What’s keeping Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir in power?
Protesters are urging the army to hold direct talks on forming a transitional government.
Four months after the anger at high bread and fuel prices generated mass protests in Sudan, the rallies have evolved into demands for an end to the 30-year-rule of President Omar al-Bashir.
For the first time on Saturday, protesters got as far as army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, a complex which also houses al-Bashir’s residence.
Some soldiers stepped in to protect demonstrators against tear gas from riot police and intelligence service agents. However, army commanders have so far resisted calls to help remove al-Bashir.
What’s keeping the president in power?
Presenter: Martine Dennis
Guests:
Khalid Omer Yousif – Secretary-general of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party
Jean-Baptiste Gallopin – Sudan researcher and PhD candidate at Yale University
David Shinn – Former deputy chief of mission at the United States embassy in Sudan