Dr. Swikani Ncube: The Sudan Revolution: Africa’s Dictators and the lesson never learnt
By Dr. Swikani Ncube
When state media in Sudan reported on the morning of 11 April that the military was going to make an important announcement, there was no price in guessing what was to follow.
After four months of protests against the government, often punctuated by violence and murder, the military had seen enough. When Awad Mohammed Ibn Ouf, the country’s minister of defence, finally made the announcement that the military had decided to overthrow their boss, there was palpable relief and disbelief amongst the protestors, the people to whom this victory belonged.
In the aftermath of Al Bashir’s ouster, various aspects of what is now being referred to as ‘The Sudan Revolution’ have been analysed, debated and questioned. The protestors’ continued rejection of a military replacement has been reported by the media at length, often with praise.
In this discussion, parallels are drawn between Zimbabwe’s false dawn after the removal of Robert Mugabe in November 2017, and what the Sudanese can achieve for their country if they resist the trick that Zimbabweans fell for. Of interest too, is the prominent role played by women. ‘Sudan Protests: Female Force in Action’ was a headline by the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, in a story which lauded the display of courage and selflessness by one woman, Alaa Salah.