SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Mada Masr - Sudan Nashra

7/6/2024: Mada Masr - Sudan Nashra, by Hassan Alnaser, Mashair Idris, Mohamed Alagra and Omar al-Faroug

 Four seperate summaries

South Sudan

Mada Masr report that a South Sudanese delegation engaged in discussions with Sudanese officials in Port Sudan, presenting a roadmap for peace in Sudan.

Also on the agenda was the Sudanese state’s concern over South Sudanese militias fighting alongside the RSF, a security source told Mada Masr.

The Sudanese military had previously released footage of South Sudanese mercenaries fighting in the RSF’s ranks, stating that they were apprehended following the military’s recapture of Old Omdurman in March 2024.

Two military sources in the Signal Corps in the capital’s Bahri city and the Armored Corps in southern Khartoum told Mada Masr that the majority of RSF fighters involved in the attacks on the two camps are affiliated with South Sudanese militias.

Russia

Mada Masr’s sources shed light on Sudan’s agreement to provide Russia a logistics supply center on the Red Sea in exchange for weapons and ammunition.

Russia reportedly demands that Sudan cease dealings with Ukraine, allocate mining areas, and commence naval base construction while the the Sudanese government requested that the Russian Wagner military group not engage with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and that the Sudanese Armed Forces are supplied with ammunition and weapons.

African affairs analyst Adel Ahmed Ibrahim said the Sudanese-Russian rapprochement may exert pressure on the RSF to go to the Jeddah platform to seek an agreement to stop the war.

Political analyst Magdy Abdelqayyum said the Sudanese-Russian agreement is needed as it “thwarts the US-sponsored project of dismantling and fragmenting Sudan, which is facilitated by the UAE through the RSF militarily and [Taqadum] as a civilian political cover.”

Alfashir

Mada Masr report that Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minnawi address the Rapid Support militia’s (RSF) crimes in Al-Fashir in a call with US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello.

According to a source in the Darfur Regional Government, the US proposed a humanitarian protocol to protect civilians, which includes the withdrawal of armed groups from al-Fashir, opening humanitarian corridors for aid delivery, and evacuating the injured. Armed movements, the Darfur government, and Sudanese authorities rejected the proposal.

The source said that the US is not taking the crisis seriously, stressing that the RSF persists in its crimes due to the lack of international condemnation, urging for direct pressure to curtail RSF violations and cut off their military supplies.

Wad al-Noura

Mada Masr provided further information on the Rapid Support militia’s (RSF) massace on Wad al-Noura village in Al-Jazira state.

Eyewitnesses said the RSF’s first attempt to raid another village was thwarted by resistance from locals and the Sudanese air force, before the RSF redirected their attack towards Wad al-Noura with around 15 combat vehicles and heavy weaponry, including Katyusha rockets and anti-aircraft guns. A local medical source said most of the casualties were deliberate targets. 

Mada Masr add that the RSF’s presence in Al-Jazira  is divided under four leaderships, with a field military source indicating the undisciplined nature of these RSF combat units, “as they do not follow military orders, and are primarily motivated by looting and theft [and] consequently, attack villages and neighborhoods for financial gain.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - Sudan could soon have 10 million internally displaced people, UN agency says

7/6/2024: Reuters - Sudan could soon have 10 million internally displaced people, UN agency says

Reuters report that the number of people internally displaced in Sudan due to conflict could soon exceed 10 million, the United Nations migration agency said, in the world's largest displacement crisis.

"How much suffering and loss of life must the people of Sudan endure before the world takes notice? Isn't 10 million internally displaced enough to compel urgent global action?" said Mohamed Refaat, Sudan Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

Refaat said that more than half of the internally displaced people in Sudan were woman, and a quarter of them children under five, with aid agencies were struggling to keep up with the rising needs.

"Funding shortfalls are impeding efforts to provide adequate shelter, food and medical assistance," Refaat said. "Serious concerns are mounting about the long-term impact of displacement on Sudan's social and economic fabric,” he added.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - Attacks leave Sudan refugees stranded in Ethiopian forest

7/6/2024: Reuters - Attacks leave Sudan refugees stranded in Ethiopian forest

Reuters report on the plight of around 8,000 Sudanese refugees stranded in a forest in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia following repeated attacks by gunmen on Kumer and Awlala refugee camps.

6,000 walked to the UN refugee agency’s HQ in Amhara to protest their conditions but were stopped by police, whereas 2,000 had to flee Kumer camp after gunmen fired at them.  

With the refugees staying in makeshift dwellings made out of branches, cholera has spread in Kumer amid a shortage of doctors and the refugees face violence when venturing to the valley to wash.

Many of them began a 10-day hunger strike over conditions as supplies ran low, which they stopped after donations came in from Sudanese abroad, the only assistance received so far.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Middle East Eye - Sudan’s villages take up arms but powerless to stop RSF massacres

7/6/2024: Middle East Eye - Sudan’s villages take up arms but powerless to stop RSF massacres, by Mohammed Amin

According to the Middle East Eye’s sources, the  Rapid Support Forces (RSF) massacre in Wad al-Noura village of Al-Jazira state was prompted by the militia’s fear of growing resistance.

An anonymous source who fled Al-Jazira for Al-Gadarif said “the people of al-Jazira have the right to defend themselves as long as the RSF want to kill them and the army is derelict in its duty to defend civilians and the entire country,” although he noted how the RSF overpowered them.  

With other villages in Al-Jazira “subjected to vicious attacks in recent weeks,” Ahmed Mohamed, a resident of al-Duem in White Nile state, told MEE that the RSF attacked villages there too, with hundreds of youths forming defence groups known as the popular armed resistance.

 MEE add that these groups deny the RSF’s accusations that they are backed by hardline Islamists.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: African Union - Chairperson of the Commission Condemns the Recent Massacre In Wad Al-Nourah, Sudan

7/6/2024: African Union - Chairperson of the Commission Condemns the Recent Massacre In Wad Al-Nourah, Sudan 

The chair of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a condemnation of “the massacre carried out in Wad al Nourah”, without naming who was responsible for the massacre.

The statement concluded by calling on the two warring parties to return to the Jeddah ceasefire process.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: EU External Action - Sudan: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on the massacre of Wad al-Noura

7/6/2024: EU External Action - Sudan: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on the massacre of Wad al-Noura

In a statement, the EU said it is “appalled by credible reports of yet another senseless massacre of over 100 defenceless villagers committed by the Rapid Support Forces in Wad al-Noura, in Al-Jazira State, Sudan,

The EU added that it is “investing substantially, together with the OHCHR and the UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Sudan, in the monitoring and documentation of human rights violations committed by the belligerents since the beginning of the over one-year conflict”.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - UN Secretary-General condemns deadly RSF attack in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah

7/6/2024: Sudan Tribune - UN Secretary-General condemns deadly RSF attack in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah

Sudan Tribune report that UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Wad Al-Noura village, Al-Jazirah state, Sudan, which reportedly killed over 100 people on June 5th.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, the Secretary-General urged all parties to the conflict to immediately cease attacks that could harm civilians or damage civilian infrastructure.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AFP - US urges accountability over 'horrific' Sudan village attack

7/6/2024: AFP - US urges accountability over 'horrific' Sudan village attack

AFP report that the US State Department “condemns the horrific attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on unarmed civilians,” following the RSF’s massacre in the central village of Wad al-Noura in al-Jazira state using heavy artillery.

At the time of the article, the death toll was at least 104.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: DW - Sudan crisis: Fears of potential genocide growing

7/6/2024: DW - Sudan crisis: Fears of potential genocide growing, by Kirsten Knipp

DW’s feature piece on the Sudan crisis covers the imminent risk of genocide and famine.

Alice Nderitu, UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, issued a statement warning that the situation in Sudan bore “all the marks of risk of genocide” with “civilians being attacked and killed because of the color of their skin, because of their ethnicity, because of who they are”.

Marina Peter, the chairwoman of the German non-profit Sudan and South Sudan Forum told DW that famine is imminent in Al-Fashir, with another mass displacement triggered if the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) take the city due to dramatic increase in food prices, as has been seen in other places taken by the RSF. Peter added that the RSF was being so brutal to persuade people to join its ranks.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AFP – Sudan activists say about ‘40 dead’ in shelling near Khartoum

7/6/2024: AFP – Sudan activists say about ‘40 dead’ in shelling near Khartoum

AFP report that the Karari Resistance Committee said that about 40 people were killed in “violent artillery fire” carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city.

The Karari Committee, one of hundreds of grassroots pro-democracy groups that coordinate aid across Sudan, said the RSF was behind the deadly attack on Omdurman.

“So far, the death toll is estimated at 40 civilians and there are more than 50 injured, some seriously,” the committee said in a statement posted on social media.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - Sudan army shoots down ‘hostile drones’ above White Nile and Omdurman military sites

7/6/2024: Multiple sources - Sudan army shoots down ‘hostile drones’ above White Nile and Omdurman military sites

• Radio Dabanga

• Sudan Tribune

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced that they shot down four Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drones above Kosti and Kenana in White Nile state, and two in the neighbourhood of the Wadi Sayedna army base in Omdurman.

Sudan Tribune’s sources suggest that the RSF launched the drones from the Jebel Aulia area, located in the far south of Khartoum and adjacent to the White Nile state.

RSF drones, allegedly have been targeting towns and cities in the so-called ‘safe states’ in northern and eastern Sudan this year.

On March 2, at least five people died and others were injured in a drone attack on a Ramadan iftar by the Islamist Baraa Bin Malik brigade in Atbara, River Nile state. In April, three drones reportedly attempted to destroy Merowe Airport in Northern State. The SAF shot down two “hostile drones” in Shendi.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune – NUP leadership rift widens over Tagadum coalition participation

7/6/2024: Sudan Tribune – NUP leadership rift widens over Tagadum coalition participation

Sudan Tribune report that the rift between leaders of the National Umma Party (NUP) regarding their stance on the Tagadum coalition has widened.  

Party leader Fadlallah Burma Nasir insists on participating in the coalition, threatening to refer his deputies to the disciplinary committee.

NUP Secretary-General Al-Watheq Al-Berair, Chairman Fadlallah Burma Nasir, Political Bureau member Zainab al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, and her brother Siddiq participated in the Tagadum conference in Addis Ababa the previous week.

NUP Deputy Chairman Mohamed Abdallah Al-Douma stated that the party leadership considers those participating in the Tagadum founding conference to be violating party decisions.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune – Al-Burhan vows to hold Tagadum leaders accountable for alleged collusion with RSF

7/6/2024: Sudan Tribune – Al-Burhan vows to hold Tagadum leaders accountable for alleged collusion with RSF

Sudan Tribune report that army leader Abdelfattah Al-Burhan vowed to hold Taqadum’s leaders accountable, accusing them of colluding with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and conspiring to kill Sudanese citizens.

Al-Burhan said: “we are astonished and dismayed by those who rejoice at the death of Sudanese citizens, their looting, and the rape of girls while speaking about the government’s illegitimacy.”

He added that he is aware of Taqadum leader’s positions and said the army possesses videos of Yousif Ezzat, advisor to the RSF leader, preparing statements at the beginning of the conflict announcing the RSF’s takeover of power in Sudan.

He continued, “People talk about the army starting the attack on the RSF camp in the Sports City in Khartoum, but there is no camp there. This is deception by politicians and the Taqadum clique, but their time of reckoning will come.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters – Sudan security forces kill 100th person in anti-coup protests

7/6/2022: Reuters – Sudan security forces kill 100th person in anti-coup protests

Reuters report that a protester was shot and killed in Omdurman by security forces, medics say, making them the 100th protester killed in anti-coup demonstrations since October. The protester, the second death after the lifting of a state of emergency on May 29, was most likely killed by buckshot, said the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Crisis Group - Sudan: Stopping a Spiral into Civil War

7/6/19: Crisis Group – Sudan: Stopping a Spiral into Civil War

 The Crisis Group call for western and Gulf powers to “take urgent steps to compel Sudan’s [military junta] to accept a civilian-led transitional administration.”

 CG note that the Sudanese military junta “offers no clear foundation for a political regime,” citing its lack of cohesion, as former president Omar Al Bashir bolstered the RSF paramilitary group to counterbalance other elements of the security apparatus. CG state that RSF leader Himedti is distrusted by many Sudanese army officers.

Thus, to avert a civil war, the US is requested to to pressure the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt to urge the RSF to retreat, and “allow a civilian-led transitional authority that can restore stability.”

The US is called on to condition normalization of ties to Sudan on civilian government, with CG also calling for the military to face targeted sanctions from the African Union, EU and US if they fail to cooperate.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Foreign Policy - Document of the Week: Sudan’s Paramilitaries Are Seizing Abandoned U.N. Outposts in Darfur,

7/6/19: Foreign Policy – Document of the Week: Sudan’s Paramilitaries Are Seizing Abandoned U.N. Outposts in Darfur, by Colum Lynch

 Foreign Policy reports that the UN is halting its withdrawal of peacekeepers amid fear that the Rapid Support Forces are filling the security vacuum.

 A document seen by Foreign Policy showed that the TMC issued a decree on May 13, demanding the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur, or UNAMID, which deployed thousands of peacekeepers in Darfur more than a decade ago to protect civilians, hand over its peacekeeping facilities to the paramilitary force.

 UNAMID had intended to withdraw from Darfur by next summer, after facing criticism for falling short in its mission to protect civilians, and pressure from the US to cut peacekeeping costs.

 The RSF has already occupied 9 of the 10 peacekeeping sites that UNAMID has evacuated.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: Human Rights Watch - Investigations and Monitoring Needed in Response to Sudan Violence

7/6/19: Human Rights Watch - Investigations and Monitoring Needed in Response to Sudan Violence

 HRW’s Africa Associate Director Jehanne Henry calls for the African Union and the UN to “step up” to protect Sudanese human rights.

Henry calls for the African Union to set up a commission of inquiry, and for the UN Human Rights Council to investigate abuses committed in Sudan since December 2018.

 She argues that these actions are not mutually exclusive, and “both are needed in a country with such an extensive legacy of government-led atrocities and so little actual accountability for them.”

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: Statement on Sudan by the World Health Organisation

7/6/19: Statement on Sudan by the World Health Organisation

 The World Health Organisation, the UN’s health agency, has called for an immediate cessation of all activities that “put the lives of health staff and patients at risk and disrupt the delivery of essential health services.”

 The WHO says it is “gravely concerned” over security forces making “incursions into Khartoum hospitals,” setting mobile health tent clinics on fire, looting medical equipment, assaulting health care workers, and reportedly raping female health workers.

 “These actions represent a total and unacceptable violation of international human rights law and must stop,” the statement said.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: UN human rights office statement on Sudan

7/6/19: UN human rights office statement on Sudan

The UN human rights office has called for a monitoring team to be deployed to Sudan to examine alleged violations during this week’s military crackdown.

 The office is urging authorities to investigate the use of “excessive force” against protest camps, including the alleged involvement of the Rapid Support Forces and members linked to atrocities in Darfur.

 Spokesman Rupert Colville said the UN was seeking the military junta’s cooperation to deploy the monitoring mission.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - UAE foreign minister Anwar Gargash supports investigation of “massacre” in Sudan

7/6/19: Reuters – UAE foreign minister Anwar Gargash supports investigation of “massacre” in Sudan

 Reuters reports that The United Arab Emirates is concerned about the “massacre” in Sudan and supports calls for an investigation, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Friday.

 Speaking at the Globsec security and policy conference, Gargash said “we think [the massacre] has complicated issues. We recognize that after 30 years of Bashir’s rule you won’t have a unified opposition, the only way forward is really a dialogue.”