SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune – Death toll of El-Fasher clashes rises to 82, hundreds injured

3/6/2024: Sudan Tribune – Death toll of El-Fasher clashes rises to 82, hundreds injured

Sudan Tribune report that Ministry of Health in North Darfur State has reported a sharp increase in casualties and injuries over the past two days due to ongoing clashes between the army, supported by allied armed movements and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Fasher.

Ibrahim Abdullah Khater, Director General of the Ministry of Health in North Darfur State, informed Sudan Tribune that the recent clashes in El Fasher have led to approximately 84 injuries and 45 deaths in the last two days alone. Combined with earlier casualties, the total number of injured has reached 234, with the death toll at 82.

Khater emphasized that the majority of the casualties were women, children, and the elderly, accusing the RSF of committing humanitarian crimes against unarmed civilians.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Bloomberg – Sudan’s Deputy Visits Russia With Weapons-for-Port Deal on Table

3/6/2024: Bloomberg – Sudan’s Deputy Visits Russia With Weapons-for-Port Deal on Table, by Simon Marks and Mohammed Alamin

Bloomberg report that Sudan’s deputy leader Malik Agar is traveling to Russia, days after Sudan’s army said it may get weapons in exchange for letting Russia establish a military fuelling station on the Red Sea coast.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), such a deal may end Russia’s support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who protected Russian interests in Sudanese gold to help fund its war in Ukraine and mitigate the impact of Western sanctions.

Sudan’s move is likely to stoke Western concern about Russia’s growing African profile, alongside the Sudanese army’s revitalised ties with Iran, which has supplied armed drones that have helped the military regain control of much of Khartoum. “The army’s decision to look to Russia and Iran has happened after “a lack of support from other partners, including the West,” the ISW said.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: New Arab – Will Russia's support for Sudan's army turn the tide in the war?

3/6/2024: New Arab – Will Russia's support for Sudan's army turn the tide in the war?, by Elfadil Ibrahim 

Analysis by Elfadil Ibrahim plays down the view that Russia’s support for the Sudanese army (SAF) will tip the tide in SAF’s favour, with Russia handicapped by sanctions and its own war effort in Ukraine.

Sudanese political analyst Mujahid Bushra said Russia’s support for the army is “unlikely” to have a major impact given that Rapid Support (RSF) finances can sustain a five-year war.

Samuel Ramani, an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said Russia does not want to align itself to closely with either the army of the RSF militia as “neither side will be able to completely destroy the other” and it wants to “maintain close ties with whoever is in power”.

Nonetheless, Sudan is simultaneously deeping ties with Ukraine, finding common ground over "illegal armed groups financed by Russia", with Ukrainian Special Forces carrying out night raids on RSF-controlled areas in Omdurman.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Washington Post – Genocide looms again in Darfur. Will the world stop it from happening?

3/6/2024: Washington Post – Genocide looms again in Darfur. Will the world stop it from happening?, by David Simon

 

David Simon, the director of Yale University’s Genocide Studies Program, calls for a UN-authorised peacekeeping operation to protect civilians in Al-Fashir and secure its airport for humanitarian assistance delivery, with the African Union sourcing and organising troops and western states supplying materiel.

Simon argues that this “most extreme measure in the atrocity-prevention tool kit” is necessary as “the world’s dithering…has left Sudan facing resumed genocide, with no other options to prevent it”.

Citing the recent Rapid Support Forces (RSF) genocides in Al-Gineina and Nyala, Simon notes that Al-Fashir is the last refuge for Darfur’s non-Arab citizens, and warns that the fall of Al-Fashir to the RSF would enable the militia to “complete their genocidal project”.

Simon adds that “options are dwindling by the day” as attempts to negotiate a ceasefire are contingent upon the UAE, “known to be the RSF’s major international sponsor”, applying pressure. 

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations – Risch Statement on the violent eradication of Khartoum protest camp by Sudanese security forces

3/6/19: US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations – Risch Statement on the violent eradication of Khartoum protest camp by Sudanese security forces

 US Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for increased US diplomatic efforts to ensure that regional actors, “like those from the Gulf States,” cease from meddling in Sudan’s transition process “either by publicly engaging with only the military council or providing financial support.” 

 Risch said the “violent eradication” of the peaceful sit-in site in Khartoum “demonstrates the ruling military council’s lack of commitment to a peaceful transfer of authority to a civilian-led government,” and that the military council “will continue to prevent changes to the US-Sudan relationship by ignoring calls for civilian-led rule and allowing violent attacks on peaceful protesters.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Guardian - The Guardian view on Sudan’s people power: it needs to triumph

3/6/19: Guardian - The Guardian view on Sudan’s people power: it needs to triumph

The Guardian editors call for outside powers to back Sudan’s democratic transition and tell Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia to accept non-violent change.

 The Guardian editors argue that a denunciation of the governing transitional military council is required “urgently,” adding that the ending of Sudan’s international isolation, as well as an aid package from multilateral lenders, must be conditioned upon elections and civilian government.

 The Guardian editors note that the only “only outside players in Sudan are the ones who want to cement military rule,” concluding with calls for the west to balance out Saudi, Emirati and Egyptian influence in Sudan.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Washington Post - Sudan’s revolution could end up like Tiananmen — or even more tragic

3/6/19: Washington Post- Sudan’s revolution could end up like Tiananmen — or even more tragic

 The Washington Post editors call for the US, UK and African leaders to support Sudanese civilians in inheriting the new Sudan, arguing that they “deserve a government that can win international economic aid and build an open and pluralistic system.”

 Drawing parallels between the Monday’s crackdown on Sudanese protesters and the Tiananmen Square massacre in China, the Washington Post editors argue that “violent repression can hold steep costs to a society over many years.”

 However, they argued that if the Sudanese “revolution of hope be snuffed out,” the consequences could be even more tragic than the ones faced by Chinese students who protested 3 decades ago.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: AFP - Sudan's Burhan, from relative unknown to regional power

3/6/19: AFP – Sudan’s Burhan, from relative unknown to regional player

 AFP’s feature piece charts Abdelfattah Al Burhan’s emergence as a regional player, having “never been in the limelight” in comparison to his fellow high-ranking military colleagues.

 Sudan expert Willow Berridge attributes Al Burhan’s rise to power to his coordination in sending Sudanese troops to Yemen as part of a Saudi-led coalition. This made him work closely with the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group – whose role in Monday’s deadly operation is “likely to make many cautious.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Guardian - Sudanese crackdown comes after talks with Egypt and Saudis

3/6/19: Guardian – Sudanese crackdown comes after talks with Egypt and Saudis, by Simon Tisdall

 Simon Tisdall argues that the fatal crackdown on Sudanese protesters may reflect the counter-revolution favoured by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, with the USA showing “zero interest in actively supporting Sudan’s passionately sought democratic renaissance.”

 Tisdall highlights the power dynamics working against Sudanese democrats, citing Arab states desires to “influence Sudan’s future policy, especially on security issues, terrorism and Iran.”

 However, the British government appears “uncaring and unengaged” with Sudanese democratic efforts, while the US President Donald Trump favours “Gulf Arabs’ choice of a “strongman” leader over the UN-backed government.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP - Sudan's military council blames "criminals" for Monday violence

3/6/19: AP – Sudan’s military council blames “criminals” for Monday violence

 AP reports that Sudan’s ruling military council has blamed “criminals” who sought refuge inside a protester sit-in for the violent clashes in the country’s capital of Khartoum.

 The council said Monday that security forces were trying to clear an area adjacent to the protester camp, when those it was chasing fled into the sit-in, leading to shooting deaths and injuries.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - Sudan protest leader says to step up civil disobedience after "coup"

3/6/19: Reuters – Sudan protest leader says to step up civil disobedience after “coup”

 Reuters reports that Khalid Omar Yousef, a leader of the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces, called the storming by security forces of a protest camp in central Khartoum a “coup” against the uprising that led to the ouster of President Omar Al Bashir.

 “We will confront it by escalating protests, marches and full civil disobedience,” he added.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - UK foreign minister condemns Sudan sit-in dispersal

3/6/19: Reuters – UK foreign minister condemns Sudan sit-in dispersal

 Reuters reports that UK foreign minister Jeremy Hunt has condemned the violent dispersal of a sit-in protest outside the Sudanese Defence Ministry in Khartoum.

 Hunt tweeted: “Condemn the attack on protestors by Sudanese security forces,” Hunt wrote on Twitter. “This is an outrageous step that will only lead to more polarisation and violence.”

 Hunt added that: “It will not help Sudan build the future the people are demanding. The Military Council bears full responsibility for this action and the international community will hold it to account.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - UN condemns army attack against Sudan protesters

3/6/19: Multiple sources – UN condemns army attack against Sudan protesters

 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns violence and reports of excessive use of force by Sudanese security personnel on civilians, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

 UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet deplored the use of live ammunition in protest camps, labelled it “extremely alarming” and “a real setback.” She called for Sudanese authorities to “immediately” halt such attacks, and open an independent investigation into the use of excessive force against protesters.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - Sudanese protesters killed as security forces attack Khartoum sit-in

3/6/19: Multiple sources – Sudanese protesters killed as security forces attack  Khartoum sit-in

 

Dozens are feared dead after Sudanese security forces launched a massive crackdown against protesters at a central Khartoum sit-in.

 Heavily armed paramilitaries attacked the site of a sit-in in the capital that has been the centre of a campaign to bring democratic reform shortly after dawn on Monday, firing teargas and live ammunition.

Witnesses reported that the security personnel belonged to the feared Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary force that was heavily armed by Omar al-Bashir, the former president.

 At least 13 people have been recorded dead, with the number still rising.