Sudan: 7 Arrested for Students’ Deaths
Seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the killing of student protesters in Sudan’s North Kordofan state.
According to a statement released by Sudan’s Transitional Military Council, a protest rally had been taking place on Monday, 29 July, at a marketplace in the city of El-Obeid when the incident occurred.
It states that six people – of which four were students – were shot to death with live ammunition. Dozens of other protesters were also injured.
Residents say that the students were protesting against fuel and bread shortages in the country, which has been in the midst of a socio-political upheaval.
The alleged perpetrators were identified as members of the controversial militia known as the Rapid Support Forces. They had been providing security for the Sudanese-French Bank located at the marketplace.
The students’ deaths prompted nationwide outrage, which led the military to suspend classes in all schools on Wednesday, 31 July.
The alleged perpetrators have been arrested, and are set to be “handed over to the General Prosecution in North Kordofan to complete investigation and trial procedures.”
