A year after demonstrations broke out in Sudan over soaring bread prices, celebrations are planned across the country on Thursday to mark the uprising that brought down veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
In the central town of Atbara, the cradle of the revolt, hundreds of people are expected to arrive on a train from Khartoum to stay for a week of festivities.
Organised by the transitional government and the protest movement, it is a tribute to the thousands of demonstrators who travelled in the opposite direction to the capital at key moments during the uprising.
In Khartoum, celebrations are planned in several districts, particularly at the city’s Freedom Square, which was renamed in honour of the protesters.
“I’ll remember the first day of our protest under tear gas and live ammunition, which didn’t stop us,” said Hana Hussein, 21.
“Now we can take to the streets in celebration. It’s a great achievement of our revolution.”
Badr Mohamed, 22,also plans to use the uprising anniversary to demand accountability for the killings of fellow protesters.
According to doctors linked to the protest movement, more than 250 people were killed in violence related to the demonstrations against Bashir and the military rulers who initially replaced him.
In August, after protracted talks with the military, protesters and activists won a deal to set up a transitional government and pave the way for civilian rule.
Former senior UN official Abdalla Hamdok, a veteran economist, was appointed transitional prime minister.
Bashir, in prison since his overthrow, was sentenced on Saturday to two years’ detention in a correctional centre for the elderly for corruption — the first of several cases against him.
