This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
On August 1, 2019, Sudan's government suspended all schools following deadly protests that turned violent. The decision came after security forces opened fire on demonstrators in the city of El-Obeid, killing at least six people, including four students.
The protests, which began in April after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir, have continued with many calling for a transitional civilian government. The Sudanese Transitional Military Council, led by Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has agreed to form a rotating council to govern the country for at least three years.
According to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors (CCSD), the students who died were between the ages of 15 and 17. The UN's child aid agency, UNICEF, has demanded an investigation into the killings and called on all parties to respect the rights of children.
“No child should be buried in their school uniform!,” UNICEF said in a statement. “We urge all those involved in the violence to protect children at all times and keep them out of harm’s way, in line with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Principles,” it added.
Speaking on Sudan's national television station, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said the council was “waiting for the truth to come out” after hearing different accounts of how the shooting started during Monday's protests.
