Sudan: Breaking the barrier of fear
As the Sudanese government intensifies its crackdown on anti-government protests that have been going on for almost two weeks, activists have called for a massive demonstration against the government’s austerity measures.
The protesters defiantly dubbed their anti-government rallies “licking elbows” after officials issued a statement telling people who are dissatisfied with the government to do just that.
The protests that were sparked by austerity measures have spread from the capital Khartoum to other areas of the country, with people now openly calling for an end to the 23-year-old rule of Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s president.
Sudanese protest against austerity measures
Sudan’s government is facing growing public anger over its austerity measures.
The country lost $2.5bn worth of oil revenue a year when South Sudan gained independence last year, causing Khartoum to introduce a number of cutbacks
Inflation has soared, with food and fuel prices increasing by over 30 per cent overnight, after the government stopped subsidising basic commodities.
In the last two weeks, hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets over the rising food and fuel prices.
Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall reports from Khartoum.