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\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eFollowing months of protests, and a prolonged sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir was placed under house arrest on April 11 as the country\u0026rsquo;s military\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-politics/sudans-bashir-steps-down-government-sources-say-idUSKCN1RN0AY\u0022\u003eprepared for a transitional government\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eMany have described the Sudanese uprising as a \u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/sudan-protests-dead-bread-protests-180112095320512.html\u0022\u003ebread protest\u003c/a\u003e\u0026rdquo; against a rise in inflation. In fact the Sudanese people took to the streets for much more than a struggling economy, or the price of bread. They have been calling for freedom, peace, justice and the\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190406-sudan-thousands-rally-for-bashirs-departure/\u0022\u003edownfall of the regime\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eAnd they have finally won.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eThe generation leading the uprising was born and raised during\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2016/af/265306.htm\u0022\u003eal-Bashir\u0026rsquo;s 30-year rule\u003c/a\u003e. The protesters are mostly young professionals who have been directly affected by the regime\u0026rsquo;s\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en\u0026amp;lr=\u0026amp;id=9dWLDwAAQBAJ\u0026amp;oi=fnd\u0026amp;pg=PP1\u0026amp;dq=islamization+and+arabization+policies+sudan+\u0026amp;ots=9M0xKuJv1-\u0026amp;sig=uq8DQBeecnBb0qaB68aQMN1zaGw\u0026amp;redir_esc=y#v=onepage\u0026amp;q=islamization%20and%20arabization%20policies%20sudan\u0026amp;f=false\u0022\u003eIslamisation and Arabisation policies\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eThese policies have been particularly harsh against women\u0026rsquo;s freedoms and rights, which explains why young Sudanese women are at the heart of the uprising. The policies have also resulted in multiple years of conflict and insecurity in Darfur, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eSudan\u0026rsquo;s governing system has already deteriorated because of years of state autocracy, nepotism, corruption and violent conflict.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eAl-Bashir\u0026rsquo;s removal may bring down the state if a strong successor isn\u0026rsquo;t positioned to replace him. But in my view, given how Sudan has historically been run, the democratic preferences of many young protesters is unlikely to come to fruition. Their expectations for a functioning democracy, with free and fair elections, and constitutional freedoms will not be met unless the next leader of Sudan is a reformist.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eAl-Bashir\u0026rsquo;s first responses\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eThe regime responded to the protests in three ways.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eFirst, al-Bashir tried to quickly reconsolidate his power by proposing constitutional changes that would have allowed him to stand for reelection in 2020. That was quickly\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.africanews.com/2019/02/16/sudan-proposal-to-scrap-term-limits-shelved-amidst-persistent-protests/\u0022\u003etaken off the table\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eHe then declared a year-long nationwide\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2019/02/28/omar-al-bashir-declares-a-state-of-emergency-in-sudan\u0022\u003estate of emergency\u003c/a\u003e. The emergency state prohibited \u0026ldquo;unauthorised\u0026rdquo; gatherings and movements. Violence followed as the state deployed\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/04/sudan-government-mounts-lethal-offensive-against-protesters-killing-nine-blocking-food-and-water-supplies/\u0022\u003eheavy-handed tactics\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;to break up the protests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eAl-Bashir also dissolved federal and state governments, replacing almost all of Sudan\u0026rsquo;s 18 state governors with army officers. And he\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL5N20H5X9\u0022\u003eordered parliament\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;to delay deliberations over proposed constitutional amendments that would allow him to run for an extra-constitutional term in next year\u0026rsquo;s elections.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eWhen the protests didn\u0026rsquo;t subside he called for broad-based dialogue.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eIn a bid to stay in power, al-Bashir also reached out to those who had backed him financially on previous occasions. These included the Persian Gulf states as well as Egypt and Russia. However, these allies have done little more than offer him\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-protests-qatar/qatari-emir-hosts-bashir-backs-unity-in-restive-sudan-idUSKCN1PH1I5\u0022\u003evague statements\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;of support.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eHe also began to lose the support of Western backers. Once warm to al-Bashir, they recently\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.voanews.com/a/us-britain-norway-demand-political-transition-plan-in-sudan/4868303.html?utm_source=Media+Review+for+April+10%2C+2019\u0026amp;utm_campaign=Media+Review+for+April+10%2C+2019\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0022\u003ebegan to issue stern reprimands\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eThe protests\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eBy the time al-Bashir stepped down protests had taken hold in\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/24/world/africa/sudan-protests-omar-hassan-al-bashir.html\u0022\u003emore than 35 cities\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;across the country. People took to the streets in more and more places following the\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/prompted-protests-sudan-181224114651302.html\u0022\u003efirst demonstration\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;in the northern Nile-side town of Atbara.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eThe current uprising was triggered by a government decision to\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-s-plans-to-lift-subsidies-meet-fierce-resistance\u0022\u003elift subsidies\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;on essential commodities and to\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/sudan-bread-price-protests-rebellion-government-khartoum-a8697986.html\u0022\u003edrastically increase\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;bread prices. In a matter of weeks, the protest in Atbara would reach the capital Khartoum 349 kilometres away.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eAs protests erupted across the country agents of the powerful National Intelligence and Security Service and riot police began to crack down on demonstrators. Throughout, however, the army refrained from intervening. Rumours began to surface that al-Bashir was ready to hand over power to the armed force. But this was swiftly rejected by the Minister of Information and government spokesman of the government, Hassan Ismail.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eIn the final days before al-Bashir stepped down thousands of demonstrators reached the ministry compound in Khartoum. This also houses al-Bashir\u0026rsquo;s residence, the secret service headquarters and the defence ministry.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eProtesters then upped the stakes by trying to gain support from the army. What began to emerge was that senior officers were possibly weakening, or that they were hoping to use the protests to pressure factions within the ruling elite.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eProtesters used a number of tactics to keep the momentum going. These included using social media such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. All evolved during the uprising despite the government\u0026rsquo;s attempts to block the user, and Virtual Private Networks were used to access the women\u0026rsquo;s only Facebook group called \u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/sudans-women-expose-injustice-facebook-190216164557780.html\u0022\u003eMinbar Chat\u003c/a\u003e\u0026rdquo;.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eVideos recorded by the protesters became important in documenting the crimes perpetrated by the security forces during the peaceful protests. They also became the main means of informing the Sudanese people and the international community about the brutality of al-Bashir\u0026rsquo;s regime.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eNow that al-Bashir has resigned he will probably be required to leave the country by agreeing to safe passage to a friendly state, possibly somewhere like Egypt, or Qatar. The only way he can remain in Sudan is if he had prior agreement with the military to ensure his safety. It\u0026rsquo;s possible that the new generals he appointed after the declaration of a state of emergency might side with him.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003eTheir support could have been one of the reasons why he felt that he could step down. Looking ahead, with or without Bashir, there\u0026rsquo;s also a possibility that the protests could continue if the people of Sudan feel that the swamp has not been drained of all the regime\u0026rsquo;s oppressive leaders.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis article was originally published in\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\u0022https://theconversation.com/how-sudans-protesters-upped-the-ante-and-forced-al-bashir-from-power-115306\u0022\u003eThe Conversation\u003c/a\u003e.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022color: #383838; background: #ffffff; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;\u0022\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e","className":"richtext reading--content font-secondary"}), document.getElementById("react_u2Rm0mnVFUWlmpgz9rxMLQ"))});
After months of protests in Sudan, Omar al-Bashir\u0027s removal on 11 April marks a victory for the Sudanese protesters. Andrew Tchie takes a closer look at al-Bashir\u0027s initial attempts to reconsolidate his power and how the protesters kept the momentum for the Sudanese uprising going.
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