Sudan plots path towards democracy

After Prime Minister Hamdok agreed to return to office alongside the military that had ousted him, pro-democracy factions have vowed to continue taking to the streets after being "betrayed" by their former ally.

A climb down by the junta or has the once and future prime minister of Sudan been coopted? After long resisting pressure, Abdalla Hamdok freed from house arrest and signing with the junta an agreement to form a government of technocrats. The former international civil servant saying he did to spare further bloodshed.

President Joe Biden has invited 109 countries to the virtual summit which will take place on December 9 and 10. China said adding Taiwan to the guest list was a "mistake."

Thousands take part in massive protests in Sudan's capital. Dozens are arrested as anger mounts against the country's military. In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says his army is making significant gains as he calls on Tigrayan rebels to surrender. And African fashion pays tribute to world-renowned designer Virgil Abloh, who died this weekend at the age of 41.

Gambian voters will cast their votes on December 4 in a hotly contested presidential election. Observers view the polls as a crucial litmus test of Gambia's democracy.

US President Joe Biden is hosting a two-day summit on democracy, attended virtually by delegates the world over. Conspicuous by their absence from the guest list are Russia and China. The former accuses Biden of a "Cold War mentality", while the latter dismisses the event as a "joke" reflecting nothing more than sinister imperialism. But what stands to be achieved by such an event? Mark Owen's panel discusses the merits of the Summit for Democracy.

Sudanese security forces have shot dead at least 14 anti-coup protesters and wounded dozens more, in the bloodiest day since the military seized power on 25 October. The fatalities in Khartoum on Wednesday raised to 38 the death toll from unrest since the military seized power, a pro-democracy doctors' union said.

Sudan's prime minister is battling to secure his country's fragile transition to democracy. Ousted in October's coup, Abdalla Hamdok was then reinstated in a deal with military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan — to the dismay of Sudan's pro-democracy movement. Warning: This report contains disturbing images.

The UN's Human Rights Office has called for a prompt and independent probe into reports of rape and sexual harassment at Sudan's anti coup protests on Sunday. Also, the French army announced that it killed a top member of a jihadist organization in an airstrike in Niger. The man was a key suspect in the murder of eight people visiting a giraffe park, including six French citizens. And Egyptian authorities have banned shishas in cafes as a part of their fight against Covid 19.

The UNHCR has said Sudanese security forces shot a man in the head and raped several women during protests against the country's military leaders. More protests are expected over the coming days.

Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese protesters rallied Sunday for a civilian-led transition to democracy, three years since the start of mass demonstrations that led to the ouster of veteran strongman Omar al-Bashir.

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