Demonstrators fly the Sudanese flag as they mark the third anniversary of the uprising that deposed the government of Omar Al Bashir, in the capital Khartoum. All photos: AFP
Protesters fill a road in northern Khartoum. The rallies are a continuation of protests against October's military takeover in the country. AFP
Demonstrators rally against Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, who dismissed a civilian-led government and placed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok under house arrest. Mr Hamdok was later reinstated as prime minister. AFP
Demonstrators gather in northern Khartoum. Street protests following the October takeover left at least 44 protesters dead and hundreds injured.
Although Mr Hamdok has been restored as prime minister, this has failed to stop protests against October's military intervention. AFP
A demonstrator waves a Sudanese flag at a rally in northern Khartoum.
Demonstrators set tyres alight in northern Khartoum. Organisers expected hundreds of thousands to take part in the protests. Authorities closed bridges and deployed hundreds of troops. AFP
Protesters in northern Khartoum. Demonstrators were expected march on the presidential palace.
Sudanese demonstrators march in Khartoum. Roads leading to military headquarters and the presidential palace were reported to have been sealed off by government forces. AFP
Sudan's army chief and coup leader, Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, issued a decree on Sunday authorising security forces and agencies to carry out home searches, surveillance and detention of suspects under the state of emergency he declared when he seized power two months ago.
The decree, a copy of which was seen by The National, also grants immunity from prosecution to members of the security forces and agencies while carrying out these duties.
Their validity of the additional powers will cease when the state of nationwide emergency is lifted, according to the decree, a senior security official familiar with the matter said.
The wide-ranging powers given to the security forces and agencies on Sunday come as Gen Al Burhan's military rule is being met with growing opposition from pro-democracy groups demanding a civilian government and an end to the military's political role.
At least 48 protesters have been killed and hundreds injured during anti-military rallies held since the October 25 coup, which has been internationally condemned.
Security forces and agencies had similar powers under dictator Omar Al Bashir, who was removed by army generals in April 2019 after four months of street protests against his 29-year rule.
The transitional government that took office after his removal stripped security forces and agencies from these powers, leaving the agencies with the sole task of gathering intelligence and banning police arrests without judicial warrants.
Activists at the weekend said security agents had stormed the homes of pro-democracy activists, detaining an unspecified number. Security agents had detained and later released scores of activists, politicians, journalists, trade union leaders in the weeks that followed the October 25 coup.
Security forces used tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets and live rounds when they confronted tens of thousands of protesters in Khartoum on Saturday. EPA
Medics linked to the pro-democracy movement, meanwhile, said on Sunday that 178 people were injured during anti-military rallies the previous day. Eight of them suffered wounds caused by live rounds.
Sudanese authorities said 58 police officers were injured during the protests and 114 others were detained and would face prosecution.
Witnesses said security forces used tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets and live rounds when they confronted tens of thousands of protesters in Khartoum on Saturday.
The rallies were in protest against the October coup and urging the military to quit politics altogether.
At least 48 protesters have been killed since army chief Gen Al Burhan seized power on October 25. Hundreds have been injured.
Gen Al Burhan says his coup was meant to correct the country’s democratic transition nearly three years after authoritarian ruler Omar Al Bashir was removed. The coup, he maintains, was designed to save Sudan from sliding into civil war.
On Sunday, doctors aligned with the pro-democracy movement said security forces had chased injured protesters into hospitals, where they fired stun grenades and tear gas, and terrorised medical staff attending to the wounded.
They said some of the wounded were injured while in hospital and that security forces acted in a similar way in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.
Thousands of Sudanese protesters rallied two months after a military takeover. AFP
“We call upon the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the European Union, the African Union and all international entities and diplomatic allies to stand by the people of Sudan in their quest for freedom, peace and Justice,” the medics said.
The Forces for Freedom and Change, a pro-democracy alliance of political parties and professional and trade unions, said it had made significant progress in talks to unite all opposition movements in a single “popular front”.
It called for the Sudanese to take part in a new round of rallies against military rule planned for Thursday.
“We value our people’s diligent commitment to face the coup and insist on downing it,” it said.
“We renew our adherence to the slogans of our glorious revolution and the creation of a fully civilian authority. Victory will come even if it takes time to arrive.”
Gen Al Burhan has reinstated Abdalla Hamdok, the prime minister he dismissed and placed under house arrest on October 25. But his decision, on November 21, has fuelled protests and cost the prime minister, a British-educated economist, much of his credibility.
The US and the World Bank, two of Khartoum’s main foreign donors, suspended aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
More recently, the US, Britain and other western powers demanded that authorities investigate reports that women who took part in pro-democracy rallies on December 19 were raped. Members of the security forces are blamed for the assaults.
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m
5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections:
4pm Zabardast
4.35pm Ibn Malik
5.10pm Space Blues
5.45pm Kimbear
6.20pm Barney Roy
6.55pm Matterhorn
7.30pm Defoe
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Scoreline
Switzerland 5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
not be younger than 25 years old
not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season