Sudan Protests V

This post will be continuously updated during the day.

Egyptian journalist Salma Elwardany (@S_Elwardany on Twitter) and blogger/activist Maha El-Senosy (@MimzicalMimz on Twitter and blogs here) was arrested by NISS while covering the protests on the 5th day and taken to an unknown location. Mimz' last tweet today said "just got stopped by NISS in front of jamaa" and Elwardany: "BREAKING: Khartoum state government dissolved, as anti-austerity unrest enters fifth day :Governor."

Update: @MimzicalMimz and @S_Elwardany was released during the afternoon, Wardany was held a bit longer and autorities have yet to determine if she will be deported or not. She lost her work permit in Sudan.

There are reports of hundreds of protesters that have been detained, mistreated and released these last few days. Protesters got their hairs shaved off, they got stripped of their clothes, flogged and left in the sun (which is not warm and nice but hot and extremely scorching) for hours.

Protests are held outside the Sudanese embassy in Cairo and people are chanting "Teer teer ya Bashir" (fly/go Bashir) and "Yasqot 7okm el3askar" (down with military reign). In Dongola, a town in North Sudan, people have joined the demonstrations. Picture below.

There's a call for Friday protests called "Friday haboob" (haboob means sand storm) against Keizan, which is the name for the fundamentalist government that rules the country. The protests are to be held "in mosques and the streets, bridge and neighborhoods" on Friday, June 22nd, after prayers:

Are you in Khartoum? I'm in need of comments/interviews and photos! You can of course be anonymous if you wish.

More here:

- The Guardian, Sudan austerity announcement sparkswidespread protests 
- Reuters, Sudan police disperse austerity protests
- Aljazeera, Student-led #SudanRevolts enters sixth day
- The Washington Post, Anti-regime protests sweep Sudan's capital; hundreds detained, mistreated, then released 
- Ahram Online, Egyptian journalist, Ahram Online colleague Salma El-Wardany, detained in Sudan
- The Seattle Times, Anti-regime protests sweep Sudan's capital

- allAfrica, Sudan Revolt Day 5 - More Arrests and More Victims

- Ahram Online, Egyptian journalist, Ahram Online colleague Salma El-Wardany, detained in Sudan
- Committee to Protect Journalists, Three journalists detained in Sudan over three days

- Blog posts and links on CrowdVoice

Sudan Protests IV

Wednesday morning and the fourth day of protests in Khartoum started with a sand storm and the NISS arrests of activists Najla Sid Ahmed and Mohd Hassan Alim (Boshi) at 7 AM. Their whereabouts unknown. Najla's house was raided and Boshi's mother was injured, Girifna reports. AFP correspondent Simon Martelli, however, was released after having spent a day in custody for covering the demonstrations.

Protests have been reported at University of Khartoum's medical campus at Al Qasr Avenue, Blue Nile University in Sinnar, Jumhoreya street (video below) and Burri.

Update: Apart from other universities in Khartoum, others outside of the capital have joined the protests; Shendi, Obeid and Gezira are among these. In all protests, NCP students (National Congress Party) have joined the security forces with metal rods, machetes, knives and swords, Girifna says. More and more civilians are reported to join the students in the protests.

During early evening, security forces arrested Dr. Kamil Idris, a former presidential candidate and a human rights activist.

Update: Protesters are gathering at an Umma party in Omdurman, where anti-government chants and the word "thawra" (revolution) can be heard. Najla Sid Ahmed is reported to have been released and have joined the party where she bravely continues to document events.

Last update for today: Reports of the resignation of government of state of Khartoum. Professor Mamoun Himida put forth the resignation letter saying that they can't continue due to the government's austerity measures. More about this tomorrow.

More on the story here:

- New York Times,  Sudan: Protests Erupt Over Austerity Measures

- Bloomberg (Salma El Wardany, @s_elwardany), Sudanese Police Fire Tear Gas On Fourth Day Of Protests

- Reuters, Police, protesters clash again in Sudanese capital

- IRIN Africa, SUDAN: Austerity package sparks protests

- Aljazeera: Police clash with protesters in Sudan capital 

- US Department of State, Crackdown on Demonstrators in Sudan
- Girifna Media, Sudan Revolts: a situation analysis