Thousands of people took to the streets of Nyala in South Darfur on Thursday in a mass rally backing Sudan’s Transitional Government of Peace, according to local media.
The demonstration, dubbed the “Recovery Million March,” drew crowds carrying banners and voicing support for the authorities based in Nyala.
Participants also welcomed recent US measures against Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, arguing that he does not represent the Sudanese people and should not speak on their behalf internationally.
The United States refused to grant Burhan a visa to attend the UN General Assembly in New York in September, amid pressure from Washington for the Sudanese army to accept a proposed 90-day ceasefire. US officials have also said that neither the army nor the rival Rapid Support Forces represents legitimate governance for Sudan.
Protesters in Nyala described Washington’s move as a step in the right direction and called for international investigations into allegations that Sudan’s military used chemical weapons against civilians during the conflict.
The allegations have gained renewed attention in recent weeks following investigations into an alleged Sudanese military programme involving chlorine-based munitions. Former chemical weapons investigators have said the available evidence warrants an international investigation, while the army-aligned authorities have denied using chemical weapons and said Sudan remains committed to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The rally comes as Sudan remains divided between competing authorities amid a war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
