As the United Nations’ deadline for peace talks between Sudan and South Sudan looms ever nearer, Sudan has been plagued by the largest anti-government demonstration the country has seen since austerity measures were implemented in June.
The protest raged on Tuesday as over 1,000 people, mostly students, took to the streets in Darfur in defiance of the new austerity measures which include scrapping fuel subsidies, increasing taxes on luxury goods and a host of others designed to increase the country’s revenue while reducing the $2.4 billion budget deficit caused by the secession of the oil-rich region of South Sudan last year.
Sudan Change Now, a youth activist political movement, reported that 12 people have been killed in clashes with police, claiming that police opened fire on the protesters. Yesterday the group released the names of the twelve deceased, saying that at least five of them were under the age of 18.
A police statement released on the Sudan state news agency SUNA said that police forces had to act, and put the count at eight, not twelve. According to the statement, Sudanese police “exercised the minimum of force needed to control the situation, defend themselves and…protect properties which led to the death of eight citizens.”
While these protests continue, the United Nations’ deadline for negotiations with South Sudan on peace and trade is set to end today. The deadline threatens to impose sanctions, a move that could further threaten Sudan’s stability.
According to the Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, Farhan Haq, talks are currently being held between the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHLIP) and parties from both sides. Once AUHLI concludes its findings they will submit their report to the Security Council, the body responsible for imposing sanctions.
Because the talks are still in progress, Haq believes it is too early to discuss deadline extensions or possible sanctions.
“The Security Council is scheduled to take up the matter on 9 August,” Haq told the Daily News Egypt. “Any reaction from the Security Council depends on the recommendations from the Panel.”
Haq sees the talks as a positive sign.
“With extra political will from the parties, an agreement can be reached,” he said.
When asked what type of sanctions Sudan could face should they not comply with the deadline, Haq explained that such decisions are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. “Each situation,” he stressed, “is unique in that regard.”
The loss of oil revenue from the oil-rich south has sent the nation spiraling into debt, and austerity measures made to combat the rising inflation and deficit has been met with dissent. Amnesty International, citing Sudanese activists, claim that at least 2,000 people have so far been detained by the Sudanese authorities, but the deaths of the protesters are a first since the austerity measures were implemented.
