Reaping the Whirlwind

Abstract This chapter interprets al-Bashir's downfall in the context of his decreasing ability to manage Sudan's political marketplace. One of the core themes is the competition between the various security actors, including the Sudan Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces, National Intelligence and Security Services, and Popular Defence Forces. The chapter analyses the buildup to the revolution through the framework of political economy, highlighting the significance of the shift from oil to gold as Sudan's principal export commodity in the wake of the secession of South Sudan in 2011 and its role in enabling the rise of Hemedti as the dominant actor in the political marketplace.