22-year-old Alaa Salah is ‘woman in white’ who steered overthrow of President Bashir

A 22-year-old Sudanese student and activist has risen to International glory by becoming the face of Sudan’s Revolution.

The female student identified as Alaa Salah was pictured in Sudan’s protests dressed in a white gown, and leading military chants against the country’s embattled President Omar-al Bashir which led to his overthrow.

She caught international attention through an iconic picture of her taken by Lana Haroun that went viral in April 10 2019. The image of Salah has been labelled as “Woman in White” or “Lady Liberty” of Sudan.

She told CNN:

“I wanted to get (on the car) and speak to the people … speak against racism and tribalism in all its forms, which affects everyone across all walks of life,” Alaa Salah, who is also a journalist, said by phone. “I wanted to speak on behalf of the youth. … I wanted to come out and say that Sudan is for all.”

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The image has been described on social media as symbolic of the crucial role of women in the success of the demonstrations, since the vast majority of protestors, almost 70%, are women.

Hala Al-Karib, a Sudanese women’s rights activist with the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa twitted:

“It is a symbol of an identity of a working woman a Sudanese woman that’s capable of doing anything but still appreciates her culture.”

Many also called her a ‘Kandaka,’ in reference to queens who ruled Nubia in antiquity.

Alaa Salah was born in 1997. Her mother is a fashion designer and her father works in the construction industry. She studies engineering and architecture at Sudan International University in Khartoum.

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