Democracy protests in Sudan have resulted in death of over 40 people after the military coup by Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army chief who ousted Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok from power on October 25. But the military has been under lot of pressure.

In less than a month, the military has bowed before pressure, and according to reports, a compromise has been struck and Hamdok is being restored to power.
The military has also agreed to release all the political prisoners.

It was only two days back that the military had declined to speak to an African Union special envoy to broker a deal with the ousted government. On November 17, 15 people were killed during the anti-coup protests in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. This was considered the bloodiest day since the military coup. According to reports, that probably unnerved the military.

“I should begin by saying that our country is guarded and preserved by God Almighty and whatever we reach at dead end, my fellow Sudanese people are capable of restoring our country back on course,” Hamdok said after he was restored under a 14-point deal with the military. Hamdok had come to power under an arrangement with the military under which he would lead toward the country’s first free election in 2022. (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/21/sudan-teen-shot-dead-in-anti-coup-protest-as-army-reinstate-pm)

Sudanese military was brutal in its efforts to suppress the anti-coup demonstrations by teachers, students, professionals and others in the last four weeks. (https://www.dw.com/en/sudans-protest-movement-now-we-are-driven-by-anger/a-59884402)

Besides the protests in favour of restoration of democracy, what probably tilted the scales in favour of restoring the government was the African Union (AU) suspending Sudan’s membership, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) calling for release of detainees and return to democracy at the earliest and the World Bank reportedly putting a stop to US $700 million aid. The United States on its part called the coup as a “betrayal of the Sudanese peaceful revolution.” (https://middle-east-online.com/en/blinken-says-violence-against-sudan-protesters-unacceptable)

Now with a civilian government has been restored, it could be seen as rare victory for democracy in Africa.

Read more:

Sudan’s Military Frees Prime Minister Held for Weeks After Coup:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/21/world/africa/sudan-coup-abdalla-hamdok.html

Why the coup was on shaky ground:
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/11/19/sudans-coup-is-already-on-shaky-ground