By John Ikani
125 detained activists who led Anti-coup protests in Sudan have been released.
The release of the activists came hours after Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Sunday lifted the state of emergency imposed on the country since last year’s coup in October.
The activists were released from prisons in the capital Khartoum, Port Sudan and Rabak in the South-East, the private Sudan Tribune website reports, citing a Sudanese lawyers’ group.
The two main protest groups, the Sudanese Professionals Association and the Resistance Committees, have long demanded the removal of the military from power and the establishment of a fully civilian government.
The mass streets protest movement insist on a fully civilian government to lead the transition, a request rejected by the generals who say power will be handed over only to an elected government.
The generals also say elections will take place in July 2023 as planned in a constitutional document governing the transitional period.
The recent release of detained activists and lifting of State of Emergency by Gen Burhan are expected to pave the way for face-to-face talks between the junta and the civilian groups.
The UN-led intra-Sudanese indirect talks to end the crisis are underway despite boycotts by key groups hampering the process.
