funds were meant to assistance Sudan in its democratic transition and said Washington is evaluating its next steps for approaching the country.
Footage shows military forces and vehicles deployed in the streets of Khartoum on Monday after a state of emergency was declared.
Some members of the armed forces were seen showing and beating passersby with sticks.
The Sudanese Doctors' Committee has confirmed the death of a third protester on Monday evening.
The committee added that the protester was killed by a gunshot fired by pro-military forces.
Scores of demonstrators have been reportedly wounded so far while denouncing the military takeover.
Sudan has been caught once again in turmoil on Monday following a military coup against the country’s civilian leadership, the latest threat to the country’s fragile democratic transition two-and-a-half years after a popular uprising unseated longstanding ruler Omar al-Bashir.
Middle East Eye answers your questions on the developing situation, as well as the tensions that have built up in the country since 2019, leading to the latest events.
Two people have been shot and killed by Sudanese armed forces, while at least 80 have been wounded, according to the Sudanese Doctors' Committee.
Speaking to a surgeon at Khartoum's Royal Care hospital in Khartoum, Channel 4's Yousra Elbaghir tweeted: "he says live ammunition being fired around the hospital.
"As I was speaking to him, a patient was arrested and he had to get off the call."
The US government is "deeply alarmed" by reports of a military takeover in Sudan, which is contrary to the will of the country's people, the White House said on Monday, Reuters reported.
"We reject the actions by the military and call for the immediate release of the prime minister and others who have been placed under house arrest," said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre.
The Sudanese Doctors Committee has posted an update about wounded protesters to its Facebook page. It said that one person had a serious abdominal injury and eight others with wounds were in a stable condition, without giving further details.
Reuters reported that gunshots had been heard. Sudan's information ministry said on Facebook earlier that the military had fired live rounds at protesters, without giving further details.
Unconfirmed videos circulating on social media showed men in military fatigues beating civilians with sticks.
The US embassy in Khartoum earlier tweeted that it had received reports of "armed forces... blocking certain areas in and around Cairo."
Sudanese Foreign Minister Maryam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi said on Monday: "We reject any coup."
"We will resist by peaceful means," she added, in an interview with Al Mayadeen.
Pictures from Reuters and AFP show protesters, including children, blocking roads with burning tyres in response to a coup attempt on Monday.
Internet services in Sudan have been "severely disrupted" since military forces arrested the country's prime minister in an overnight raid and declared a state of emergency early on Monday, a UK-based internet monitor said.
NetBlocks, which is based in London, said that connectivity had flatlined to 24 percent, the "most severe blackout" since security forces killed more than 100 civilians during pro-democracy protests in June 2019.
The monitor said that data it had collected on Monday corroborated reports of network disruptions that appeared to be "consistent with an internet shutdown".
"The disruption is likely to limit the free flow of information online and news coverage of incidents on the ground," NetBlocks said in a statement.
Amr Magdi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, warned that there should be concern over the internet connectivity drop.
'When governments (military indeed) cut Internet, bloodshed should be feared imminent[ly]," Magdi tweeted. "No good people rule in the dark."
The UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the release of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and all other detained officials.
In a tweet he wrote: "I condemn the ongoing military coup in Sudan. There must be full respect for the constitutional charter to protect the hard-won political transition."
Earlier, the European Union condemned the detention of Hamdok and other cabinet members.
"We call on the security forces to immediately release those they have unlawfully detained," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
The African Union announced on Monday that it has yet again suspended Sudan from the bloc.
In June 2019 it suspended Sudan until it established a civilian-led Transitional Authority. The country was then reinstated that September.
Protesters continue to gather and demonstrate, with more pro-democracy groups calling on people to reject the coup.
The University of Khartoum professors union announced it would use civil disobedience and called on Sudanese people to participate and "use all nonviolent methods of resistance”.
AFP published the following photos:
