Protesters slam Egypt ‘interference’ in Sudan’s affairs

KHARTOUM

Hundreds of Sudanese marched towards the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum on Thursday to condemn what they described as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s “interference” in their affairs.

“This is Sudan,” marchers chanted. “Your authority ends at [the Upper Egyptian city of] Aswan.”

On Sudanese social-media accounts, activists posted video footage showing protesters in central Khartoum chanting angrily against al-Sisi.

On April 11, the Sudanese army announced the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir following months of popular demonstrations against his 30-year rule.

A Military Transitional Council (MTC) is now overseeing a two-year “transitional period” during which it has pledged to hold presidential elections.

The Sudanese opposition, however, has continued to stage demonstrations to demand that the MTC relinquish power -- immediately -- to a civilian government.

On Tuesday, Cairo hosted an African Union (AU) summit, where participants called for giving the MTC a three-month deadline for handing power over to a civil administration.

Egypt currently holds the AU’s rotating chairmanship.

Al-Sisi came to power in Egypt on the back of a 2013 military coup against Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first-ever democratically-elected leader.