African Studies
Utafiti: Journal of African Perspectives
Call for Papers: Utafiti is inviting you to submit your manuscript – any topic in the humanities - for consideration in the next issues.
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Sudan remained in the cycle of multidimensional crisis opened by the popular uprising of 2019 and the fall of the National Congress Party (ncp) regime. The year 2023 was shaped by the consequences of the military coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti) and widely condemned by the international community. The first half of the year was dominated by demonstrations and strikes calling for a restoration of civilian rule. This semi-insurrectionary situation in many towns, and the junta’s inability to regain the upper hand despite brutal repression, led to a degree of paralysis in the country. In the second half of the year, negotiations resumed between the various components of the ruling junta and the Forces of Freedom and Change (ffc-1). These talks were conducted under international mediation by the Trilateral Mechanism (UN, au, igad) and the Quad for Sudan (USA, UK, uae, Saudi Arabia). They resulted in the signing of a framework agreement, despite the protests of many revolutionary forces rejecting a power-sharing agreement with the armed forces. The polarisation and fragmentation of political forces continued to deepen, and two new political alliances were formed: the Democratic Bloc and the Alliance of Forces for a Radical Change. Competition within the military junta and the return of many ncp members led to a rise in tension between al-Burhan and Hemedti. The latter had to travel to Darfur to try to reduce the level of violence in the region, particularly in West Darfur, where massive intercommunity clashes occurred. While several countries and various regional and international organisations competed to restart negotiations between the protagonists of the Sudanese political crisis, Hemedti and al-Burhan undertook international visits to break the country’s isolation and seek personal support. Sudan’s economy continued to deteriorate rapidly in 2022, despite liberalisation policies aimed at alleviating the crisis. The effects of the blow and of international isolation exacerbated the structural problems of the Sudanese economy, particularly with regard to the imbalance in the balance of trade and monetary policy. Inflation, food, and fuel prices continued to rise, deeply affecting the living conditions of millions of Sudanese. Food insecurity among idps and refugees was a major concern, and though humanitarian aid was not impacted by international reactions to the coup, the suspension of most long-term financial support from Western donors put the country in a dire socioeconomic situation.