Sudan’s Youth Bulge: Challenges, Opportunities, and Aspirations

The Sudanese youth from both genders mounted a remarkably courageous uprising in December 2018 aimed at unseating the long-reigning regime of Gen Omer Al-Bashir, one of the most repressive regimes in Africa and the Arab world. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the role of economic and political factors that hindered the absorption of Sudanese youth into the developmental process. It also tries to understand the role of youth in the December Revolution and in shaping the political discourse, especially after the October 25, 2021, military procedures. Finally, it investigated the determinants of Sudanese youth’s views on government, political parties and their aspiration and interest in public affairs before and after the revolution. A cross-section design was followed. The data on Sudanese youth, aged 18 – 35 years who were surveyed on the Arab Index were obtained from the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. A backward stepwise logistic regression model was employed for testing the hypotheses, with a probability value set at pr (0.20). Odds ratios were reported as effect size, marginal effects were computed, and the link-test was used for model specification. The majority of the surveyed Sudanese youth do not have political membership and do not trust political parties. Young people from families with good economic conditions were more likely to trust the government during and after AlInqaz regime. Adult youth aged 25 – 34 years and those who are unemployed were found to have increased odds of trusting the political parties after the revolution. Young people who are males, aged 25 - 34 years, and studied less than or secondary school and above have an increased likelihood to participate in public affairs during Al-Inqaz and after the revolution. Based on our analysis and international best practices of youth development policies and plans. The policy lessons to be considered include; the formulation of robust policies to integrate Sudanese youth into the economic system, the incorporation of young people in the planning of the national strategic vision, and catalyzing programs for young peoples’ capacity building.