DePaul University hosted an event on February 17, highlighting the Sudanese revolution of 2018-2019. Mahder Habtemariam Serekberhan, a guest speaker, discussed the revolution’s significance and ongoing civil war in Sudan, providing historical context and inspiring young adults. The event aimed to foster awareness of Sudan’s struggles and the importance of youth activism.
DePaul University’s international studies department organized an event on February 17 to highlight the significance of the Sudanese revolution of 2018-2019 amid the ongoing civil war. Approximately 40 participants attended both in-person and virtually at the Levan Center.
Mahder Habtemariam Serekberhan, a Ph.D. candidate at Syracuse University, served as the guest speaker. She elaborated on lessons that DePaul students and young individuals may draw from the revolution, providing a historical timeline and engaging in a Q&A session for more than an hour.
Serekberhan, who grew up in Ethiopia, began following the Sudanese revolution in 2018 while studying in the United States. She remarked, “It looked like something young people were doing to change their conditions, and it seemed successful.” The protests originated in December 2018 when students protested government economic policies affecting bread prices, becoming pivotal in the revolution’s momentum.
The revolution aimed for enhanced healthcare, support for livestock producers, and inclusive government representation. In April 2019, during a large-scale sit-in, President Omar al-Bashir was ousted from power after three decades of rule marked by human rights abuses. Subsequently, the military pledged to collaborate with civilians towards establishing a democratic government.
However, a coup in 2021 saw the military regain full control, jeopardizing civilian representation. Currently, a counterrevolution is underway, with a study indicating that over 60,000 individuals had perished by November 2024. Serekberhan later updated this figure to 90,000, highlighting that millions are displaced and children are denied education due to famine and the collapse of health services.
Shiera Malik, an international studies professor at DePaul, emphasized that while revolutions in Africa are not novel, the recent experiences are taking on new relevance. She stated, “(Serekberhan’s) is not the first young African generation that’s asking, ‘How can we make our lives better?’”
The event also noted the lack of discourse on Sudan at DePaul. “We have nothing on Sudan here,” Malik expressed, highlighting the absence of information on campus. After Serekberhan’s discourse, she fielded questions from both in-person and virtual attendees, including Isabella Ali, the student body president at DePaul.
Ali remarked, “The Sudanese revolutionary process is an important event in global history that connects to so many struggles around the world, and it has so many experiences to offer.” Participants also drew parallels between the Sudanese revolution and current events in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza.
Serekberhan encouraged students in the U.S. to look towards the Sudanese revolution for inspiration, stating, “Other young people in the world and in the global south feeling defeated need to read about this.” She emphasized the importance of a grassroots political movement that challenged societal norms and instigated change.
The event at DePaul University shed light on the Sudanese revolution of 2018-2019, highlighting its lessons for young people today amid ongoing struggles in Sudan. Mahder Habtemariam Serekberhan emphasized the importance of youth engagement in political processes, drawing lessons from the revolution to inspire current and future advocacy. Professors urged for greater awareness on campus regarding Sudanese history to inform and educate students. All attendees left with a broader understanding of the intertwined global struggles for democracy and justice.
Original Source: depauliaonline.com
