For Sudan’s protesters, another threat looms: Meddling by Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Demonstrators chant protests slogans at a sit-in in Khartoum, Sudan.
“A soft landing for the old regime is being orchestrated by some Middle Eastern powers so that they can keep their allies in power,” said Mohamed Yusuf al-Mustafa, the head of the Sudanese Professionals Association, in an interview. His coalition of doctors, lawyers and others has been central in organizing the demonstrations. “They are not our enemies. But they are risking the goodwill of the Sudanese people.
“[We said] the timeline should be as quick as possible because the streets are demanding that, and we stand in support of the people asking for that quick transition,” said James, after leaving the meeting. The Sudanese protesters were well aware of that legacy. For many months, they had discussed ways to avoid Egypt’s trajectory after popular protests in 2011 followed by elections ultimately resulted in a military coup and an authoritarian government backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to Khalid Mustafa Medani, an associate professor of political science and chair of the Africa Studies program at McGill University.
Mohammed al-Yahya, a Saudi political analyst who is editor in chief of Al-Arabiya English website, said that Saudi Arabia and the UAE saw a vital interest in ensuring that instability caused by political transitions across the Arab world was not “exploited by non-Arab actors,” referring specifically to Iran and Turkey, and the possibility they would support political Islamist groups.[Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir jailed these protesters. They’re back on the street with new demands.
“So far, the Saudis and Emiratis have not met with us,” he said. Egypt’s government, a close ally of Saudi Arabia, “offered me a consular officer, even though the Americans and Brits and Germans are offering their top officials. It is as if they thought we wanted visas and not a democratic transition.”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rouhani says Saudi Arabia, UAE owe their existence today to Iran: TVIranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia and the Uni...
Read more »
Yemen's Houthis say Saudi, UAE in missile range if Hodeidah truce cracksYemen's Houthi forces have missiles that could be fired at Riyadh, Dubai an...
Read more »
Are the mass executions in Saudi Arabia intended to provoke Iran?If history is anything to go by then Saudi Arabia's executions of thirty-seven Saudis, most believed to be Shia, could incite anger in the region and a response from Iran.
Read more »
'Reforms' in Saudi Arabia exist only as a tool to appease Western allies'The real crime of the women who campaigned to lift the driving ban was to attack the system as a whole - the very system from which MBS gets his power and his wealth.' Opinion | Sam Hamad
Read more »
Saudi Arabia welcomes U.S. move to end all Iran sanction waiversSaudi Arabia's foreign minister on Tuesday welcomed a U.S. decision to end ...
Read more »
Saudi Arabia says to coordinate with other producers to ensure adequate oil supplySaudi Arabia said on Monday it would coordinate with other oil producers to ensu...
Read more »
Saudi Arabia beheads 37 for terrorism crimes; most ShiitesDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday beheaded 37 Saudi citizens, most of them minority Shiites, in a mass execution across the country for alleged terrorism-related crimes....
Read more »
Saudi Arabia beheads 37 for terrorism crimes, most of them minority ShiitesSaudi Arabia has beheaded 37 Saudi citizens, most of them minority Shiites, in a mass execution across the country for alleged terrorism-related crimes.
Read more »
If Sanctions Cut Iran's Oil Exports To Zero, Would Saudi Arabia Really Fill The Void?If Saudi Arabia commits to increase oil production for Trump's Iran sanctions policy, it could destroy the kingdom's leverage in OPEC.
Read more »
Iraq hosts regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia at conferenceIraq hosted senior parliamentary officials from arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Ira...
Read more »