After popular protests removed President Omar al-Bashir last year, Sudan has been engaged in a three-year transition towards democracry. Teresa Sfeir, who lectures at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, examines the progress made and the significant challenges still to be overcome.
The people of Sudan refused to back down this time. Months of unrelenting demonstrations led to the fall of decades-long President Omar al-Bashir from power in April A transitional civilian-led government followed in August, with a new cabinet sworn in on 8 September.
Yet, time will show whether this hope will stand. In late September, the new Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who is an experienced economist, appealed to US officials to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism during the UN General Assembly conference.
In addition to its efforts to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, the new government seems to be pushing for female active participation across the country. The flooding killed scores of people and destroyed more than , homes.
Otherwise, positive advances made by the Sudanese leadership towards economic and political stability may be lost. This may be followed by a peace agreement between the government and the Sudan Revolutionary Front in Darfur and Eastern Sudan. Hamdok is still struggling to root out the tribal conflicts burdening the country, but he has exhibited intelligence in unifying the people toward change. Despite any impending hindrances, the Sudanese people have undoubtedly changed the course of their country.
