(Photo: by Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic  Times)   Sudanese woman wearing the colors of her flag’s homeland Sudan at protest in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the United Nations Headquarters in NY City  March 14, 2019, calling attention to the role of Women in the uprising, many of whom were arrested, and some faced the death penalty. 

By  Atwine Allen   –    DIPLOMATIC TIMES   CORRESPONDENT

KAMPALA,  UGANDA   –    Deadly violence erupted in Sudan with security forces killing at least 7 protesters on Thursday during rallies on the anniversary of the uprising against the military leadership that  seized power eight months  ago.  In central  Khartoum, security forces  fired tear gas and water cannon  to prevent the massive crowds from marching towards the presidential palace, witnesses said. The international community has called  on Sudanese military leaders to restore the civilian-led government. The protesters mark the third anniversary of huge demonstrations during the uprising that overthrew long-time autocratic ruler  Omar al-Bashir and led to a power -sharing arrangement between civilian groups and the military.  Last October, the military led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan toppled the transitional government, triggering rallies that have called on the army to quit politics.  June 30th also marks the day Barshir took power in coup in 1989. ” Either we get to the presidential palace and remove al-Burhan or we won’t  return  home,” said a 21-year old female student protesting in Bahri, according to news reports.  The international community had strongly condemned killings and rapes of pro-democracy protestors by government security forces before the latest killing.

The United Nations enjoy in Sudan, Volker Perthes, called this week on authorities to abide by a pledge to protect the right  of peaceful assembly.  ” Violence against protesters will not be tolerated,” he said. Mediation efforts led by the United Nations and the African Union have so far yielded little progress.