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#BlueForSudan: What you need to know about the unspeakable violence
What is happening in Sudan right now has only begun to get heavy mainstream attention due to the persistent calls to action from social media users across the world.
Recently, Rihanna expressed her horror concerning the massacre on her Instagram story to raise awareness for the situation. The post read:
“They’re shooting people’s houses, raping women, burning bodies, throwing them in the Nile like vermin, tormenting people, urinating on them, making them drink sewage water, terrorizing the streets, and stopping Muslims from going to eid prayer. There is an Internet blackout! Please share. Raise awareness.”
Here is a timeline with the bare-bones basics of how the situation got to this point.
December 2018, the cost of living protests begin
With inflation rates at 70 percent, protests concerning the cost of living began as the Sudanese economy tanked. Reports say that more than 1,000 protesters were detained by government forces.
On Feb. 22, 2019, political turmoil ensues
Bashir declares a state of emergency and promises to step down in 2020 after Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence announced he would be stepping down immediately.
Fast forward to April, peaceful protests continue demanding a democratic government
Peaceful protests for a democratic Sudan continue, reaching military headquarters. A video of a Sudanese woman leading chants goes viral on Twitter.
On April, 11 President Omar al-Bashir was removed from power in a military coup following continued protests.
After spending 30 years in office, Bashir’s government was dismantled and the Sudanese Defense Minister Awad Mohamed Ibn Auf declared that a military council would oversee a transition to democracy over the next three years.
The June 3 Massacre
On June 3 soldiers and paramilitary groups open fire on peaceful protesters in Sudan’s capital city, Khartoum.
Mohamad Hashim Mattar, 26, was allegedly shot by Rapid Support Forces during a paramilitary crackdown on the peaceful protest. This begins the social media trend of #BlueForSudan to honor both Mattar and the other martyrs who died for the cause.
Those who are taking part in spreading #BlueForSudan. The color blue came from a warm hearted, martyrs known as, Mohammed Hashim Mattar, my cousin who has passed away on the 3rd of June, as he was standing proud. Blue was his fav color, which now presents unity.🇸🇩
Mattar’s Blue pic.twitter.com/MdZ7f2sLwS
— OmerYousiff (@OmerYousifff) June 12, 2019
On June 11 Sudanese doctors report that over 70 people have been raped, over 100 killed, and 700 have been injured during the attack on the Khartoum camp. The next day the US appoints a special envoy for Sudan as the turmoil continues.
Then on June 14, the Sudanese government admits to ordering the attack on peaceful protestors. Consequentially, the Khartoum protests resume.
Here is how you can help
Sign this Change.org petition demanding the UN to establish an international commission of inquiry and investigation.
Also, many people have been changing their social media profiles to Mattar’s Blue in order to raise awareness and show support for the Sudanese protesters.
Donate to Save the Children and UNICEF, both organizations helping children who were displaced during the conflict.
Still, be careful in situations like this about donating to random GoFundMe’s, a lot of horrible people attempt to profit off of tragic events like these.
Make sure to do your research before donating.