The December Revolution: a Revolution like No Other
It has been two years, two months and 14 days since the brave Sudanese people toppled Omar Al Bashir’s regime in what has been known as the December Thawora (Revolution). Up to now the Thawora is still going strong despite the counter revolution efforts to derail it, character assassination of most of its leaders and symbols and the splintering of the collation that led the revolution.
In the previous two Sudanese uprisings (October 1964 and April 1985) life returned to normal after a short period and the revolting masses believed their role has ended by changing the regime and handed over the task of ushering and protecting democracy to the political parties. But the disappointing performance of the political parties in both democracies that followed, resulted in the fading of the revolutionary spirit and the dissipating of energy amassed during the protests and was finally replaced by frustration and hopelessness. These negative feelings were partly manufactured by the opposition to democratic change coupled by the poor performance of the elected and the transitional governments.
Frustration and poor economic conditions paved the way for the 1989 military coup and the Sudanese people offered very little resistance to the change and democracy was miscarriaged before it could take root. But this time and at this juncture in history, the December 2018 revolution is different and not like any other, as the Sudanese people have learnt an invaluable lesson from their past and also from the failings and successes of the Arab spring revolutions.
People of Sudan are resolute in protecting their new path to freedom, peace and justice from the plots of the deep state and the transgressions of the co-governing military faction and they are keeping a watchful eye over their Thawora like a hawk watching it’s prey. This time the Sudanese people are adamant they will protect this once in a generation opportunity to get the civilian rule they desire by any means. Million man Marches are organized, smoke of burning car tyres fills Khartoum air as a sign of protest and desire to correct the government path. Social media is buzzing with revolutionary fervor and campaigns to support government policies.
None is more remarkable in a long list of efforts to support the civilian government and the transitional period, than the latest campaign to support the central bank’s policy of a managed float exchange rate. The campaign is named “Transfer your money through the bank”. The campaign is designed to help the government build reserves of hard currency, unify the dollar exchange rate and defeat the black market trading in foreign currencies. What is astonishing is the overwhelming support from the public and Sudanese diaspora to the new policy. Sudanese people are defying the principle of self-interest and forgoing their economic interest for the sake of supporting the new policy. Immediately after announcing the new central bank’s policy of adopting a manged float exchange rate, thousands of Sudanese people flocked to the banks to exchange and transfer their hard currencies to Sudanese pounds knowing full well they could get a slightly higher price in the black market. The response was so great that the banks could not cope with the increased business. There are numerous stories of disappointed bank customers who could not exchange their dollars because of the bank’s inability to cope with the rush. Up to now there are no financial incentives for the diaspora to transfer their money through the official channels but an announcement from the central bank is expected in the coming days.
To fill in the incentive gap some business came up with incentives to support the policy. There is the coffee shop that offered a 50% discount to any customer with a valid transfer bank receipt of foreign currency. There is also the Surgeon who would waive his fee for any patient who needs an operation in the condition he has transferred hard currencies through the official channels. Not to be excluded from the action a farmers market offered 35% of all purchases with similar evidence of transfer. Similar stories are endless.
Another side of the campaign is encouraging people to report bank’s staff who are hindering the implementation of the new policy. One such report through social media was from a distraught mother who could not exchange her dollars, brought the finance minister to her rescue. Two minsters immediately visited the branch while she was still there and resolved the mother’s issue. Another facet to the campaign is that a great numbers of the Sudanese diaspora are posting pledges in social media to never use unofficial channels to transfer hard currencies in the future.
The support for the new policy is immense and the examples are too many to include. This shows that the December revolution has brought out the best of the Sudanese people and made them collectively act against their individual economic interest and for a better future the greater good of the country. What it is unique about this outpouring of support and goodwill; that it was spontaneous and without any prompt from the government. Truly the December Thawora is like no other.
Dr Mohamed Hamour
Not a Journalist
