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Women Lead Revolution in Sudan

There are not many journalists in the streets of Sudan, so Lana Haroun (Twitter @lana_hago ) snapped this picture from her phone and it went viral.



Her name is Alaa Salah, a 22-year-old engineering and architecture student.
Hind Makki informs us that she's wearing a white tobe (outer garment) and gold moon earrings. The white tobe is worn by working women in offices and can be linked w/cotton (a major export of Sudan), so it represents women working as professionals in cities or in the agricultural sector in rural areas. Her earrings are the gold moons of traditional bridal jewelry (Sudanese, like many Arabic speakers, often use moon-based metaphors to describe feminine beauty). Her entire outfit is also a callback to the clothing worn by women in the 60s, 70s, & 80s who dressed like this when they marched the streets demonstrating against previous military dictatorships. Sudanese everywhere are referring to female protestors as "Kandaka," which is the title given to the Nubian queens of ancient Sudan whose gift to their descendents is a legacy of empowered women who fight hard for their country and their rights. ✊🏾

Women  make up about 75% of protesters.


 Latest News 
Today, I read in the news: dictator Omar al-Bashir ousted by army.
  • Omar al-Bashir's ruthless 30-year rule over Sudan has ended as it began, with a coup.
  • The Sudanese army said al-Bashir was under house arrest and announced a 2 year transition period, to be presided over by the military.
  • Leaders of the protests that brought al-Bashir down are demanding a civilian transitional government, and vowing to keep up protests.
The top military commander, who had served as the First Vice President of Sudan since February, said the country would enter a two-year transitional period, during which it would be run by the armed forces. During the transition, he said the current constitution would be suspended, martial law would be imposed for three months, and a month-long night curfew imposed from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.

Sudan's Association of Professionals (SPA), one of the main organizers of the protests in Sudan, was quick to respond to Ibn Auf's announcement, rejecting it and urging "the revolutionaries to uphold the protests."

May God instruct its angels and the Orixas come togehter to protect these women, men and children protesting, demanding change.


Sources:
 Hind Makki https://twitter.com/hindmakki 
Lana Haroun: https://twitter.com/lana_hago
CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sudan-protests-omar-al-bashir-dictator-military-africa-live-updates-04-11-2019/

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