SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Protests against insecurity growing in Darfur

2/7/2020: Radio Dabanga - Protests against insecurity growing in Darfur

 Radio Dabanga report on sit-ins across Darfur - in Nierteti, El-Geneina and Kabkabiya.

 In Niertiti, protesters are calling for an end to security issues, the dismissal of local security committee and its director, the removal of the officials responsible government forces deployed, disarmament of militiamen and protection of farmers.

 Members of el-Geneina’s Resistance Committees took over the empty offices of the former ruling National Congress Party, before “regular forces” allegedly injured them.

 The Darfur Displaced and Refugees General Coordination in Kabkabiya says the presence of the joint UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) must be extended until a comprehensive peace has been reached, a state of equal citizenship has been declared, remnants of al-Bashir’s regime are removed from state institutions, militias disarmed, those accused of war crimes extradited to the International Criminal Court to be new settlers expelled from their lands, and protection from grazing on farms during the agricultural season.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP – Sudan protest group says 2 leaders arrested

2/7/19: AP – Sudan protest group says 2 leaders arrested, by Fay Abuelgasim and Samy Magdy

AP report that the Sudanese Professionals Association said that two of its members, Yassin Abdel-Karim, head of the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee, and lawyer Abdel-Majed Aidrous, have been arrested.

 The SPA also said that security forces searched the homes of three other leaders.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters – Ethiopian mediator urges Sudan Army and opposition to hold direct talks on wednesday

2/7/19: Reuters – Ethiopian mediator urges Sudan Army and opposition to hold direct talks on wednesday

 Reuters reports that Ethiopia’s mediator in the Sudan crisis, Mahmud Dirir, urged the Sudanese transitional military council and opposition groups to hold direct talks on Wednesday to agree on remaining unresolved issues.

 Both sides have agreed on a proposal presented by the Ethiopian and African Union mediators, but they disagree over the structure of a sovereign council that is meant to lead the country Dirir told a press conference in Khartoum.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP – UN: Sudan’s health supply shortage exacerbated by crisis

2/7/19: AP – UN: Sudan’s health supply shortage exacerbated by crisis

 AP reports that the UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says Sudan is facing shortages of medicine and health supplies because of its ongoing economic crisis, which has been exacerbated by recent political upheaval.

Dujarric said that the World Health Organization and UNICEF  are beefing up supplies and assistance across Darfur. 

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: BBC - Sudan crisis: New sense of hope for young revolutionaries

2/7/19: BBC - Sudan crisis: New sense of hope for young revolutionaries, by Fergal Keane

 BBC Africa Editor Fergal Keane argues that the role of the Americans, Saudis and African Union will be key in determining the outcome of the Sudanese revolution, with the Saudis in particular “surely [realizing] that the military cannot govern either by consent or coercion.”

 Keane questions whether the military’s relative restraint with respect to the June 30 mass protests was a result of US pressure on Saudi Arabia to use their leverage on the military, or whether Himedti being surprised by the scale of the demonstrations.

 Keane also notes divisions among senior military ranks and resentment towards Himedti’s power.