After four months of protests, on April 11, the Sudanese military finally took over the government and detained President Sudan Omar al-Bashir. The major reason for overthrowing him was the skyrocketing price of bread and fuel prices in the region. He has been on the throne for 30 years. However, Sudanese pro-democracy protesters who protested throughout the last four months on the streets are not standing with the military leaders who toppled Bashir. Around thousands continued their sit-in protest outside the military headquarters in Khartoum (capital of Sudan) till Friday morning even after curfew was imposed by the army after Bashir’s arrest.
Why do the protests continue?
Soon after the announcement of dethroning of Omar al-Bashir by military, the pro-democracy supporters protested against the military takeover and renewed their demands for a civilian-led government. In a Twitter post, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) called protesters to “gather now” and asked to sit-in outside the army headquarters. It said, “Stay put and guard your revolution”.
Video: Clearly, people of #Sudan won’t rest just yet even though a curfew (10:00 pm to 4:00 am) had been issued from the new head state Ibn Auf yesterday.
This is the crowd outside the military HQ in Khartoum in the early hours of Friday morning.#SudanUprising#SudanProtests pic.twitter.com/qHzokhO411
— Ahmed (@iAffable_) April 12, 2019
In the later part of Thursday, Defence Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf announced the arrest of 75-year-old Bashir on TV. However, the tension escalated quickly when Ibn Auf who was appointed as the Vice President by Bashir in February declared that the military would take over the country for a two-year transitional period. A three month of state emergency was also declared by him with a month-long curfew from 10 pm to 4 am. His sworn in ceremony as the Chief of Sudan’s new ruling council was aired too.
DEFENSE MINISTER REPLACING BASHIR? 🇸🇩
Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf is the new President of Sudan. Before fall of #Bashir, he served as First VP & Defense Minister.
But will #SudanUprising protesters accept another military ruler now after #BashirHasFallen?
Share your views. #Africa pic.twitter.com/vlJ9HIkUNK
— South Sudan Ads (@SouthSudanAds) April 11, 2019
Protesters believe that overthrowing Bashir will not help them as other faces who worked under Bashir are still in power and urged for a civilian-led government. Mohammed Hisham told Aljazeera that the old system is being rebuilt in new clothes. According to the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, at least 13 people were killed when security forces intervened in Thursday’s protests
Curfew hours last night in #Sudan. pic.twitter.com/bj9aIfvF75
— Firas El Echi (@FirasElEchi10) April 12, 2019
Earlier this week, an image of a young Sudanese woman went viral and drew international attention to Sudan’s crisis. She was standing on a car roof and singing a song for revolution and it has now become a symbol of women’s rights protests in Sudan. The woman in white thobe was singing and giving hope to all the women in the protests. She was singing “Thowra” – Arabic for “revolution.” She was Alaa Salah, a 22-year-old engineering and architecture student. Her act was appreciated all over the world and particularly in Sudan where women voices were always suppressed.
Her name is Alaa Salah. She is leading a revolution in Sudan. She is calling for the oppressive leader of Sudan to step down. She is only 22 years old.
She is a HERO!
KNOW HER and PLEASE keep her in your prayers. ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
PC: Lana H. Harroun
Retweet ❤ pic.twitter.com/O95EhEi2G7
— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) April 10, 2019
Also Read: Saw The Photo Of A Sudanese Woman Leading A Protest? Know The Story Behind It
