APR 13 SUDAN OVERTHOWS OMAR AL-BASHIR

APR 13  SUDAN OVERTHOWS OMAR AL-BASHIR

Remember the famed Arab Spring of 2011? Long-standing dictators in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia were suddenly toppled. Well...it took eight long years...but the Arab Spring has finally reached the distant Sudan. After months of mostly peaceful protests in the capital city of Khartoum, the military finally capitulated on Thursday. After thirty years in power, Omar al-Bashir was arrested. While this event received very little coverage in the American press, we here at the DUNER BLOG are happy this bad dude in no longer in office. Let's review some of his atrocities.

Back in 1989, he came to power the same way he was forced out of power: In a bloodless coup d'état. As "president" his first action was to send his country backward socially by instituting Sharia Law. Amazingly, al-Bashir tried to set the world backward judicially as well. For the last three decades, he has ignored all international laws and Khartoum has been a haven for all sorts of evil terrorists. For example, the murderous Abu Nidal of the PLO was given refuge by al-Bashir. Before moving to Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden lived in a posh condo on al-Mashtal Street. Even Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal was welcomed with open arms.

Although these are disturbing actions, Omar al-Bashir was just getting warmed up. In the 2000's, he decided he had enough of the minority population living in the desert province of Darfur. Just like Hitler, he executed unknown numbers of people based on their beliefs. It's the worst genocide of the new millennium and it seemed only George Clooney and the International Criminal Court cared. They indicted al-Bashir for war crimes against humanity. Maybe now he can be arraigned.

Back to the turmoil in Khartoum today. Although one tyrant is gone, many fear the new boss will be the same as the old boss. Protesters cheered when it was announced al-Bashir is no longer in power. However, they booed when they were informed his second-in-command General, Awad Ibn Auf, was now in control. After 24 hours, the General resigned and was replaced with Lt. General Burhan. On state TV, he informed the nation of their future. After three months of curfews, the Army will remain in control for two more years. Then, the Sudanese people are promised free and fair elections.

It remains unsure which direction the nation will go. Islamic fundamentalists are strong in the Sudan, but most people must be happy to be leaving the stone-age rule of al -Bashir. People who commit a serious crime don't get stoned to death. They get burned to death. Let's hope the people of the Sudan lift the veil on their closed-off society and let the world in. Although always known as Egypt Junior, the Sudan actually has more ancient pyramids than her Northern neighbor. And instead of just one Nile River, the Sudan has two: The Blue and White Nile Rivers meet spectacularly in the heart of the capital city of Khartoum.