Protests against the military coup carried out by Army Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan more than three months ago erupted in Sudan's capital and the neighboring city of Omdurman today, Thursday, one day after the arrest of two opposition leaders.

On Wednesday, Sudanese security forces arrested two prominent leaders in the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) Alliance, which is leading the anti-coup protests, namely the former Minister of Cabinet Affairs Khaled Omar Youssef and the Alliance's SpokespersonWagdy Saleh.

Arrest campaign undermines efforts to resolve the crisis

AFP reported that Thursday's protest, in which thousands participated, did not head to the presidential palace in central Khartoum as usual, but was rather a demonstration called for by the Sudanese Professionals Association and the Resistance Committees, which took place in residential neighborhoods. 

"Today's protests are in preparation for the mass demonstrations on Monday," an activist told AFP.

Protesters were seen carrying Sudanese flags and holding up posters of fellow protesters who have been killed, with activists saying the march was only a warm-up for a larger rally planned for February 14.

صور لإنطلاق موكب #مليونية10فبراير من #الكلاكلة الوحدة بالعاصمة #الخرطوم#الردة_مستحيلة pic.twitter.com/TuR1xrg21o

— حزب المؤتمر السوداني (@SCPSudan) February 10, 2022

Protests also took place in Khartoum's south on Thursday, with protesters blocking streets with stone and brick barricades, according to an AFP correspondent.

Security forces fired tear gas at dozens of protesters in central Khartoum to prevent them from approaching the presidential palace.

Meanwhile, the international community has demanded the immediate release of the FFC figures as they condemned the broadening crackdown.

Arbitrary arrests and detention of political figures, civil society activists and journalists undermine efforts to resolve Sudan’s political crisis.

— Lucy Tamlyn (@USCDASudan) February 9, 2022

Norwegian Ambassador Therese Loken Gheziel said the arrests "undermine efforts to resolve the crisis", while British Ambassador Giles Lever said it showed "a lack of good faith".

Since the military coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on October 25, when he overthrew the civilians who shared power with the army following the fall of former President Omar Al-Bashir, Sudan has seen continuous protests punctuated by unrest and violence.