Sudanese activists marked the anniversary of the December Revolution on Thursday with calls to end the war and restore civilian democratic rule, despite shrinking public space under ongoing conflict.
Activists organized protest calls, symbolic gatherings, and online demonstrations across social media platforms, while resistance committees circulated mobilization statements and commemorative posts to mark the occasion.
In Omdurman, police dispersed hundreds of young protesters using tear gas after they gathered in several public squares, chanting December revolution slogans including “Freedom, Peace, and Justice” and “The army to the barracks, the Janjaweed to be dissolved.” Protesters demanded an immediate end to the war and a return to civilian governance.
A witness told Asharq Al-Awsat that members of resistance committees gathered at Al-Khalifa Square in central Omdurman, chanting “Peaceful, peaceful” and “Freedom, peace, and justice — the revolution is the people’s choice.” Police confronted the demonstrators with tear gas and batons, while other groups were chased in the Al-Azhari area near the Shambat Bridge.
Protests in Port Sudan and Gedaref
In Port Sudan, dozens of protesters took to the streets carrying banners calling for an end to the war. In Gedaref state, police arrested a number of demonstrators who staged protests with similar demands.
At the same time, the anniversary was widely marked online. Activist groups promoted what they described as an “online protest,” urging supporters to publish posts and hashtags emphasizing that the war has targeted the gains of the December Revolution. Participants framed the commemoration as a reaffirmation of commitment to a civilian state and the demand for the military to return to the barracks.
Activists described the protests as a challenge to repression and intimidation campaigns carried out by supporters of the former regime and Islamist groups. They told Asharq Al-Awsat that the limited protests seen in several areas represented a direct confrontation with an atmosphere of fear, harassment, and accusations leveled against anti-war and civilian voices, including allegations of collaboration with the Rapid Support Forces.
December 19 marks the outbreak of protests that began on December 19, 2018, in the city of Atbara, initially sparked by student demonstrations against rising prices and bread shortages. The protests quickly evolved into a nationwide uprising that led to the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.
Following the October 2021 coup, December 19 became an annual date symbolizing Sudanese demands for “Freedom, Peace, and Justice,” and the belief that “the revolution is the people’s choice.”
