People attend a march during a protest against military rule following last month's coup in Khartoum. Reuters
People attend a march during a protest against military rule following last month's coup in Khartoum. Reuters
People attend a march during a protest against military rule following last month's coup in Khartoum. Reuters
People attend a march during a protest against military rule following last month's coup in Khartoum. Reuters

Sudan releases nine medics arrested during crackdown on protests


  • English
  • Arabic

Sudan released nine medics from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Tuesday, the aid group said.

The medics were arrested on Monday during a response to protests in Sudan.

"During the evening of 24 January, nine MSF staff members were detained by the Sudanese authorities in the capital Khartoum," the group said in a statement.

The medics were detained as they were making their way back to their office from a hospital, according to the organisation.

"MSF's emergency medical teams are working in Khartoum to support the health authorities with their response to injuries from ongoing protests and Covid-19," the statement said.

Among those arrested were staff members from both Sudan and other countries, according to the pro-democracy Central Committee of Sudan Doctors.

Sudan has been rocked by protests calling for civilian rule since an October 25 military coup led by General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan.

  • A man flashes the victory sign during a protest in Khartoum to denounce the October 2021 military coup in Sudan. AP
    A man flashes the victory sign during a protest in Khartoum to denounce the October 2021 military coup in Sudan. AP
  • The UN said it would hold talks in Sudan to try to set the country's transition to democracy back on track. AP
    The UN said it would hold talks in Sudan to try to set the country's transition to democracy back on track. AP
  • A Sudanese man , in the capital Khartoum holds a poster that reads in Arabic: ‘No to the use of live bullets against the unarmed’ during a protest against the October 2021 military coup. AFP
    A Sudanese man , in the capital Khartoum holds a poster that reads in Arabic: ‘No to the use of live bullets against the unarmed’ during a protest against the October 2021 military coup. AFP
  • A Sudanese woman carries a child during a protest against the October 2021 military coup. AFP
    A Sudanese woman carries a child during a protest against the October 2021 military coup. AFP
  • The coup on October 25, led by army chief General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, derailed a power-sharing transition between the military and civilians that had been painstakingly established after longtime dictator Omar Al Bashir was removed in 2019. AFP
    The coup on October 25, led by army chief General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, derailed a power-sharing transition between the military and civilians that had been painstakingly established after longtime dictator Omar Al Bashir was removed in 2019. AFP
  • People chant slogans during a protest to denounce the coup. AP
    People chant slogans during a protest to denounce the coup. AP
  • A Sudanese man carries the national flag during an anti-coup demonstration. AFP
    A Sudanese man carries the national flag during an anti-coup demonstration. AFP
  • People chant slogans during a protest to denounce the military takeover. AP
    People chant slogans during a protest to denounce the military takeover. AP
  • Sudanese protesters walk past burning tyres during a rally. AFP
    Sudanese protesters walk past burning tyres during a rally. AFP
  • A mask-clad Sudanese protester attends a demonstration. AFP
    A mask-clad Sudanese protester attends a demonstration. AFP

The military takeover derailed a power-sharing transition between the military and civilians that had been painstakingly negotiated after longtime autocrat Omar Al Bashir was ousted in 2019.

The crackdown on anti-coup demonstrations has left at least 76 people dead and hundreds wounded, according to the doctors' committee.

Hundreds of people have also been rounded up in the crackdown, including pro-democracy activists.

On Saturday, a leading women's rights campaigner, Amira Othman, was arrested following a raid on her home in Khartoum, according to a statement by the "No to Women's Oppression" initiative that she leads.

Other activists from the "resistance committees", informal groups which have been instrumental in organising the anti-coup protests, were also detained late Sunday, according to members who requested anonymity because they feared reprisals.

Crackdown slammed by US

The US has slammed the protest crackdown. On Tuesday, the US Bureau of African Affairs said Sudan's military leaders had committed to dialogue to resolve the crisis in the country during a visit last week by senior US diplomats to Khartoum.

"Yet their actions – more violence against protesters, detention of civil society activists – tell a different story, and will have consequences," the bureau said on Twitter.

US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, on Tuesday met in Cairo with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who reiterated his country's support for a UN-led dialogue between Sudanese factions.

Sudan is one of the world's poorest countries and has seen vital foreign aid cut as part of the international community's condemnation of the coup.

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Cashew%0D%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202020%0D%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Ibtissam%20Ouassif%20and%20Ammar%20Afif%0D%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%0D%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%2410m%0D%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Mashreq%2C%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO

Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday 

Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD

Updated: January 26, 2022, 7:10 AM