Following a failed coup attempt on September 21st, tensions have flared between military and civilian leaders in Sudan. Al-Monitor reports that the two sides are accusing each other of seeking to monopolize power, thereby exacerbating the country’s dire political and economic situation. 

In recent days, Khartoum has seen severe shortages of bread, fuel, medicine and imported basic commodities in recent days, and schools have temporarily been brought back to four hours daily because of the scarcity of bread. 

Since the ouster of dictator Omar Al-Bashir in 2019, Sudan has been ruled by the Sovereign Council, a mixed military–civilian collective head of state, headed by civilian prime minister Abdalla Hamdok and a mostly civilian cabinet. 

Currently, the Sovereign Council is supposed to be undertaking the “2019-2024 transition to democracy”, to dismantle the remnants of the dictatorship and establish democratic civilian rule. However, supporters of the previous dictatorship continuously try to undermine this process. 

During the revolution, reports confirmed that amongst the protesters, at times more than 70% were female. Following Bashir’s ouster, female activists have been advocating to centre gender equality in the transition process and bring women in positions of power. 

Albeit small victories, such as Nemat Abdullah Khair being appointed Sudan's first female Chief Justice, the majority of women are yet to see changes. 

Women are generally not represented amongst military institutions or the police. Thus, these tensions threaten women’s empowerment disproportionately, because women’s best chance at influencing the transition is through their participation in civilian rule.