SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Reuters - General's growing political clout poses a risk to Sudan's transition

30/5/19: Reuters – General’s growing political clout poses a risk to Sudan’s transition, by Michael Georgy

 Michael Georgy’s feature piece examines how Himedti’s emergence could complicate “an already delicate stage of Sudan’s planned transition to democracy.”

 A senior western diplomat told Reuters that “a more prominent leadership role for Hemedti would undermine the clear popular demand for civilian leadership in Sudan.”

 Georgy notes that Himedti’s growing strength has been “welcomed by some Sudanese,” but political analysts and western diplomats say his advance could be opposed by rival military officers, who believe that he did not earn his rapid rise. This may cause violence if Himedti pushes to consolidate his position.

 Nonetheless, Khalid Al Tagani, a prominent newspaper editor and political analyst, said that Himedti is trying to cooperate as much as possible with the army

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Al-Mahdi says willing to take part in early election in Sudan

30/5/19: Sudan Tribune – Al-Mahdi says willing to take part in early election in Sudan

 Sudan Tribune reports that Sadiq al-Mahdi, the head of the Umma Party, as well as the Sudan Call alliance, said they are willing to take part in early elections if a number of benchmarks are fulfilled.

 The TMC threatened several times to hold early elections if the deadlock with the DFC continues.

 In an interview with London based Alquds Alarabi released on Thursday, Al Mahdi welcomed the early elections. However, he warned that if the TMC decides unilaterally to hold elections, they would boycott it if no agreement on the elections was reached.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - British lawmakers warn against arrest of SPLM-N deputy leader

30/5/19: Sudan Tribune – British lawmakers warn against arrest of SPLM-N deputy leader

Sudan Tribune reports that the British All-Party Parliamentary Group for Sudan and South Sudan (APPG) warned against the arrest of Sudanese rebel Yasir Arman, saying it will negatively impact the relations of the TMC with the international community.

 "If the Transitional Military Council arrests or deports returning politicians then they can no longer be considered to have any desire to hand over power to a civilian-led government, and this will seriously affect relations with the international community," wrote Sir Henry Bellingham and MP David Drew, APPG’s Chair and Vice Chair respectively.

 Arman who is also the Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Sudan Call Alliance told Sudan Tribune that he has no intention to leave the country.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Drunken soldier kills woman in Khartoum street

30/5/19: Sudan Tribune – Drunken soldier kills woman in Khartoum street

 Sudan Tribune reports that a Sudanese female was killed accidentally by a drunken a military soldier in Khartoum, said the TMC in a statement.

The TMC admitted that Mayada John was killed by mistake when Sudanese soldiers quarrelled with some people in the Nile Street in Khartoum. The TMC further said that a civilian and a soldier were injured by stray bullets from the drunken soldier’s gun.

The TMC said the suspected soldier was arrested and he would face justice.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - Sudan’s military rulers say protest site threatens stability – TV

30/5/19: Reuters – Sudan’s military rulers say protest site threatens stability – TV

Reuters reports that the TMC accused protesters of seizing a vehicle belonging to the Rapid Support Forces, and said that the sit-in has become a threat to Sudan.

 “The protest site has become unsafe and represents a danger to the revolution and the revolutionaries and threatens the coherence of the state and its national security,” General Bahar Ahmed Al Bahar, head of the central region in Khartoum said in a statement he read on television.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP – Sudan protesters threaten military with civil disobedience

30/5/19: AP – Sudan protesters threaten military with civil disobedience, by Omar Akour and Noha Elhennawy

AP reports that Sudan’s protesters threatened to launch a civil disobedience campaign to pressure the ruling military to hand power to a civilian transitional government after their two-day strike failed to produce tangible results.

 “It is unacceptable that the military council hijacks the revolution and blocks attempts to hold accountable criminals of the old regime,” said Saddiq Farouk, a leader of the Sudanese Professional Association, which has been spearheading the protests.

Farouk added that the two-day strike was successful, telling reporters “the message is clear: all the Sudanese people want a civilian government.”