SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Al-Rakoba – Sudan is between the hammer of Ethiopia and the anvil of Egypt

19/12/2020: Al-Rakoba – Sudan is between the hammer of Ethiopia and the anvil of Egypt, by Ismail Abdullah

 Ismail Abdullah calls for the government to postpone a declaration of war on Ethiopia until a legitimate legislative council representing all Sudanese is formed, arguing that the communities engulfed in the Sudan-Ethiopia border skirmishes deserve to peacefully co-exist away from the politics of conflicting interests and regional interference.

Abdullah argues that Sudan’s conflict with Ethiopia is a proxy war waged on the behalf of Egypt, fitting into a wider pattern of consecutive Sudanese governments “forsaking Sudan’s interest and status as an independent state” through involvement in Middle-East conflicts, resulting in “the loss of Sudan’s best international and regional partners, as well as the distancing of Sudan from its African and moderate Arab incubators.”

To emphasise the risk of opening up a battle front on the eastern border with Ethiopia, Abdullah also warns that while “Ethiopians

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: al-Saiha – The wisdom of the brave

19/12/2020: al-Saiha – The wisdom of the brave, by al-Tahir Satti

 Amid skirmishes between Sudanese and Ethiopia troops in the border region of al-Fashaga, al-Tahir Satti, the editor-in-chief of al-Saiha, suggests that the Sudanese government reach with Ethiopia a final border settlement agreement that would enable the region to be turned into a hub for joint venture enterprises that benefits the resident border communities in both countries – similar to that in Omm Dagog district on Sudan’s border with the Central African Republic, whereby “the mixed tribal population exchange benefits and share cultivation and pastoral lands across the border without any friction or sensitivities.”

Satti attributes the fragile security situation in al-Fashaga to the lack of government presence in the region, despite al-Fashaga being Sudanese land according to international maps, and in the absence of Ethiopia regimes claiming otherwise. 

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Sudanese to mark December Revolution with contrasting slogans

19/12/2020: Sudan Tribune - Sudanese to mark December Revolution with contrasting slogans

 Sudan Tribune reports on contrasting slogans during the demonstrations to mark the December 2018 revolution.

 While some groups called for the overthrow the Sudanese government and removal of the military component, others called for gradual reform while stressing that the army should not interfere in the tasks of the civilian cabinet.

 A leftist camp including the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP), the Sudanese Professionals Association (New Secretariat faction) and some Khartoum Resistance Committees called for the cancellation of the Transitional Partners Council and “to stop plots of the military component and its allies from the armed movements".

 The historical leadership of the SPA called for Prime Minister Hamdok to replace the “weak” cabinet, with the Sudanese Congress Party calling for the implementation of the peace agreement, the end of the economic crisis, and to form the Legislative Council.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - March of Millions: Protestors call for revolution course correction

19/12/2020: Radio Dabanga - March of Millions: Protestors call for revolution course correction

 Radio Dabanga reports that thousands of Sudanese will take to the streets to celebrate the second anniversary of the 2018 December revolution and to demand the correction of the course of the revolution.

 Several weeks earlier, the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP), which withdrew from the ruling coalition of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), launched a campaign for protests on December 19 to overthrow of the transitional government, remove the military from power and to restore the original Constitutional Document. The SCP was joined by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) and a number of Resistance Committees in Khartoum.

 However, the Sudanese Congress Party, the Unionist Gathering, the National Umma Party, and the Arab Socialist Baath Party announced their opposition to calls to bring down the transitional government, despite criticising its “weak” economic performance, which should now be “a top priority”.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Just Security - “Freedom, Peace, and Justice”: The Surprising Success of Sudan’s Glorious Revolution

19/12/2019: Just Security - “Freedom, Peace, and Justice”: The Surprising Success of Sudan’s Glorious Revolution, by John Hursh

John Hursh, a former Policy Analyst for the Enough Project, calls for Sudan’s removal from the US state sponsor of terrorism (SST) list, arguing that it would enable the transitional government to deliver critical economic reforms, and thereby sustain the democratic transition.

Hursh suggests that removal from the SST list would aid economic recovery by helping Sudanese reformists by facilitating the pursuit of debt relief and regional trade and investment opportunities.

Noting that the reformists must outmanoeuvre Himedti by winning popular support and stabilising the economy, Hursh adds that the US could condition lifting of the SST designation upon reformation of the military and security.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: Amnesty International - Sudan: One year after protests began, time to deliver on human rights

19/12/2019: Amnesty International - Sudan: One year after protests began, time to deliver on human rights

Amnesty International call for Sudan’s transitional government to restore the rule of law, protect human rights, and “proactively address accountability for [crimes committed under al-Bashir],” by rebuilding the credibility and capacity of the justice system.

Amnesty International also called for members of the security forces “who committed horrific crimes or used excessive force against protestors are held accountable in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Sudan’s militia commander blames ‘impostors’ for alleged RSF crimes

19/12/2019: Radio Dabanga - Sudan’s militia commander blames ‘impostors’ for alleged RSF crimes

Radio Dabanga reports that Himedti claims that the perpetrators of the crimes during the revolution were “an invisible group disguising itself as RSF militiamen”.

He says at least 200 people have reportedly been arrested on charges of impersonating RSF members in an attempt to discredit his forces.

“My forces are no angels,” he says. “There may have been crimes in the past, but there is internal accountability,” he stressed.

Himedti made the comments in an interview with the Independent.