Anti-government demonstrations in Sudan are unlikely to die down soon and pose the strongest challenge to President Omar Al Bashir's rule since he seized power in 1989, activists and political observers say.
Hundreds of people protested in cities across the country after midday prayers on Friday and were quickly confronted by security forces firing tear gas. The demonstrations were the most widespread since the protests began in the city of Atbara on December 19 in response to the government raising the price of bread from one Sudanese pound to three. They were also notable for the large number of women taking part, including one led by women in the Tuti Island area of Khartoum.
"It proves that there's a nationwide demand for this regime's fall," said Mahjoub M Salih, an award-winning journalist and the founder of Sudan's first independent newspaper Al-Ayam 1956.
“In Sudan’s history, people have ended two dictatorial regimes by national revolutions. The current protests threaten the regime, and prove the nation’s desire to end it. It’s hard to predict scenarios for the future in this early stage; however, the change is inevitable.”
The government has responded by posting security forces in public areas and arresting opposition figures and journalists, including the head of the Sudan Congress Party Omer Eldigeer on Friday. Nineteen people have been killed during the protests, including two security officers, according to government figures, and more than 200 were injured.
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Read more:
Sudanese protesters tear-gassed in fresh anti-government demonstrations
Egypt backs Sudan government amid deadly protests
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“The developments in future are up to the demonstrators’ ability to carry on,” said Mohamed Abdulazeez, a political analyst and journalist. Although the protests might be suppressed, the public anger could turn into a revolution that pushes Mr Al Bashir's National Congress Party from power, or at least force the president to step down, he said.
The protests have received the backing of opposition parties and groups such as the Sudanese journalists' national union and the Sudanese Professionals Association, which led a march on the presidential palace in Khartoum on Tuesday and has called for another on New Year's Eve. However, the protests appear to be driven mainly by people's anger at the steady decline in the economy and living standards that they blame on Mr Al Bashir's government.
Already dogged by corruption and poor planning, the Sudanese economy suffered a blow with the secession of South Sudan in 2011, taking with it three quarters the country's oil reserves. A foreign currency crisis has affected the import of essentials such as wheat and inflation is at 70 per cent. Even people with money cannot get their hands on it because of a cash shortage.
After years of coping by cutting expenses, people on low to middle incomes have reached a point where school fees, rent, medical care and other services have become unaffordable. The tripling of the price of bread was the last straw.
“We are dying from starvation, lack of health care among other basic needs; we might as well die in the streets by the regime’s bullets,” said Amira Osman, a political activist from Khartoum who has been taking part in the demonstrations.
At the very least, the protests have turned international attention to the situation in Sudan.
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday appealed "for calm and restraint" and called on "the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and violence".
The UN chief is "following with concern" developments in Sudan and "emphasises the need to safeguard freedom of expression and peaceful assembly", a spokesman said.
Late on Friday, Sudanese Information Minister Mamoun Hassan Ibrahim said police had captured a group of rebels from the Darfur region in North Khartoum who were planning to "kill demonstrators".
Mr Ibrahim said police seized weapons from the rebels and that they had confessed to planning to kill protesters.
However, on Saturday night Abdul Wahid al Nur, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement faction – accused of organizing the killing of protesters by the group arrested the day before – stated that his men had not committed "any military acts in any Sudanese city".
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
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Install an air filter in your home.
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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