The Bashir Era and Darfur Genocide (1989-2019)

Omar al-Bashir took over Sudan via a military coup in 1989 and basically rigged elections to stay on as Sudan's head of state for the next 30 years. His rule would be marked by unprecedented brutality.

According to an investigation by the International Criminal Court, Albashir masterminded and implemented a plan to destroy the three main ethnic groups in Darfur - the non-Arab Fur, Masselit, and Zagawa peoples through murder, rape, and deportation. By 2013, the UN estimated that up to 300,000 ethnic Darfury people had been killed with millions more displaced.

Albashir was eventually charged by the ICC for directing a campaign of mass killing, rape, and pillage against civilians in Darfur, becoming the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC.

South Sudan's Independence (2011)

Bashir's government continued the Sudanese civil war, a long-running conflict between non-Muslim ethnic minorities in the south against the mostly Muslim central government that ended with the creation of South Sudan in 2011.

Before 2011, the former leader of South Sudan John Garang said "let us not split because when we split even Sudan governed from Khartoum will not be safe there'll be other conflicts" - and what he said is what is happening now.

The 2019 Revolution and False Hope

Bashir was eventually overthrown in 2019 by the Sudanese revolution. After ousting Albashir, the military toppled the government and declared a state of emergency, taking total control but promising a transition to civilian leadership and elections in 2022.

There was genuine hope. People lived through what they call today the Golden Era in Sudan - Khartoum was the Beirut of Africa with an open market, latest products from London, New York and Paris, culture, entertainment, freedom of having parties all through the night.

But it was not to last.