The army’s takeover in Sudan highlights a worrying trend
Jihadism and great-power competition are behind the rise in coups
SUDAN’S PATH to democracy has always been strewn with landmines. The country became independent in 1956. That year, and again in 1964 and 1986, there were brief attempts at democratic rule. All were scotched by men with guns. In 2019, after 30 years of genocidal military dictatorship under Omar al-Bashir, hope flowered once more. Peaceful protests toppled the tyrant. Many Sudanese longed for the army to retire to barracks.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “With a putsch and a shove”
From the October 30th 2021 edition
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