The River Nile state government declared a state of emergency in Atbara, Sudan after hundreds of people protested against price increases and torched the local headquarters of the National Congress Party [the ruling party]. A curfew was declared from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m in Atbara which also happens to be Sudan’s railway hub.
Reports of protests in several Sudanese cities triggered by high bread prices. State of emergency declared in northern town of Atbara after protesters set ruling party’s headquarters on fire #Sudan pic.twitter.com/Vg3Pv8XazJ
— Isma’il Kushkush (@ikushkush) December 19, 2018
Atbara has a reputation for anti-government protests, this has sparked smaller rallies in other cities. Demonstrations were staged in Port Sudan, Atbara and Nhoud and were sparked by the government’s decision to raise the price of bread from one Sudanese pound to three. Students in Nhoud were marching and chanting “No to hunger”.
In Port Sudan, around 500 people, mostly students, marched in the streets chanting against the high cost of living after shops had closed following the hike in the price of bread. The bread shortage has hit Sudan’s cities for the past three weeks, including the capital Khartoum. In the past year, the cost of some commodities has more than doubled in Sudan and the pound has plunged in value.
Following the protests, the Ministry of Education in the River Nile State Wednesday issued a decision suspending classes at all schools in Atbara indefinitely. This ruling has a propensity to turn counterintuitive with the nation’s young people on the streets as opposed to getting an education without interruption. The indefinite time stamp serves to solve no problem but rather potentially creates one anew.
The citizens of Barbar city in River Nile state sweep the streets by demonstrating this morning. #Sudan pic.twitter.com/dEBdmcPq9M
— Sudan Change Now (@Sudanchangenow) December 20, 2018
Opposition forces attribute the deteriorating living condition and economic meltdown to corruption, lack of production policies, and lack of economic reform vision following the secession of South Sudan. Sudan lost 75% of its oil reserves after Southern Sudan gained independence in July 2011, denying the north billions of dollars in revenues. Oil revenue constituted more than half of Sudan’s revenue and 90% of its exports. Sudan’s Prime Minister Motazz Moussa said inflation for the full year 2018 was expected to be 63 percent, but Sudan’s annual inflation edged up to 68.93 percent in November from 68.44 percent in October.
In September 2013, in an effort to quell anti-austerity protests in Khartoum, Sudanese security forces carried out a brutal crackdown on the peaceful demonstration, killing nearly two hundred protesters say human rights groups or 86 people according to government figures. As we follow these developments and direct the spotlight to this current situation, the media attention may push the Sudanese government to take more tactful measures this time around.
Videos circulating of protests in Sudan today as cash shortage continues to bite.
Messages from a friend in Khartoum re: situation today- protests in some cities, notable absence of police/army from these.
Plus messages from 12th December. pic.twitter.com/uU0tJIelxe— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) December 19, 2018
