Sudan Marks Christmas as Public Holiday for First Time in 10 Years

Sudanese Christians celebrated doubly on Wednesday as the country marked Christmas as a public holiday for the first time in 10 years.

Christians and pro-democracy activists alike hailed the decision by Sudan’s civilian cabinet as a move towards realising freedom and equality of religion in the country.

For almost three decades, Sudan was ruled by the Islamist regime of Omar al-Bashir.

Bashir’s time in power came to an end in April, when months of mass protests against his regime led to a military coup and the subsequent formation of a transitional government.

Sudan’s civilian prime minister has pledged to right the wrongs of the former regime by respecting all of the country’s religions and putting an end to conflict in the Christian-majority south.