SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Non-signatories warn against instability in Sudan if new government formed without them

28/3/2023: Sudan Tribune - Non-signatories warn against instability in Sudan if new government formed without them

Sudan Tribune report that Jibril Ibrahim, the deputy head of the Forces of Freedom and Change Democratic Bloc faction (FFC-DB) announced that they had warned the commander-in-chief of the Sudanese army Abdulfattah al-Burhan that failure to form a government without them “will not stabilise the country and their consequences are unknown”, calling on al-Burhan to “correct the course in order to avoid a disaster”.

After Al-Burhan met with FFC-DB leaders to convince them to join the final political agreement, Jibril contested the legitimacy of the FFC Central Council (FFC-CC) to lead the formation of a civilian government.

While the FFC-CC, under pressure from the military, accepted including armed and civilian parts of the FFC-DB, the latter “have now made it clear that their goal is to prevent the pro-democracy coalition from leading the transition alone”.  

FFC-DB official Mubarak Ardol also called on al-Burhan to “not ally with specific political forces”.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Voice of America - Quarantine Challenges Leave Sudan Vulnerable Amid COVID Spread

28/3/2020: Voice of America - Quarantine Challenges Leave Sudan Vulnerable Amid COVID Spread, by Naba Mohiedeen

 Naba Mohiedeen reports on concerns from Sudanese health authorities that large numbers of people have either escaped from, or refused, quarantine.

 Mohiedeen notes two incidents: 300 people leaving quarantine at the Universal Hospital in Khartoum in mid-March and four bus passengers fleeing an isolation centre near the border with Egypt.

 150 Sudanese students who returned from quarantine in China staged a sit-in in refusal to be quarantined again. Although the Ministry of Health gave in to their demands, critics warn that if any of them are carrying the virus, they could put Sudan’s health system in a dire situation. 

 Abeer Dirar, who jointly organised a public awareness campaign in Khartoum said Sudan does not have the logistics to face coronavirus given “the cumulative destruction of the health system” during Omar al-Bashir’s rule. According to reports, Sudan only has 80 ICU units in both the public and private sector.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - U.S. announces $8m aid to Sudan and South Sudan over COVID-19

28/3/2020: Sudan Tribune - U.S. announces $8m aid to Sudan and South Sudan over COVID-19

 Sudan Tribune reports that the US has announced $8 million aid for both Sudan and South Sudan in emergency health assistance, as part of its response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

 The US State Department said the “assistance will primarily provide health-related support and supplies to bolster water and sanitation activities.”

 Sudan Tribune note that Sudanese Health Minister Akram Eltom says there are 85 suspected cases of coronavirus in Sudan.