SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Vice News - This Warlord Could Determine The Future of Sudan

24/5/19: Vice News – This Warlord Could Determine The Future of Sudan, by Jason Patinkin

 Jason Patinkin’s feature piece argues that Himedti is solidifying his dominance over Sudan’s future, via the RSF and a PR campaign

 Patinkin argues that Himedti building up the RSF into a “massive mercenary army,” has given him powerful international connections – citing Saudi Arabia and the UAE paying him to send RSF troops to Yemen, and the EU reliance on the RSF to stem migrant flows.

 In addition, the RSF is said to threaten to usurp the regular Sudanese army as the most powerful armed force in Khartoum.

 Patinkin also highlights Himedti’s populist politician “act,” arguing that Himedti is exploiting perceptions in Khartoum that he is ignorant and uncivilised, to “[appear] to be something of a working class hero for some rural folk side-lined by Khartoum’s elite.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - New general joins Sudan's military council.

24/5/19: Sudan Tribune – New general joins Sudan’s military council

 Sudan Tribune reports that the head of Transitional Military Council (TMC) Abdelfattah Al Burhan has appointed Gamal al-Din Omer Ibrahim as the replacement of Mustafa Mohamed Musfata, who resigned on Wednesday.

 Ibrahim has been appointed as director of the military intelligence. The official Sudan news agency reported that Mustafa resigned for health reasons, without giving further details.

However, it has been reported that Mustafa’s resignation was triggered to a recent divergence with Himedti,with Mustafa planning to open an investigation against a general working under his command at the counter-espionage department.

Other reports point to a continuing disputes between the two after Mustafa sought to protect tribal leader Musa Hilal from Himedti.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP - Islamists in Sudan rally in support of Islamic rule

24/5/19: AP – Islamists in Sudan rally in support of Islamic rule

 AP reports that thousands of Sudanese Islamists long allied with ousted president Omar al-Bashir’s regime are rallying to support military-backed Islamic rule in the face of alleged attempts by protesters to abolish it.

 Friday’s rally in the capital Khartoum was called by Nusrat al-Sharia and Rule of Law, a coalition of Islamic parties. Protesters chanted, “Freedom, peace, justice and Shariah are the people’s choice.”

 Mohammad Abdel-Kareem, vice president of the coalition, says the rally is a message to the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change “that (Islamists) have a say in Sudan.” 

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - Sudan protest leaders call for strike from Tuesday

24/5/19: Multiple sources – Sudan protest leaders call for strike from Tuesday

Sudan's protest leaders, the Declaration of Freedom and Change (DFC) coalition, have called for a two-day general strike starting Tuesday amid deadlock in talks with the military on installing civilian rule.

"There is no longer any alternative to using the weapon of a general strike," the DFC umbrella group said in a statement Friday.

It said the strike, affecting "public and private institutions and companies", would be accompanied by civil disobedience and was "an act of peaceful resistance with which we have been forced to proceed".

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - Sudan's military council deputy head vows to back Saudi against Iran 'threats'

24/5/19: Multiple sources –Sudan’s military council deputy head vows to back Saudi against Iran ‘threats’

 

The Sudanese transitional military council’s deputy head Himedti has vowed to back regional ally Saudi Arabia against "all threats and attacks" from Iran during talks with the kingdom's crown prince, Sudan's military council said Friday.

 "Sudan is standing with the kingdom against all threats and attacks from Iran and Houthi militias," Himeidti, told the crown prince during their meeting in Riyadh.

 Himeidti also said the military council would continue deploying Sudanese troops to Yemen as part of the coalition.

It was Himedti’s first international trip since Sudan's army generals took power last month.