Recent protests in Sudan are making international headlines.

According to Africa News, thousands of Sudanese protesters in Khartoum, Sudan, are accusing their government of failing to get them out of political and economic stagnation. Many are calling for the military to seize power, seeing as how the military and civilian groups have formed an unlikely alliance since the removal of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

An organization known as the Forces for Freedom and Change (FLC) has been making a substantial amount of noise. During the protests, they chanted “down with the government” and called for General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s joint military-civilian Sovereign Council and armed forces, to initiate a coup and overthrow the government. They were also able to reach the presidential palace, having had removed security barriers around government buildings and preventing the police and security forces from preparing the march.

36% of Sudan’s population lives in poverty, and 25% live in extreme poverty.

Protester and farmer Abboud Ahmed argued the following:

“We need a military government, the current cabinet has failed and only the army can bring us justice and equality.”

“There is no stability and life is too expensive.”

The military and civilian authorities are ready to lead the country to its first elections after 30 years of dictatorship. As of right now, it’s set to take place in 2023.

Until Next Time…

(Sources)

Photo Credit: Lawfare

Abdelaziz, K. (2021, October 16). Sudan protest calls for military coup as political crisis deepens. Reuters. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/pro-military-protests-sudan-political-crisis-deepens-2021-10-16/. 

Hundreds of Sudanese protest in Khartoum, call for the fall of transition govt. Africa News. (2021, October 16). Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.africanews.com/2021/10/16/hundreds-of-sudanese-protest-in-khartoum-call-for-the-fall-of-transition-govt/. 

Policy, evidence & social protection. unicef. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.unicef.org/sudan/policy-evidence-social-protection.