Nine protesters died on Wednesday as a fresh wave of demonstrations against Sudanese military leaders was violently suppressed, continuing protests that have persisted since the October 2021 coup toppled the transitional government.
The Sudanese Central Committee of Doctors reported on its Twitter account that a ninth casualty, whose identity had not been confirmed, died after a stomach wound caused by a gunshot. Earlier, it was stated that two unidentified civilians had died in Omdurman, with two more deaths still awaiting confirmation and few details provided.
As Sudan braces for the March for Millions on June 30 and peaceful activists prepare to challenge the coup leaders, security forces reportedly intensified their violence. The committee noted that the total number of deaths from repression of demonstrations had risen to 112 and emphasized that those who died are the martyrs of the December revolution of 2018, whose memory should endure in history . The group also highlighted that martyrdom remains the flag of the ongoing revolutionary struggle.
Separately, Sudan Resistance Committees Coordination announced the arrest of activist Fati Yaya and Amna Abdel Moneim on Wednesday night for distributing leaflets related to the protests .
No internet access
Internet access across the country faced widespread disruption throughout the day. NetBlocks reported sustained outages beginning at 8:00 am local time, noting that the incidents occurred as demonstrators flooded the streets calling for a civilian government and an end to military rule established after the 2021 coup. Providers, including state operator Sudatel, were affected .
NetBlocks described the outages as a deliberate manipulation of the national network, matching reports from users about service drops across several cities. National connectivity stood at approximately 17% of normal levels, and the restrictions significantly limited on-the-ground organizing. The organization also pointed out that security forces had employed multiple tactics to silence dissent, ranging from internet shutdowns to social media restrictions and telecommunications blockades .
UN refuses to pressure
A spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General voiced concern over the persistent use of force by government security forces in Sudan, urging a free and peaceful expression of dissent. The UN stressed that security forces should protect citizens’ rights to assembly and expression, and support moves toward constitutional order and democratic transition .
Meanwhile, Sudanese officials summoned the UN envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, to protest his remarks urging security forces to respect freedom of expression and refrain from excessive force. The undersecretary of the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs described those comments as biased and unacceptable, asserting that Khartoum respects peaceful demonstration while maintaining its stance on sovereignty .
Protests continued alongside discussions between military leaders, including Abdelfatá al-Burhan, and opposition civil and political groups aiming to resolve the crisis.
The October 2021 coup led to the dismissal of civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, whose reinstatement followed international pressure. He eventually resigned in January in protest of the crackdown on mobilizations and the expulsion of civilian groups from the Executive, which the authorities argued violated state interests .
The transitional government had been formed after an accord between the former military junta that emerged from the 2019 coup against Omar Hassan al-Bashir and various civilian organizations and opposition groups. This administration pursued social and economic reforms and secured a peace agreement with key rebel factions in Darfur and other regions .