Sudanese Police Shoot Two Merchants in East, Sparking Protests

About 3,000 people protested in eastern Sudan after the police shot two merchants for allegedly smuggling corn, said Abdul Hadi Mahmoud, a resident.

Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators who took to the streets chanting anti-government slogans after the authorities fired on a truck carrying the grain in Kassala, about 415 kilometers (258 miles) east of the capital, Khartoum, Mahmoud said by phone from the city. One merchant died and the other was injured, he said.

“We don’t know who the merchants are or whether they were illegally smuggling the goods or not,” said Mahmoud, who participated in the demonstration. “But we know that the police have no right to shoot civilians and inside a civilian area.”

Yesterday, about 400 students at the University of Kassala held rallies demanding the dismissal of the chancellor, a day after police fired tear gas to disperse protests over the rising cost of living.

Minister of State for Information Sanaa Hamad and police spokesman Hashem Ali didn’t answer phone calls seeking comment.