SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: CNN - They tried to use rape to silence women protesters. It didn't work.

17/5/19: CNN – They tried to use rape to silence women protesters. It didn’t work

By Nima Elbagir, Sheena McKenzie, Abdulgader Bashir, Salah Nasir and Salma Abdalaziz

 CNN report on a Sudanese military campaign of sexual abuse, harassment and intimidation targeting the women at the heart of Sudanese protests.

 In the early months of the uprising, women were taken to secret detention sites where they were photographed naked, threatened with sexual violence, or having their reputations tarnished. These assaults “set-off a ripple-effect of abuse” – leading to women being divorced out of shame, or fathers beating their daughters to stop them attending protests.

 As Omar Al Bashir’s power slipped, women were “beaten senseless” in public, and raped. Nahed Jabrallah, the founder of SEEMA, a charity tackling violence against women, said at least 15 women were raped, although the number is likely to be higher given the stigma attached to sexual abuse in Sudan.

 Several army officers told CNN that these abuses were shameful, and led them to stop defending Al Bashir’s regime.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Atlantic Council - It's Time for the United States to lead (Again) on Sudan

17/5/19: Atlantic Council – It’s Time for the United States to lead (Again) on Sudan, by Cameron Hudson

 Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, calls for the US to attach a State Department envoy to Sudan, in order to secure peace, promote stability and combat extremism.

 Hudson argues that a US State Department envoy in Sudan to help level the playing field and facilitate negotiations between the opposing sides inside Sudan, would mitigate the risks of ISIS exploiting potential instability in Sudan, should the military or the protesters turn violent.

 In addition, Hudson argues that a US envoy would reassure Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE of their common interests, thus preventing Sudan becoming a pawn in regional power politics.

 Hudson also states that an US envoy would push African states to support peace in Sudan and democracy in Africa, and that a US envoy would create a strong Euro-Atlantic alliance to prevent China and Russia from scuttling hopes for Sudanese democracy.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Bloomberg - South Sudan Concerned Sudan Turmoil Could Hurt Oil Exports

17/5/19: Bloomberg – South Sudan Concerned Sudan Turmoil Could Hurt Oil Exports, by Paul Burkhardt

South Sudan’s oil minister, Ezekiel Gatkuoth, has told Bloomberg that he is concerned by the situation in Sudan. Gatkuoth said that South Sudan’s president has sent him to meet with officials “to make sure that the port where we are having our oil transported to the international market is secured.”

Burkhardt writes that the Sudanese uprising is threatening South Sudan’s oil exports and “choking off its economic lifeline.

 Burkhardt notes that the smooth flow of oil to Port Sudan, on the Red Sea, is key for the economies of both countries. South Sudan depends on oil for most of its foreign exchange while Sudan benefits from transport fees, which compensate it for losing 75% of its oil production when South Sudan seceded.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Agence France-Presse - Key powers urge immediate resumption of Sudan talks: US

17/5/19: Agence France-Presse – Key powers urge immediate resumption of Sudan talks: US

 AFP reports that major international powers during talks Friday in Washington urged Sudan's military rulers and protesters to resume suspended negotiations on the country's future immediately, the United States said.

Representatives from the UN, African Union and European powers "called for an immediate resumption of talks" between the two sides, said Tibor Nagy, the US assistant secretary of state for Africa.

They called on the protesters and the Transitional Military Council to "reach an agreement ASAP on an interim government that is truly civilian-led and reflects the will of the Sudanese people," Nagy tweeted.

"We also expressed concern about the recent violence directed by security forces against protesters, and agreed to call for the TMC to allow peaceful protests and hold accountable those responsible for recent violence," he wrote.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP - UN human rights expert condemns attacks on Sudan protesters

17/5/19: AP – UN human rights expert condemns attacks on Sudan protesters

AP reports that Aristide Nononsi, the UN independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan, has condemned attacks on Sudanese protesters that left six killed, including an army officer, earlier this week, calling on the ruling military council to ensure the protection of peaceful demonstrators.

 Nononsi was quoted in a press release on Friday urging the transitional military council to conduct an impartial investigation into the killings of all protesters since the outbreak of the uprising in December 2018.