Sudan is Heating Up - Students Lead #SudanRevolts Against
Austerity

    Protests against unpopular government austerity
    measures spread in Sudan.

Al jazeera
Top Story
June 19, 2012

http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/students-lead-sudanrevolts-against-austerity-0022253

Sudan saw a weekend of protesters returning to the streets,
this time to march against unpopular austerity measures. The
protests were reportedly initiated on June 16 by female
students at the University of Khartoum, in response to price
increases for meals and transportation. A speech by President
Omar Al Bashir discussed the measures, including reduction of
fuel subsidies and cuts to regional governments, and did
little to appease the demonstrations.

[This video from the protests uploaded Sunday shows students
being teargassed and chanting, "The people want the downfall
of the regime". http://youtu.be/4k7jHObBQds ]

other videos:
http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/students-lead-sudanrevolts-against-austerity-0022253

Ending fuel subsidies is particularly contentious due to
fears of further fueling inflation, which is already at 30
per cent. Though previous demonstrations at the University of
Khartoum have not gained momentum among the broader
population, opposition politicians reportedly said they too
will protest the planned end to fuel subsidies.

Pictures tweeted by Sudanese activists showed demonstrators
met with force by university police. The protests spread to
other universities and to other parts of Khartoum.

As the protests continued without attention from
international media, the lack of coverage was a focus of
netizens' frustration.

Members of the group Girifna ("We are fed up") have been a
center of activist opposition to the government, with many
detained by security services over the past year. Along with
other groups, they are calling for a general protest on June
30.

Though protests have continued throughout the year, they have
not approached the level of intensity that toppled the
governments of other North African countries.

Many have questioned over the past year why Sudan's protests
have not gained momentum. Blogger Yousif Elmahdi wrote about
this topic in a post, "Sudan: Are We a Failed Nation?":

    We all know Sudan is a failed state, but does the fact
    that we continue to do nothing make us a failed
    nation? Most Sudanese would gladly swap their current
    plight for that of Arab Spring nations prior to their
    uprisings.  Why are we so reluctant to take a stand?
    Some say hopelessness - convinced of a lack of
    prospect for change, acquiescing, waiting for reform,
    or broadening their definition of a silver lining in
    desperate search of solace. Others wait for the
    opposition to mobilize - in itself hopeless. Even
    strong opposition would struggle for traction; some
    may play orchestrating roles in directing momentum
    once it builds but the majority will do little more
    than jump on the bandwagon. The favorite of the NCP
    propaganda machine is fear of the alternative, a
    notion many have adopted but becomes increasingly
    difficult to accept when faced with reality.

Others said anti-government protests did not gain traction
because of the split created by the independence of South
Sudan. Tensions between the two countries over oil revenues,
which came almost exclusively from the South, have played a
major part in worsening Sudan's economic woes.

Many of the activists involved believe the recent protests
are a turning point.

The Stream covered the challenges facing Sudan and South
Sudan six months after separation and interviewed blogger
Amir Ahmad and human rights activist Dalia Haj-Omar on the
way forward for the country. You can watch the episode below:

http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/sudan-six-months-after-separation-0022015

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