Omar Al Bashir came to power in 1989 by a military coup has now seen his downfall by the same method. He has been arrested, his top officials have also been arrested. Whether good news lies ahead for Sudan remains to be seen, often when these sudden revolutions occur the wrong people and regimes force their way into power, and it has happened in the Middle East in recent times. The movement has not been just an Arab one, but a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic one, and multi-class one. Some key points protested against are the suppression of women's rights, excessive engagement in armed conflicts and genocide, as well as economic and political corruption. The coup was relatively bloodless.
But Sudan is a country of a different sort, with a fascinating history. Of all those in the Arab League, it is the one perhaps most associated with revolution. In 1989, a military coup overthrew the Democratically elected Prime Minister Siddig Al Mahdi. Most people here will know his nephew: Alexander Siddig, who portrayed Dr. Julian Bashir in Star Trek Deep Space 9 (the inspiration of Dr. Bashir name is unrelated to Omar Al Bashir). The former Prime Minister is the Great Grandson of the Mahdi, one of the most revered revolutionaries of the modern Arabic world.
Not that their history means that revolution will lead them to better results; but they are wary of the unjust powers that may move in. There was a lot of celebration of the overthrowing of Al Bashir, but that disappeared when the military moved in to hold power. While the military claims it will be an interim rule, they are stating it will be two years: and the people are not accepting it. What comes next remains to be seen. Will the dice roll for democracy and social liberty, or for Totalitarianism? In my opinion, positive change has never been more likely than it is here.
But Sudan is a country of a different sort, with a fascinating history. Of all those in the Arab League, it is the one perhaps most associated with revolution. In 1989, a military coup overthrew the Democratically elected Prime Minister Siddig Al Mahdi. Most people here will know his nephew: Alexander Siddig, who portrayed Dr. Julian Bashir in Star Trek Deep Space 9 (the inspiration of Dr. Bashir name is unrelated to Omar Al Bashir). The former Prime Minister is the Great Grandson of the Mahdi, one of the most revered revolutionaries of the modern Arabic world.
Not that their history means that revolution will lead them to better results; but they are wary of the unjust powers that may move in. There was a lot of celebration of the overthrowing of Al Bashir, but that disappeared when the military moved in to hold power. While the military claims it will be an interim rule, they are stating it will be two years: and the people are not accepting it. What comes next remains to be seen. Will the dice roll for democracy and social liberty, or for Totalitarianism? In my opinion, positive change has never been more likely than it is here.
