The Atlantic Council published on 8 August 2023 a study titled "Sudan's Precarious Information Environment and the Fight for Democracy" by Tessa Knight and Lujan Alsedeg.
This report examines the state of digital affairs on Sudan in the lead-up to the current conflict, focusing on the period from the October 2021 coup through December 2022. Although only one third of the country has internet access, the government imposed constant internet disruptions.
Agence France Presse published on 4 July 2022 an article titled "Sudan's Burhan Says Army Stepping Back for Civilian Govt."
Sudan's military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced on July 4 "the armed forces will not stand in the way" of a democratic transition.
Comment: The question arises whether the military is sincere about permitting a transition to civilian government or only buying time while it strengthens its position. Past actions do not offer much encouragement that this is a sincere offer.
African Arguments published on 1 July 2022 a commentary titled "Why Sudan Protest Movement Has Toppled One but Not Yet Two Dictators" by Justin Lynch, writer and researcher living in Sudan.
The author explains why the Sudan protest movement was able to remove Omar al-Bashir from power in 2019 but has so far failed to do so with the current military leadership. He cites three reasons:
--The goals of the protest movement have changed from specific interests in 2019 to much broader political change.
--The organization has changed from a grass roots movement to local resistance committees engaged in infighting.
--Protesters moved from demanding the removal of military leaders to getting the entire army out of politics.
The Conversation published on 9 February 2022 a commentary titled "Sudan's Protestors Aren't Giving Up Despite Heavy Odds: Here's Why" by Lovise Aalen, Chr. Michelsen Institute, and Mai Azzam, Bayreuth University.
The protests in Sudan are driven by young people who have the energy to keep pushing and little faith that others will make change happen.
Aljazeera published on 7 February 2022 an article titled "Sudan Anti-coup Protesters March in Khartoum, Other Cities."
Protests against the military government in Sudan have continued in the streets of Khartoum and other cities regularly since the military coup d'etat on 25 October 2021.
Human Rights Watch published on 3 February 2022 a report titled "Sudan: Ongoing Clampdown on Peaceful Protesters."
The report describes excessive and unnecessary use of force against protesters by Sudan's security forces.
Foreign Affairs posted on 4 February 2022 a commentary titled "America's Failure of Imagination in Sudan: Washington Should Have More Faith in the Forces of Democracy" by Michelle Gavin.
Washington tends to focus too much on key individuals in Sudan at the expense of systems. The Sudanese ruling system will never dismantle itself. The Sudanese protesters in the street demand systemic change; Washington needs to take stronger actions than legitimizing dialogues or transitional frameworks that empower the military to dictate the agenda.
Agence France Presse published on 26 January 2022 an article titled "Sudanese Rally against UN Bid to Resolve Post-coup Crisis."
Sudanese pro-military demonstrators took to the streets of Khartoum to protest against UN efforts to resolve the political crisis in Sudan. The demonstrators called for the expulsion of the UN mission. Sudan's Sovereign Council headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and key members of the international community welcomed the UN-led dialogue.
Comment: If al-Burhan supports the UN-led talks, it is not clear who organized the pro-military protesters.
The BBC posted on 22 January 2022 an article titled "Sudan Protesters: Ready to Die for Freedom" by Mohanad Hashim.
One of the Sudanese protesters describes the protests as a generational conflict with the young wanting a more equitable, peaceful and democratic future. They want to stop the cycle of military coups and authoritarianism.
The Christian Science Monitor published on 21 January 2022 an article titled "The Power Behind Sudan's Protests."
The article discusses the special spirit behind Sudan's protest movement and especially the role of women, youth, and professionals.
The Associated Press published on 20 January 2022 an article titled "US Says It Will Not Resume Sudan Aid after Recent Violence."
US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, and US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, recently visited Khartoum. They explained the United States will continue withholding aid from Sudan until the country's military rulers stop the killing of civilian protesters and a civilian-led government takes power.
Reuters covered that same topic on 20 January 2022 in an article titled "Sudan Council Agrees with U.S. on Amending Democracy Transition Document."
Just Security published on 18 January 2022 a commentary titled "For Sudan's Democratic Imperative the US and Others Must Intensify Support" by Dave Peterson, National Endowment for Democracy.
The author argues that the international community must get serious, impose punitive sanctions on military coup leaders, and decisively support the Sudanese people's struggle for freedom.
The Associated Press published on 17 January 2022 an article titled "Sudanese Forces Open Fire on Anti-coup Protesters, Killing 7" by Samy Magdy.
Sudanese security forces killed seven more civilian protesters on 17 January and wounded as many as 100.
Aljazeera posted on 11 January 2022 a 25-minute podcast titled "Is Sudan's Transition to Democracy Doomed?"
Three outspoken Sudanese women activists comment on the continuing protests in Sudan in opposition to military rule.
Foreign Policy posted on 7 January 2022 a commentary titled "Why Won't Biden Support Sudan's Democracy Movement" by Cameron Hudson and Kholood Khair.
The authors argue that Sudan did not get much attention at President Biden's democracy summit last month and the administration heaps praise on Sudan's military leaders. It refers to Washington's "tacit support" of Sudan's generals and believes the administration has farmed out its Sudan policy to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, who tend to support the military.
Comment: While I agree with the authors that the democracy movement in Sudan deserves strong U.S. support, my read of Biden administration policy is different. The United States has withheld significant assistance from Sudan and recent public U.S. statements have been pro-democracy movement and critical of the military. I just don't see the "tacit support" of the generals.
The Sudan Tribune published on 6 January 2022 an article titled "Three Killed During Fresh Anti-coup Protests in Sudan."
Protests in Sudan calling for an end of military rule are not only persistent but spreading to a wide number of cities outside Khartoum and Omdurman. The Umma Party condemned the military repression, saying that it has become worse than that practiced by the deposed Bashir regime.
Vox published on 6 January 2022 an article titled "The Uncertain Fight for Sudan's Democracy" by Jen Kirby.
Street protests urging a transition to civilian rule persist in Sudan despite strong arm tactics by the military and more deaths of protesters.
Aljazeera interviewed me on 3 January 2022 on the resignation of Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and the prospects for a return to civilian government.
The New York Times published on 3 January 2022 an article titled "Sudan Braces for 'the Worst' after Prime Minister Resigns" by Abdi Latif Dahir.
The generals are in charge in Sudan and the country is headed for a "hollowed-out political system where words and structures don't mean anything, and where killing people doesn't cost anything."
The New York Times published on 2 January 2022 an article titled "Sudan's Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, Resigns" by Abdi Latif Dahir.
AlArabiya News published on 3 January 2022 an article titled "Sudan PM's Decision to Resign Throws Country Further into the Abyss" by Joseph Haboush.
The resignation on 2 January of civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok ends any pretense of a civilian government in Sudan. The generals are firmly in control and show no inclination to allow meaningful civilian engagement. US officials look on in growing despair.
