SUDAN NEWS ALERT: al-Taghyeer - Civil service reform a priority for Council of Ministers

19/8/2021: al-Taghyeer - Civil service reform a priority for Council of Ministers

Al-Taghyeer report that The Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Khalid Omar Youssef, declared that reform to the civil service sector in Sudan is one of the transitional government’s top priorities.

Youssef presided over the meeting of the higher committee dedicated to reforming the civil service sector in the country, with the ministers of Labour and Communications both in attendance.

The meeting reviewed the Prime Minister’s decree ordaining the committee’s formation and outlining its duties. 

The committee’s duties will be mainly concerned with supervising and following the work-process related to fixing the civil service sector, in partnership with the Intergovernmental Development Agency (IGAD).

In addition, the committee will be tasked with supervising the formation of executive work teams in all national ministries and localities.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Global Voices - In eastern Sudan, a bloody intercommunal conflict raises national security concerns

19/8/2020: Global Voices - In eastern Sudan, a bloody intercommunal conflict raises national security concerns, by Khattab Ahmed

 Khattab Ahmed provides context on the conflict in eastern Sudan, noting the clashes between the Nuba and Beni Amir tribes. The latter’s “origins span western Eritrea and eastern Sudan” and “to some… are considered foreigners from Eritrea, who were granted citizenship in Sudan under the former Omar al-Bashir government.”

 Ahmed further notes that a tribal peace agreement signed in March has not been held, and that Sudanese social media users are blaming “hidden hands playing with Sudanese security.”

 Ahmed references Eritrea’s reliance on Sudan as a source of goods, “usually through smuggling and, therefore, have a stake in the region’s peace and security,” whereas the United Arab Emirates “has had its eye on Sudan's main port, Port Sudan.”

Ahmed then notes rising public anger at Prime Minister Hamdok amid the violence, with his “popularity dwindling daily due to Sudan’s fragile security and economic situation.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: CNN – The ex-Sudanese president's cronies tried to break him out of jail ahead of his trial,

19/8/19: CNN – The ex-Sudanese president's cronies tried to break him out of jail ahead of his trial, by Yasir Abdalla, Sarah El Sirgany, Nima Elbagir and Eliza Mackintosh

 Allies of former president Omar Al Bashir tried to free him from high-security Kober prison, according to a police statement seen by CNN.

 The police report said that “rogue elements” tried to break into Kober to free Al Bashir and other jailed regime members, in the aftermath of the June 3 massacre, attempting to exploit the chaos and instability when Khartoum was on lockdown at the time.

 After being temporarily transferred to safehouse, Al Bashir was returned to Kober, with more security and amenities he requested. However, his lawyer, Hashem Al Gaaly told CNN that “the conditions of his detention are bad. It’s unclean and full of mosquitoes.”

 Nonetheless, a senior security source said Al Bashir is held in better conditions than other prisoners – possessing two fridges, air conditioning and bed. His wife Widad also visited, and he is said to be in a good state psychologically.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Saudis paid Al Bashir $90 million, officer says in Omar Al Bashir trial

19/8/19: Multiple sources – Saudis paid Al Bashir $90 million, officer says in Omar Al Bashir trial

 Former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir told investigators he received about $90 million from Saudi Arabia before his ouster, according to a Police Brigadier Ahmed Ali, a detective in the team investigating al-Bashir.

 Ali cited al-Bashir as saying that he received $25 million from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), and another $65 million in two payments from the late Saudi King Abdullah, Reuters reported.

 Al-Bashir allegedly said that MbS gave him money for spending outside the Sudanese state budget and that it was spent on donations, without going into further details on who received it.

 Al-Bashir’s lawyer Ahmed Ibrahim told reporters: “There is no information or evidence with regards to the accusations of illicit gains aimed at Bashir…anyone in his occupation [has] to have foreign currency and it was in a room attached to his office in his presidential residence.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Sudan protesters and army postpone announcement on ruling sovereign council

19/8/19: Multiple sources – Sudan protesters and army postpone announcement on ruling sovereign council

 Sudan’s ruling military council said that Sudan’s pro-democracy movement, the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) has asked for a delay on the announcement of a joint ruling body because of last-minute, internal disputes over the opposition appointees.

 The new, 11-member body — called the sovereign council — is to rule Sudan for a little over three years until elections can be held.

 Military council spokesman Shamseldin Kabbashi said the FFC withdrew its appointees to the council, saying it would hold more consultations among its factions.

 That comes after internal disputes within the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), one of the opposition factions, over the nomination of one its leaders, Taha Othman, to the sovereign council — despite the SPA decision to bow out of it.

 Othman, a key protest negotiator, himself said earlier Monday he was withdrawing his nomination because of “confusion and divisions” within the SPA.