Sudanese Activist In Cleveland Predicts Continuing Protests In Khartoum

Popular demonstrations in Sudan have led to the overthrow of that country’s long-serving military ruler, Omar al-Bashir.

The Sudanese American Physicians Association has been supporting protest organizers in Sudan, but says the Army general who has taken power is a continuation of the government they are seeking to overthrow. Mohamed Eisa, spokesman for the Physicians Association, is a doctor at MetroHealth in Cleveland. He predicts protests are likely to continue.

“It’s led by young people, educated people, people who know their rights, know the available resources in Sudan, know that they deserve a better life and for all those reasons they are going to stay,” said Eisa.

He says when the protest organizers in Sudan, the Sudanese Professionals Association, decided their goal was to overthrow the government, they asked his group to help draft plans for a new health service.

Eisa is originally from Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, but left the country in 2013. He says he and other Sudanese around the world are waiting for real change before going back.

“My ultimate goal is not to stay here in the United States. It’s to go back and serve my home country, my own people,” said Eisa.

Al-Bashir first came to power in 1989 and became an international pariah after waging war for years in Darfur, which led to an indictment from the International Criminal Court. 

The United States also bombed Sudan during al-Bashir's reign in retaliation for welcoming al Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden.

Lt. Gen. Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf announced Thursday that he is leading the new government after al-Bashir's arrest. 

Ibn Auf was the defense minister under al-Bashir. He declared two years of military rule, a state of emergency and mandatory curfew.