Sudan Crisis: Everything You Need To Know.

Sudan has been caught in the middle of a political crisis since December when the country had an uprising. More than 100 people were slaughtered with a staggering 700 people injured in attacks last Monday and 70 raped in the midst of the attack with the number in deaths still climbing at a rapid pace.

So what’s happening in Sudan? And what could course this level of country spread brutality?

Massive protests began in Sudan in December 2018 when the government decided to triple the price of all goods.

Sudan was already suffering from a shortage in foreign currency with inflation had hit by 70 percent.

Cuts to essentials such as bread and fuel sparked our rage with protests beginning in the east of the country and spreading to the countries capital Khartoum. With protesters demanding the removal of Sudanese president Al-Bashir who has led the country since 1989.

However, Bashir refused to step down causing opposition groups to retaliate and form a united correlation. Bashir’s government retaliated by arresting 800 members of the opposing camps.

Tension in Sudan spiked on April 6th. When protesters stood outside the Sudanese military headquarters demanding for the military to force Al-Bashir out of power.

Five days later on April 11th Al- Bashir stepped down on a military coup de tat and on April 17th he was removed from housed arrest and placed in Khartoum prison. In may Mr. Bashir was charged with “Inciting and participating” In the slaughter of peaceful and innocent protesters.

What happened after the government was overthrown?

A council of military generals was formed to rise to power in Sudan after the president being overthrown on April 11th. However, the country struggled to adjust the new climate and never did return to normality.

The head of the military council is general Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan. Who states that the council’s sole purpose is to maintain order and security across Sudan. The problem is that the Sudanese military is not completely united with many paramilitary organizations having a very big influence over many Sudanese citizens.

On June 3rd Paramilitary forces launched a vicious attack on protesters in Sudan capital Khartoum who were outside a sit-in to bring democratic reform to Sudan. Heavily armed Paramilitary soldiers unleashed rapid gunfire and launched tear gas into crowds of protesters. They also raided and destroyed pro-democracy camps.

There’s is not an exact number on the number of fatalities at this protest. But the doctor’s committee who was also supportive of the protest reported the names of 112 people who have been confirmed dead. This lists did not include the 4o bodies found in the Nile not far from the protest. These bodies were reported as being beaten shot and some even hacked to death with machetes in what channel 4s Sudanese journalist Yousar Albagari reported as a “massacre”.

As well as this massive death toll there has been many reliable and credible reports of many female protesters falling victims to being raped by military soldiers. Causing social media to explode into a rage when eyewitnesses reported a 6-year-old girl being raped by 10 soldiers in a mosque on the day of Eid. And grown men being raped in front of their family members in an attempt to humiliate them.

The next day Military council leader Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan announced that all negotiation and plans with protesters wheres canceled and re-election would take place in 9 months time. He later went back on his world announced in a televised speech that the military council was now open for negotiation. But protesters did not accept the offer as they feel that the council can not be trusted.

Since then much of Khartoum has been put on lockdown with a resident telling the BBC:
“We have reached the point where we can’t even step out of our homes because we are scared to be beaten or to be shot by the security forces.

A pharmacist in the capital reported that military forces are now shutting down the hospital to prevent injured civilians from receiving medical attention and aid.

He stated that: “They kicked us out from two hospitals that were giving aid to the injured and the victims of the gunshots. “

Another woman in the capital said: “They’re surrounding neighborhoods, they’re threatening people. They’re also using live ammunition. They’re everywhere. We’re not feeling safe and we don’t have trust in the security forces. It’s complete chaos.”

There are many reports of media and internet blackouts to prevent citizens from making contact with people outside the capital. And an alarming amount of reports of rape and sexual abuse flooding in by the bucket load.

So what can you do to help?

Whilst many people are jaw dropped by the injustice and horrific events of what is going on in Sudan. Many people are wondering how the Miltary council is getting away with it and why no other political powers outside of Sudan is intervening.

This why we must raise awareness and speak up for the Sudanese people whose voices have been taken for them until we are so loud that it can no longer be ignored and the world superpowers will have no choice but to step in.

you can do this by contacting the international criminal court by email and raise your concerns about the breach of human rights and massacre of the Sudanese citizens, [email protected].

You can also use the hashtags #prayforsudan or #IamTheSudanRevolution

My prayers go out to all the citizens of Sudan and I hope that with the power of social media and word of mouth we will bring an end to their suffering.