A screenshot of the Abena map
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The map's report submission system, which is powered by cell networks rather than the internet
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The protesters are made up of students, activists, the young and old, Saleh explained. They have taken to the street shouting, "We want the downfall of the regime,” and "We came out for those who stole our sweat," Dalia Haj Omar, another Sudanese-born-non-country-based activist, said. She works closely with Girifna, a non-violent resistance movement advocating for a change of regime in Sudan.In previous conversations, both Omar and Saleh have wanted to remain anonymous, for the sake of their security, but at this point, they are throwing it all on the line. “We should tell who we are, to show the trust,“ said Saleh.The main impetus for the protests is Sudan's national economic crisis, combined with the general knowledge of the regime’s corruption.“In the last weeks the prices of basic foodstuff have plummeted and the Sudanese currency depreciated sharply vis a vis the dollar,” said Omar. Reuters reported that depreciation as a record low. The government's announcement last Tuesday that fuel subsidies will be lifted resulted in an immediate doubling of prices and generated more anger. That announcement came despite the fact that Sudan's government has near-total control of its oil sector, the country's main economic driver.the elderly are marching ahead of the youth in one protest all chanting for freedom near the house of General Azhari #sudanrevolts
— Sudan Change Now (@Sudanchangenow) September 27, 2013
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But Khairy repeatedly emphasized during our chat that "these are peaceful protests." From the bits of brutal footage that have gotten out of the country, however, the government hasn’t been responding in kind.“Shooting to kill—including by aiming at protesters’ chests and heads—is a blatant violation of the right to life, and Sudan must immediately end this violent repression by its security forces,” Lucy Freeman, Africa Deputy Director at Amnesty International, said in a statement.Reem El-Radi, another Sudanese blogger, has also taken advantage of the intermittent internet and launched a petition on change.org. “The goal of the petition is a call on concerned world citizens to help us protect the protestors in Sudan from police and security forces violence," she stated. "We also call on human rights organizations to investigate the use of excessive force against citizens exercising their fundamental rights.”Banner saying "For my country to be protected, we offered 100s martyrs.". #SudanRevolts #Abena pic.twitter.com/cqNVw6hRBB
— Salma. (@TGISalma) September 27, 2013