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Opponents of last week's military takeover had accused the army
of engineering the blockade of Port Sudan to put pressure on
civilian leaders and ultimately justify plans to end civilian
rule. The army has denied being behind the blockade and declined
to get involved, saying it was based on legitimate demands.
Barricades at the port and on the main road to Khartoum were
being lifted from Monday morning for a month, said Abdallah
Abushar, secretary for the High Beja Council, which imposed the
blockade in September.
Members of the Beja tribal group had shut the Red Sea port in
September, calling for a range of demands including the
replacement of the civilian-led government.
The Port Sudan blockade, which shut down Red Sea terminals and
the main road linking to the capital, had resulted in wheat and
fuel shortages and the re-routing of shipments through Egypt.
The group had demanded the civilian government be replaced with
technocrats, and that parts of an October 2020 peace agreement
with rebel groups across Sudan be renegotiated.
Last week, Sudan's military took power in a coup, detaining
civilian officials and politicians, and promising to establish a
new government of technocrats. The coup has been met with
opposition and street demonstrations over the last week.
Abushar said the blockade was being lifted to allow for the
establishment of the new government, but would be re-instated in
one month until the rest of the Beja demands are met.
(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Nafisa Eltahir;
Editing by Peter Graff)
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