What are the options available for activists in Sudan to oppose the capitulation of the government to the Austerity policies of the IMF? I have not had the opportunity yet to sufficiently research the situation. Sudan has been in a chokehold for years already.
One of the opening volleys in the corporate imperialist war against Sudan occurred in 1998 when the US bombed the al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory. The devastating aftermath of this terrorist attack cannot be measured. Subsequent destabilization strategies, sanctions, the rebellion in the South, Darfur, etc; have all left Sudan extremely vulnerable.
Massive debt is the primary tool now being used to loot and enslave the country; even if he government were to be toppled, this would still be the case So what can be done?
Frankly, protesting the IMF policies – devaluation of the Sudanese Pound, ruthless increases in the price of fuel and medicine, etc – are not going to be effective.
Sudan has no industries to speak of. All the telecommunications companies are multinationals. The oil companies are all multinationals. The public sector is shrinking; everything is being privatized. It would make sense, in this context, to protest for reform in the private sector. Demand profit-sharing, higher wages, organize labor, impose regulations on the corporate ownership structure. Yes, companies will resist this, but they are not likely to abandon Sudan. Right now, Sudan is basically on auction. The state is being dismantled. OK. That is happening, and I do not see how it can be prevented. So you have to deal with this. It is a transfer of power and authority from the state to business. Logically, you will need to transfer the focus of activism to correspond to this reality.
It seems to me that organizing labor should be one of the most important efforts in Sudan at present. Build the capacity for collective bargaining with corporate power.
Egyptians should pay attention to this, because to a great extent, Sudan’s present is your future.