SUDAN NEWS ALERT: UNAMID site besieged by militia amid peaceful protests against exit from Darfur

2/1/2021: Radio Dabanga - UNAMID site besieged by militia amid peaceful protests against exit from Darfur 

Radio Dabanga report that militiamen have besieged the site of the joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in Zalingei, Central Darfur

Al-Shafee’ Abdallah, coordinator of the camps for the displaced in Central Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that the objective of taking over the site was to plunder the buildings. He questioned the ability of the regular forces to provide protection to the residents of Zalingei as well as those in the surrounding villages and camps for the displaced.

Abdallah also said that Rapid Support Forces (RSF) members burnt a pharmacy, looted 10 shops, and attacked workers at Zalingei Hospital, with regular armed forces failing to intervene or stop the perpetrators.

The previous day, a displaced person was killed, and four others wounded, including two children, in four separate incidents in South Darfur.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga – El Burhan: Sudan army redeployed at Ethiopian border

  2/1/2021: Radio Dabanga – El Burhan: Sudan army redeployed at Ethiopian border

Radio Dabanga report that the Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Lt Gen Abdelfattah al-Burhan, announced that the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have been redeployed at Sudan’s border with neighbouring Ethiopia.

The SAF "have not and will not cross international borders or attack neighbouring Ethiopia," al-Burhan stressed.

The government is keen to continue to address the violations made by Ethiopian farmers and their supporters in Sudan through dialogue, said al-Burhan. He stressed that the approach to dialogue and negotiation will remain the guide “until everyone who has the right, takes his right”.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune – Sudan to ratify anti-torture treaty, Hamdok say

2/1/2021: Sudan Tribune – Sudan to ratify anti-torture treaty, Hamdok says

 Sudan Tribune report that Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok announced that his government approved the ratification of the international treaty against torture.

 Sudan signed the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) in 1986. However, 35 years later, it is yet to ratify the Convention.

 "Targeting civilians with extrajudicial killing, torture, or enforced disappearance, regardless of the reasons for, is totally unacceptable by all Sudanese," he said, alluding to the death of an activist under torture by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 20 December

 “In this regard, I would like to announce that the Council of Ministers has authorized the ratification of the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance," Hamdok added.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - SPA calls for Sudanese military restructure and Legislative Council formation

2/1/2021: Radio Dabanga - SPA calls for Sudanese military restructure and Legislative Council formation

 Radio Dabanga report that the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) said serious steps must be taken to restructure security and military institutions in Sudan, along with quick formation of the Legislative Council and other governance structures.

 The SPA called on transitional authorities, in particular the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and those which signed the Juba Peace Agreement, to push for restructuring, including the rehabilitation and training of security and military members and defining the powers of the institutions.

 The formation of the Legislative Council, which was due to take place on December 31 following significant delays, must be expedited by the FFC and other partners, the SPA said.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Central Bank of Sudan faces 'structural changes'

2/1/2020: Radio Dabanga - Central Bank of Sudan faces 'structural changes'

Radio Dabanga reports that Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) is to undergo structural changes to bring it in line with the international banking system, but will not change the Sudanese currency at this time.

CBoS director Badreldin Ibrahim also said that staff appointments will be endorsed by a “transparent” selection committee, which never occurred during al-Bashir’s regime. In addition, a law will be passed to restructure the bank, under the supervision of the World Bank.

Ibrahim further added that Sudan’s liquidity problems have been “completely solved,” and revealed plans merge and recapitalise Sudanese banks, explaining that the new policies of the bank are based on the global policies of banks.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AFP – Darfur Tribal Fighting Kills 48: Sudan Red Crescent

2/1/2020: AFP – Darfur Tribal Fighting Kills 48: Sudan Red Crescent

AFP reports that at least 48 people were killed and more than 200 wounded in tribal fighting in El Geneina, West Darfur, the Red Crescent announced.

At least 48 people were killed and their bodies transferred to a morgue in the city and 241 wounded, including 19 in critical condition who were flown to Khartoum for treatment, the Red Crescent also said.

Residents of El Geneina told AFP that they fled the Krinding camp for displaced Masalit, a non-Arab ethnic group, near El Geneina after Arab assailants torched tents there.

"Our tents were set on fire. We have no food and only the clothes on our back and there are bodies littering the ground," one woman told AFP.

However, the situation is now said to be calm, after the government imposed a curfew across West Darfur, and has launched an investigation. Troops have also been deployed.