On this day, 3 June 2019, the Khartoum massacre took place in the capital of Sudan when paramilitaries targeted people protesting against the military government (content note: sexual violence).
A militant movement had begun the previous year demanding action be taken to stop the rapid rise of the cost of living. It evolved to demand the removal of the dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir and the restoration of democracy. In April al-Bashir was deposed in a military coup and replaced with a Transitional Military Council (TMC). But protests continued demanding a civilian-led transitional government.
On June 3, security forces along with paramilitaries in the Rapid Support Forces attacked a sit-in protest in Khartoum, which was demanding the restoration of civilian government. They fired live ammunition and teargas, killing dozens and injuring hundreds, while many others were arrested and dozens raped.
Estimates of those killed range from 30 up to over 100, and doctors claim that around 70 women and men were raped. Women had reportedly constituted a majority of participants in the protests, and a local activist told France 24 that there had been a campaign of sexual harassment of women activists in an attempt to “break the girls”.
In response to the violence, workers responded with a general strike, nearly shutting down rail and air travel, retail and banking until the TMC agreed to release all political prisoners three days later, and resume talks on civilian rule. Demonstrations continued and civilian rule began to be restored, although many women continued to protest at being sidelined in the new institutions.
More information about the massacre, its background and the complicity of Western powers like the European Union here: https://libcom.org/news/sudan-behind-massacre-khartoum-19062019 https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1441763382675474/?type=3