SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Reuters - After ousting Bashir, Sudan's activists struggle to loosen military's grip
Nafisa Eltahir's feature piece highlights challenges facing Sudanese activists locked in a stand-off with the military "testing its clout as a political force."
Although the Sudanese Professionals Association's calls for civil disobedience could put pressure on the military council given Sudan’s economic vulnerability, the article notes that the military has wealthy and powerful allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The SPA may also be undermined by its lack of political experience. Also, the SPA's refusal to become a political party may leave a power vacuum, posing challenges for Sudan's opposition parties that have been for so long restricted under Al Bashir's regime.
The article also notes opposition divides, with the broad Declaration of Freedom and Change forces making conflicting statements about their approach to negotiations, and many protesters believing that the military should not be negotiated with at all.