Protests over rising bread prices broke out in Sudan’s capital and spread across cities to the south on Sunday, witnesses said, as authorities arrested a prominent opposition leader and confiscated newspapers in a drive to curb growing unrest.

The demonstrations followed a similar protest in the southeastern city of Sennar on Saturday, after bread prices doubled in recent days following a government announcement late last month that it was eliminating subsidies in its 2018 budget.

In the southeastern city of al-Damazin, police fired tear gas on Sunday as about 400 demonstrators chanted “No, no to price rises!” and some burned tyres, a local resident told Reuters.

The removal of subsidies is part of austerity measures as the country struggles in the face of inflation running at about 25 percent and an acute shortage of hard currency that has sapped import activity.

Sudan has seen sporadic public protests in the past few years against austerity measures. In 2013, up to 185 people may have been killed, according to Amnesty International, during demonstrations against fuel price increases when thousands took to the streets.

Protests since then have been much smaller and the main opposition parties have called for peaceful demonstrations against the bread price hikes.

Protests spread to downtown Khartoum on Sunday as well as three cities to the south; the southwestern cities of Nyala and Geneina; as well as al-Damazin, residents in these areas told Reuters.

Authorities arrested Omar Al-Dageir, the president of one of the country’s largest opposition groups, the Sudanese Congress Party, party members said. Authorities also blocked the sale of six daily newspapers carrying critical coverage of the subsidy cut and price rises, editors of the papers told Reuters.

The ministry of interior could not be reached for comment.

Sudan has begun a series of economic reforms in line with International Monetary Fund recommendations to try and get the economy back on track, months after a U.S. decision to lift sanctions raised hopes that badly needed investment may return.

This month Sudan devalued its pound currency to 18 per U.S. dollar, more than double its previous peg of 6.7 pounds to the dollar. The rate on the black market hit around 29 pounds to the dollar last week.

(REUTERS)

 

 

 

 

Police clash with Sudan protesters following soaring bread prices

 

Police in Sudan clashed with protesters on Sunday in the capital Khartoum and other areas after anger erupted after bread prices more than doubled this week.

Flour manufacturers raised prices amid dwindling wheat supplies after the government halted grain imports and instead allowed private companies to do so.

Anti-riot police fired tear gas at stone-throwing students outside Khartoum University, an AFP correspondent reported. Others have blocked off roads and burned tires.

Similar protests erupted in war-torn areas of Darfur and Blue Nile states, witnesses said.

“No, no to high bread prices!” chanted students and residents in the Blue Nile town of Damazin, witnesses said.

Similar chants were heard at rallies in the Darfur towns of Nyala and Geneina.

Pictures and videos of protests were quickly uploaded to social media sites.

“The price of bread is only rising in Nyala because many bakeries closed due to the shortage of flour,” one resident told AFP by telephone.

A government official in Nyala said the situation there was under control.

“Police have dispersed the protesters. Our security forces are ready to deal with any disturbances,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Bread prices have almost tripled after the cost of flour surged to 450 Sudanese pounds ($25) for a 50-kilo (110-pound) sack from 167 pounds.

Leading opposition groups called for anti-government protests in response to the price rise.

Earlier on Sunday, security agents seized the print runs of six newspapers after they criticised the government over the rising cost of bread.

“No reason was given for confiscating copies of our newspaper, but I think it was due to our transparent coverage of the food price rise,” said Hanadi al-Sidiq, editor of Akhbar al-Watan.

Its entire run seized along with al-Tayar, al-Mustagilla, al-Karar, al-Midan and al-Assayha newspapers.

Sudanese media are often targeted over their reporting, while the country ranks near the bottom of international press freedom rankings.

Sporadic protests erupted in late 2016 after the government cut fuel subsidies.

Dozens of people were killed in 2013 when large demonstrations were crushed by a brutal crackdown by government forces.