UCU support for the people of Sudan and Algeria at TUC Black Workers' Conference 2019

'Many watched with growing astonishment the emergence of the Sudanese and Algerian uprisings which have defied the counter-revolutionary wave that has swept the region following the Arab uprisings in 2011. Ironically, Bashir's last international visit was to Syria's Bashar Assad to show his support to the surviving ancien regime that looks to have weathered the storm only to return home to an uprising that has just started to interest the mainstream media attention while the Sudanese and Algerian protests have been ongoing for several months. Their disinterest also currently ignores the thousands of teachers currently protesting in Morocco as these outlets only report 'Breaking news' about their usual interlocutors, the regressive regimes. The level of sophistication of organizing in both the Sudanese and Algerian uprisings reignites the hope that a new wave of uprising can achieve the quest for equality and justice.

'Omar el Bashir has been forced out of power in Sudan just as Bouteflika announced he will step down. The Sudanese protesters are in non-stop sit-ins, young and old/man and women,  alternate between day and night shifts, their demands now go further than just deposing Omar Bashir and now encompass the entirety of the Sudanese ruling class despite the military imposed curfew. These are both dangerous yet hopeful developments that indicate the further fracturing of both ruling classes in the respective countries. We state our solidarity with the people and express fraternity with the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) in the UK. The SPA are calling for solidarity with their demands for a democratic, civilian transitional authority, not military rule.'

Miriyam Aouragh