[View the story "#SudanRevolts" on Storify ]#SudanRevolts Will Sudan see its own spring? Storified by The Stream · Thu, Jun 28 2012 10:56:29
@SherySharkyAJstream
Sudanese demonstrators continue to take to the streets of Khartoum and other major cities in defiance of the government's austerity measures and to vocalize their frustration with decades of corrupt rule. The recent revolts have moved well beyond reactions to subsidy cuts to calling for "downfall of the regime".
Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) is headed by President Omar al Bashir and has been in power since a 1989 military coup. The government has touted the austerity measures as the only way to deal with Sudan's economic woes, exacerbated by the secession of South Sudan in 2011. However, protesters claim they are being burdened with the consequences of years of bad fiscal policy and widespread corruption. From African Economic Outlook:
Average inflation surged to 20% in 2011, up from 15% in 2010, owing to the rise in food prices and the depreciation of the Sudanese pound.
GDP growth declined from 5% in 2010 to 2.8% in 2011 due to the secession of South Sudan reducing the population by about 20% and oil revenue by 75%.
South Sudan's secession split the region's oil production, which has
further complicated border and peace negotiations between the two countries. South Sudan now holds three quarters of the region's oil production. However, Sudan controls major refineries and the pipelines that allow land-locked South Sudan to export oil.
Drilling Info InternationalAJstream
According to AEO, the country's budget deficit is likely to "increase to 5.4% of GDP in 2012". Below, President Bashir meets with Minister Pagan Amum of South Sudan in March 2012.
REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin AbdallahAJstream
In an attempt to address such economic woes, the Sudanese government announced a new round of austerity measures. These include devaluing the country's currency, raising taxes, cutting government jobs, slashing subsidies on food and transportation, and - most contested - a gradual discontinuation of oil subsidies.
The government has put in place a three-year emergency economic programme introducing austerity measures aimed at cutting spending. This programme has partially removed subsidies on sugar and petroleum products, a step welcomed by the IMF.
Protests began on June 16 when female students at the University of Khartoum demonstrated directly in response to increased prices for meals and transportation. The following tweet comes from
Salma Elwardany , an Egyptian journalist reporting from Sudan, who was since detained by government security forces and subsequently
deported. The main reason behind today's #KhartoumUniv protest: Sudan Raises Transport Costs 35% Amid Plan to Cut Fuel Subsidy http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-13/sudan-raises-transport-costs-35-percent-amid-plan-to-cut-fuel-subsidySalma Elwardany
Sudanese on the ground say that motivations have moved beyond initial opposition to austerity. Many activists are calling for President Bashir and his government to step aside, saying police and security forces responded violently to the protests.
@AJStream No citizen can accept austerity measures when officials are still robbing the country blind. That's the deeper issue #SudanRevoltsMo Elzubeir
#SudanRevolts isn't about austerity, it's bout freedom, justice n equality. I have 5 FRIENDS in detention. NOT because of austerity, Got it?Mawada Mihaimeed
http://twitpic.com/a0s7ah - #sudanrevolts #السودان_ينتفض ياخسارة منكيريweema_☺
In this video from the University of Khartoum on June 24, Sudanese protesters call for freedom, media coverage of the uprising, and an end to military rule and dictatorship.
التغييرالان: مظاهرات جامعة الخرطوم الاثنين 24 يونيو 2012sudanchangenow
The screenshot below was taken from the
Sudan Change Now website on June 28. The map shows that protests have spread outside the capital of Khartoum.
Sudan Change NowAJstream
pic of the protests in kasala today(pic from Girifna)#SUDAN #SudanRevolts #السودان http://pic.twitter.com/BV1nTSlRSherehan Abdulmutti
Despite the spike in protest numbers, President Bashir attributes the movement to the work of a few "agitators".
الرئيس السوداني عمر البشير يهدد المتظاهري.ajstream
As protests have grown and spread, human rights groups have
reported beatings of detainees as well as the use of rubber bullets and live ammunition to disperse the protests. At this demonstration at the University of Khartoum on June 17, security forces fired upon demonstrators:
قمع الشرطة لمظاهرات طلاب جامعة الخرطوم 2012-06-17_rlTzWs3DA__s7-RHQqWyA
I'm very optimistic about #SudanRevolts in towns & areas outside Khartoum. But in capital it's bound to get nasty with NISS & NCP loyalists.Amir Ahmad Nasr
many friends have been receiving text msgs/phone calls from NISS threatening them 2 not take part in the protests & scare them #SudanRevoltsHamid Murtada K. K.
So far over 100 arrests have been
reported . Prominent protesters have been reported detained,
arrested , and missing, among them
Usamah Mohamad and
Maha al-Sanosi - who has since been released. Similar measures have been taken by the government at past demonstrations, and have included
reports of sexualised violence on female protesters.
@AJStream URGENT: @HamidMurtada: @M_Izzelden has just been arrested. AGAIN!#SudanRevolts☤YasirYa7ia☮
Girifna member @MimzicalMimz is summoned to NISS office this morning for additional questioning #SudanRevolts #FreeMahaGirifna Media
#SudanRevolts Warning to all @MimzicalMimz friends NISS has confiscated her mobile she isn’t using it don't answer any msgs #SudanRevoltsOsama Ahmadani
Before his disappearance, Mohamed listed his reasons for protest - both in 2011 and in 2012 - in the following video for The Stream:
Why I'm participating in June 30, 2012 protests! #SudanRevoltssimsimt
Activists have continually expressed frustration with a lack of media coverage. From political cartoonist
Khalid Albaih :
Khalid AlbaihAJstream
In recent days, there has been increased international solidarity for the #SudanRevolts. Below is an image from a recent "I Support #SudanRevolts"
campaign :
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Solidarity campaigns are taking place from Colorado, USA to Cairo, Egypt.
#SudanRevolts #DPANY today in NYC outside of the Sudan Consulate #Nuba http://pic.twitter.com/NDpFeRDUSwirlz
Protest at Sudan's Embassy in Cairo, June 21rpmackey
#SudanRevolts we asked 4 the media & now it's here. Need interviewees (english) 4 Sky News & Australian Radio. DM/RT please! #SudanRevoltsYousif Elmahdi
International human rights and diplomatic communities have also responded to the growing protests. On June 26,
Human Rights Watch and
Amnesty International both released public condemnations of the treatment of Sudanese detainees. Additionally, the US State Department issued an official statement.
Growing condemnation of security 'crackdown' on #SudanRevolts. Statements by @hrw http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/26/sudan-violent-crackdown-protesters + US @statedept http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/06/194102.htmJames Copnall
The United States condemns the numerous arrests and detentions that have been taking place over the past week in Sudan in response to peaceful demonstrations. There have been reports of protesters being beaten, imprisoned, and severely mistreated while in government custody. We call for the immediate release of those detained for peaceful protest.
Sudan’s economic crisis cannot be solved by arresting and mistreating protesters. Engaging in armed conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile and failing to reach agreement with South Sudan on oil, trade, and other means of economic cooperation only deepen Sudan’s economic crisis.
Sudanese are calling for worldwide support using #June30 to commemorate the twenty-third anniversary of the NCP's rise to power. Sudanese have used the calls to issue reminders of why they are protesting. They often link to a list of demands produced by Girifna, an civil-society group in opposition to the NCP.
Here are @Girifna's 16 Demands from #Sudan to the regime & the people, in english & arabic: http://www.girifna.com/blog-girifna/demands #SudanRevolts #June30Schams El Ghoneimi
#SudanRevolts because of corruption, injustice, killings, wars, genocides, marginalization, nepotism. #June30 #SudanAhmad Mohamed
#SudanRevolts because the NCP has destroyed our country, plundered our resources and killed our children #Sudan #June30Ahmad Mohamed
#SudanRevolts because sanctions on the NCP regime have crippled our economy and stunted our entry into the 21st Century #Sudan #June30Ahmad Mohamed
#SudanRevolts because innocent people are being killed everyday in large numbers in Darfur, Blue Nile and Kordofan. #June30 #SudanAhmad Mohamed
The following music video (subtitled in English), produced by music production company Nasjota, brings together four diverse Sudanese artists from different cities and tribes.
لا للديكتاتورية LA (DictatorShip) Music Videonasjota
The #ArabSpring was at first an #AfricanSpring, you just didn't notice #SudanRevoltsMaxamed Ibrahim
