Sudan: Protests Continue in Sudan

Khartoum — Street demonstrations in Sudan have now stretched into their fourth consecutive week. Seemingly inspired by past revolts against dictatorship in 1964 and 1985, Sudanese protestors are now demonstrating against what they see as their government's tyranny and economic incompetence.

Since South Sudan seceded a year ago, Sudan's economy has suffered. Food prices have soared, the currency has weakened, and the government has enforced spending cuts. This has been exacerbated by the loss of approximately three-quarters of the country's oil output to South Sudan.

On June 16, students from the University of Khartoum led anti-austerity protests. Protests against spending cuts, however, soon extended out beyond Khartoum and evolved into broader demonstrations against President Omar al-Bashir's 23-year-old regime. Demonstrations became a daily occurrence at both public and private universities, and despite the police's heavy-handed response of beatings, teargas and arrests, dissent has grown.


Growing protests

The largest protests often begin from mosques after Friday prayers, with each week's demonstration accorded a different theme. Past Fridays have been labelled 'Sandstorm Friday', 'Elbow Licking Friday' (in reference to a remark by one of Al-Bashir's advisors that those who want to overthrow regime have a better chance of licking their elbows) and 'Outcasts Friday' (referring to Al-Bashir's recent speech in which he called protesters 'outcasts'). Today's, planned as 'Kandaka Friday', is dedicated to the revolutionary women of Sudan.

A 22-year-old protester who wished not to be named recounted the events of July 6's 'Outcasts Friday' at the Wad Nubawi mosque in Omdurman to Think Africa Press. "Right after the prayers we started chanting inside the mosque" he explained, "then we made our way into the big yard in front of the mosque.




Government response

Since the start of the demonstrations four weeks ago, security forces have arrested and detained thousands of protesters and activists to date. And reports suggest that behind the doors of the National Intelligence and Security Service's notorious "ghost houses", beatings, interrogations, and food and sleep deprivation are not unusual.




Maha El-Sanosi is a freelance writer and blogger based in Sudan. Follow her on twitter @MimzicalMimz

