Pushing through the crowd, thousands of protesters are packed tight, trying to catch a glimpse. [protesters cheering] It’s a train bringing thousands more protesters from all around the country. They are the latest arrivals in a grassroots revolution against authoritarian rule. This is Sudan. In April, the people here forced out a dictator, but now, the fight for real change has only just begun. “One minute. Where is your smile?” [laughing] “Just for me.” I’m Ben Solomon. The capital is exploding with energy — part protest, part party. It reminded me of the Arab Spring — when millions rose up to demand freedom and democracy. For a while, hope filled the air and strongmen fell. But the same, old oppressive forces remained in place. Protesters here understand this. I came to ask, can their revolution be any different? “How do you think Sudanese have learned from other revolutions before it?” But hundreds of activists were arrested and dozens were killed when people first took to the streets in December. They confronted a police state led by this man: Omar al-Bashir. He was the architect of a genocide in Darfur and harbored terrorists like Osama bin Laden. For 30 years, he ruled with an iron fist. The country suffered through wars and famine. It was a hike in the price of bread that finally pushed them over the edge. After months of protests, the military stepped in and deposed Bashir, but the generals, who people see as a part of the same regime, put themselves in charge of the country. That’s why the protesters here won’t leave the streets. They’re worried that if they did, nothing would change. When will you leave? Like, what will be enough for you to go? The S.P.A. is the Sudanese Professionals Association — lawyers, engineers and doctors. They are the ones who have been organizing the protests, and their leadership is a part of a coalition that is now negotiating with the generals on behalf of the masses. They are calling for a civilian-led governing council that can set a path to democracy. Publicly, the military is saying they’ll give up some power. This is Lt. Gen. Shams Eddin al-Kabbashi, spokesman for the military council. “Do you trust the military right now?” “I can’t say I trust the military. My main trust is to the streets, of course.” Mohammad Naji is an official spokesman for the S.P.A. He’s worried that the military is only saying this to end the demonstrations. “Now is the critical moment, and now we will see if they are true to what they have said or not.” On this night, after a round of negotiations, people came out hoping to hear good news. But the military had not conceded. The political battle is looking messier than the battle on the street. As the country waits, the mood is getting tense. “No, no.” “O.K., O.K. — stop.” Ultimately, the generals wield the power. By staying in the street for this long, the protesters have kept up the pressure. The question now — how long can they sustain this?