Since South Sudan seceded from Khartoum in July 2011, most of the nation’s oil and natural gas resources went to its Southern counterpart. While Sudan has been reeling under economic turbulence since the partition, Juba has been rocked by a civil war with rival militias wrestling over control of oil resources in the country.
Due to the prolonged economic distress, several provinces in Sudan have witnessed large-scale protests against price hikes, and inflation. Unofficial estimates say 22 people have been killed with countless more injured in the unrest.
The mass unrest reached its peak on Sunday as violent protestors took to the streets in Omdurman, Khartoum, North Kordofan and South Kordofan administrative divisions.In order to quell protests in the capital city of Khartoum, police used tear gas to disperse agitators. The protestors’ slogans were mainly addressed to President Omar al-Bashir who has ruled the African nation with an iron fist for the past 29 years.
In the aftermath of the national crisis, the central government had announced a state of emergency and curfew in a majority of provinces. Executive officials have blamed Israel of encouraging rebel groups to spread disharmony in the country.
However, in a turn of events, President Omar al-Bashir has pledged to carry out economic reforms to curb discontent among the masses due to inflation in the price of basic commodities.
The state-run SUNA news agency quoted Omar al-Bashir as saying: “[I have hereby] affirmed that the state will continue to carry out economic reforms to ensure a decent living for the citizens.”
SUNA news agency further reported:“President Al-Bashir has called on the citizens to give no account to the promoters of rumors and to be cautious over the attempts to plant frustration, promising with real measures to restore the citizens’ confidence on the banking system.”
In a region marred by sectarian tensions, Sudan receded its southern territory to the newest nation in the world, South Sudan as the two regions held contradictory religious beliefs. While the Northern State continues to take an economic downturn, the Southern Republic is struggling to get a grip over large parts of its territory that has witnessed the most horrendous civil war in Central Africa.
