KHARTOUM - DEMONSTRATIONS IN CITY/EAC MEETING

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002176 SIPDIS DS/IP/AF DSS/ITA AF/EX CA/OCS AF/SPG AF/RSA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC SOCI SU PGOV SUBJECT: KHARTOUM - DEMONSTRATIONS IN CITY/EAC MEETING REF: KHARTOUM 02156 ¶1. Summary: On September 6, a series of demonstrations was held in the adjoining cities of Omdurman and Khartoum. The Embassy and its community were not significantly impacted. End summary. ¶2. Prior to September 6, there had been local media reporting as well as reporting from Embassy contacts that oppositions parties planned to stage demonstrations protesting a rise in prices of petroleum products and sugar. The Government of Sudan did not/not issue a permit for this demonstration. ¶3. Beginning around 1000 (local time) hours the RSO began to receive reports of marches and demonstrations in the city of Omdurman, across the White Nile River from Khartoum. After sorting through multiple sources of sometimes conflicting information, it seems fairly certain that there was a large rally or demonstration about the price rises in Omdurman, which was broken up by GoS forces using tear gas. ¶4. About 1400, new, but similar reports of demonstrations in the center of the city of Khartoum, near the University and about 7 to 10 blocks from the Chancery, began to be received by Embassy sources. Due to a scheduled meeting of senior Western diplomats scheduled to take place in the Chancery, the Charge' convened a core EAC group meeting to discuss options. Once again, after sorting through the various reports received Post believes that a second anti-price rise demonstration or rally was again broken up by the use of tear gas. Due to traffic conditions created by these events, the consensus of the core EAC was to recommend to the Charge that he postpone his meeting, which was done. ¶5. Post received one late report of limited burning of cars and stores, and some looting, but at this time that information remains a single source report and as such Post will not commit to its reporting as definite. POWERS