Why Sudan’s Dictator Fell and What Comes Next?

FEATURING STEPHEN ZUNES – Sudan’s long-time president Omar Al-Bashir was ousted by a military coup. Months of mass protests during which dozens of people were killed by security forces, paved the way for the ouster. Al Bashir had himself come to power more than 30 years ago as the result of a military coup.

In addition to national anger over Al Bashir’s decades of rule, the ousted President was charged by the International Criminal Court over genocide in Darfur. Sudan’s Defense Minister Awad Ibn Auf has declared himself interim leader, saying that there would be a 2-year transition period during which the military would remain in charge. Already the military has begun cracking down however, with the imposition of a month-long curfew.

Dr. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, where he serves as coordinator of the program in Middle Eastern Studies. He also serves as a senior policy analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus, a project of the Institute for Policy Studies. He is also an associate editor of Peace Review.