Thursday (November 18th): al-Burhan’s Sudan

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan - Sudan
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

Name? Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

Westphalian identity? Sudanese

Age? 61

Why is he in the news? Last week, General al-Burhan filled seats in the Sudanese Sovereign Council, effectively removing the civilian arm of the transitional government. Due to the power-grab by al-Burhan, protests have gotten even more serious on the streets of Khartoum. This week, 15 people were shot by Sudanese security forces bringing the death toll to 39 since the coup… 

Why do we care? Al-Burhan had promised to hand power back over to the hands of the civilian government but as the crisis continues, this looks unlikely to be a priority that al-Burhan has for Sudan…If al-Burhan does not reconsider his grip on the nation, Sudan may see itself falling into another revolution, giving the country a second chance to reinstate a democratic transition. 

Why should you care? Of course, with the protests ongoing in Khartoum and the death tolls rising, this situation is increasingly concerning as there appears to be no end in sight. Since al-Burhan is clearly not willing to step down for power, a key demand of the protestors, it seems that this deadlock will lead to a dilemma that only heats up. With blood shed at the ongoing protests, you should care 7/10 about how the security forces respond to the pro-democracy protests. 

Who else cares? The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet commented today, condemning the killing of protesters in Khartoum. Bachelet described today’s developments as “deplorable” as she urges the protection of freedom of expression for those who are protesting against the Sudanese military. US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, also told Sudan that aid would only be resumed if that government restored its “legitimacy,” which means reinstating the civilian wing. 

Any further comments? Recently, telecommunication lines have been severely restricted. Following a court ruling to restore the lines, there is still a media blackout, making communication more difficult in Sudan for everyone except al-Burhan.