SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - PM Hamdok: FCC political declaration is 'a historical event and step on the right track'

9/9/2021: Radio Dabanga - PM Hamdok: FCC political declaration is 'a historical event and step on the right track'

Radio Dabanga report that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) refused to sign a Political Declaration of the Unity of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), nor did the Technical Committee for Freedom and Change, which includes a number of parties and movements, including the Sudan Liberation Movement faction under Minni Minawi’s leadership.

JEM says that it is not part of the political declaration, explaining that “meetings did not take the comments of the movement seriously”, calling the declaration an “incomplete vision in a way that does not achieve comprehensive unity”.

JEM called on the forces of the Sudanese revolution to uphold the value of unity, which is based on a real solution to the existing imbalances. It also affirmed its “adherence to the unity of the revolutionary forces and its work to expand the political support to include all the forces of the live revolution without isolating anyone”.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: al-Taghyeer - Ruling coalition in Sudan reaches out to forces rejecting new declaration

9/9/2021: al-Taghyeer - Ruling coalition in Sudan reaches out to forces rejecting new declaration

Al-Taghyeer report that the ruling Forces for Freedom and Change (FCC) coalition revealed that it had started communicating with the forces of the revolution that did not sign the political declaration for the unity of the forces of freedom and change.

Parties affiliated with the transitional government announced their boycott of the announcement, led by the Communist Party and the Sudan Liberation Army Movement led by Minni Arko Minawi. The Justice and Equality Movement, affiliated with the Revolutionary Front, objected, and demanded that it be withdrawn until all the forces of the revolution agreed.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - Sudan’s ruling coalition factions sign new political charter

9/9/2021: Multiple sources - Sudan’s ruling coalition factions sign new political charter

·      Sudan Tribune

·       al-Taghyeer

43 members of the ruling Forces for Freedom and Change (FCC) signed the Political Declaration of the Unity of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), which reiterated their unity and determination to achieve the foundation for democratic reforms and to hold general elections at the end of the transitional period.

The signed text also stated that the need to build a unified and professional army that reflects diversity and is based on a new military doctrine, which "requires a serious dialogue between civilians and the military to determine the nature of reforms."

The charter also promised to work together with the military to establish support the Empowerment Removal Committee to dismantle the former regime, build the state of law, justice and democracy, alongside pledges to remove the obstacles preventing the formation of the Transitional Legislative Council, the Constitutional Court, the High Judicial Council and the Public Prosecution Council.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: The National.AE - Sudan reckons with bid to separate religion from state

9/9/2020: The National.AE -  Sudan reckons with bid to separate religion from state, by Hamza Hendawi

 Hamza Hendawi’s feature piece on the Juba peace agreement identifies “daunting challenges” and “politically costly” concessions that Khartoum must offer to secure lasting peace.

 Hendawi notes that the steps required to bring peace may “spark resistance from groups with economic interests” such as Islamists and supporters of the National Umma Party who “have a sense of ethnic and cultural superiority over the people living in Sudan’s western and southern regions.”

 With the details of the Juba peace deal “mirroring the ineffective or eventually unravelled” peace deals signed under previous dictators Omar al-Bashir and Jaafar al-Nimeri, Hendawi identifies concerns that Sudan’s government “may simply offer rebel groups political bribes as part of shaky agreements…which failed to secure peace or led to the rise of new rebel groups.”

 Analyst Attiya Issawi suggests that integrating rebels into a national army is the “trickiest” task, given the “likely friction between former enemies.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: AFP - Will Sudan’s Peace Deal With Rebels Work?

9/9/2020: AFP - Will Sudan’s Peace Deal With Rebels Work?

 AFP’s analysis of the Juba peace agreement notes “many” analysts “have seen similar deals crumble before,” as “building peace and trust after so long at war takes time.”

 On integrating rebels into a national army, AFP note that old foes are brought together “in often uneasy joint forces.” AFP also raise the prospect of fresh conflict if displaced return to their homes and current occupants refuse to return property.

 Jonas Horner of the International Crisis Group said the deal is “far from comprehensive and only represents a first step towards peace,” adding that “significant hurdles remain in the way of its implementation.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: BBC - How Sudan's rebel deal offers lifeline for peace

9/9/2020: BBC - How Sudan's rebel deal offers lifeline for peace, by Alex de Waal and Edward Thomas

 Edward Thomas of the Rift Valley Institute and Alex de Waal of the World Peace Foundation argue that Sudan’s state sponsor of terrorism designation poses an obstacle to a Juba peace agreement that “comes with a big price tag.”

 Thomas and de Waal note that the agreement promises development funds for rebuilding “devastated” rural areas and helping displaced people return home, expanded health services and schools and universities, alongside the costly process of integrating rebels into a new national army and emergency funding needed to stabilise the economy and stave off a looming humanitarian crisis.

However, the authors add that “until the US officially recognises that Sudan is not a ‘sponsor of terror’, there is no debt relief and little foreign investment,” leaving Sudan’s lifeline is “in the hands of Saudi Arabia and the UAE which give cash-in-hand to their favourite military powerbrokers such as Gen Burhan and Hemeti.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Foreign Policy - How to Make Sudan’s Revolution Succeed

9/9/19: Foreign Policy - How to Make Sudan’s Revolution Succeed, by Yasir Zaidan

 Sudanese political science academic Yasir Zaidan argues that the success of the Sudanese revolution relies upon a broad and inclusive civilian front, a pragmatic approach to the military and a forward-looking economic strategy.

 To protect against the divide-and-conquer tactics used to weaken pro-democracy forces, Zaidan calls for the revolutionary coalition to incorporate parties that did not sign the Declaration of Freedom and Change, suggesting that a wider national coalition would ensure a broader consensus on the new constitution formation process.

 To prevent the military from hijacking the power-sharing agreement, Zaidan suggests that the RSF could be institutionalised into the military, which Himedti may accept as he is seeking legitimacy. Zaidan warns that reforming the military too quickly may lead to a civil war.

 Finally, Zaidan calls for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the EU and the US to financially support Sudan, particularly noting Sudan’s business entrepreneurship potential.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Times of Israel - Sudan’s new FM open to relations with Israel, if Palestinian conflict resolved

10/9/19: Times of Israel - Sudan’s new FM open to relations with Israel, if Palestinian conflict resolved, by Adam Rasgon

 The Times of Israel reports that newly appointed Sudanese Foreign Minister Asma Abdullah suggested on Sunday that Khartoum would be interested in establishing relations with Israel if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved, and said that most Arab states maintain some degree of ties with Israel.

 Asked by Al Jazeera in a televised interview whether Sudan and Israel would establish ties, Abdullah, said: “Now is not the time.”

 Abdullah noted that most Arab state “in one way or another” have ties to Israel, but stated that “until unresolved issues are resolved,” a normalization of Sudanese-Israeli ties is out of the question.

 Abdullah’s comments come a few days after newly appointed Sudanese Religious Affairs Minister Nasr al-Din Mufrah called on Jews to return to Sudan.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP – Egypt wants Sudan off US terror list

10/9/19: AP – Egypt wants Sudan off US terror list, by Samy Magdy

AP reports that Egypt foreign minister Sameh Shoukry called for more support for Sudan’s civilian-led government, including getting Sudan off the US list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

 Shoukry said Egypt is now working with Washington to end Sudan’s international pariah status.

“What the Sudanese people have achieved is a role model,” Shoukry told a joint news conference at the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, with Sudan’s first woman foreign minister, Asmaa Abdalla.

 He said Egypt has been working with regional and Western allies to build support for the transitional government and that efforts “to coordinate strongly with the Sudanese government will continue.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AFP - Asma Abdalla: Sudan’s first woman foreign minister

9/9/19: AFP - Asma Abdalla: Sudan’s first woman foreign minister

 AFP profiles Asma Abadalla, the seasoned diplomat who was sacked decades ago by now ousted leader Omar Al Bashir, who has now become Sudan’s first female foreign minister.

 Abdalla was one of the first three women to join Sudan’s foreign ministry as a diplomat after graduating from Khartoum University in 1971 with a degree in economics and political science.

 Abdalla served as a diplomat in several overseas Sudanese missions, including at the UN, in Morocco and Stockholm.

 But she was sacked in 1991 by Al Bashir’s government, after which she worked in regional organisations including the Arab League.

 Experts say a priority for Abdalla as foreign minister would be to navigate negotiations with Washington on removing Sudan from the terrorism blacklist.

The other key foreign policy file for Khartoum is Cairo, with whom Sudan has often had strained ties due to trade and border issues.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AP – Sudan’s Cabinet sworn in, 1st since al-Bashir ouster

9/9/19: AP – Sudan’s Cabinet sworn in, 1st since al-Bashir ouster

 AP reports that Sudan has sworn in its first Cabinet since the military ousted autocratic President Omar al-Bashir in April.

 Eighteen Cabinet ministers were sworn in before the country’s top judge, Babiker Abbas, as well as Prime MInister Abdalla Hamdok and Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of the sovereign council. Hamdok is still negotiating with the pro-democracy movement over the last two ministerial posts to complete his 20-member Cabinet.

 Burhan headed a joint ceremonial meeting of the Cabinet and the sovereign council.

 The culture and information minister, Faisal Saleh, said that both bodies “share responsibility for achieving the targets ... and the whole world is watching” their performance.

 Finance Minister Ibrahim Elbadawi, who is a former World Bank economist, said the governing bodies would carry out “urgent measures” in the first 200 days to “restructure the budget, control prices and tackle youth unemployment.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Sudan’s economy minister announces 200-day emergency plan

9/9/19: Sudan Tribune - Sudan’s economy minister announces 200-day emergency plan

 Sudan Tribune reports that Sudan’s newly-appointed Finance Minister Ibrahim Elbadawi announced a 200-day emergency plan to restore Sudan’s ravaged economy during the transitional period.

 Elbadawi labelled the plan a “strategic project” aimed at “achieving sustainable development goals during the transitional period, the most important of which is fighting poverty and achieving social justice."

 Elbadawi said that the plan is based on five main priorities:

1.     Macroeconomic stabilization

2.     Measures to stabilize commodity prices

3.     Addressing the youth unemployment

4.     Transition from humanitarian aid to sustainable development

5.     Capacity building of economic management institutions.

 Elbadawi promised that his ministry will take measure to reduce the cost of living.