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Transcript/ScriptSUDAN BASHIR OUSTER ANNIVERSARY (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Four Years On From Sudan’s Revolution, Civilian Rule Postponed Again
TEASER: April 11 marks four years since a popular uprising ousted a military junta, which has since been replaced by another
PUBLISHED: 4/10/23, 4:17 pm
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
DATELINE: KHARTOUM, SUDAN
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Wilkins
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: caw, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, ZOOM
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO_X_
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
EDITOR NOTES:)) There is a radio piece to accompany this
((INTRO))
[[ April 11 marks four years since a popular uprising in Sudan led the military to overthrow President Omar al-Bashir, but hopes for civilian rule have not been fulfilled. Sudan's pro-democracy movement has struggled with the military for power. Henry Wilkins reports from Khartoum on the state of Sudan's iconic revolution. ]]
((VIDEO-VOA: PROTEST ORGANIZERS PREPARING - various, ALI - various))
((NARRATOR))
For the protesters who took part in the revolution that ousted Sudan’s military ruler of three decades, Omar al-Bashir, the civilian government they dream of still proves elusive.
In October 2021, after just 18 months of civilian rule, a new military junta took power in a coup and remains in charge of the country.
Mohamed Ali, an organizer of almost daily protests in Khartoum, says the military should be under the control of a democratic government.
((Mohamed Ali, Protest Organizer (in Arabic, 18 secs)))
“I mean, the military authority should not be independent and isolated. This is the essential step to guarantee the process of democratization. People must believe in this.”
((For radio: He says, the military authority should not be independent and isolated and that’s what’s essential to guarantee the process of democratization. “People must believe this,” he added.))
((NARRATOR))
The military government has said for months that it will put in place a transitional government and move to civilian rule. A draft political agreement to bring that about was due to be signed on April 6, but was postponed at the last minute.
A politician involved in the negotiations told VOA in March…
((Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, National Umma Party (in English, 19 secs))
“This broad-based government, we need it desperately for the success of the coming interim period. Plan B, we might look into having a caretaker government for a short period, one to three months. Meanwhile, we try to settle our disputes.”
((For radio: Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, Deputy Chairman for the National Umma Party, A politician involved in the negotiations told VOA in March…))
“This broad-based government, we need it desperately for the success of the coming interim period,” the chairman said. “Plan B, we might look into having a caretaker government for a short period of three months. Meanwhile, we try to settle our disputes.”
((NARRATOR))
But the protesters say this process should not be extended any further. They point out that civil servants and teachers have not been paid in months and the functions of the state are at a standstill.
Jibril Ibrahim, the minister of finance, told VOA in March…
((Jibril Ibrahim, Minister of Finance (in English, 13 secs)))
“Political forces need to sit around a table and find a way to form that civilian government, and I don’t think that's impossible. We are close now.”
((NARRATOR))
Analysts say military rulers are looking to drag out the move to civilian rule in order to consolidate power.
((Mandatory Courtesy: Zoom))
((Cameron Hudson, Center for Strategic and International Studies (in English, 14 secs)))
“The longer that this stretches on, I think the more ability the military has to further hide its hand in financial corporations, to develop deeper diplomatic ties that will counterbalance the pressure coming from internal sources or external sources.”
((For radio: Cameron Hudson is with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Hudson offered this assessment.))
“The longer that this stretches on, I think the more ability the military has to further hide its hand in financial corporations, to develop deeper diplomatic ties that will counterbalance the pressure from internal sources or external sources.”
((NARRATOR))
Hala Al Karib, with the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, says the lack of progress creates…
((Mandatory Courtesy: Zoom))
((Hala Al Karib, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (in English, 23 secs)))
“… A very dangerous situation because Sudan is already very volatile. The military coup has failed to assign an executive government. The overall situation is highly problematic. Add to that the issue of insecurity, in all conflict and post-conflict regions, it’s becoming very, very devastating and very scary.”
((NARRATOR))
The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, has expressed “alarm” at the rising tensions and called for a renewed push toward civilian rule to resolve the situation.
((Henry Wilkins, for VOA News, Khartoum))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
KHARTOUM, SUDAN
Embargo DateApril 10, 2023 17:04 EDT
Byline
((Henry Wilkins, for VOA News, Khartoum))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
