KHARTOUM – Benjamin Strick, a journalist with BBC Africa Eye, has been using geo-location techniques to verify the latest footage from the demonstrations in Sudan. The videos give a sense of the scale and the mood of the gatherings.
This is what a Sudanese celebration looks like. Buri Rd at the sit-in site in front of the General Command building (??????? ?????? ?????? ???????) #Khartoum. h/t to Wad Alfateh for footage. Location: https://t.co/CJzjMxHcf9 #????11????? #??????_???????_?????? #SudanUprising pic.twitter.com/Xl8n7E958z
— Benjamin Strick (@BenDoBrown) April 11, 2019
Large crowds moving toward Gen Command area. This is footage from a few minutes ago filmed from Byblos Bank Africa (??? ??????), #Khartoum, crowd is moving east along El Baladiya Ave. Geolocated to here: https://t.co/DQe3zEOG6l #????11????? #??????_???????_?????? #SudanUprising pic.twitter.com/X8U2lCIoGI
— Benjamin Strick (@BenDoBrown) April 11, 2019
Celebrations are not isolated to east #Khartoum, this footage, from a few minutes ago near Kalakla Lafa Market (??? ???????? ?????) in Al-Kalakla shows how proud #Sudan is. Video geolocated here: https://t.co/lNAzjuKEas #????11????? #??????_???????_?????? #SudanUprising pic.twitter.com/opxdquvzbY
— Benjamin Strick (@BenDoBrown) April 11, 2019
Soldiers raid Bashir’s ruling party offices, witnesses say
Some Sudanese soldiers have raided the offices of a group linked to President Omar al-Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party in Khartoum, witnesses told both AFP and Reuters news agencies.
The soldiers have entered the offices of the Islamic Movement, the main component of Sudan’s ruling party.
Khartoum protesters ‘chant the regime has fallen’
Thousands of Khartoum residents chanted “the regime has fallen” as they flooded the area around army headquarters in the Sudanese capital, reports AFP news agency.
They are still waiting for a statement from the army which was promised more than four hours ago.
“We are waiting for big news,” one protester told AFP from the sit-in.
“We won’t leave from here until we know what it is. But we do know that Bashir has to go,” the protester added, referring to President Omar al-Bashir who has been in power since 1989.
Pics of #OmarBashir being ripped from streets. #Sudan
pic.twitter.com/PmTQChj8wN— shaimaa khalil BBC (@Shaimaakhalil) April 11, 2019
Still no word from Sudanese army
There has been no word yet from the army.
Reuters news agency, quoting unnamed sources, have reported that President Omar al-Bashir has stepped down and consultations are underway to set up a transitional council.
They are expected to make an important announcement anytime now on national television and radio as protests demanding the end of President Omar al Bashir’s rule enter the sixth consecutive day.
Huge crowds are still gathered outside the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum and they’ve vowed to leave only when the president resigns.
Patriotic songs have been playing on national radio and the main international airport is now closed.
Calls for a political transition have been gathering momentum.
There have been celebrations on the streets of Khartoum and calls for more people to join protesters gathered outside the army headquarters.
Been speaking to activists and protester in #Khartoum all morning:
-Celebrating but caucious about what the army will say
-It’s not just #OmarAlBashir they want out but whole regime
-Those who took to the streets must be involved in future plans#SudanUprising @bbcworldservice— shaimaa khalil BBC (@Shaimaakhalil) April 11, 2019
