The chronology of events that has led to the political crisis in Sudan
In December 2018, there were protests against corruption, poverty and unemployment in Atbara, Sudan. Within a few days, these protests had spread to the capital of Sudan, Khartoum. Soon the demands escalated and shifted to call for Al-Bashir to step down. As an immediate consequence, security forces responded with fierce crackdown that killed dozens of humans.
Al-Bashir who ruled for nearly 30 years was replaced by a transitional military government on 11thApril 2019. The constitution of the country was suspended, borders and airspaces were shut, and an emergency was imposed for three months. Plenty of protesters camped in front of the army headquarter demanding a civilian rule.
Since then, it has been a bumpy ride for Sudan. Starting from a series of severe measures that costed dozens of lives, followed by the intervention of African Union, the military factions and civilians come to a middle ground. They agree to share power in the three-years transition with elections scheduled in 2023.
A council of ministers were formed under the prime minister Abdalla Hamdok.
On 17th of August constitutional declaration was signed. A few months later Al-Bashir was found guilty of corruption.
In the mid-2020, an attempt to assassinate prime minister Hamdok was made. Soon after that inflation skyrocketed and once again demonstrations were carried out to seek justice. A peace deal was offered which the key group refused to sign, and the tribes of eastern Sudan felt that it overlooked them.
February 2021 showed the characteristic of a fragile government when Sudan announced a new cabinet that composed of seven ministers from rebel groups. After a series of rallies against the coup, the military leaders and Hamdok announced a deal. According to Hamdok, it was done in order to prevent the country from further bloodshed and to safeguard the economic reforms.
“Despite of all was done to bring about the desired and necessary agreement to fulfill our promise to the citizen of security, peace, justice and an end to bloodshed, this did not happen”, he said. A few hours later, when Prime Minister Hamdok gave his resignation, the security forces violently dispersed many people demonstrating against the coup, killed at least three people.
Statement of the Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for Sudan @volkerperthes following the resignation of @SudanPMHamdok
Full Statement: https://t.co/CYNgYUfgat pic.twitter.com/Xlr0OKs3v9— UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission Sudan (@UNITAMS) January 3, 2022
Following this incident, the UN rights office, OHCHR, has urged the military rulers to respect the citizen’s fundamental freedom. The given economic condition of Sudan suggests that it could have even worse effect on Sudanese life. And the on-going political crisis threatens Sudan to return to the authoritarian years altogether.