The Sudanese Revolution, One Year On

As the month of January comes to an end, we cannot help but reflect on early 2019, which brought a lot of defining changes for Sudan and its community. More and more people were going out on protests, some of which lost their lives in protection of the revolution. Today, we value their bravery and commemorate their lives as we revisit the memories of this glorious month.

Over 2019, the people of Sudan took to the streets, using nothing but their voices as weapons in what had then seemed like an endless battle. The streets had their own soundtrack, the melodies of the people’s passion mixed with the sounds of the awakening lands. The revolution had undoubtedly engulfed the people in a happiness never known to them before, but being the bittersweet experience that it was, it had also brought a lot of heartbreak. 

Following the events of last year, the state of life in Sudan has been nothing but dynamic. The people are still affected, their lives are constantly being shaped around everything they have been through and the struggles that the revolution had brought are still constantly pushing people to keep moving forward.

As we take a step into the new decade, we cannot help but wonder: what changes will these coming years bring? How will the Sudanese community continue to rebuild the country and keep the spirit of the revolution alive? 

When the revolution began, it reignited the Sudanese community, whether in Sudan or abroad, with a sense of belongingness and togetherness.

“Despite how unsafe the country was at that time, I felt very safe because I knew the morals of the Sudanese people, I knew I could go and ask anyone for help and it would be there,” said Noon Isameldin, a 21-year-old medical student who joined many of her countrymen and women in protests during the revolution last year.

Within the past three decades, there were several uprisings against the former Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir and his government, ranging from strikes to protests to full-blown civil disobediences. One of the many reasons this time was different, was because this past year’s uprising stemmed from a strong core. The people were oppressed to the point of suffocation, and had no option but to continuously take to the streets until their demands were met. When protests first began in December 2018, the Sudanese people reached a point where they knew they could not turn back. Their resilience pushed them to keep fighting until they have succeeded.

“The revolution wasn’t solely a matter of hunger or poverty, it was a matter of principles, values, and social justice,’ said Dr Yahya Tagelsir, a 28-year-old medical registrar who witnessed the revolution’s unfolding from the start.

Before the revolution started, if you were to approach anyone and ask them if they ever imagined a Sudan outside the rule of Al Bashir and his regime, you would find very little hope in their response. This is not to say that they weren’t determined to take back their country, but to them, it felt out of reach. After what most people would call a successful revolution, faith and persistence were restored within the Sudanese community.

The revolution not only reignited hope within the Sudanese people, but also increased their awareness, especially about their rights and the entities that sought to violate them.

“I really believed for the first time in my life that all the day dreams and fairytales I used to find myself venturing into felt a little real,’ said 19-year-old Noor Mohamed, a medical student who had played an active part in the revolution, inside and outside her university’s campus.

Until this day – weeks after the one year mark – many people still believe the revolution is very much alive and strive to keep it going until all demands of the people are met. You can see it in things as simple as the flags hanging from their homes or cars as a form of patriotic resilience, all the way down to college students repeatedly making sacrifices and announcing strikes. Slogans of the revolution can still be heard on the streets. Pictures of the martyrs still surround the country to remind people of what was lost. People are standing their ground and reminding whoever needs to be reminded that they are always prepared to fight back if the circumstances require it.

Moreover, life after the revolution seems to be a blur for the most part. However, one thing seems to be clear: it is not going to be easy. It is becoming evident in several aspects. The dollar rate is close to reaching one hundred Sudanese pounds, making basic necessities more expensive and for many people, almost unattainable. In addition to that, it is getting more difficult to find job opportunities, and even when they are found, the salaries are not enough to get people by. Many neighbourhoods are still poorly constructed, flooded with waste and sewage water, and there are no measures being taken to fix them. Moreover, the country’s persistent political instability constantly resurfaces, the most recent event being the attack from the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) on 14 January 2020. In addition, some college students, from University of Khartoum’s medical school are still declaring strikes and staging sit-ins in protest.

It is evident that the progress will be slow and in most days, frustrating, but after experiencing life in the December revolution, the Sudanese people seem more committed than ever to making Sudan a better place to live.

For the first time in decades, the Sudanese people overcame their differences, united, and fought as one, all for the same cause. Our parents and their parents have restored their faith in Sudan. The youth has finally begun to experience the Sudan that generations before them have lived and loved. Last, but most definitely not least, we are finally on the right path to rebuild a country where the younger and future generations are promised a secure and bright future.

Samar Bengawi can be summed up in one word: workaholic. Born and raised in the UAE, and now based in Sudan. A medical student with a strong passion for words and music. You’ll always find her between the pages of a book, or near a cup of tea. She considers herself a patriotic and aspiring activist whose only hope is to leave a memorable mark in the world.