Sudanese security forces have arrested dozens of prominent opposition leaders on Thursday in a rally in the country’s capital of Khartoum, while all ports in Sudan are now shut down due to workers strike.

Iran Press/Africa: Detained opposition leaders included the 'Communist Party' leader, 'Mokhtar Al-Khatib', the deputy head of the 'Umma Party', 'Mariam Al-Sadiq', as well as the Umma Party's secretary general 'ara Naqdallah' and the leader of the Sudanese 'Baath Party', 'Yahya El Hussein'.

A group of security forces arrested prominent leaders of opposition parties, allied with the Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA), in front of a mosque’s gate located in 'Al-Souq Al Arabi' area near the presidential palace,” the eyewitnesses told Germany’s DPA.

The Sudanese police stopped 'Procession of Departure' rally as the protesters were on their way to deliver a petition to the presidential palace calling for the Sudanese President 'Omar Al-Bashir' to step down.

Sudanese security forces crack down on every protest

 “The security forces fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters in the Al-Souq al-Arabi area in Khartoum,” the local sources noted.

On February 1 Sudanese security forces used tear gas to disperse protests in the capital Khartoum and elsewhere as protests resumed again.

According to reports, detainees were transferred to a political security building in the Khartoum’s northern district of Bahari.

Nearly-daily protests have spread across Sudan since 19 December. Price increases and cash shortages triggered the demonstrations which later on morphed into protests against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, and his three-decade rule.

Activists say nearly 60 people have been killed in the protests.

Flag of the opposition Umma Party led by Sadiq al-Mahdi in a protest in the city of Omdurman 

In another relevant event on Thursday, Sudanese port workers went on strike, in solidarity with their colleagues in the Southern port of Port Sudan, east of the country, who went on strike, Monday, demanding their rights before entering a new operational phase with a foreign employer who will manage the port.

According to activist, since Thursday morning all activities in the Northern Port, the Green Port, Al–Khair Port, and the Osman Digna Port, in Suakin city, were shut down.

Strikers in the southern port of Port Sudan refused on Wednesday to meet a high-level government delegation to negotiate their demands.

Sudanese port workers protested against a government deal that will allow a foreign company to run the port. 205/211/103

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Sudan is the scene of almost daily protests since 19 December 2018
Flag of the opposition Umma Party led by Sadiq al-Mahdi in a protest in the city of Omdurman