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.



Lebanon's Speaker Sets Jan. 9 Date to Elect President

FILED - 01 October 2020, Lebanon, Beirut: Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri speaks during a press conference. Photo: Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa
FILED - 01 October 2020, Lebanon, Beirut: Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri speaks during a press conference. Photo: Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa
TT

Lebanon's Speaker Sets Jan. 9 Date to Elect President

FILED - 01 October 2020, Lebanon, Beirut: Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri speaks during a press conference. Photo: Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa
FILED - 01 October 2020, Lebanon, Beirut: Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri speaks during a press conference. Photo: Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri set a Jan. 9 date for lawmakers to elect the country's president, the state news agency (NNA) reported on Thursday.
Lebanon has not had a president or a fully empowered cabinet since October 2022 due to a power struggle.

Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon had prompted a renewed bid by some leading Lebanese politicians to fill the two-year-long presidential vacuum.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday under a deal brokered by the US and France, allowing people in both countries to start returning to homes in border areas shattered by 14 months of fighting.

Berri has said that, once there's a ceasefire, he supported the election of a president who doesn't represent "a challenge" to anyone.

The presidency is decided by a vote in Lebanon's 128-seat parliament. No single political alliance has enough seats to impose its choice, meaning an understanding among rival blocs is needed to secure the election of a candidate.