Galloping inflation, food crises, and shortage of basic needs have steered growing frustrations amongst Sudan nationalities. The country’s rate of instability has deteriorated since the onset of political and ethnic conflicts in the country. Residents have been surviving from hand to mouth, with most of them relying on humanitarian aid. On Tuesday, hell broke loose when protestors in Darfur and other parts of the country flooded the streets over the surging cost of living.
The Protest
According to witnesses, demonstrators from Nyala, south Darfur’s capital, marched the streets chanting “no to high prices, no to hunger.” They threw stones at state policers, who in turn fired tear gas at them. While some ran helter-skelter, some lit shops on fire. Darfur is one of the most violence-prone states in Sudan, and it dates back to 2003 when the anti-government protests kicked off.
Meanwhile, in other parts like the Red Sea city Port of Sudan, student protests were on. According to the SUNA state news agency, the student protests prompted several learning institutions’ closure and suspension. The demonstrators barricaded roads and set tires on fire in the main streets.
According to reports, the rising costs of bread ingredients in the region triggered the region’s demonstrations. Inflation and shortage of bread in Sudan is no old news. It was last year when Sudanese were making long ques to access bread. And it appears the situation has worsened. North Kordofan state also experienced similar strikes. There was online footage making rounds in social media in which the demonstrators in Al-Obeid were carrying wheat bags, which most likely they looted from bakeries.
What is the Government of Sudan doing to Improve the Situation?
Since the oustering of Omar Albashir, Sudan has been undergoing a rocky government transition. The current head of state, Prime Minister Hamdock, has promised to salvage the ailing economy. Recently, he established a new cabinet, which included ex-rebel chieftains. He announced that the new cabinet was in honor of the peace deal they had arrived last year.
The cabinet consists of Gibril Ibrahim, who is the new finance minister. Mr. Ibrahim undertook economics at a university in Khartoum and Saudi Arabia. He has promised the people that they will not stop until they end the bread and fuel queues and make life-saving medications available to everybody at affordable prices.
Hopefully, the new cabinet will help regulate civil war and ethnic differences in Sudan. More so as they are the main contributions to the declining economy. The creation of a new cabinet also comes in handy as international relations drew concerns about the country’s insurgencies and violence. Maybe then Sudan can re-establish strong relationships with them; after all, investors love stable environments.
Since Hamdock came to power, he has been trying to liberate his country. However, there are still numerous challenges that are triggering chaos. Hopefully, the new cabinet will deliver justice to Sudan. Probably unity between Hamdock’s regime and the former rebel heads will be the best decision Sudan has made.
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