Kassala, an eastern Sudanese city near the Eritrean border, has been engulfed by widespread protests after the death of 25-year-old Al-Amin Mohamed Nur, who died while in custody of the General Intelligence Service (GIS), led by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Nur’s death, reportedly caused by torture shortly after his arrest last Friday, has ignited public outrage, with protesters demanding justice and accountability.
Demonstrators took to the streets, blocking major roads and organizing a sit-in outside the public prosecutor’s office. Their demands centered on a thorough investigation into Nur’s death and holding those responsible accountable.
In response, local authorities deployed tear gas and fired live ammunition into the air to disperse the crowds. Although tensions ran high, no injuries were reported.
This surge in public anger represents a rare mass protest in areas controlled by the SAF, where extrajudicial arrests, enforced disappearances, and killings have become rampant since the outbreak of civil war last year.
The protests in Kassala bear echoes of the 2018-19 demonstrations that briefly toppled Sudan’s military regime, highlighting the deep-rooted distrust between the population and the security forces still linked to ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir.
The unrest also reflects ethnic tensions between Kassala’s Ben Amer tribe and the predominantly central Sudanese officials who dominate the security apparatus. Authorities initially refused to release Nur’s body to his family, but under mounting pressure, five GIS officers were reportedly arrested, and the body was finally returned.
Political condemnation has been swift. The Sudanese Congress Party (SCP) issued a statement condemning the torture and death of Nur, linking it to the abuses carried out during Bashir’s 30-year Islamist regime. The SCP also accused al-Burhan’s “coup authority” in Port Sudan of targeting civilians and silencing anti-war voices, demanding an end to such violations.
The National Umma Party (NUP) similarly criticized the security forces for their history of abuses and demanded justice for Nur’s family. The NUP called for international intervention to address the impunity granted to perpetrators and urged the protection of civil liberties in Sudan.
The controversy surrounding Nur’s death coincides with the recent enactment of a new GIS law, which grants broad powers and legal immunity to intelligence officers. Critics warn that the amended law, passed in May, could lead to more violence and human rights violations, reminiscent of the Bashir era’s repressive tactics.
Wajdi Saleh, a prominent anti-war activist and former head of the National Salvation Dissolution Committee, also condemned the new GIS law, stressing that the Sudanese people remain united in their demand for justice and accountability for victims of state violence.
As Kassala remains on edge, the situation is being closely watched, with calls for reform and justice reverberating across Sudan.