A growing social media campaign in Sudan is calling for the removal of military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, as public anger mounts over the country’s economic collapse, prolonged war and deteriorating living conditions.
The campaign, organised around the Arabic hashtag #أختانا (Ikhtana), a Sudanese colloquial expression meaning “Leave us alone” or “Go away,” has gained traction on social media platforms, with activists and ordinary citizens demanding an end to Burhan’s rule and the military authorities based in Port Sudan.
Participants accuse Burhan and his Islamist allies of prioritising their grip on power over the welfare of Sudanese civilians, while continuing to pursue a military solution to a conflict that has devastated the country since April 2023.
The online protests come amid worsening economic hardship, widespread displacement, rising poverty and mounting frustration over the absence of a political settlement.
Many contributors have also renewed demands for an end to the war and the restoration of civilian government.
Growing anger against military rule
Sudanese writer and political analyst Ihab Madbo described the initiative as an expanding online movement demanding Burhan’s departure.
Political commentator Awab Azzam al-Boushi said Sudanese citizens had launched the hashtag in response to the military leader’s policies, with posts reflecting growing dissatisfaction over the continuing conflict and worsening humanitarian conditions.
According to al-Boushi, the campaign represents mounting pressure on the Port Sudan authorities as Sudanese communities struggle with the consequences of war and economic decline.
Some participants have directed particularly sharp criticism at Burhan’s alliance with Islamist factions, accusing them of prolonging the conflict to preserve their political influence.
In a post on X, Sudanese commentator Faisal Saeed accused Burhan and his Islamist allies of sacrificing the country to remain in power.
“When Burhan and the Islamists were given a choice between preserving the state and preserving their power, they chose to burn the country and everyone in it so they could rule over its ashes,” he wrote.
“That is why we say: Leave us alone, Burhan. Leave us alone, criminals.”
Another social media user, Salma Mansour, accused Burhan of presiding over one of the darkest periods in Sudan’s history.
“History will record that Burhan was the most unsuccessful leader Sudan has ever known,” she wrote.
“History will record that Burhan destroyed a beautiful country called Sudan, and that he impoverished the Sudanese people to cling to power. Leave us alone.”
Calls for civilian rule
The campaign also reflects broader frustration with Sudan’s military leadership following years of political turmoil.
Burhan led the October 2021 military takeover that derailed Sudan’s transition towards civilian government, before the country descended into war in April 2023.
Since then, millions of Sudanese have been displaced, while the destruction of infrastructure, economic disruption and the collapse of essential services have deepened the humanitarian crisis.
Campaign participants argue that continued military rule and the influence of Islamist factions within the Port Sudan authorities have obstructed efforts to end the conflict and establish a civilian-led political transition.
The hashtag has become a rallying point for Sudanese citizens seeking to express their rejection of Burhan’s leadership and frustration with the mounting human cost of the war.
Although the campaign remains primarily an online protest, its message reflects demands among participating Sudanese activists for political change, an end to military rule and accountability for those responsible for the country’s prolonged crisis.
