tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post4322709485266266097..comments2024-03-21T18:48:01.999+01:00Comments on StillSUDAN: Stones at BashirMagdi El Gizoulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15761996039834856021noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-62689172877597516822011-01-30T22:02:41.704+01:002011-01-30T22:02:41.704+01:00Hey Toni - I am not sure if we are about to witnes...Hey Toni - I am not sure if we are about to witness regime change in Khartoum. Contrary to Egypt and Tunisia my guess is that Bashir is ready to share power with the opposition parties provided that his position is safeguarded. If the opposition parties can negotiate their way into power they are unlikely to support urban protests that they have next to no control over. The students on the streets are as much fed up with the NCP's corruption as they are frustrated by the parties' incapacity and inconsistency. <br /><br />At some obscene level the traditional parties - Umma and DUP - just like the NCP are also threatened by an unpredictable Khartoum. <br /><br />I just posted a note on today's demos. <br /><br />bestMagdi El Gizoulihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15761996039834856021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-28769148905885855602011-01-30T19:21:49.287+01:002011-01-30T19:21:49.287+01:00Hi Magdi - my first post here, though I've bee...Hi Magdi - my first post here, though I've been following your excellent blog for a while. I'm intrigued by what's happening in Tunisia & Egypt right now and wonder what it might mean for post-referendum Khartoum... Sudan is covered so much worse by the usual media, so if you have any updates on today's demonstrations, I'd love about that.Toninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-12244610302941911952011-01-30T08:53:16.176+01:002011-01-30T08:53:16.176+01:00I conceed this is not the optimal time for revolut...I conceed this is not the optimal time for revolutionary attempts, but as I said before it is highly doubtful that anything of the sort will ensue. <br /> Ideally, what we want is to alert the government to our dissatisfaction and break through the state of reluctance that is gripping the nation. It's just a beginning, a foundation, if you please to build future resistance on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-81874543822770291062011-01-29T23:11:56.621+01:002011-01-29T23:11:56.621+01:00Thank you for the lively discussion. One point I a...Thank you for the lively discussion. One point I agree with totally is that the survival of Bashir's regime is more a symptom of his adversaries to create a credible alternative than a signal of intrinsic success. I do not agree however with the liberal notion of 'something must be done' and now. I think if anything politics must be rethought in Sudan. There is a lot of doing going on but without any serious thinking to support it.Magdi El Gizoulihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15761996039834856021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-88986107768300262892011-01-29T20:25:08.225+01:002011-01-29T20:25:08.225+01:00Thank you for responding to my post.
While I am h...Thank you for responding to my post.<br /><br />While I am hesitant to extend this debate without Dr El Gizouli's express consent, I am very curious to hear from you - what in your opinion is the "something" the youth of Sudan wish to be done? <br /><br />Thank you.Ahmednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-85071556494544373912011-01-29T20:04:43.904+01:002011-01-29T20:04:43.904+01:00The answer to that question in my opinion is yes a...The answer to that question in my opinion is yes and no. Yes I don't believe the results of the elections were manipulated. I think it was more fear of instability, of a new regime that will have power hungry empty pockets to fill, in addition to the evident weakness, inconsistency, apparent indecision and inadequacy of the opposing parties that steered the majority of the votes that led to the re-election of the NCP. <br /> As a youth who fully intends to participate in tomorrows peaceful protests, I would like to add that there is a risk, that is known and acknowledged, and as this is just the beginning there are doubts this protest will yield the same results it yielded in Tunisia and Egypt. As you said the NCP's response tomorrow will determine many things, however I still think it is due time for something to be done. We have to hope that the other parties do not attempt to claim the credit for our efforts tomorrow, although of course, they will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679369810161873324.post-63994151813876756562011-01-29T19:05:18.183+01:002011-01-29T19:05:18.183+01:00Political parties everywhere engage in political g...Political parties everywhere engage in political games to maintain their positions. <br /><br />But the manner in which Sudanese opposition parties are side-lined only serves to emphasis the dichotomy of their position. <br /><br />The self-attributed "consensus" label by the NCF seems to be a disingenuous attempt to serve the constituents they abandoned in 2010 elections and merely an attempt to remain relevant - by an ageing elite bent on satisfying their own megalomaniac fantasies.<br /><br />Into this vacuum of opposition steps an impatient over-educated and under-employed young generation fed up of corruption, increasing income inequality and dynastic opposition parties.<br /><br />The truly inspirational revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt are not an appropriate model for Sudan in its current fragile state. An overzealous youth are unlikely to heed this warning and the way the current administration responds to what seems to be a peaceful plea for reform will determine what the future holds. However, there is a real risk that upcoming protests will be mis-managed and then hijacked by a manipulative opposition.<br /><br />The real question for me is whether the will of the Sudanese people was reflected in the results of last year's elections? And if so, then why is the current administration pandering to the opposition instead of executing its mandate?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com