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Sudan's capital Khartoum on October 26th: The protests against the coup continued on Wednesday
Photo: - / AFP
Monday morning.
Suddenly this message appears on the mobile phone: The Prime Minister has been arrested.
Cabinet members arrested.
State of emergency imposed.
"Not again," thinks Shadin Alfadil.
She is an activist in Sudan, part of a nationwide civil society network.
Together with her fellow campaigners, she advocates more women's rights, less religious influence and more democratic participation. She took to the streets in 2018 and 2019, helping to organize the revolution that brought down Omar al-Bashir - one of the most notorious dictators in the world. Under al-Bashir, opponents of the government were tortured in secret places, and after the revolution they suddenly had a voice in their country.
“
We're back to where we were in December 2018. We are back where we were with al-Bashir. I don't think that even one freedom that we fought for will last. We are where we were before the revolution. Declaring a state of emergency is just the beginning. The hostility of the military will continue to rise, it will become even more brutal, it will further restrict the Internet. Our freedoms will be restricted more and more.
I was part of the revolution that led to victory. I was attacked by the military myself in June 2019. What should I say about the coup now? I'm just frustrated because so many successes are being ruined. Frustrated because of the many people who lost their lives then and now people are losing their lives again.
But I am not afraid. I am sure, as I was at the beginning of the revolution, that we will win. We will end it. But I am sorry that we will lose even more lives and waste even more time on this path. We will continue to suffer. I am frustrated because a group of cowards is ruining our successes.
«
We reached the young Sudanese woman by phone in the capital Khartoum on Tuesday evening.
The connection is bad, but at least it works.
Because large parts of the telephone network are switched off at this point in time, as is the Internet.
The military is fighting back protests against the coup with brute force.
There are reports of deaths and injuries.
Shadin also talks about it
Alfadil.
The statements can hardly be checked.
But videos show the presence of the military in the streets. The protests against the coup still continue. Shortly before the telephone conversation with Shadin, the leader of the coup, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, tried to justify his actions at a press conference. He claims that he wanted to prevent a civil war. Al-Burhan is defending the transition to civilian government. He, of all people, who has just appointed the civilian prime minister.
“
They cracked down on the demonstrators at army headquarters with particular violence; the protesters wanted to storm that.
We can confirm three dead by gunshots, in the head or in the chest.
Almost 300 people were injured, many with gunshot wounds.
The situation in the streets of Khartoum is really tense.
There are still many people on the streets, despite the state of emergency.
On Monday, the protesters even managed to storm the bridges - even though they were guarded by the military. It's a cross-section of society on the streets, men and women. The military responded with tear gas and sharp weapons. I experienced that myself, wherever I was, protesters were shot at in the immediate vicinity of me.
«
In the summer of 2019, after the revolution, after months of protests and violent reactions by the security forces, after dozens of deaths, a compromise was reached: a civilian prime minister should lead the government.
But the military remains powerful.
A so-called Sovereign Council, half of which is made up of the military, controls the government.
The chairman of this council, General al-Burhan, has now instigated the coup.
Parts of the transitional constitution have been repealed.
Including a paragraph intended to curb the influence of the Islamists / redundant.
Shadin fears that the achievements of the revolution, the strengthening of women's rights and freedom of expression, will be lost again.
Protests have been announced across the country for Saturday.
“
We protesters reject all statements made by al-Burhan. It is clearly a coup and not the alleged rescue of the orderly transition. In the streets people are shouting: Down with al-Burhan, down with the coup. They want al-Burhan to resign. They want to end the coup, al-Burhan should release the prisoners. They no longer want the military in power.
The revolution was betrayed. Al-Burhan and his military have never been honest about this compromise. You have done everything to torpedo the transition process. They wanted to prevent the change. They never wanted to be part of a change. They only wanted this partnership because it promised them immunity from their crimes. Even those who committed it in 2019. And now they want to protect their power through the coup. I never trusted them. Unfortunately, the coup confirmed my skepticism.
Until we achieve peace, democracy, until we end the revolution, until we have a government that respects human rights, we will continue. Al-Burhan has no way out. He is extremely frustrated. This coup was his last chance. So he will be very persistent because there is no going back for him. He won't give up easily. But neither do the Sudanese.
«
The international statements came shortly after the coup.
The US is turning the tap on the coup plotters.
The EU threatens the same.
The African Union (AU) condemns the coup and bans Sudan from all AU activities until the civilian-led government is reinstated.
But the Sudanese military still have powerful friends in the Middle East.
“
The international community is now central.
She has to support the revolution.
Al-Burhan cannot survive without support.
We are full of hope and expect Western and African countries to support us.
The people here deserve support for their revolution.
We will complete the revolution.
In doing so, we depend on the determination of the international community.
There has to be more than press releases.
«
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