July 22, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Massive protests erupted Friday in sporadic parts of the Sudanese capital Khartoum over protracted water cuts, in the latest sign of public discontent over low-quality municipal services.

Sudanese anti-riot police members march to disperse anti-government protests in Khartoum in January (FILE)

The burgeoning population of Sudan’s sprawling capital continues to grapple with low-quality and erratic water supply services despite the authorities’ much-vaunted claims of constructing new water-treatment plants.

Eye witnesses told Sudan Tribune that citizens in the areas of Gabara and al-Sahafah in southern Khartoum took to the streets after Friday prayers and clogged traffic in main roads as they protested against complete absence of water supply which reached unprecedented levels in the last three days.

As the number of protesting citizens grew larger and louder, with some of them chanting slogans calling for overthrowing the government, the anti-riot police fired teargas and dispersed the crowd.

Similar protests broke out almost simultaneously in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman, where Al-Fitihab road became congested with protesters who were disgruntled with the long water cuts and rising cost of water containers which reached 20 Sudanese pounds [9 U.S dollar]

Shortages of water spawned similar protests in May in Khartoum north. The water-supply authorities then accused “organized political elements” of blocking water supply pipes, according to the director of Khartoum Water Authority.

The authorities recently announced plans to introduce prepaid water meters, drawing scorn from the general public.

(ST)