The death toll from the Sudan protests has risen to 15, UN concern and American calls for the restoration of legitimacy

The death toll from the protests that took place in the Sudanese capital on Wednesday rose to 15, which prompted the United Nations to describe it as "alarming," while the US Secretary of State said that "Hamdok is the source of legitimacy" in Sudan.

Fifteen people were killed as a result of "security" confrontations with demonstrations in Khartoum, which demanded the return of civilian rule.

The Sudanese Professionals Association, the leader of the protest movement in Sudan, said: "Today, our people fought an epic in the face of the forces of the coup d'etat, which committed a full-fledged massacre, in which 15 male and female martyrs rose and sacrificed their lives in the victorious march of our people, which reached its goals of freedom, peace and justice."

He added, "My sincere condolences to the families of the victims and their loved ones, and their blood will not be easy or cheap, as it is a high price for the hoped-for tomorrow. And for the injured (whose number was not mentioned) in all parts of Sudan, a speedy and complete recovery."

He described what happened in the "November 17 Million", as "that will be immortalized in the history books", referring to the courage of "Sudan's revolutionaries and revolutionaries", and "atrocities committed by the putschists."

On Wednesday, demonstrations started in Khartoum, at the invitation of the "Coordination of the Resistance Committees"; under the name "November 17 Million"; Rejecting the army’s recent decisions, and demanding the return of the civilian government.​

Worrying numbers

In the same context, the United Nations said that the numbers of casualties in the demonstrations that took place in Sudan on Wednesday are "extremely worrying, if confirmed."

This came in a press conference held by Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, at the permanent headquarters of the international organization in New York.

"We are waiting to get some details from our colleagues on the ground in Sudan but obviously, if these numbers are confirmed, they are very worrying," Dujarric said.

"It is very important that people are allowed to express themselves freely and to demonstrate freely," he added. "We continue to urge the military authorities to return to the transitional agreements," he added.

Hamdok is the source of legitimacy

In turn, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said that the ousted Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok is the source of legitimacy in Sudan.

This came in a joint press conference held with his Kenyan counterpart, Rachel Omamo, in the capital, Nairobi, and was quoted by American media.

Blinken confirmed that the United States is working with the international community to urge the Sudanese army to release the detainees, according to Al Hurra TV.

He said that Hamdok is the source of legitimacy in Sudan, and it is important that legitimacy returns to the path of democratic transition.

Blinken added that the democratic transition in Sudan has deviated from its path and should return to Hamdok's return to the premiership, and pointed out that the return of international support for Sudan depends on the return of democracy in the country.

Since last October 25, Sudan has been experiencing a severe crisis, as the army commander, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, declared a state of emergency, dissolved the Sovereignty Council and the transitional ministers and dismissed the governors, following the arrest of party leaders, ministers and officials, in exchange for continuous protests rejecting these measures, as a “military coup.”