African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
2 August 2012: On 31 July, the Sudanese police and National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) fired live ammunition and tear gas into mass public protests in Nyala, South Darfur. Twelve individuals who had participated in the protests have died from gun shot wounds and wounds caused by sharp weapons. More than eighty other individuals have reportedly been admitted to Nyala hospital having sustained injuries during the protests. A number of those injured are feared to remain in a critical condition. Their health status cannot be verified as police and NISS officers reportedly obstructed attempted visits to Nyala hospital on 1 August.
According to reports received by the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), the police and NISS used machine guns and artillery to shoot at protestors, allegedly with orders to shoot to kill.
The bodies of the following twelve individuals, ten of whom were reportedly under the age of eighteen, were admitted to Nyala city mortuary:
1. Abdulattif Ibrahim, (m), primary school student.
2. Ali Attayb, (m), primary school student.
3. Elhadi Hussein Abdulrahman, (m), 17 years old, resident of the Sikka Hadeed area of Nyala, reportedly shot in the head inside his compound.
4. Hassaballah Mohamed, (m), primary school student.
5. Hawa Abdalla, (f), primary school student.
6. Ibrahim Mohamed Abdulgadir, (m), 36 years old, resident of the Congo area of Nyala.
7. Jamal Ibrahim, (m), 17 years old, resident of the Karary area of Nyala.
8. Mohamed Ali, (m), 16 years old, student.
9. Mohamed Rahma, (m), primary school student.
10. Mujahid Mohamed Ali, (m), 18 years old, resident of the Alwehda area of Nyala.
11. Nour El Deen Jidu, (m), 17 years old, resident of the Texas area of Nyala.
12. Tahani Hussien Abdulnou, (f), 17 years old, resident of the Texas area of Nyala.
Sources at Nyala hospital confirmed that the cause of death in all twelve cases was either gun shot wounds or wounds caused by sharp weapons.
The protests in Nyala on 31 July were staged in response to the rising cost of living, including a recent sharp rise in fuel prices, which had precipitated a public transportation crisis in the city. On 30 July, the Nyala Taxi Owners Union had staged a one-day strike in response to rising fuel prices, which had led to a severe shortage and increase in the costs of public transportation.
The protestors, who were reportedly mostly students under eighteen years of age, chanted slogans against the State Governor and the Government of Sudan, calling for regime change. Thousands of primary and secondary school students, as well as university students, reportedly walked out of their institutions on the morning of 31 July to join the protests. Protestors used burning tyres and stones to close the main roads within the city including the bridge that separates the northern and southern districts of Nyala.
Background
The protests in Nyala are the latest in a wave of mass protests that have taken place in cities throughout Sudan since 16 June, calling for regime change, freedom, peace and justice.
The police and NISS have used excessive force to disperse and arrest protestors, including the reported use of live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas and beatings with sticks and rubber batons. ACJPS previously reported an incident that took place on 29 June when police and NISS officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas and beat individuals attending a protest held after Friday prayers near the Wad Nubawi mosque in Omdurman.
Since 16 June, ACJPS has documented the arbitrary arrest and detention of over 300 individuals. Activists suggest that the number of individuals detained in the wake of the protests has exceeded 1,500.
Throughout this period, ACJPS has received disturbing reports of the arbitrary arrest and detention, ill-treatment and torture of individuals involved or suspected of being involved in the protests. In an apparent attempt to obstruct the coordination of any further protests, NISS has targeted those suspected of leading or coordinating the protests within the youth movements and opposition political parties. Human rights defenders and journalists monitoring and reporting on the protests and subsequent action by the police and NISS have also been targeted.
Recommendations
ACJPS strongly condemns the excessive use of force exercised by Government of Sudan forces in response to recent protests and calls for an immediate, independent and impartial inquiry into the deaths and injuries caused during the protest in Nyala on 31 July and Omdurman on 29 June.
The Government of Sudan must respect the right of Sudanese people to peacefully protest and enjoy the full exercise of their rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression, as recognised in the Interim National Constitution of Sudan, 2005.
Contact: Osman Hummaida, Executive Director of the African Centre For Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)
Phone: +44-7956-095738 (UK)
Email: osman@acjps.org
