Troika urges Khartoum not to use violence on protesters

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM (AA) - The so-called “Troika countries” -- the U.S., the U.K., Norway and Canada -- have called on Khartoum to adopt political reforms and refrain from using deadly force against protesters.

In a Tuesday joint statement, Troika countries warned that their ties with Sudan would be “impacted” if the latter continued to use deadly force against peaceful demonstrations against the regime of President Omar al-Bashir.

“We urge the government of Sudan to respond to the current challenges by implementing necessary political reforms and allowing the Sudanese people to exercise their constitutional rights to peacefully express their political, economic and social views without fear of retaliation or persecution,” read the statement.

It added: “The government of Sudan’s actions and decisions in coming weeks will have an impact on the engagement of our governments and others in the coming months and years.”

The statement continued: “Our countries emphasize the right of the Sudanese people to protest peacefully and in accordance with the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association, and expression.”

Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Babikir al-Sidig, for his part, told Anadolu Agency that the government was “studying” the statement.

He did not elaborate further.

Sudan has been rocked by nationwide protests since Dec. 19, in which at least 19 people have been killed.