The Role of Women in the Third Sudanese Uprising - a podcast by ALC Pan-African Radio

For many, it is easier to perceive women in their non-threatening domestic roles. Nonetheless, they often defy expectations to fight in the front lines for the rights and freedoms of their people. In the recent Sudanese uprising in 2019, women took to the streets to protest against the President Omar al-Bashir government. A government that for many decades was oppressive. However, the recent uprising was not the first of its kind. Sudan has twice previously removed the authoritarian regimes of Ibrahim Abboud and Jafa’ar Nimeiri; where similarly women were intricately involved. Unfortunately, their contributions were minimized and not reflected in subsequent governance structures.

African women have made and continue to make significant contributions to Peace and Security since the colonial period. Colonial disruptions deepened assigned gender roles within African society, which was accompanied by gender discrimination. Therefore, in addition to economic oppression, the colonial administration instituted oppressive patriarchal governance structures that excluded women from political participation and from political power.

The Sudanese women’s movement emerged from the anti-colonial and nationalist movements of the 1950s and 60s. At this time, Sudanese women were heavily involved in the fight for democracy and human rights. It was through this liberation struggle that they were able to secure their political and economic rights and some of their social rights. Their participation is first notable in the October 1964 Revolution against the military dictatorship of Ibrahim Abboud; and then in the April 1985 Intifada which broke out after years of economic crisis. The situation was so bad that locals could no longer afford their basic needs. These frustrations were common among citizens and led to the movement which forced the May Regime of Jafa’ar Nimeiri to step down.

Signs of the third Sudanese revolution began in December 2018. Several protests against President Omar al-Bashir took place, nationwide and on social media, demanding economic reforms and the resignation of the president.
That was Alaa Salah standing on a car, leading other protesters
In February 2019, a state of emergency was declared as a result of the protests. Two months later in April saw the largest protests since the declaration of the state of emergency.
During this time, a picture circulated on the internet of a young woman draped in white clothing, adorned with a pair of round, gold earrings, standing on a car, leading other protestors in chants and songs. The picture went viral and earned her the titles “Woman in White” and “Lady Liberty”. Her name is Alaa Salah. She would be the face of the third Sudanese revolution.
Eventually the protests led to the military forcefully removing al-Bashir from power and in his place they installed a transitional council. This was not to the protesters’ satisfaction. The demonstrators, some who were former ALC women fellows like Gihan Eltahir, wanted more than a change of leadership of the same regime- they demanded a civilian transitional council. Furthermore, Salah stressed the importance of women participating in formal political spaces. She noted that despite women often accounting for seventy per cent of protesters, they were side-lined in the creation of transitional institutions. This speaks to the experience of several other women movements in Africa and provides insight into the deep contestations between African women and the state about the exercise of power.

Further episodes of ALC Pan-African Radio

Further podcasts by ALC Pan-African Radio

Website of ALC Pan-African Radio