The Fall of Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the ‘Spider’ at the Heart of Sudan’s Web

What we have in common with Sudan, Algeria and Bahrain, to name a few, is the challenge of building and sustaining sturdy democratic institutions. Many developing countries lack strong and respected institutions. This was a deliberate decision by the colonial and neo-colonial powers to hobble such institutional development for fear that they would limit their hegemony. So in exchange for minerals oil,and access to establish military bases we look the other way. Here at home we are offered low prices all the time and unlimited multimedia and pharmaceutical opioids. So the people in countries like Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia to name a few, struggle to establish democratic cultures. We support their despots, legitimize their fake elections and shed crocodile tears for the victims of their human rights violations, often using our weapons and training. But God don't like ugly and right here at home we see those same amoral supranational forces attempting to weaken our own democratic institutions. The fight by the sufferers in these countries is also our fight: Respect, dignity, equal opportunity and accountability.

Excellent article. I am thinking now of my friend from South Sudan, a Christian and a gentle person, who had to leave to save his own family from living in Hell. Life was very cheap there under their perverse legal system. As he explained to me, if you hit a car driven by the old man, you would logically kill the old man as the fine you pay to kill him is less than the fine for damaging his car! I hope now the Sudanese people find a way to live together in peace and to build a new nation and come back from their isolation.

Now that the Spider is gone I'm sure a Western style democracy will rise in his place!

"International Criminal Court" Wonder where he, an Africa of little means, got all the money and audacity...? The work of intelligence is truly intelligent.

There are a few aspiring arachnids trying to spin the same web in North America.

The International Criminal Court had identified that Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir presided over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the western region of Darfur. The following article states: “He has two arrest warrants, one issued on March 4, 2009, and another on July 12, 2010, for alleged involvement in attacks on civilians and pillaging and three counts of genocide. “The crimes against humanity left over 300,000 people dead and more than two million displaced in the Darfur region between 2003 and 2008.” https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2019-04-11-will-bashir-now-be-arrested-on-icc-warrants/ Omar al-Bashir should be delivered to the International Criminal Court in the Hague in the Netherlands ASAP. While this would not bring relief to the families and friends of the dead, the World would be relieved to be rid of this monstrous killer. But, unfortunately, this will do nothing to bring relief to the crushed and impoverished economy of Sudan. Omar Hassan al-Bashir has squandered the assets of the country on the military and security forces and on reckless wars and conflicts over 30 years.

As a Sudanese American, I am thrilled!

This kind of power seems to be what Trump leans toward but If anyone doubts that a dictatorship is not the way to go they need to read this aeticle. Trump is attacking the courts and trying to politicize them by putting in his own people who are eventually seen as willing to put aside the law for Trump. Trump is also constantly attacking the media, and the strength of the media is a sign of the strength of a democracy. Trump is also systematically undermining the ability of our democratic institutions to function by putting his own top beaurocrats, usually people off the scale of unsuitsbility for the job, which hurts the ability of our democracy to function as it is designed. All this and more make Trump an anti- democratic head of government. Anyone can see where this is headed left unchecked. Most people find this very scary. And they should.

Mr. al-Bashir has held power in Khartoum for nearly two decades via dividing and conquering. Don't hold your breath for what comes next. A web always finds its spider.

It's time Africa wakes up and recognizes the 21st century. All my life I have been hearing the horror stories about Africa: The poverty, wars, political corruption. Can an entire continent be this dumb? We are living in a new, generational age of empowerment and expression of ideas. There is a saying, "AWA" Africa Wins Again .. used pejoratively among white tourists who acquiesce to the status quo. The time to change is now, and it should not take the help of China, Russia or the United States to pull this continent out of the haze. Africa is thriving with beautiful, intelligent people.. Let them stand and be heard!

Several years ago, a group in my low-intermediate Listening/Speaking class chose Sudan to research for their presentation, which was unusual because Egypt was much more popular. It was a serendipitous choice because I learned so much that I'd never known about Sudan. One of the topics was Mr. al-Bashir and his repressive government, the only blight on what is a really fascinating country. The problem now is that with al-Bashir out of the picture, some other strongman will take over, as what recently happened in Zimbabwe.

Thanks for that fascinating summary of the dictator al-Bashir's career. His ascent to power and means of keeping it are pretty similar to dozens of other dictators, but it's important to study these men (and they've all been men), to try to reduce their numbers. I'm sure it's occurring to a lot of people that as al-Bashir took power with the fourth military coup since independence, now this is the fifth such coup. What army leader is going to assume control, after things settle down a bit? Probably people within Sudan's army have a short list of possible candidates. The most tragic thing about this fifth coup, is that if America was led by anybody but Trump, we would step in to this situation, and through diplomacy and assistance, get Sudan's economy improving and bend the course of their government toward democracy. This is an ideal time to change the course of Sudan's governance, create goodwill toward America, and assist stability in the region, thus diminishing terrorism and civil wars. I have no doubt at all that America will fail to do that, and despite my cynicism I hope for the best for Sudan's people.

I wish middle class America could mass outside the White House until our own Spider steps down.