Sudan

The authorities in Blue Nile state in south-eastern Sudan say 105 people are now known to have died in days of ethnic clashes over access to land.

The state health minister told the French news agency the situation was now calm but there was a big challenge to settle those displaced.

The UN says 15,000 have had to leave their homes in Blue Nile and many are sheltering in schools.

It said that across Sudan, more than 14 million people now needed life-saving assistance, but there was a huge shortfall in aid.

The Blue Nile violence has prompted street protests in cities across Sudan, two of which imposed curfews earlier this week.

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Sudan has reopened a key border crossing with Ethiopia that it closed last month after accusing Ethiopia of executing seven of its soldiers.

A statement by the technical committee of Sudan’s Defence and Security Council said the decision was taken after Sudan and Ethiopia's leaders agreed to solve “the problems that erupt at the border areas of the two countries and in return for the goodwill measures shown by the Ethiopian side to prevent the infiltration of armed elements into Sudanese territory”.

The council added that Sudanese security forces would “intensify” patrols to prevent the movement of armed elements across the border that was re-opened on Sunday.

Sudan’s military ruler Lt Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met earlier this month in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, amid the crisis.

The Gallabat border crossing was closed on 27 June after Sudan accused Ethiopia of executing seven soldiers.

Khartoum vowed to respond to the killings but Addis Ababa rejected the allegation as false.

Sudan and Ethiopia are embroiled in a protracted dispute over the agriculturally-rich al-Fashaga region.

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Police in Sudan on Sunday fired tear gas at anti-coup protesters in the capital, Khartoum.

The city has been the scene of regular demonstrations since the head of the army, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, took power in October last year, derailing a transition to civilian rule.

The security forces had erected road blocks on bridges on the Nile river linking Khartoum to its suburbs, to try to prevent protesters gathering.

Earlier this month, General Burhan vowed to make way for a civilian government, but civilian opposition groups rejected his move, calling it a ruse.

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The health ministry in Sudan says 60 people are now known to have died during clashes sparked by a land dispute in the south of the country.

Many others have been hurt.

Hospitals have appealed for blood donations.

The violence between the Berti and Hawsa communities in Blue Nile state erupted last Monday.

Soldiers were deployed to contain the unrest and a night-time curfew has been imposed.

The UN Special representative for Sudan has called on local communities to exercise restraint.

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An overnight curfew was in two towns in Sudan, following several days of ethnic clashes which have killed at least 31 people and injured dozens of others.

Soldiers have been deployed to control the violence, which was sparked by a land dispute between the Berti and Hawsa in the south-eastern Blue Nile state.

Dozens of people have been displaced and several shops have been set on fire during the unrest, which began on Monday.

Despite the curfews, witness reports suggest that fighting continued in one of the towns - Roseires.

The UN Special representative for Sudan has called on local communities to exercise restraint.

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Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the military leader of neighbouring Sudan Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have agreed to peacefully settle the long-running border dispute that has led to armed clashes.

The talks between the two leaders follow the recent flare-up in the volatile fertile border region of al-Fashaga claimed by both countries.

Sudan had accused Ethiopian forces of capturing and killing Sudanese troops there, a claim Ethiopia denied.

"We have both agreed that our two countries have plenty of collaborative elements to work on peacefully," Mr Abiy said in a Twitter post, accompanied by a picture of the two leaders.

"Our common bonds surpass any divisions. We both made a commitment for dialogue & peaceful resolution to outstanding issues," he wrote.

Gen Burhan later said in a statement that the meeting had been "fruitful and extremely successful".

The two leaders held talks on the sidelines of a meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), a seven-country regional body, in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Sudan's coup leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have held talks in a bid to avert an escalation of the dispute between the two countries following recent clashes in a contested border area.

In a tweet, Mr Abiy said they had both committed to dialogue to resolve any differences:

Both leaders were in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for a summit of the regional body, Igad.

The African Union, the UN and Igad had all voiced alarm over escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Officials in Khartoum accused the Ethiopian army of capturing seven Sudanese soldiers in the disputed al-Fashaga border area. Addis Ababa denied the accusation.

Tensions have increased in recent years after Ethiopia's decision to build a huge dam on the River Nile.

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More on this topic:

• Viewpoint: Why Ethiopia and Sudan have fallen out over al-Fashaga

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Pro-democracy campaigners in Sudan have reacted with caution to a promise by the country's military leader to hand power to a civilian government.

Activists said General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had reneged on similar commitments in the past.

The general has not given a timeline for the transition.

One campaigner told the BBC he wanted Gen Burhan to step down now.

Some are also calling for military leaders to face justice for the more than 100 protesters killed since the coup in October.

"It's not exactly what we want because what we're actually asking for is for [Gen Burhan] to step down because after a protest that lasted for eight months after over 100 people killed, we want people to stand trial for what happened, so we want him to stand trial, not just to give up power," said Hajooj Kuka, a filmmaker and activist.

The activists said they expected demonstrations to continue until their demands were met.

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Sudan's military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has said the army will make way for a civilian government.

In a televised speech, he said the armed forces would not stand in the way of a democratic transition and was committed to working towards elections.

He said the military would no longer be involved in talks to end the country’s political crisis, with its place in the negotiations taken up by civil society groups.

But Gen Burhan fell short of giving a timeline of when the handover will happen.

It is a huge concession for the army, which has been under increased pressure from pro-democracy protesters who have been holding regular protests across Sudan.

The army seized power in a coup last October after ousting the civilian-led government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

Gen Burhan has previously reneged on a commitment to a democratic transition.

Earlier the authorities freed 145 activists who had been detained during protests on 30 June.

More than 100 people have been killed since the military coup in October.

Read more on this topic:

• How Sudan's generals betrayed my generation
• Sudan protesters: Ready to die for freedom
• Sudan's feared secret police make a comeback
• Coups in Africa: Why they don't spell the end of democracy

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The death toll in Sudan has risen to nine following protests against military rule.

Doctors said many of the victims had been shot as security forces confronted large crowds in multiple cities.

According to medical staff, the security forces attempted to storm hospitals where some of the injured were being treated.

The protesters barricaded roads, waved placards and chanted slogans calling on the military to leave power.

Police used tear gas, water cannon and live ammunition as they tried to block the swelling crowds from marching towards the presidential palace in the capital, Khartoum.

Many more were injured and taken to hospitals in Khartoum and neighbouring city of Omdurman.

Earlier, internet and telephone services were cut off as the authorities attempted to stop the online mobilisation of protesters.

Protests erupted in Sudan last October after the military toppled a civilian-led transitional government.

Thursday’s protests were the largest to be held in the country since the coup.

They coincided with the third anniversary of huge demonstrations that overthrew long-time autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir and led to a power-sharing arrangement between civilian groups and the military.

Military leaders have said they will hand power to an elected civilian government, but peace talks to end the political crisis have stalled with no clear route for the transition to civilian rule.

More on this topic:

• How Sudan's generals betrayed my generation
• Sudan alarm at return of Bashir loyalists and the NCP
• Sudan's feared secret police make a comeback
• Coups in Africa: Why they don't spell the end of democracy

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Doctors in Sudan say six people have been shot dead and a large number injured by the security forces during pro-democracy protests in the capital, Khartoum.

Large crowds have gathered in several cities calling on the military to leave politics.

Bridges in the capital have been blocked and internet services have been cut, in an effort to stop people marching.

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Since last October, when military leaders toppled the transitional government in a coup, frequent mass rallies have been held.

Sudanese security forces have responded violently leaving more than 100 protesters dead.

People are angry at what they see as the reversal of hard won reforms and the return of those loyal to former President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019.

On local TV, coup leader Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan has said power will be handed over to an elected government.

But there is huge mistrust of the military and the dangerous stand-off between protesters and the security forces goes on with yet more loss of life.

More on this topic:

• Sudan protesters: Ready to die for freedom

Update 17:20 GMT: This post has been updated to reflect the new number of deaths being reported by the doctors.

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Sudan's foreign ministry has summoned the UN envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, over remarks he made regarding the planned Thursday anti-military protests.

Sudan's under-secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dafa’allah al-Hajj Ali, is quoted by the state-run Suna news agency as having told Mr Perthes that his remarks were “unacceptable as they show guardianship and violation of national sovereignty”.

Mr Perthes had reportedly said in an interview on Wednesday with Saudi-funded Al-Hadath TV that the government and security agencies “should ensure and maintain the right of freedom of expression and the right for assembly”.

He added that authorities “should avoid using excessive force and violence against the protesters”.

A statement on Twitter by Mr Perthes on Tuesday had said "violence against protesters will not be tolerated" while calling for the authorities to "ensure their commitment to protecting the rights" of the people.

Mr Perthes has been at loggerheads with the military authorities since the coup against the civilian-led transitional government last October.

Meanwhile, the internet has been blocked and security forces have closed major bridges linking the capital Khartoum to the twin cities of Omdurman and Bahri amid calls for mass anti-coup protests on Thursday across the country.

On Tuesday, a Sudanese lawyers’ union said on the authorities had launched a fresh campaign of arrests against activists as the country braced for the nationwide protests.

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Internet access has been cut in Sudan ahead of nationwide protests on Thursday to press for civilian rule.

Internet monitoring organisation Netblocks reports that internet access was disrupted across the country at 08:00 local time (06:00GMT).

The protesters have been using social media platforms to organise.

Security forces are reported to have closed major bridges linking the capital, Khartoum, to the twin cities of Omdurman and Bahri ahead of the protests.

A Sudanese doctors' union said 103 people had been killed as a result of the crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrations prompted by last year's military coup.

More on this topic:

• How Sudan's generals betrayed my generation
• Sudan alarm at return of Bashir loyalists and the NCP

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A Sudanese doctors' union said a protester was killed during anti-military demonstrations on Wednesday in Khartoum Bahri, after security forces used excessive force.

"A martyr, who was not identified, has died after he was shot in the chest by the forces of darkness", the Central Council of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said in a statement on Facebook.

The doctors said that the security forces "used excessive force, thinking they could silence the growing revolution".

The CCSD said "this brings the death toll to 103", as a result of the crackdown against the pro-democracy demonstrations prompted by the last October's military coup.

Activists have planned another nationwide protest for Thursday to press for civilian rule.

Reports say authorities have already taken a number of measures ahead of the protests, including the deployment of security forces, closure of bridges, and a possible disconnection of the internet.

The head of the AU commission has called for "restraint, calm and dialogue" as the border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan threatens to escalate.

In a statement, Moussa Faki Mahamat said "the two brotherly countries" should settle any disagreement peacefully.

Ethiopian and Sudanese forces have clashed at the disputed al-Fashaga border area following the alleged capture, execution and public display of the bodies of seven Sudanese soldiers and a civilian killed over the weekend.

Al-Fashaga is where the north-west of Ethiopia's Amhara region meets Sudan's breadbasket, Gedaref state.

It has been contested for decades but tensions have increased over the last year with regular skirmishes reported between the two countries.

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Ethiopian and Sudanese forces have clashed at the disputed al-Fashaga border area following the alleged capture, execution and public display of the bodies of seven Sudanese soldiers and a civilian killed over the weekend.

Witnesses told the BBC on Tuesday that Sudan had recaptured parts of al-Fashaga that were being held by the Ethiopian army.

The al-Fashaga area is where the north-west of Ethiopia's Amhara region meets Sudan's breadbasket, Gedaref state.

It has been contested for decades but tensions escalated over the last year with regular skirmishes reported between the two countries.

Witnesses said that Sudanese forces advanced and retook two settlements that were being occupied by Ethiopians along the disputed area.

Military planes could also be seen circling the contested area as the Sudanese assault continued.

Sudan has denied that there were troop movements.

Earlier, it had accused Ethiopian troops of capturing and executing seven of its soldiers, but Addis Ababa has denied the allegations and instead said Sudanese soldiers encroached into its territory.

The latest skirmishes are a major escalation of tensions between the two eastern African countries which are also embroiled in a dispute over Ethiopia’s filling of a mega hydroelectric dam along the River Nile.

Correction Wednesday 29 June 2022, 12:00 GMT: This post has been amended to remove references to images of destroyed Ethiopian vehicles, as these were found to be from an earlier incident, and to update the entry with a denial from Sudan's army.

Read more:

• Why Ethiopia and Sudan have fallen out over al-Fashaga

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Sudan has recalled its envoy to Addis Ababa and summoned Ethiopia's ambassador in protest at the alleged execution of seven Sudanese soldiers in a contested border area.

Ethiopia has denied that its army is responsible for killings - saying in a statement that it regretted the "loss of life" without specifying their number, and accusing the Sudanese forces of provoking the incident by crossing into Ethiopian territory aided by Tigray Peoples Liberation Front fighters.

It also alleged in a statement that the incident was "deliberately concocted to undermine relations" between the two nations:

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On Sunday the Sudanese military said that its soldiers had been held captive then killed with their corpses displayed in public. It vowed an response to the killings but did not specify what measures it would take.

Tensions have been high between Ethiopia and Sudan over the fertile farming area of al-Fashaga near their shared border.

Clashes between Ethiopian and Sudanese forces have been common over the decades but have escalated over the past year. A compromise deal signed between the two nations in 2008 has failed to end the conflict.

Ethiopia and Sudan are also locked in dispute over Ethiopia's construction of a huge hydroelectric dam along the River Nile.