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1 1 (June 6, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govzzb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Inorng the legisi ve debate sice 1914 Updated June 6, 2019 Sudan On April 11, 2019, Sudan's military removed President Omar al Bashir from office after three decades in power. Four months of near-daily protests across the country had shaken the government, and in early April, huge crowds gathered in front of the military's headquarters in Khartoum to demand regime change. The protests, triggered by austerity measures amid an economic crisis, were fueled by a range of grievances against the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and Bashir, who took power in a 1989 coup. The trajectory of the post-Bashir transition in Sudan is uncertain, as the Transitional Military Council (TMC) that ousted Bashir defies calls for a transfer to civilian rule. The African Union (AU), which has expressed support for the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people and condemned what it terms a coup d'dtat, has demanded that the TMC cede authority to civilians by June 30. Under pressure, the TMC participated in talks with a coalition of opposition groups and professional unions, the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC). They reached agreement on some aspects of a transitional arrangement, in which elections would be held in 2022, but remain at odds over the role of military leaders in an interim government. Sudan's pro-democracy protesters have sought to pursue change through non-violent resistance. They maintained a large sit-in for almost two months before it was violently dispersed on June 3. Over 100 people were reportedly killed in that attack, led by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has roots in the notorious Janjaweed militia. The RSF remains heavily deployed in the capital, and reports of serious abuses, including rapes, abductions, and killings have emerged, amidst an internet shutdown. Sudan's military has a long history of intervention in politics (Bashir's 1989 coup was the country's fourth). Military leaders played prominent roles in Bashir's regime, and the extent to which the TMC represents a break from the NCP is debated. Tensions between the military and the RSF are reportedly rising, increasing fears that fractures within the security forces could be destabilizing. With rampant inflation, a foreign currency shortage, and a heavy debt burden, Sudan needs international support to stabilize its economy. Its $1.3 billion in debt arrears to the International Monetary Fund restrict access to international financing, as does its designation by the United States as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have supported the TMC politically and financially, and by some accounts may have played a role in facilitating Bashir's ouster. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have offered $3 billion in aid, but economists say it will only provide short-term relief. The European Union says it stands ready to assist as soon as a civilian transition takes place. The United States has suspended talks on easing sanctions and sought to mobilize support for a civilian-led transition. Some Members of Congress have called for increased pressure to ensure a swift transfer of power to civilians in S.Res. 188 and in correspondence. Figure I. Sudan Key Facts Sources: CIA World Factbook and IMF, 2018. Background Sudan, when unified (1956-2011), was Africa's largest country. In 2011, after decades of fighting often broadly described as a conflict between the predominately Muslim Arab north and non-Muslim African south, Sudan split in two. The split did not resolve Sudan's other conflicts; overlapping struggles between security forces and rebels, nomadic and farming communities, and among ethnic groups have caused extensive displacement and suffering. Northern regimes espousing Islamist ideals have dominated government for much of Sudan's post-independence history, despite its diversity, pressing distant provinces to conform to the riverine heartland, rather than accommodating local customs and institutions. Instead of forging a national identity, these policies exacerbated the country's racial, cultural, and religious differences. Attempts to Arabize and Islamize the south sparked insurgencies. Groups in other regions also rose up periodically, citing local grievances. Some in the states of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile joined the southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). The north-south wars took a heavy toll. In 2005, the government and the SPLM signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which enshrined the south's right to self-determination after a six-year interim period. Southern Sudanese voted overwhelmingly in January 2011 to secede and achieved independence in July of that year. South Sudan's secession was a major financial blow to Sudan, which lost 75% of its oil production, two-thirds of export earnings, and over half its fiscal revenues. A bloated security sector budget, mismanagement, and corruption have all compounded Sudan's economic troubles. The International Monetary Fund assesses that U.S. sanctions also undermined economic growth. Major U.S. enforcement actions for sanctions violations in 2014-2015 significantly reduced Sudan's access to U.S. dollars and further impeded its access to international financial markets and institutions. https:iicrsrepots congr ess

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