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AGENDA
○ TheU.S.andEUshouldputthegeneralsonnoticeand
demandjusticeformurderedprotestersBLOOMBERGOPINIONWrittenbytheBloombergOpinioneditorialboard ILLUSTRATIONBYALICEMONVAILLIERHope for democracy in Sudan hangs by a thread. On June 3,
the generals running what’s meant to be an interim admin-
istration unleashed paramilitary forces on a peaceful sit-in
in Khartoum, killing at least 60 people. Crackdowns in other
parts of the country increased the toll.
The generals announced they were scrapping agreements
for a transition to democracy that had been negotiated with
the protesters who brought down dictator Omar al-Bashir
in April. Instead, the Transitional Military Council has said
it plans to hold elections within nine months. The brutal
attack shows that the generals can’t be trusted to oversee
this process.
The world has seen this movie before. The killings in
Khartoum may not have matched the scale of the 2013 mas-
sacre of protesters in Cairo, which likely claimed more than
1,000 lives, but the parallels are all too clear: Another mili-
tary elite is using deadly force to try to take back the political
space won by a pro-democracy movement.
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton was right to
condemn the killings as “abhorrent.” China and Russia have
blocked an attempt to denounce them at the United Nations
Security Council—but the U.S. and the European Union canDon’t Abandon Sudan
still coordinate efforts to get Sudan’s transition to democracy
back on track. The U.S. and EU should start by demand-
ing that the generals relent, and they should call for those
involved in the shooting to be brought to justice. They should
oppose the generals’ plan to force through elections, which in
all likelihood is meant to buy time to consolidate power and
slacken the pro-democracy movement. Instead, they should
insist on a civilian-run transitional authority.
The protests that took down Bashir brought together a
wide range of individuals, from politicians and lawyers to
activists and students; Sudan isn’t lacking for civilians who
can manage such a transition. The U.S. and Europe should
stand ready to assist them and, eventually, to help coordinate
internationally monitored elections.
The military council’s leadership should be told that failure
to hand over the reins could lead to sanctions for human-
rights abuses and other violations, including penalties under
the Global Magnitsky Act. If the soldiers do return peaceably
to their barracks, they should be offered leniency in any post-
election reckoning of their behavior during Bashir’s rule and
its aftermath.
Sudan’s allies can also help. Since Bashir’s ouster, the
generals have courted Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United
Arab Emirates. All these countries should endorse U.S. and
European efforts to ensure that the generals don’t block the
path to democracy and make it clear they’ll get no help if they
cling to power. The world failed Egypt in 2013. It shouldn’t fail
Sudan now.The Paris Air Show starts on June 17. Typically an event for
major aircraft orders, this year’s show is overshadowed by
the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max following two deadly
crashes. Can the U.S. company rebuild trust at the expo, or
will archrival Airbus dominate? The Federal Reserve
discloses its rate decision
on June 19. A cut in the near
future is looking more likely
amid trade tensions and a
slowdown in U.S. hiring. The Bank of Japan
announces its rate move on
June 20. Some economists
predict the nation’s
economy will shrink in the
second quarter. The European Council
meets for its quarterly two-
day summit on June 20,
the first gathering since
parliamentary elections
were held last month. The Cannes advertising
festival begins on June 17.
Facebook and YouTube are
under fire from marketing
executives about the spread
of hate speech. The 12th U.S.-Africa
business summit convenes
in Mozambique on June 18-
21 to discuss topics
including agriculture,
energy, health, and finance. Grab your top hat and
picnic basket and head to
the Royal Ascot horse races
near London from June 18,
where you may catch a
glimpse of the Queen.Boeing Has Its Work Cut Out in Paris
Bloomberg Businessweek June 17, 2019