By Nicholas Norbrook
Sudan’s army is deeply embedded in the economy.
Just as the price of bread sparked the Sudan protests, writes Africa Confidential (paywall), the political economy will remain at the heart of reform efforts for the transitional government.
There are similarities to the military-industrial complex in Egypt. Sudan’s military was attempting to enter manufacturing beyond weapons, too.
Bechir balanced rival politico-security interests, using state funds to gain influence in the army throughout the 2000s.
This started to collapse when South Sudan seceded, taking 2/3 of oil revenues. Austerity politics followed:
Bottom line: “How the alliances between the activists and local companies develop as the new government tries to reform the faltering economy will be critical. They have a common foe in the shape of the military’s economic dominance but they differ radically on issues such as privatisation, trade and monetary policy as well as social spending.”
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