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Khartoum, Sudan – Jihan Abdulrahman was sitting in his living room, surrounded by his family and holding his second daughter, Samah. The two tears in her eyes as Jihan remembered the last conversation she had had with her younger brother Saleh on the morning of January 9th.
"I woke him up before 9 o'clock because he had asked me," she said wiping her tears. "His brothers and he wanted to go to Omdurman and join the demonstrations."
They left early because they knew that the security forces would block the roads to stop the motorcade, she said. Jihan continued to monitor them by phone, but her worst fears were quickly confirmed when she learned that Saleh, 22, had been shot dead.
"They had trouble taking her to the hospital and he continued to bleed," she said. "Two shots, one in his arm and the other in his back." He died later in the hospital.
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| Jihan Abdulrahman, the second on the right, mourns his brother Saleh, who was killed by Sudanese security forces in Omdurman on January 9 [Hiba Morgan/Al Jazeera] |
The Omdurman demonstration was one of 300 anti-government demonstrations demonstrations in Sudan since 19 December. Dozens of people were killed, most of them shot dead by security forces. The Sudanese government estimates 26 deaths, while activists say that at least 55 people have died.
Descending trajectory
When South Sudan seceded Sudan In 2011, the new country conquered 75% of the oil fields, which accounted for more than half of the gross domestic product of ancient Sudan. Oil exports were also the main source of hard currency in the former Sudan. After the secession of South Sudan, the Sudanese economy has fallen into a downward spiral.
According to the World Bank, inflation has risen sharply in recent years, preventing many people from buying basic necessities, while half of Sudan's population lives below the poverty line.
In the months leading up to the protests, the Sudanese national economy was facing additional tensions. Shortages of fuel and money led to long queues at banks, ATMs and gas stations. In the absence of strong currency in the country, the price of some imported drugs has skyrocketed, while some drugs have become scarce.
The first demonstration took place in the city of Atbara, caused by a shortage of bread. Local authorities later announced that there was not a single bag of flour in the city at the time. Following the demonstration, residents of the nearby town of Berber also marched through the streets to protest the economic conditions. This was the beginning of a domino effect that spread throughout the country.
The government declared the state of emergency and imposed curfews in some of the cities where protesters took to the streets. He also announced the closure of schools and universities. Internet access was restricted and some social media platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter were blocked and accessed only via virtual private networks.
In any case, the Internet has become the most reliable way of documenting and reporting what is happening on the streets when security forces have arrested and blocked journalists covering reports.
Videos of men mounted in vans, their faces wrapped in heavy scarves, surfaced online. In some videos, we can see men hitting protesters, breaking into militants' homes and arresting them.
"These are the party militias in Congress, the party in power," said in a statement the party Umma, led by the leader of the opposition, Saddig al-Mahadi.
The government reacted to the protests by blaming its economic hardship for the sanctions imposed by the United States in 1997 but lifted in late 2017. It also accused the protesters of being influenced by what he called "foreign powers." which destabilize the country ".
"Some adopt foreign programs," said the president Omar al-Bashir at his first rally three weeks after the start of the resignation request. "They are exploited by outside forces … enemies in Sudan, but we reiterate: those who seek power are welcome, but there is only one way to seize power. they are the ballot boxes only through transparent and free elections ".
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| Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir salutes his supporters at a rally on Green Square in Khartoum [Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters] |
The government has announced plans to increase civilian salaries in an attempt to end the economic crisis. President al-Bashir remains confident of staying in place until elections are held next year, while the protesters remain determined to continue until next year. took of.
Momentum of opposition
This movement gained momentum when 23 different opposition parties declared supporting the protests.
"The government must end its power and resign," said Mubarak Elfadil, chairman of the National Party for Reform (Umma).
His party was formerly part of the government but withdrew after the protests began, with another party called Sudan Reform Now, led by Ghazi Salahuddin. Ghazi was formerly a member of the ruling party, but resigned and created his own political party after the protests.
Some political badysts say ongoing protests could create new divisions within the ruling party, while political opponents said the president's policy was responsible for the unrest.
"President Bashir's policy has already seceded [South] Sudan and created a lot of conflicts and wars all over Sudan with a failed economy, "Mariam al-Aahadi, the vice president of the ruling Umma party, told Al Jazeera.
"President Bashir is scared of indictment of the ICC," she added, referring to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which issued arrest warrants for the genocide, crimes against the Sudanese president of war and crimes against humanity in the western region of Darfur.
"He holds Sudan captive so that he can have a safe haven and that it does not work that way," she added.
Sustained events
There have been several waves of anti-government protests since 2012. But the current has become the longest since Sudan's independence in 1956. Hundreds of people have been arrested in Sudanese towns and villages during demonstrations in the streets.
In every march, similar slogans can be heard: "Freedom, Peace and Justice" as well as "resign, that's all". Those arrested included activists, doctors and lawyers, as well as journalists covering the protests. What began as a sporadic wave is increasingly organized with a group known as the Sudanese Trade Association, which is leading important protests in the capital Khartoum and several other cities.
"We will continue to seek and realize our rights for democratic change, peacefully uniting as one nation against the collapse of the regime in Sudan," the group said on its Twitter page. Its members are hiding and those who are known are in detention.
"Since December 19, 2018, the Sudanese are taking to the streets with courage in the face of military brutality and the security apparatus of the ruling National Congress Party in Sudan," the group tweeted.
"These violations included the use of live ammunition that resulted in the death of dozens of peaceful civilians, documented attacks on hospitals and medical facilities, as well as the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Sudanese citizens."
Jihan said that her husband, arrested on December 28 at a meeting with members of the Baath party, is one of those cases.
"I have nothing for this government and I am not afraid of them.When my husband goes out, we will file a complaint against the security forces for the murder of my brother."
But it's not clear he'll be released anytime soon. The Sudanese State Security Prosecutor issued arrest warrants for more than 70 people Friday, including 38 journalists and activists accused and "false news".
Other demonstrations have been convened, while what is now called Sudan's uprising is entering its second month. Sudan remains at a crossroads, set between two determined camps, each wishing to win the battle.
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