Sudan’s struggle

As the new military regime is unwilling to facilitate a democratic transition

After a brutal 30-year-long rule, Sudan’s dictator, Omar al Bashir, was removed by his own military generals. Known for presiding over a regime of exceptional domestic cruelty and war crimes, Bashir was blamed for Sudan’s uncontrolled economic slide, precipitous plunge in living conditions, food shortages and alienating the professional classes in the country. While al Bashir’s ruthless rule ended in April, Sudan’s troubles are far from over. The new military regime is unwilling to facilitate a democratic transition. In the last few days, the junta setup led by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan has been blamed for the deaths of more than 100 pro-democracy protesters.

Civilians are confronted by innumerable challenges and the renewed violence is jeopardising life in the African nation that has suffered decades of financial misappropriation under al Bashir’s long rule. Ignoring the increasing demand for a peaceful democratic transition at home, General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, Sudan’s de-facto head of state, and his much-feared deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have been trying to earn regional recognition for the new authoritarian government. Their heavy-handed response against peaceful protesters at home and their regional hobnobbing tells us one thing: The military junta is here to stay. In many ways the use of brute-force approach bears a harrowing resemblance to the al Bashir years. Perhaps the recent political fragility and the military’s refusal to negotiate a peaceful democratic transition is an indicator that marks the beginning of another autocratic rule that many in Sudan thought had ended with the downfall of al Bashir.

For the sake of Sudan’s survival the Transitional Military Council must end the use of force against protesters and allow Sudan to elect its democratic leader, as demanded by the crowds.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2019.

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