SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Mada Masr – Sudan Nashra

28/6/2024: Mada Masr – Sudan Nashra, by Hassan Alnaser, Mashair Idris, Mohamed Alagra and Omar al-Faroug

 

Four summaries

 

Khartoum city 

Mada Masr report that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have continued to targeted the Armored Corps, with a senior source saying the army aims to connect its main camps in Khartoum and secure the state, although a specific timeline for completing these stages has not been set.

The source also said the RSF in Khartoum has now turned into mere rogue gangs, no longer conducting military offensives, instead using tactics that resemble street warfare. The main formation of RSF troops has been fragmented, the source said, attributing this transformation to the impact of the battles in al-Fashir, which led to a significant withdrawal of RSF fighters from Khartoum.

Those remaining in Khartoum and Al-Jazira are either forces recruited from criminals who escaped from prisons or rogue groups that previously lived off looting and banditry, or from civilian groups that have aligned with RSF leaders. 

Bahri (Khartoum North) 

Mada Masr report that, in northern Bahri’s Weapons Corps, the armed forces continue to deploy across various fronts to cut off the RSF’s military supplies to the Jaili area where they are stationed.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese Air Force targeted some of the remaining fuel depots used by the RSF. An engineering source at the refinery told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that the military has taken all the strategic fuel depots out of service. 

The source said that the refinery will not be able to process fuel anytime soon, meaning oil coming from South Sudan will pass through without any refining. The source added that the oil from South Sudan, which has been disrupted by military operations, will soon be transported to the Bashayer Port for export.

Al-Fashir

In Al-Fashir, Mada Masr report that the RSF has implemented military tactics that have caused residents to flee various neighborhoods, targeting healthcare facilities, including the maternity hospital. A medical source told Mada Masr that RSF military operations are concentrated around medical areas and regions providing food and water to displaced persons within the city. The number of displaced individuals has exceeded 70,000, dispersed across different localities in the state, including Kutum and Tawila, according to the source.

A source from Northern State’s Dabba told Mada Masr that there is a significant increase in the number of displaced persons arriving to the locality this week.

One of the displaced persons who fled Fasher told Mada Masr that the journey to Dabba took four days due to the RSF’s roadblock, setting up checkpoints, and threatening citizens on the basis of their ethnicity.

Libya 

A source from the Joint Forces told Mada Masr that that battles have erupted within Libya, near the Sudanese border, between factions affiliated with the Revolutionary Awakening Council that dissented from Hilal, and factions from the Sudan Liberation Movement (Minnawi). The purpose of these battles, the source said, is to halt military supplies and reinforcements to the RSF.

 

Military-aligned forces affiliated with Minnawi, along with Hilal’s troops, are attempting to completely sever supply routes to the RSF. This has led to the battles spilling over into Libyan territory.

Sennar

Mada Masr report that the RSF seized the strategic Jebel Moya area, with sources saying that controlling this area directly threatening the cities of Sennar and Rabak, and the Kenana military base in the White Nile State.

A senior Sudanese military officer told Mada Masr that the military will fight fiercely to retake it.

Mada Masr’s observations indicate that both sides are amassing more troops and tanks, preparing for a decisive battle before the rain season in autumn, which is expected to affect supply routes.

The RSF reportedly killed over 20 in villages around Jebel Moya during widespread looting. Fearing violations, citizens began to flee but streets were soon filled in celebration alongside soldiers after the army’s defence.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune – Sudan recalls ambassador from Chad over allegations of supporting RSF

28/6/2024: Sudan Tribune – Sudan recalls ambassador from Chad over allegations of supporting RSF

Sudan Tribune report that Sudan has recalled its ambassador from Chad over escalating tensions concerning border control and alleged Chadian support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

A government insider revealed to Sudan Tribune that Chad is actively aiding the RSF by opening its borders for UAE supplies, facilitating the movement of RSF commanders and recruiting foreign fighters.

The source further alleged “Chad is complicit in meddling in Sudanese affairs by using its territory as a conduit for RSF supplies. All Emirati aid to the militia is channeled through Chad, and Sudan has presented evidence to support this claim.”

A diplomatic source confirmed to Sudan Tribune that Sudan had formally submitted a detailed report to the Chadian government concerning border security, but it “fell on deaf ears”.

Sudan’s UN ambassador Al-Harith Idris previously accused Chad of becoming the primary supply line for the RSF, providing weapons, supplies, and mercenaries.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Foreign Policy - Seeking to Secure Power, Sudan’s Military Ruler Hires Lobbying Help

28/6/19: Foreign Policy - Seeking to Secure Power, Sudan’s Military Ruler Hires Lobbying Help, by Justin Lynch and Robbie Gramer

 Foreign Policy’s feature piece highlights the military’s public relations campaign to “shore up their legitimacy and control.”

 The military’s lobbying contract with Canadian firm Dickens & Madson reflects Himedti’s “shadowy behind-the-scenes push…to consolidate control,” and “illustrates how many foreign governments have worked to stake claims in Sudan.”

 The TMC seeks Dickens & Madson’s help to legitimize Himedti by securing him a meeting with US President Trump and Middle-East governments,  along with other priorities such as securing military training and equipment, infrastructure and food security support from Russia, and an alliance with Libyan general Khalifa Haftar.

 A speech at Himedti’s rally last week by former US congressman-turned-lobbyist James Moran helped “[reinforce] the perception…that [Himedti] is backed by the international community,” as it is the only information that many Sudanese have regarding the international community’s stance toward [Himedti],” amid the internet blackout.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel Calls for Sanctions on Sudanese Security Forces

28/6/19: US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel Calls for Sanctions on Sudanese Security Forces

 Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called on the Trump administration to sanction the Rapid Support Forces under the Global Magnitsky Act, singling out Himedti for his responsibility in ordering “gross human rights abuses…against unarmed civilians.”

 As well as expressing concern that another violent crackdown is imminent during the planned June 30 protests, Engel wrote that such sanctions with “reaffirm [US’] unwavering support for democratic principles in Sudan,” and sends a “powerful” message to Sudanese people that the US “stands in solidarity with them in their fight to end the human rights abuses.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Globe and Mail - Quebec lobbying firm may have broken Sudan sanctions with deal ‘striving’ to supply equipment for military

28/6/19: Globe and Mail - Quebec lobbying firm may have broken Sudan sanctions with deal ‘striving’ to supply equipment for military, by Steven Chase and Geoffrey York

The Globe and Mail reports that Dickens & Madson, the Canadian lobbying firm working to help Himedti to procure equipment for Sudan’s armed forces, could run afoul of Canadian sanctions and new arms-brokering controls that come into effect in September 2019.

 Canadian domestic law has implemented UN Security Council economic sanctions and trade restrictions to limit sales of arms and related materials to Sudan.

 Toronto-based lawyer John Boscariol said “if someone were to be providing consulting services that related to the provision of military equipment to a person in Sudan, on its face, that’s prohibited.”

 An anonymous Canadian official said that if Dickens & Madson facilitates an arms sale for Himedti, then Canada would expect them to apply for a brokering permit. However, the official added that facilitating a sale of equipment for the Sudanese military comes very close to technical assistance, which is prohibited under the UN sanctions.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP – Group urges Sudan to ensure protester safety during rallies

28/6/19: AP – Group urges Sudan to ensure protester safety during rallies, by Samy Magdy

 AP reports that Amnesty International said Friday that Sudanese military rulers must guarantee the safety of protesters ahead of planned mass rallies over the weekend calling for civilian rule and following a deadly military crackdown that has left more than 100 dead since early June.

 “The horrific unprovoked use of lethal and unnecessary force against peaceful protesters as witnessed on 3 June must not be repeated this Sunday, or ever again,” said Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty’s secretary general.

Protest leader Sherif Osman, from the Declaration of Freedom and Change, which represents the protesters, said the “peaceful” marches planned for Sunday could only be called off “if the military council handed over power to civilians.”

The demonstrations are planned to mark the 30th anniversary of the Islamist-backed coup that brought Omar Al Bashir to power in 1989.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – US Supreme Court to consider reviving $4 billion terror award against Sudan over US embassy bombings in 1998

28/6/19: Multiple sources – US Supreme Court to consider reviving $4 billion terror award against Sudan over US embassy bombings in 1998

Bloomberg, by Greg Stohr

Reuters, by Andrew Chung

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider reviving a $4.3 billion punitive damage award against Sudan for providing al-Qaeda with a haven while the terrorist group planned the 1998 bombings outside the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

The award came in a lawsuit on behalf of more than 150 U.S. government employees and contractors who were killed or injured, as well as hundreds of family members.

The punitive damages are part of a $10.2 billion award they won when Sudan didn’t defend against a lawsuit filed in Washington. However, US sovereign-immunity law does not permit punitive damages for actions that took place before Congress amended the law in 2008 to authorize those types of awards.

 US President Donald Trump’s administration urged the Supreme Court to hear the case and reinstate the punitive damages award.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP - UN puts brakes on peacekeepers’ pullout from Sudan’s Darfur

28/6/19: AP - UN puts brakes on peacekeepers’ pullout from Sudan’s Darfur, Edith M. Lederer

 AP reports that the UN Security Council voted unanimously to put the brakes on the withdrawal of the joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan’s vast western Darfur region as the country deals with a political crisis.

 The council approved a resolution to extend the current mandate of the force, known as UNAMID, for four months until October 31.

 Last July, the Security Council voted to dramatically cut the UNAMID force in response to reduced fighting and improved security conditions. The target for ending the mission is June 30, 2020.

 Britain’s U.N. deputy ambassador Jonathan Allen, whose country co-sponsored the resolution with Germany, said the council “recognizes that Darfur is affected by wider instability in Sudan and that there is a need for continued protection of civilians in Darfur.”