Uprising in Sudan: Military Has Taken Control of the Gov't; Killed Protestors; Cut Off Internet

DonKnock

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Sudan is in the midst of a political crisis after security forces opened fire on pro-democracy protesters in the capital, Khartoum.

Representatives of the protesters had been in talks with the military over who would take control following the ousting of long-time President Omar al-Bashir.

But negotiations collapsed when a military crackdown on 3 June left dozens of protesters dead.

The army said it had scrapped all agreements with the opposition, and that elections would be held within nine months. But the protest movement insisted a transition period of at least three years was needed to ensure elections are free and fair.

Much of the country was then shut down by an open-ended strike called by the opposition.

Amid the deadlock, an envoy from Ethiopia was brought in to mediate and said talks between the two sides could resume soon.

Here's what you need to know.

How did it all begin?
The unrest in Sudan can be traced back to December 2018, when President Bashir's government imposed emergency austerity measures in an attempt to stave off economic collapse.

Cuts to bread and fuel subsidies sparked demonstrations in the east over living standards and the anger spread to Khartoum.

The protests broadened into demands for the removal of Mr Bashir - who had been in charge for 30 years - and his government.

The protests reached a climax on 6 April, when demonstrators occupied the square in front of the military's headquarters to demand that the army force the president out.

Five days later, the military announced that the president had been overthrown.

So who is in charge now?
A council of generals assumed power on 11 April but it has struggled to return normality to the country.

The seven-member Transitional Military Council (TMC) is led by Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan. The council says it needs to be in charge to ensure order and security.

But the army is not a unified force in Sudan. There are other paramilitary organisations and various Islamist militias that hold some sway.

The military has also faced international condemnation for launching a violent attack on protesters in Khartoum on 3 June which reportedly left at least 30 dead.

The US condemned what it called a "brutal attack" and the UK said the military council bore "full responsibility".

In response, the TMC expressed "sorrow for the way events escalated", saying that the operation had targeted "trouble makers and petty criminals" .

Who are the opposition?
The economic problems brought Sudanese from all walks of life to the streets, but the organisation of demonstrations was taken on by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) - a collaboration of doctors, health workers and lawyers.

The protesters are mostly young, reflecting the country's demographics, but people of all ages have been seen in the crowds.

Women are at the forefront of the demonstrations and a video of a woman who has been named Kandaka, meaning Nubian queen, leading the chants has gone viral.

When the military took power in April, demonstrators stayed put outside its headquarters and insisted that it transfer authority to a civilian administration.

Talks between the ruling generals and the protest organisers, who have come together under the umbrella group Alliance for Freedom and Change, initially showed little sign of progress, but they eventually came to an agreement.

What did the two sides agree?
The military and protesters agreed on 15 May to a three-year transition periodto civilian rule.

Demonstrators argue that Mr Bashir's regime is so deeply entrenched that a long transition is needed to dismantle his political network and allow fair elections.

The two sides also agreed on the structure of a new government - including a sovereign council, a cabinet and a legislative body.

But the military leaders scrapped all of these agreements on 3 June and said fresh elections would be held within nine months.

The TMC's head said they had decided to "stop negotiating with the Alliance for Freedom and Change and cancel what had been agreed on".

Former British ambassador to Sudan, Rosalind Marsden, told the BBC that the snap election would "simply pave the way for much of the old regime to come back into power".

The announcement came shortly after the violent crackdown on protesters in Khartoum.

In the wake of killings, the leaders of the pro-democracy movement said they were cutting all contact with the TMC and called for "total civil disobedience" and a general strike.

What about mediation?
When talks broke down, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed flew to Sudan to try to broker a new agreement between the two sides.

After days of talks, his special envoy, Mahmoud Dirir, announced on 11 June that protest leaders had agreed to suspend widespread strikes and return to the negotiating table.

Mr Dirir said that, in return, the military had agreed to release political prisoners.

No firm date for the resumption of talks was given.

The privately-owned Baj News website reported that the opposition was insisting on an independent investigation into the violent crackdown before direct talks restart.

What has the international response been?
Most African and western countries have backed the protesters.

Saudi Arabia has urged discussions between the two sides, but not directly condemned military violence.

Along with UAE and Egypt, it perhaps fears the protests could inspire similar events to take place on home turf.

The TMC's vice president, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, also known as Hemeti, flew to Saudi Arabia last month to meet the crown prince Mohamed Bin Salman, promising to stand with the kingdom against threats and continue sending Sudanese troops to help the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

The African Union (AU) has suspended Sudan from its membership until a civilian led transitional authority is established.

The UN is removing all non-essential staff from Sudan but China and Russia have blocked moves to impose sanctions.

The US National Security Advisor, John Bolton, condemned the Khartoum violence, calling it "abhorrent".

But the BBC Africa editor Fergal Keane said this will only mean something if the US demands that its regional allies - Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - exert pressure on the Sudanese military.

 
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Mook

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What is this new thing where protestors get on Twitter to spread awareness? Bruh you're in a war and in a country no one has cared about in a century.

Like those dumb Hong Kongers are doing Americans style protests in CHINA. Those idiots are dead meat and don't even know it. :mjlol:
 

DonKnock

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What is this new thing where protestors get on Twitter to spread awareness? Bruh you're in a war and in a country no one has cared about in a century.

Like those dumb Hong Kongers are doing Americans style protests in CHINA. Those idiots are dead meat and don't even know it. :mjlol:


Think the point is to actually get people to care internally and externally.


Also, part of the problem in Sudan right now is that they have internet blackouts which are preventing them from organizing via social media.


 

DonKnock

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international community lol




"Despite policy disagreements, the U.S. has been a major donor of humanitarian aid to the Sudan throughout the last quarter century. The U.S. was also a significant source in the March 1989 "Operation Lifeline Sudan," which delivered 100,000 metric tons of food into both government and SPLA-held areas of the Sudan, thus averting widespread starvation.In 1991, the U.S. made large donations to alleviate food shortages caused by a two-year drought. In a similar drought in 2000-01, the U.S. and the broader international community responded to avert mass starvation in the Sudan.":beli:
 
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