SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Sudan capital witnesses limited protests against law amendments

19/7/2020: Radio Dabanga - Sudan capital witnesses limited protests against law amendments

 Radio Dabanga reports that limited demonstrations took place in Khartoum in protest against amendments of the Sudanese Penal Code which abolished laws making apostasy punishable by death, allowing Public Order police to publicly flog people, and allowing non- Muslims to drink, import and sell alcohol.

 “Hard-liner” imams threatened to overwhelm Khartoum with protests, but bridges and roads were pre-emptively closed. The few demonstrations ended peacefully without intervention by authorities.

 Radio Dabanga also note that a delegation of the Ansar El Sunna El Mohamediya group met with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and Minister of Religious Affairs Nasreldin Mofreh to discuss the amendments.

 Hamdok reportedly asserted “the government's eagerness to preserve the heritage and values of Islam” and stressed their “respect for the Islamic principles without prejudice.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Sudan’s former finance minister discloses reasons of his disguised dismissal

19/7/2020: Sudan Tribune - Sudan’s former finance minister discloses reasons of his disguised dismissal

 Sudan Tribune report that Ibrahim al-Badawi, Sudan’s former Finance Minister attributes his recent resignation to a dispute with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok over the implementation of the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) he negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

 In five-page statement addressed to the public, Al-Badawi said he requested “a full delegation of powers” over specific areas to avoid "conflicts of authority,” in light of differences with Hamdok over important issues whereby “the specialised technical opinion was not respected.”

 Al-Badawi also attributed the finance ministry’s inability to manage its liquidity and meet the needs of Sudan’s economy to difficulties controlling tax-exempt military businesses. Nonetheless, al-Badawi expressed hope that his “testimony" will be seen as "one of the lessons learned" during the transitional period, calling for clarity in the future as the upcoming period “will witness difficult decisions to enforce profound economic transformations.”

 *The article notes that leftist groups within Sudan’s Forces of Freedom and Change opposed al-Badawi’s IMF-backed subsidy cuts.

*Sources close to the file say that NUP now demands to be given the finance ministry to ensure that IMF-supported reforms will be fully implemented.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - FFC prepare to include Sudan’s peace plan to constitutional declaration

19/7/19: Sudan Tribune - FFC prepare to include Sudan’s peace plan to constitutional declaration

 Sudan Tribune reports that a peace plan will be prepared by the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), after the Sudan Revolutionary Front rejected the political declaration of the power-sharing agreement.

 The SRF says that while it and the civilian political bodies of the FFC finalised a joint-peace vision for Sudan, it was not included in the political part of the power-sharing agreement.

 FFC sources told Sudan Tribune that their initial plan was to pass the political agreement first while the document on peace will be added to the constitutional declaration of the power-sharing agreement.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Sudanese opposition seeks postponement in deal with military

19/7/19: Multiple sources – Sudanese opposition seeks postponement in deal with military

• AP, by Noha Elhennawy

• AFP

Sudan’s pro-democracy movement is seeking to postpone the signing of the contentious “Constitutional Declaration," the second part of agreed upon power-sharing deal, saying it needs more time to resolve differences among its members.

The two sides were to finalise a "Constitutional Declaration" to thrash out crucial remaining issues, including whether to give immunity to generals accused of being behind violence against protesters, the formation of a transitional parliament and the role of paramilitaries.

However, protest leaders said that the three rebel groups that are part of the Declaration of Freedom and Change coalition expressed reservations over Wednesday's deal.

Omar Al Digair, the leader of the Sudanese Congress Party, one of the leading parties of the DFC coalition, told AFP that he is going to Addis Adaba to get the opinion of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, which has been fighting government forces in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan for years.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Independent – Middle East explained: What’s happening in Sudan and is peace likely?

19/7/19: Independent – Middle East explained: What’s happening in Sudan and is peace likely?, by Ahmed Aboudouh

 Ahmed Aboudouh argues that the West will need to monitor Sudan’s power-sharing deal as Middle East actors attempt to scupper hopes of democratic transition in Sudan.

 Aboudouh notes the western position in Sudan - with the UK, US and Norway forming a troika during Sudan’s uprising to act as a bulwark against Russian and Chinese influence, and that the Europe is keen to keep Sudan stable due to fear of refugee influx.

 Meanwhile, Egypt views the deal as a failure as it gives leverage to their rival Ethiopia, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia keen to groom Himedti into Sudanese leadership, maintaining Sudan in their coalition in Yemen, as well as investing into Sudanese agriculture and Red Sea ports.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Foreign Affairs – What Happens in Sudan Doesn’t Stay in Sudan

19/7/19: Foreign Affairs – What Happens in Sudan Doesn’t Stay in Sudan, by Michael Woldemariam and Alden Young

 Michael Woldemariam and Alden Young argue that events in Sudan will likely determine the future of the Horn of Africa, amid the competing visions for the region between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the African Union (AU) and the East African regional bloc the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

 Woldemariam and Young argue that the Sudanese military council holding power means that Saudi Arabia and the UAE will have positioned themselves as regional kingmakers capable of “forestalling democratic transitions,” as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are said to protect regional autocrats, given that public opinion in the Horn does not align with their interest in aligning Horn states into their axis.

 By contrast, if the AU and IGAD can shepherd a transition to civilian government, they will lay the groundwork for a regional order “that can deliver peace, development, and accountable government.”