SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune -FFC-Minnawi calls for partial dissolution of Sudan’s transitional authority

14 /10/2021: Sudan Tribune -FFC-Minnawi calls for partial dissolution of Sudan’s transitional authority

Sudan Tribune report that a splinter group of the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) led Minni Minnawi, the leader of the armed Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), refused to meet with the ruling coalition and requested the partial dissolution of the cabinet and the Sovereign Council, calling for a review of the positions allocated to the political parties and civil society groups, saying they took a large number of portfolios in the transitional authority.

To solve the political crisis, the Secretary-General of the National Umma Party, Wathiq al-Brair suggested dissolving the Sovereign Council and replacing its current members with independent civilian and military, appointing a cabinet of technocrats to achieve security, economic recovery and preparation for January 2024 elections, while replacing all current governors with independent ones.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: al-Jareeda - The cowardly coup

14/10/2021: al-Jareeda – The cowardly coup, by Sabah Mohammed al-Hassan

After civilian government leaders said they had a travel imposed upon them by Sudan’s General Intelligence Services, Sabah Mohammed al-Hassan calls for the civilian government to adopt a more confrontational approach towards the military component of the government, by making strong decisions that deter the military component, thereby restoring its revolutionary standing before considering how to fix citizen issues.

Al-Hassan questions how the military leaders can claim that they did not order the unlawful travel ban, but suggests that the civilian government’s weakness, silence, concessions and “turning a blind eye” to their legitimate and guaranteed rights encourage the military to threaten the democratic transition.

Arguing that “passive silence will achieve nothing but humiliation,” she credits civilian sovereign council member Mohammed al-Faki’s confrontational stance for igniting anger in army commander-in-chief, and Sovereign Council chairman, Lt. Gen al-Burhan - “until he reached a point of bankruptcy”.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: al-Jareeda – Where does Hamdok stand?

14/10/2021: al-Jareeda – Where does Hamdok stand?, by Abdullah al-Sheikh

Abdullah al-Sheikh blames Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok’s performance for the military’s threats against the transition, suggesting that “we have reached a stage where the military does need not to conduct a coup”.

Despite Hamdok being described as an economist, al-Sheikh questions why he gave up presidency of the economic committee and peace negotiations to military leaders, with the UN said to “carry out the tasks of the government” in negotiating with Beja chiefs to open ports “while Hamdok remains silent”. 

Al-Sheikh further blames Hamdok for the dysfunction of the Empowerment Removal Committee that aims to retrieve the assets of the former regime, alongside Hamdok’s appointment as Education Minister for the reduction of the school day due to bread shortages.

Finally, al-Sheikh suggests that the rushed preparations for elections “expose the pretenders in the civilian government,” who seek to prolong the transition without forming a legislative council or a constitutional court.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: al-Rakoba - The FFC reap their political and executive shortcomings

14/10/2021: al-Rakoba - The FFC reap their political and executive shortcomings

 Arguing that the crisis facing Sudan’s democratic transition is the inevitable result of the inaction of the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) Central Council, Wael Mahjoub calls for the FFC Central Council to “solve their problems with the neglected streets,” through transparency, practising the virtue of self-criticism and holding accountable its cadres who caused the “political collapse”.

Suggesting the FFC Central Council has become a club for the career advancement opportunities and party quotas, Mahjoub blames it for the military’s growing threats to the democratic transition, citing its: weakness, inaction, poor choice of officials, concessions, gasping for positions and infighting.

To resist military coup attempts, Mahjoub concludes with calls for the mass movement to reorganise itself through a new alliance of revolutionary forces that is not led by “the same forces whose political and executive practices led to the disappearance of the slogans and goals of the revolution.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Hamdok sacks Kassala governor Saleh Ammar

14/10/2020: Multiple sources – Hamdok sacks Kassala governor Saleh Ammar

Radio Dabanga

Sudan Tribune

 Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok dismissed Kassala state Governor Saleh Ammar, who had remained in Khartoum following his appointment due to objections to his appointment by several ethnic groups, especially the Beja.

 The Beni Amer and Habab Youth Association plan civil disobedience protests in Kassala and neighbouring Red Sea state, with protesters blocking roads in Kassala in opposition to the decision. Radio Dabanga note that the aforementioned tribes speak Tigre, rather than Beja.

 Chief nazir  of the Beni Amer, Ali Diglel, described the decision to dismiss Ammar as “shameful, because the campaign calling for his removal is based on racist arguments, distrust, and the slandering of our identity”.

 Ammar recently proposed an initiative to achieve peace and social coexistence in the eastern region.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - Sudan government and rebels meet for peace talks in Juba

14/10/19: Reuters - Sudan government and rebels meet for peace talks in Juba

 Reuters’ report on the start of Sudanese peace talks quotes from Himedti and rebel leader Yasir Arman.

 Sudan’s ruling council and rebel leaders started peace talks to end the country’s multiple conflicts, a key condition for the country’s removal from the United States’ sponsors of terrorism list. The talks will potentially set out ways to provide humanitarian access to all parts of Darfur and the Blue Nile region, and how ceasefires will be monitored.

 Arriving in Juba, Himedti expressed optimism, saying: “we shall start negotiations with open hearts and we are serious about bringing peace to Sudan.”

Yasir Arman, deputy chairman of the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLM-North) said “this should be the last round of talks that should address the root causes of war and marginalisation.“

 He added: “we are determined that 2020 should be the year of peace in Sudan.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga – Peace talks between Sudan govt and armed movements to resume in Juba

14/10/19: Radio Dabanga – Peace talks between Sudan govt and armed movements to resume in Juba

 Radio Dabanga details the government and rebel delegations that will discuss peace in Juba.

 The rebel delegation is allied under the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) – featuring leaders from various Sudan People’s Liberation Movement factions and the Justice and Equality Movement.

 The Sudanese government delegation will be headed by Himedti, and it includes Himedti’s  fellow former transitional military council colleagues: Gen Shamseldin Kabashi and Lt Gen Yasir El Atta.

 The civilians in the government delegation include: sovereign council members Mohamed El Taayshi and Mohamed El Faki. They will be joined by Cabinet Ministers Omar Manis and Yousef El De.

 In addition, a High Peace Council has also been formed. Chaired by former transitional military council leader Abdulfattah al-Burhan, it will include all sovereign council members, Prime Minister Hamdok and the Ministers of Cabinet Affairs, Justice and Federal Government, as well as three legal experts.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP – Sudan’s government, rebels start peace talks in Juba

14/10/19: AP – Sudan’s government, rebels start peace talks in Juba, by Samy Magdy

 AP reports that Sudan’s new transitional government met with rebel leaders in Juba, kicking off peace talks aimed at ending Sudan’s civil wars.

 South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir is hosting the talks.

Achieving peace is crucial to the transitional government in Sudan. It has counted on ending the wars with rebels in order to revive the country’s battered economy through slashing the military spending, which takes up much of the national budget.

 The government delegation will be led by Himedti. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of Sudan’s sovereign council, also arrived in Juba, alongside Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Sudanese govt’s decision on gold mining met with mixed reactions

14/10/19: Radio Dabanga - Sudanese govt’s decision on gold mining met with mixed reactions

 Radio Dabanga reports on mixed reactions to the government’s decision to forbid the use of toxic cyanide and mercury in gold mining.

 In a joint statement, the Resistance Committees Coordination of various South Kordofan locaties affected by the toxic mining said the decision falls below their demands. They stressed that gold mining companies operate without clear legal frameworks, and that the government should remove them from the region.

 They also called for prosecution of guilty mining companies, and for financial compensation from them.

 The National Committee for Environmental Protection has welcomed the decision, and called for executive bodies to closely monitor gold mining company operations.

 The Six-Party Committee for Resistance to Mining Damage said they need assurances that the government will find alternatives for vulnerable people benefiting from traditional mining.