On the 8th of June, a
thousand people took to the streets of Khartoum to protest against rising
unemployment, rising food costs and disruptions to water supplies. The protest
which took place under the initiative of “I am unemployed” called for the
government to take immediate measures to combat unemployment and state
corruption. The protestors threatened to extend their protest if no measures
are taken.
The protestors were also joined by residents from the neighborhoods of al-Salma, al-Azhari, Ad al-Hussein and Kababich to protest against the continuous interruption in water supplies. A 14 year old boy was killed as a result of suffocation after the Sudanese riot police fired tear gas to disperse protesters. Several people were arrested but released later after the intervention of the mayor of Jabal Awliya.
North Sudan is battling a crippling recession triggered by the loss of three-quarters of the state’s oil output when it split from South Sudan in 2011. Oil revenues constituted the majority of Sudan’s exports, national income and source of hard currency. Since the secession of the oil-rich South Sudan, the Sudanese economy suffered an economic shock marked by high inflation, eroding currency value and growing deficits.
According to James Copnall, instead of resolving many of the outstanding issues from old Sudan, the secession only created a whole range of new issues including economic, social, political and military problems. This has put unprecedented pressure on President Omar al-Bashir.
The Sudanese pound also reached low levels only seen at the secession of South Sudan in 2011, exceeding ten units to the dollar, according to currency traders. Sudan’s annual inflation rate rose to 41.2 percent in May, reflecting a 3.9 percent monthly rise thus underlining the soaring cost of food.
The 2013 report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) placed Sudan’s unemployment rate at 20%. As a result, many of Sudan’s educated young are leaving Sudan in search of greener pastures abroad.
Last year, the Sudanese government’s decision to cut fuel subsidies along with other austerity measures prompted protests in which dozens were killed and hundreds injured.
The protestors were also joined by residents from the neighborhoods of al-Salma, al-Azhari, Ad al-Hussein and Kababich to protest against the continuous interruption in water supplies. A 14 year old boy was killed as a result of suffocation after the Sudanese riot police fired tear gas to disperse protesters. Several people were arrested but released later after the intervention of the mayor of Jabal Awliya.
North Sudan is battling a crippling recession triggered by the loss of three-quarters of the state’s oil output when it split from South Sudan in 2011. Oil revenues constituted the majority of Sudan’s exports, national income and source of hard currency. Since the secession of the oil-rich South Sudan, the Sudanese economy suffered an economic shock marked by high inflation, eroding currency value and growing deficits.
According to James Copnall, instead of resolving many of the outstanding issues from old Sudan, the secession only created a whole range of new issues including economic, social, political and military problems. This has put unprecedented pressure on President Omar al-Bashir.
The Sudanese pound also reached low levels only seen at the secession of South Sudan in 2011, exceeding ten units to the dollar, according to currency traders. Sudan’s annual inflation rate rose to 41.2 percent in May, reflecting a 3.9 percent monthly rise thus underlining the soaring cost of food.
The 2013 report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) placed Sudan’s unemployment rate at 20%. As a result, many of Sudan’s educated young are leaving Sudan in search of greener pastures abroad.
Last year, the Sudanese government’s decision to cut fuel subsidies along with other austerity measures prompted protests in which dozens were killed and hundreds injured.
Politics
Sudanese authorities have arrested the head of the opposition Congress Party, three weeks after the arrest of another opposition leader sparked violent anti-government protests. Congress Party chief Ibrahim al-Sheikh was arrested on Sunday on charges of spreading "harmful lies", after he made a speech criticising the government's handling of the Darfur crisis and a surge of violence.
Sudanese authorities said that he was arrested over allegations the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces (RSF) had committed crimes in the troubled states of Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Al-Sheikh in the past was prosecuted for allegedly undermining constitutional order by spreading harmful lies, the same charge for which al-Mahdi is still being held.
The party's general secretary, Abdel Kayoum Awad, stated that al-Sheikh was charged with "undermining the constitutional regime, spreading lies and threatening peace." Sheikh could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Sudanese opposition parties which agreed to participate in the national dialogue process called for by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir earlier this year. The meeting was to be boycotted after the arrest of a senior opposition figure.
Former Prime
Minister al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, who heads the opposition Umma Party, was arrested last month after he
reportedly accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of rape and other civilian
abuses in the Darfur region of western Sudan.
The arrests are likely to hurt national dialogue talks that were called by President Omar al-Bashir in order to ease tension among Sudan's political parties ahead of next year's parliamentary and presidential polls.
Opposition parties in Sudan have voiced concern about the government's mismanagement of Darfur, accusing it of killing civilians during a recent surge of violence in the region.
Military troops in West Kordofan and East Darfur states have been deployed to secure the dividing line between areas of Hamar and Ma’alia tribes following renewed fighting between the two ethnic groups.
MPs of the two sides in the Sudanese national assembly developed a joint mechanism in preparation for the reconciliation conference which will be held on 12 in West Kordofan state capital of al-Fula.
Pro-government militias have publicly threatened to kill Omda Musa Moktar of Rwanda camp for the displaced in Tawila locality, North Darfur on Saturday if he does not leave the camp forever. Omda Moktar has been outspoken about the abuses and crimes of militiamen, and opposes efforts by the militias to ‘guard’ the market of Tawila. Omda Moktar confirmed that he would not leave Tawila. “I will stay here and continue to speak-out against injustice, even if I have to die here.”
The arrests are likely to hurt national dialogue talks that were called by President Omar al-Bashir in order to ease tension among Sudan's political parties ahead of next year's parliamentary and presidential polls.
Opposition parties in Sudan have voiced concern about the government's mismanagement of Darfur, accusing it of killing civilians during a recent surge of violence in the region.
Military troops in West Kordofan and East Darfur states have been deployed to secure the dividing line between areas of Hamar and Ma’alia tribes following renewed fighting between the two ethnic groups.
MPs of the two sides in the Sudanese national assembly developed a joint mechanism in preparation for the reconciliation conference which will be held on 12 in West Kordofan state capital of al-Fula.
Pro-government militias have publicly threatened to kill Omda Musa Moktar of Rwanda camp for the displaced in Tawila locality, North Darfur on Saturday if he does not leave the camp forever. Omda Moktar has been outspoken about the abuses and crimes of militiamen, and opposes efforts by the militias to ‘guard’ the market of Tawila. Omda Moktar confirmed that he would not leave Tawila. “I will stay here and continue to speak-out against injustice, even if I have to die here.”
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