SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Sudanese ‘march of the millions’ demanding full civilian rule

21/10/2021: Multiple sources – Sudanese ‘march of the millions’ demanding full civilian rule

·      Guardian, by Zeinab Mohammed Salih and Peter Beaumont

·CNN, by Yasir Abdullah and Mostafa Salem

·      Radio Dabanga

·      BBC, by Anne Soy

·      AP

·      Reuters, by Khalid Abdelaziz

·      AFP

Across Sudan, hundreds of thousands participated in a ‘March of the Millions’ in favour of a civilian-led democratic transition, in what Reuters estimate is the largest protest of Sudan’s democratic transition.

Protests took place from Darfur in the West, to Atbara in the White Nile state, and around Khartoum, as well as among the Sudanese diaspora in London and other western cities. 

The protests marked the anniversary of the 1964 uprising against military rule, at a time of threats posed to the democratic transition by the military, and a breakaway faction of the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition, the civilian umbrella group which spearheaded the uprising against the ousted regime of former dictator Omar al-Bashir, protesting demanding for military rule.

 The Guardian identified Ahmed Hamdan as a journalist who was shot in the head while covering the protests, as security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Sudan does not expect immediate improvement in its economy: minister

21/10/2020: Sudan Tribune - Sudan does not expect immediate improvement in its economy: minister

 Sudan Tribune reports that Sudan’s Minister of Finance, Hiba Mohammed Ali, said that a quick improvement of Sudan’s economic situation is unexpected, following Sudan’s removal from the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list.

 Ali said that while Sudan now benefits from the ease of banking and cash transfers, the exchange rate must still be adjusted so that expatriates are incentivised to send remittances through official channels. She noted that there are currently five exchange rates in Sudan.

 Nonetheless, she said that Sudan’s delisting enables grants by international institutions to finance development projects without US objections, and that Sudan may now cooperate directly with various institutions to purchase basic commodities after it was buying it at a high price through intermediaries.

 

 Once Sudan finalises the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) process, it would get $ 1.7 billion annually, she added.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Thousands mark October 1964 Revolution across Sudan

21/10/2020: Radio Dabanga - Thousands mark October 1964 Revolution across Sudan

 Radio Dabanga report that thousands took to the streets of Khartoum and several Sudanese state capitals to participate in the October 21 Marches of the Millions organised by the Sudanese Professionals Association and the Resistance Committees to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the October 1964 Revolution.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Guardian - The spectre of Syria silenced Arab protest. But now it’s finding its voice

21/10/19: Guardian - The spectre of Syria silenced Arab protest. But now it’s finding its voice, by Nesrine Malik

 Nesrine Malik cites the Sudanese uprising, and anti-government protests in Egypt and Lebanon, to argue that Arabs are beginning to realise that they have been “tricked into submitting to an unacceptable present,” b excessively fearing the consequences of ousting autocratic leaders.

 Malik highlights the “Syria bogeyman” that was summoned when the Sudanese uprising began, whereby the Syrian scenario is presented as an inevitability that “things certainly will fall apart” if people demand the overthrow of their leaders.

 However, Malik argues that the Sudanese uprising is a rebuke to all those who think that in the Arab world should have no alternative to strongman leadership, noting that the protests in Sudan, Lebanon and Egypt are united by a common cause to remove “an establishment that for too long has drained resources.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: International Crisis Group – Safeguarding Sudan’s Revolution

21/10/19: International Crisis Group – Safeguarding Sudan’s Revolution

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) call for the African and European Unions, the Gulf states and the US to encourage the Sudanese military to make peace with insurgents.

 The ICG suggest that the transitional government and rebel groups proclaim a mutual ceasefire, open areas they control for humanitarian agencies and mutually release prisoners, as well as facilitating an African Union security envoy.

 Secondly, the ICG recommend that the two most powerful rebel leaders – Abdelaziz al-Hilu (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North) and Abdul-Wahid al-Nur (Sudan Liberation Movement)  be offered positions in transitional institutions “lest they conclude that yet another betrayal is in the offing.”

 Thirdly, the ICG call for the government to negotiate inclusive peace accords without further splintering the rebels, with the African and European Union’s needed to offer technical support to formulate a roadmap for sustainable peace.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Sudanese government says it will consider proposals for a secular state

21/10/19: Multiple sources – Sudanese government says it will consider proposals for a secular state

 The Sudanese government’s negotiation delegation has handed over a response to a draft declaration of principles on issues to be negotiated made by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu (SPLM-N al-Hilu faction).

 Reliable sources in Juba told Sudan Tribune that the SPLM-N Al-Hilu faction raised a number of demands, including establishing a secular state and the need to consider Sudan’s diversity when it comes to sharing power.

 The SPLM-N Al-Hilu faction warned that they may fight for self-determination in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile in the event of failure to respond to these demands. In 2017, al-Hilu broke away from SPLM-N faction led by Malik Agar because they did not take into account his demand to include this threat if Khartoum refuses to repeal Islamic laws.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - Sudan rebel leader says government agreed to open access for aid

21/10/19: Reuters - Sudan rebel leader says government agreed to open access for aid, by Denis Dumo

 Reuters reports that Sudan has agreed to open humanitarian access to war-torn areas of the country for the first time in eight years as part of a new roadmap enabling suspended peace talks to resume, according to Sudan Revolutionary Front deputy leader Yasir Arman.

 “We are expecting that the humanitarian situation is going to improve in Darfur, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile,” Arman said, noting that al-Bashir’s government has refused to open humanitarian access for 8 years.

 “We believe we have a partner in Khartoum and there’s a new environment created by the revolution,” he added.

 After signing the agreement, Himedti said that: “peace is the ultimate goal of the government of Sudan…I appeal to the International Community to support the process.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Sudanese army calls to stay away from its sites ahead of protests by pro and anti-revolution forces

21/10/19: Sudan Tribune - Sudanese army calls to stay away from its sites ahead of protests by pro and anti-revolution forces

 Ahead of the planned protests to mark the 55th anniversary of Sudan’s 1964 revolution, Sudan Tribune reports that issued a statement which told demonstrators to stay away from its sites, and that it closed roads leading up to its Khartoum HQ.

 Sudanese army spokesman Brigadier General Amer Mohamed al-Hassan said that the army will not interfere in political practices, but warned that peace will not be achieved without political stability.

 The National Umma Party of Sadiq al-Mahdi voiced opposition to the protests organised by  its allies in the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) in order “to avoid chaos.”

 Meanwhile, the Islamist Popular Congress party distanced itself from calls to join protests against the FFC, which were initiated by its senior member Ammar Alsjad and scheduled for 21 October.

 Nonetheless, at Al-Azhari University in Khartoum, clashes were reported between Islamist and FFC students.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - Thousands of Sudanese protest, call for dissolving Bashir's party

 21/10/19: Multiple sources - Thousands of Sudanese protest, call for dissolving Bashir's party

 Thousands of Sudanese rallied in several cities urging the authorities to dissolve the former ruling National Congress Party of Omar al-Bashir.

 Organised by the Sudanese Professionals Association, in gatherinsg that marked the 1964 uprising which ousted military leader Ibrahim Abboud, demonstrators also called for ex-officials to be put on trial for corruption, as well as demanding that perpetrators of the June 3 massacre be held to account.

 In a televised address, Prime Minister Hamdok said that there still remains work to be done to restore rights, heal wounds and provide compensation for the victims of the past 30 years of al-Bashir’s rule.

 A statement by Sudanese police warned that “unfavourable consequences” may result if “chaos” is created.