SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Egypt offers to host talks on Sudan’s political process

3/1/2023: Sudan Tribune - Egypt offers to host talks on Sudan’s political process

Sudan Tribune report that the Forces for Freedom and Change-Central Council (FFC-CC) declined Egypt’s offer to host talks on the transition in Sudan. The talks were to include factions of the pro-coup Democratic Bloc faction of the FFC (FFC-DB).

Sudan Tribune suggest that “Sudanese political forces blame Egypt for supporting military regimes in Sudan” and “showed its support for the military coup that removed the FFC government from power” led by former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, who “Egypt believes…was more favourable to Ethiopia” with regards to Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute where Cairo “sought to protect its shares of water” from the River Nile.

Sudan Tribune further note that only Egypt had diplomatic representatives during the launch of the FFC-DB which gathered the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM), a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) faction led by Gaffar al-Mirghani, and other political groups.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Atlantic Council - Sudan’s democratic transition is over. Now it’s time to support the revolution

3/1/2022: Atlantic Council - Sudan’s democratic transition is over. Now it’s time to support the revolution, by Cameron Hudson

As Sudan’s “revolution lives on in the hearts of millions of peaceful pro-democracy protesters” despite the end of the formal democratic transition, Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, calls for the international community to “unabashedly throw its weight behind [Sudan’s] pro-democracy movement in tangible and meaningful ways that will begin to swing the balance of power more in the protesters’ favour”.

Hudson proposes funnelling frozen financial assistance to resistance committees to help them better organise, communicate, and develop their own political platform – thereby enabling them to become a more formal part of the political process.

Hudson also calls for a “hard-line approach toward the military [including] sanctions against figures [that] played a direct role in orchestrating [deadly protest crackdowns”, thereby “exposing the military for [being a] malign force bent on its own wealth and survival at the expense of [Sudan’s] well-being.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Foreign Policy – To Safeguard Sudan’s Democratic Transition, Act Now

3/1/2022: Foreign Policy – To Safeguard Sudan’s Democratic Transition, Act Now, by Amgad Fareid

Amgad Fareid, former assistant chief of staff to ex-Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, calls for the “meaningful engagement of the voices of resistance committees” in an internationally facilitated and inclusive political process to begin Sudan’s renewed political transition.

Faried warns that, in the moment of crisis, there is a risk that Sudanese political elites will repeat their previous mistakes and negotiate a deal behind closed doors that falls short of public hopes.

Therefore, he suggests that it is “essential” to include new influential forces that had the loudest voices in resisting the coup, such as resistance committees, arguing that their inclusion “can prevent a recourse to empty slogans and further division.”

Faried then concludes that “the cost of establishing and mediating a proper political process that includes all Sudanese actors now is immeasurably cheaper than the costs and consequences of allowing the collapse of the democratic transition in Sudan later.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Al-Rakoba - The fate of UNAMID's exit and fear of the fragile security situation

3/1/2021: Al-Rakoba - The fate of UNAMID's exit and fear of the fragile security situation, by Osman al-Sayed

 Osman al-Sayed calls for the UN and African Union to review the decision to withdrawal its joint peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) until weapons are collected from fugitives including militias and civilians and the return of the displaced and refugees to their villages until their causes of fear have disappeared.

Al-Sayed argues that the presence of UNAMID forces in Darfur provided reassurance for those in the displacement camps and notes that the often found a safe haven in UNAMID headquarters as they sought protection from armed militia attacks.

Thus, the author writes that "the absence of a real alternative for UNAMID forces may create anxiety among the displaced, because they are the most affected communities by the violations of armed militias.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: BBC – Viewpoint: Why Ethiopia and Sudan have fallen out over al-Fashaga

3/1/2021: BBC – Viewpoint: Why Ethiopia and Sudan have fallen out over al-Fashaga, by Alex de Waal

Africa analyst Alex de Waal explains the roots of the Sudan-Ethiopia fall-out over al-Fashaga, where the north-west of Ethiopia's Amhara region meets Sudan's al-Gadarif.

De Waal notes that in 2008, Ethiopia acknowledged that the land belongs to Sudan, but Sudan permitted Ethiopians to continue living there and paying taxes to Ethiopian authorities. However, ethnic Amhara leaders condemned the deal. 

 The Ethiopians who inhabit Fashaga are ethnic Amhara - a constituency that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is “increasingly hitched his political wagon to after losing significant support in his Oromo ethnic group,” the largest in Ethiopia, with the Amharas being the second largest group in Ethiopia and “its historic rulers.”

De Waal also notes Sudan and Ethiopia’s history of “mutual destabilisation” and Sudan taking Egypt’s side in the Nile waters dispute.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga – Three eastern Sudanese killed by Ethiopian gunmen in December

3/1/2020: Radio Dabanga – Three eastern Sudanese killed by Ethiopian gunmen in December

Radio Dabanga reports that Ethiopian gunmen killed three Sudanese people, and wounded four, in Sudan’s eastern El Gedarif, which borders Ethiopia. 200 heads of livestock were also stolen in attacks by Ethiopian gunmen in El Fashaga.

El Fashaga Lands Committee in El Gedaref stated that it does not understand “the suspicious silence of the Sudanese authorities and the Ethiopian army”, and condemned “the continuing complacency of the Sudanese government” in dealing with aggressors and protecting its citizens.

On December 15, Radio Dabanga reported on three Sudanese kidnapped by Ethiopian militia in El Gedarif

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Peace talks stalled by ambiguity over secular state

3/1/2020: Sudan Tribune - Peace talks stalled by ambiguity over secular state

Sudan Tribune reports that Abdelaziz El-Hilu, a faction leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, renewed demands for a secular state in Sudan, attributing the stalemate in peace talks to the government’s ambiguity on the matter.

In comments to UAE news site Al-Ain, El-Hilu said:  "the question of secularism is fundamental for us. If we are keen to preserve Sudan’s unity - a just unity that achieves stability, development, and the transition from a state of poverty to a welfare state - then religion must be separated from the state.”

El-Hilu re-iterated threats to fight for self-determination in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, unless the transitional government accepts secularism. He alleged that the government rejected a drafted Declaration of Principles filed by his movement, which formalized those threats.

The Sudanese government maintains that the issue should be determined in a Constitutional Conference held after peace agreements are signed.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - U.S. calls to not use Darfur tribal clashes for political gains

3/1/2020: Sudan Tribune - U.S. calls to not use Darfur tribal clashes for political gains

Sudan Tribune reports that the US State Department has called on Sudan’s peace negotiating parties to refrain from using the  West Darfur tribal clashes for political gain, calling for a swift peace agreement in Darfur.

On 31 December, Darfur armed groups announced the suspension of peace negotiations in Juba, calling on the transitional government to take concrete steps to protect civilians and bring the perpetrators to justice.

US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus also praised the transitional government for forming a national investigation committee to investigate the violence.

Sudan Tribune note that the committee involves state officials, and the government-linked Rapid Support Forces are reportedly behind the attacks, with the attacks also demonstrating the failure to disarm Arab tribes in Darfur.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - West Darfur attacks: Death toll rises to 80+, more than 8,000 families displaced

3/1/2020: Radio Dabanga - West Darfur attacks: Death toll rises to 80+, more than 8,000 families displaced

Radio Dabanga reports that more than 80 people were reportedly killed and at least 190 others injured in the tribal violence that broke out in El Geneina, capital of West Darfur.

At least 80,000 people have been affected. 8,111 families fled their homes. More than 5,000 heads of livestock, 200 motorcycles, 300 rickshaws, more than 180 vehicles of all kinds, and millions of Pounds in cash were stolen.

These figures come from El Geneina Crisis Committee, who accuses the West Darfur local government of complicity, saying that Rapid Support Forces militia conducted the attacks with the knowledge of state authorities.

In addition, the Committee said that the attacks constitute the “continuation of systematic crimes in an orchestrated operation intended to reproduce the genocide that started in the region in 2003.”

The Committee demands that Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Cabinet conduct a transparent and fair investigation, hold the perpetrators accountable, and be fair in dealing with the grievances.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Sudanese women demand govt to sign CEDAW

3/1/2020: Radio Dabanga - Sudanese women demand govt to sign CEDAW

Radio Dabanga reports that hundreds of women demonstrated in Khartoum demanding Sudan’s new government sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The rally, organised by 60 feminist organisations, moved from the Hadayeg El Shuhada in downtown Khartoum to the offices of the Council of Ministers.

The women raised banners calling on the government to accelerate the signing of the CEDAW agreement. “The entire world, except us. You make us feel ashamed,” they chanted.

CEDAW, described as an international bill of rights for women, is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly. As well as Sudan, the only other countries yet to sign CEDAW are: the Vatican, Iran, Somalia and Tonga.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: UN - Sudan urged to step up protection, restore peace, following West Darfur violence

3/1/2020: UN - Sudan urged to step up protection, restore peace, following West Darfur violence

UN chief António Guterres called on Sudanese authorities to “swiftly” investigate violence in West Darfur, hold the perpetrators to account, “redouble their efforts to provide a secure environment” in Darfur. Guterres further stressed the need to find peaceful and durable solutions to the situation in Darfur that address the key drivers of conflict.

The United Nations-African Union Joint Mission In Darfur (UNAMID) acknowledged government to contain the situation, but called upon relevant government authorities to maximize their efforts to establish a protective environment and restore peace and order in and around the greater El Geneina community.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - Violence in Sudan's West Darfur left 65 dead, peacekeepers say

3/1/2020: Reuters - Violence in Sudan's West Darfur left 65 dead, peacekeepers say

Reuters reports that the violence in West Darfur killed at least 65 people dead and more than 50 injured, as well as displacing thousands, according to the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

UNAMID also expressed concern by the “deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in el-Geneina and the surrounding area.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Children among 18 killed in Sudan military plane crash

3/1/2020: Multiple sources – Children among 18 killed in Sudan military plane crash

AFP

AP, by Noha Elhennawy

CNN, by Hamdi Alkhshail and Mia Alberti

Four children were among 18 people killed when a Sudanese military transport plane crashed after take-off in El Geneina, Sudanese Amer Mohammed al-Hassan said.

The Antonov 12 military plane crashed five minutes after take-off in El Geneina, after delivering aid to the area. Its seven-member crew, three judges and eight civilians, including four children, who were on board. Among the casualties were a Sudanese employee of the UN World Food Programme and his family.

Sudan has suffered a series of crashes in recent years, with the military frequently blaming technical problems and bad weather. Most of Sudan's military and civilian fleet consists of old Soviet-made aircraft.