ESAT News (February 20, 2017)

A Khartoum court on Saturday sentenced 65 Ethiopians to 40 lashes and a large fine for staging a demonstration at their embassy on Friday, according to a report by a sudanese radio.

Hundreds of Ethiopian nationals living in the Sudanese capital demonstrated in front of their embassy in southern Khartoum on Friday in protest against the increased fees for a stay permit.

The Radio Dabanga report said Sudanese authorities have reportedly raised the fees for a residence permit from  $46 to $308. The protesters demanded the embassy to intervene.

The report said embassy guards were overwhelmed by the protesters, which led to the intervention of the police who detained more than 500 of them.

The court in southern Khartoum convicted 65 demonstrators to 40 lashes and a fine of $771or two months imprisonment.

Earlier this month, Ethiopians demonstrated in front of their embassy, in protest to alleged human rights abuses against Ethiopian refugees in the country and the lack of support from the their diplomatic mission in Khartoum.