Leaders of a group of protesters in Sudan’s Red Sea state that had blocked the main road linking Khartoum to oil facilities in Port Sudan town for two straight days called off the protest on Wednesday. The protest leaders released a statement Tuesday saying all roads, oil facilities and ports would be reopened after Sudan’s security and defense council met and agreed to send a delegation headed by Sovereign Council member General Ibrahim Jabir to the area to meet with leaders of the Beja community and resolve their issues. The protesters rejected what’s been called “the eastern track” of the recently signed Sudan peace deal between the government and armed rebel groups in Juba. Protesters killed a police officer on Monday at oil field facilities in Haiya town, some 208 km from Port Sudan, according to eyewitnesses. Armed with spears, knives and sticks, the protesters attacked several oil facilities in the area, forcing oil companies to shut down operations. The protesters said the peace deal signed on Saturday does not protect their rights.
SOURCE: VOA