Threats to Sudan's Stability Mount

The regime of Sudan's President Omar Al Bashir's regime is facing its most important challenges in recent years. Sudan lost 75 % of its oil revenues following the independence of South Sudan. Its economy will contract by 11.2 percent this year. This has encouraged popular protests and reduced the regime's resources. Army generals and intelligence officers were among the 13 people arrested for plotting a coup d'état in November. The arrests signal a widening rift between hard- and soft-liners in Khartoum. Political opposition is growing, and protests are becoming more frequent. An alliance of armed groups — the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) — was launched in 2011. Sudan is at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East, and its future trajectory will influence regional dynamics.