Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 4 January 2019
Sudan under al-Bashir: Long history of turmoil, conflicts

By HAMZA HENDAWI — and al-Bashir stoked an
Associated Press old border dispute with
CAIRO (AP) — Street Egypt. But then he had to
protests against Sudan's quickly try mend relations
President Omar al-Bashir with Egypt after Sudan's
show no sign of abating. economic crisis worsened
A growing number of his with the devaluation of its
former allies are clamoring currency in October.
for his departure. None of Al-Bashir has also cultivated
his friends in the region are oil-rich Saudi Arabia and
stepping up to help. One the United Arab Emirates,
of the Mideast's longest receiving extensive aid
autocrats may be on the after he sent troops to
way out. Yemen to fight alongside
But if al-Bashir, who came the two against Shiite
to power in a 1989 military Houthi rebels. But their trust
coup, seeks to cling to — and Egypt's — has been
power, it could mean undermined by his wooing
greater violence and of their rivals, Qatar, Turkey
economic paralysis for and Iran.
Sudan and a new stage ___
in a dark history of strife, WHAT ARE AL-BASHIR'S
military dictatorships and OPTIONS?
political polarization. Al-Bashir's domestic
Once Africa's largest alliances have shown signs
nation, Sudan under al- In this Dec. 9, 2000 file photo, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir shouts "Allah Akbar" (God is of crumbling in the face
Bashir was prominent on Great), upon his arrival at the village of Garaffa, 30 kilometers north Khartoum. of the latest protests. The
the world stage in the 1990s Associated Press military and police are
and 2000s for all the wrong sitting on the fence. Political
reasons. have been reported killed, Imam al-Mahdi, a messianic machine of businessmen groups, including Islamists
It was the scene of a long and al-Bashir has arrested religious figure from the late and politicians that held who were once allied with
civil war between the opposition leaders, 1800s. In 1972, he reached a lock on power and his National Congress Party
mostly Christian and animist imposed emergency rule a peace deal ending the amassed massive wealth in have joined street calls for
south and the Muslim and and curfews in multiple war in the south. the impoverished nation. him to step down.
Arabized north. It hosted cities and suspended The south relaunched its His renewed imposition Those defections
Osama bin Laden in the classes in schools and insurgency 11 years later of Islamic law alienated undermine al-Bashir's
early years of his jihadi universities. and the guerillas' ranks many and tore apart the faltering response to the
movement that led to Here is a look at Sudan's swelled when al-Nimeiri social fabric of a country crisis, which he has tried
the creation of al-Qaida, modern history and how introduced Islamic Shariah with a rich religious and to depict as a struggle
landing Sudan a spot on recent events may shape law. After a popular uprising, ethnic composition. His use against secularists backed
the U.S. list of countries its future: the military removed al- of Islamic militias in Darfur by Western plots aimed at
backing terrorism. ___ Nimeiri in 1985 and — in a made him an international wrecking Sudan's Islamist
In the 2000s, it was most HOW DID SUDAN GET HERE? rare move for the region pariah. Partly trying to "experiment." He has used
known for the brutal Since independence in — quickly handed power salvage his standing, he religious rhetoric, telling
repression of an uprising in its 1956, Sudan has bounced to an elected government. signed the peace deal with a public struggling to get
western Darfur region, when between tumultuous party The dysfunctional the south. by that God will provide
the pro-government militias politics and military rule, administration lasted only a But as it gained and quoting Quran verses
known as the Janjaweed while trying to hold together few years until al-Bashir — a independence, the south to security officials in an
became notorious for a north and south joined career army officer — allied took with it three quarters attempt to justify killing
atrocities and al-Bashir under British colonialism. with Islamist hard-liners and of Sudan's oil resources, protesters.He has options for
himself was indicted by the Southern rebels took up toppled it in a coup. leaving the north without political survival, but likely
International Criminal Court arms the year before ___ an economic engine. at the price of reducing
for alleged war crimes and independence, starting the Al-BASHIR'S OWN MAKING? Since then, al-Bashir's his powers. He formed an
genocide. first civil war. In 1958, the Bashir's 29 years in power main priorities have been investigation committee
After the south gained military seized power, ruling will likely be remembered keeping his lock on power that could try to give him
independence in 2011 for six years until a wave as the most oppressive in while floundering for ways cover by prosecuting some
in a referendum that al- of riots and strikes in 1964. Sudan's modern history. to repair the economy. He accused of using lethal
Bashir agreed to in a Elections were held, and a He began by trying to has manipulated shifting force against protesters or
peace treaty, Sudan lost series of governments took militarily crush the southern international alliances, indicting businessmen and
a third of its territory and office, all of which failed to rebellion. Predictably, it did playing regional powers politicians for manipulated
fell out of the international end the war or agree on a not work. against each other in the market for personal
spotlight. In the years since, permanent constitution. From Khartoum, his rule was hopes of financial aid and gain. He may also try
it languished in increasing Army officer Jaafar al- based on his Islamist-military investment. bringing political rivals into a
economic misery. Nimeiri led another military alliance, presenting himself His relations with Egypt, new, inclusive government,
That misery erupted coup in 1969. He dissolved as a leader of the 1990s Sudan's powerful neighbor or announce he will not run
several times into protests, parliament and outlawed wave of "political Islam" to the north, are a case in in elections set for 2020.
each time put down by political parties, starting while building ties with point. Sudan has sided with But he also may dig in,
al-Bashir. He has tried to 16 years of authoritarian violent jihadis. Using Islamist Ethiopia in a dispute with forcing the military and
do the same in the latest rule. He fended off several ideology as a rallying cry, Egypt over an Ethiopian police to choose whether
unrest, sparked on Dec. coup attempts, including al-Bashir created loyalist dam being built, seen by to back him or turn against
19, initially over steep price one by Communists in 1971 militias to protect his Cairo as a threat to its him definitively, prompting
rises and shortages. Dozens and another by followers of rule and built a political share of Nile River water new turmoil.q