CAIRO — On Jan. 21, the resistance committees leading the protests that ousted former dictator Omar al-Bashir in Sudan’s Northern State announced that Sheryan al-Shimal, the road connecting Egypt to Sudan, would remain closed until their demands are met.

The road had been closed since Jan. 10 when residents and farmers in the north staged a sit-in in the areas and closed the road in protest against power bill increases, paralyzing the movement of goods between Egypt and Sudan with hundreds of trucks forced to queue across the border.  

The protesters said they would keep the road closed until a decision is made to decrease the bills. 

Although the Sudanese Sovereignty Council backed down on the decision to increase power bills on Jan. 12, the protesters continued their sit-in and escalated their demands. Now they want the military to hand over power to civilians and are calling for the establishment of full civilian rule without any partnership with the military; they are requesting a share of the mining revenues and want development projects in the region completed.