Sudan 2018/19 revolution 101 – #Sudan_uprising
1.
From June 1989 to April, 2019, Sudan was ruled by Omar Hassan Al
Basheer, who came to power via a military coup that overthrew a democratically
elected government.
2.
He ruled in collaboration with the National Islamic Front. Under the
guise of religion, they killed, imprisoned, tortured, and exiled millions of
Sudan’s people. Basheer waged genocidal wars in Darfur and the Nuba Mountains. The
war in South Sudan led to its secession in 2011.
3.
Basheer’s regime managed to deeply root at least three profoundly dangerous
processes:
a.
Systematic destruction of the institutions of civil service, economic
management, local government, education, and the media by replacing qualified
personnel with loyalists everywhere;
b.
Turning Sudan into a mercenary state by backing the highest bidder for whatever
cause;
c.
Raising militarization to great levels by creating specialized militias
dedicated to his regime’s protection; the Janjaweed of Darfur has turned
into the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), carrying out the current reign of terror
in Khartoum. Armed resistance became the only option to many.
4.
Since December 2018, following national economic collapse, a broad
popular uprising broke out across the country. The continuous demonstrations culminated
in a Sit-In in front of the Armed Forces headquarters in Khartoum on April
6, 2019. Hundreds of thousands camped out and unleashed a tidal wave of free
expression and creativity – intellectual discussions, theatre, murals, and book
sales. The Revolution’s mantra is Silmiya, Silmiya (“peaceful protest.”)
5.
The Revolution is organized under the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC)
coalition, which joins the Sudanese Professionals
Association (SPA), traditional and contemporary opposition political parties,
and the armed rebel movements. SPA encompasses more
than a dozen organizations, including doctors, journalists, lawyers, teachers,
and university professors, under one charter.
6.
On April 11, a military junta removed Basheer, pretending to ‘side
with the people.’ The Transitional Military Council (TMC) is headed by A. Burhan,
with M.H. Dagalo (Hemedti), the RSF leader, as Deputy – two figures in Darfur
war crimes. TMC announced a two-year transitional period to end with general
elections. FFC called for transfer of power to civilians and a four-year transitional
period to dismantle all cadres and mechanisms of Basheer’s regime and prepare
for credible, fair elections.
7.
Talks between FFC and TMC led to an agreement on a transitional government
made of a Sovereign Council (SC), a Cabinet of technocrats, and a Legislative Body.
TMC refused to accept civilian majority and leadership of SC, and suspended the
talks.
8.
The Sit-In continued, with sporadic attacks on protestors. TMC orchestrated
violent incidents, blaming ‘unknown criminal elements.’ Early on June 3,
TMC forcefully disbanded the Sit-In, killing over100. Bodies were thrown in the
river, some were burned. They continue to terrorize people with random
killings, rapes, and robbery in Khartoum and other regions. TMC then cut off access
to the Internet.
9.
Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt support TMC because Basheer supplied their war in
Yemen with Sudanese soldiers. China and Russia have blocked a Security
Council attempt to condemn the June 3rd massacre (China is the
major investor in Sudan’s oil). The EU had paid Basheer to curb
migration to Europe. The African Union suspended Sudan’s membership
after the massacre.
10.
The national Civil Disobedience (CD), called for by FFC, began
on June 9. In major cities, streets are deserted, businesses, banks, government
offices, and the national airport are closed. CD is planned for 3 days to
continue until TMC gives up power. For now, people are huddled in their homes,
with fraught anticipation and uncertainty. Their demands: a) free all
political prisoners and return the Internet; b) hold accountable those
responsible for the massacre; 3) hand over power to civilians.
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