SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Africa Report - Sudan: Schisms begin to show over a week into military coup

2/11/2021: Africa Report - Sudan: Schisms begin to show over a week into military coup, by Jaysim Hanspal

Africa Report raise the prospect of a schism between army commander-in-chief Abdulfattah al-Burhan and his Rapid Support Forces militia counterpart and “partner-in-coup”, Himedti.

The Africa Report note that Himedti was “relatively silent” following the coup, with rumours that Himedti stated he is against it in conversations with French diplomats.

The Africa Report add that it appears that the military is not representing a united front to support the coup, amid reports that junior leaders are unhappy with al-Burhan’s leadership, and are refusing to follow instructions and defend the coup, and tensions remaining as officers push back against the Islamist control of the military

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Guardian – Sudan’s coup has shattered the hopes of its 2019 revolution

2/11/2021: Guardian – Sudan’s coup has shattered the hopes of its 2019 revolution, by Nesrine Malik

Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik argues that Sudan’s military coup leaders – mercenaries, the army and [ex-President Omar al-Bashir-era] business interests…have seized control and will sell Sudan’s resources to the highest bidder”.

Despite the coup triggering the suspension of debt relief that “leaves the economy on its knees,” Mailk argues that “[this] does not concern militaries who are bent on extraction in a country that does not need to thrive for its overlords to prosper,” as “flogging Sudan’s resources and people to the highest bidder is too lucrative a business to give up for a few hundred million dollars of western aid.”

Malik suggests that “Sudan’s new ruling club” will “run Sudan as the host body for a partnership of parasites,” and without transparency or accountability, “will divide national infrastructure and seize and sell raw materials to regional allies, while suppressing Sudan’s marginalised regions.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: African Arguments – “This Is Not a Coup”: Inside Sudan’s Mediation

2/11/2021: African Arguments – “This Is Not a Coup”: Inside Sudan’s Mediation, by an anonymous author

African Arguments’ anonymous author calls for one trusted mediator for the Sudanese political process, arguing that current mediation process is likely to disrupt rather than solve.

Firstly, the author suggests that the proliferation of “self-interested parties rushing in” to mediate a civilian-military agreement “causes confusion” for both parties, thereby wasting time and reducing the likelihood potential agreement. 

Secondly, the amount of rushing mediators may culminate in a “flawed agreement” that “papers over the same unresolved issues:  power-sharing, justice and corruption”.

Finally, the backing given to military leader Abdulfattah al-Burhan in the state medias of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Russia suggest that “western diplomacy to undermine al-Burhan’s support [among his international backers] has not worked.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Radio Dabanga – Human rights lawyer: ‘Internet blackout hides Sudan coup atrocities’

2/11/2021: Radio Dabanga – Human rights lawyer: ‘Internet blackout hides Sudan coup atrocities’

Human rights lawyer Ali Ajab told Radio Dabanga that “cutting off the internet aims to hide the crimes of the Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces,” and that if the internet service is restored, “the world will witness the extent of the atrocities committed by these forces against peaceful and defenceless demonstrators”.

He added that Abdulfattah al-Burhan, leader of the military coup, “restored the operations department of the security apparatus specialised in detentions and torture”.

Ajab said that the wide detention campaign against pro-democracy politicians, members of Resistance Committees, and other activists, is carried out by several parties, such as the Military Intelligence that takes detainees to military sites, and the security apparatus, which uses its old headquarters in Khartoum North near the Shendi bus station - though the amended Security Service Law does not give the General Intelligence Service (GIS) the authority to detain people.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Bloomberg - Sudan Prodded Closer to Powersharing Deal to Reverse Army Coup

2/11/2021: Bloomberg - Sudan Prodded Closer to Powersharing Deal to Reverse Army Coup, by  Simon Marks and Mohammed Alamin

Bloomberg report that Sudan’s army and politicians are edging closer to a new power-sharing deal as international efforts intensify to reverse the military coup, according to sources following the talks.

One proposal under discussion would see deposed Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok given greater powers but with a new cabinet more palatable to the army, the sources said.

The army would be in charge of the government’s powerful security and defence councils under the deal. The formation of a new sovereign council, the top executive body headed by army commander-in-chief al-Burhan until he said he was dissolving it, is still being discussed, according to the sources.

The army and politicians are at odds over the cabinet appointments component, the sources said, describing a deal as still elusive.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Civil disobedience across Sudan, FFC ‘will not negotiate with coup’

2/11/2021: Radio Dabanga - Civil disobedience across Sudan, FFC ‘will not negotiate with coup’

Radio Dabanga report that The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) – “the main drivers of the revolution” that overthrew the 30-year al-Bashir dictatorship in 2019 – have declared categorically that “there will no dialogue or negotiations with the putschists”.

In a statement following a meeting of the FFC Central Leadership Council at the premises of the National Umma Party, the FFC said they are now concerned with “uniting the revolutionary forces on the streets with the civilian democratic forces”.

The meeting concluded with the decision to overthrow the military coup, hold the leaders accountable, and achieve justice for the protestors who have been killed and wounded, in addition to releasing all detainees immediately and returning to the constitutional system before October 25.

Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok must return and his government to carry out their duties in accordance with the Constitutional Document, the FFC insist.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Guardian – Sudanese bankers stage ‘revolutionary’ strike after military coup

2/11/2021: Guardian – Sudanese bankers stage ‘revolutionary’ strike after military coup, by Patrick Wintour

The Guardian report that Sudan has been hit by a severe cash shortage as most banks and cash machines remain closed one week after a military coup prompted a nationwide strike by bankers.

About 90% of bankers were taking part in a civil disobedience campaign, said Ibrahim Abdel-Raheem, who works at the Workers National Bank in Khartoum. “We knew that going on strike as bankers would cripple the economy…Banks are the backbone of the economy” he said.

Yassir Binawai, who works in the mining industry, said “It’s been so difficult to manage with the cash shortage..but we will not give up despite all the struggles.”

Cash still dominates the Sudanese economy due to a lack of ATM infrastructure. Western Union suspended its operations last week, making access to money harder.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Protests against fuel and bread shortages across Sudan

2/11/2020: Radio Dabanga - Protests against fuel and bread shortages across Sudan

 Radio Dabanga report on numerous protests across Sudan in response to economic conditions.

 Protests erupted in Atbara in the River Nile state against fuel, bread and transportation shortages. In El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, secondary school students protested against the high prices and shortages of bread and transportation.

 In Ed Damazin, capital of Blue Nile state, Resistance Committees denounced the violence that accompanied demonstrations against the liberalisation of fuel prices, and the dire living conditions, warning “the revolutionaries” not to engage in violence and sabotage.