Protests in Sudan Over Worsening Economic Situation

Demonstrators attend a protest rally in Khartoum, Sudan (File Photo: Reuters)
Demonstrators attend a protest rally in Khartoum, Sudan (File Photo: Reuters)
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Protests in Sudan Over Worsening Economic Situation

Demonstrators attend a protest rally in Khartoum, Sudan (File Photo: Reuters)
Demonstrators attend a protest rally in Khartoum, Sudan (File Photo: Reuters)

Protests erupted in a number of neighborhoods in the Sudanese capital against soaring inflation, food shortages, and power cuts.

Dozens of demonstrators blocked the streets in Khartoum and Omdurman, setting up barricades and burning tires to voice their anger against the security services’ failure to deal with the chaos.

The soaring prices and difficult economic situations had prompted a number of citizens to denounce the performance of the transitional government, chanting against its policies.

They demanded the authorities achieve the goals of the revolution: freedom, justice, and peace.

The demonstrators said the transitional government failed to hold members of the old regime accountable for their crimes, calling for the announcement of the government, the formation of the legislative council, and retribution for the killers of the revolution's martyrs.

The federal government increased the prices of bread, electricity, fuel, and liquid gas, leading to long queues at the bakeries and gas stations.

The cabinet announced it was lifting the subsidies of basic commodities, in light of a sharp increase in inflation rates, which has reached about 254 percent in December.

The exchange rate of the Sudanese pound fell sharply, as one dollar currently fetches SDG300.

Meanwhile, the head of the Sudanese Congress Party, Omar al-Dukair, called on the transitional government to face the economic crises that caused scarcity and price increase, stressing that protesting is a legitimate right for the people.

He criticized “ignoring the growing protests” and deterioration of economic and security situations, urging the government to address citizens’ demands in a transparent manner.

Dukair said in a press release that people have become used to seeing new announcements about price increase every morning on social media.

The government does not announce its decisions through official channels but rather leaks them to the media, leaving citizens without any explanation for the increase, according to Dukair.

However, he noted that the transitional government inherited a comprehensive national crisis, and economic deterioration is one of its results.

He called on the government to amplify its consultations on the harsh economic reform policies.

Notably, the majority of citizens are discontent with the government's performance and demand a government of “revolutionaries” to address the national crisis, reform the economy, and establish security.

Protesters, who say the current government is a "failure", insist on a civilian rule, stressing that the former regime and Islamists must not return to power.



Syrian Army on Alert after SDF Armed Groups Detected East of Aleppo

People walk down a street as a car drives by following a ceasefire which ended days of fighting between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, of the northern city of Aleppo on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
People walk down a street as a car drives by following a ceasefire which ended days of fighting between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, of the northern city of Aleppo on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
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Syrian Army on Alert after SDF Armed Groups Detected East of Aleppo

People walk down a street as a car drives by following a ceasefire which ended days of fighting between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, of the northern city of Aleppo on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
People walk down a street as a car drives by following a ceasefire which ended days of fighting between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, of the northern city of Aleppo on January 11, 2026. (AFP)

The Syrian army went on alert on Sunday after detecting armed groups aligned with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of Aleppo city.

In statements to the SANA state news agency, the Operations Command said that the nature and objectives of these military reinforcements and troop concentrations brought by the SDF to eastern Aleppo have not yet been identified.

The Command added that Syrian army forces have been placed on full alert, deployment lines east of Aleppo have been reinforced, and all necessary measures have been taken to be ready for all possible scenarios.

First responders on Sunday entered a contested neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo after days of deadly clashes between government forces and Kurdish-led forces. Syrian state media said the military was deployed in large numbers.

The clashes broke out Tuesday in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid after the government and the SDF, the main Kurdish-led force in the country, failed to make progress on how to merge the SDF into the national army. Security forces captured Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.

The fighting between the two sides was the most intense since the fall of then-President Bashar Assad to opposition groups in December 2024. At least 23 people were killed in five days of clashes and more than 140,000 were displaced amid shelling and drone strikes.

The Kurdish fighters have now evacuated from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood to northeastern Syria, which is under the control of the SDF.

However, they said in a statement they will continue to fight now that the wounded and civilians have been evacuated, in what they called a “partial ceasefire.”


Hadhramaut Governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Stance Was Decisive, Situation Is Calm

Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut governorate Salem al-Khanbashi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut governorate Salem al-Khanbashi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Hadhramaut Governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Stance Was Decisive, Situation Is Calm

Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut governorate Salem al-Khanbashi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut governorate Salem al-Khanbashi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut Salem al-Khanbashi stressed that the situation in the governorate was returning to normal in wake of the recent developments and withdrawal of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat from his office in Mukalla, he said: "The general situation is calm and stable. Work is underway to resume operations at various public administrations."

"Security measures have also been intensified, especially over the possession of weapons," he added.

He revealed that several suspects involved in looting and the possession of heavy weapons have been arrested.

"Life is gradually returning back to normal and the situation will improve," he stressed.

On Saudi Arabia's role, Khanbashi credited the Kingdom with helping move forward the issue of the STC withdrawal from Hadhramaut in record time.

Coordination with the Kingdom continues, he added.

He also noted that a meeting was held with senior Hadhramaut officials with leaders of the "Hadhramaut elite brigades" to discuss returning the forces to their former military positions.

Coordination with Saudi Arabia is at a "very high level", he revealed. Hadhramaut has received pledges from senior Saudi officials that major projects will be implemented in the governorate to develop infrastructure.

On restructuring the local authority, Khanbashi stressed: "Measures have been taken against officials who had openly expressed their support to the STC or who had taken contentious political positions."

Commenting on the conference Riyadh will be hosting on the southern issue, he said the Hadhramaut leadership has met with several members of the Hadhramaut National Council to discuss the issue.

The details of the talks and mechanism to choose representatives have not taken shape yet, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Expanded meetings with various political and social figures will be held in the governorate in the coming days with the aim of coming up with a unified vision that represents Hadhramaut at the conference, he added.

He noted the historic differences that exist between Hadhramaut and other southern governorates that should be taken into consideration and discussed.

On the issue of the Hadhramaut airports, he said the Riyan Airport is ready and expected to resume operations in the next two days.


Yemen's Al-Alimi Urges Limiting Possession of Weapons to State to Focus on Confronting Houthis

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
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Yemen's Al-Alimi Urges Limiting Possession of Weapons to State to Focus on Confronting Houthis

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi said on Sunday that his country has entered a new decisive phase in restoring state institutions and ending armed coups.

The process of handing over military camps in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra governorates to legitimate authorities is a step towards imposing state monopoly over weapons, he added.

He made his remarks during a meeting in Riyadh with British Ambassador to Yemen is Abda Sharif.

The formation of a supreme military council will help unify all armed forces and military and security formations under the defense and interior ministries, al-Alimi went on to say.

The formation of the committee sends a message that the state has not veered off its national priorities and that the process to hand over military camps was the right call in protecting the internal front, he stressed.

The move aims to protect the internal front and focus state efforts in confronting the Iran-backed Houthi coup either through peaceful means or war, he added.

He discussed with Sharif the latest local developments and efforts to restore order in the liberated governorates.

He hailed the positive role the UK has played in supporting Yemen's unity and legitimate authorities, as well as peace and humanitarian efforts.

Moreover, al-Alimi described as "brave" the Southern Transitional Council's decision to dissolve itself.

It marked a "pivotal moment that reflects a realization of the sensitivity of the current phase and the danger of sliding into internal conflicts that would weaken the internal front against the confrontation against the real threat," he said.

The next phase demands that all national, civilian and military forces align with the state and legitimate authorities and the rule of law, he demanded.

Al-Alimi also highlighted Saudi Arabia's central role in easing the escalation and sponsoring intra-southern Yemen dialogue. This is an extension of its economic and humanitarian support to Yemen.