SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Sudanese journalist beaten senseless in Khartoum attack

24/8/2021: Multiple sources – Sudanese journalist beaten senseless in Khartoum attack

·       al-Taghyeer

·      Radio Dabanga

Sudanese journalist Ali al-Dali, a contributor to al-Jareeda newspaper who was “frequently harassed and detained by the former regime”, was in hospital after being beaten senseless, allegedly by military personnel in uniform, after an incident in Khartoum.

The Sudanese Journalists Network condemned the attack on a journalist who “owned no weapons others than his pen and words”, and called on the journalistic community across the spectrum “to take a strong stand against bullying, which is reminiscent of the practices of Al-Bashir’s military gangs”.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga -  Eastern Sudan FFC call for Kassala governor to assume role

24/8/2020: Radio Dabanga -  Eastern Sudan FFC call for Kassala governor to assume role

 Radio Dabanga report that the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) in eastern Sudan have called on Khartoum to allow the newly appointed governor of Kassala, Saleh Ammar, to travel to the state to assume his role within the next two days in order avoid a “political and security vacuum”.

 Abdelazim Abdelkarim, a leading member of the council, said that the procedures for selecting Ammar were carried out in an “institutional and legal manner”.

 His colleague, Hamour Hussein, warned that eastern Sudan may become “another Darfur” in the event that the current conditions are not resolved. Hussein added that allowing Native Administration leaders to select state governors “will disrupt the social fabric.”

 Hussein also expressed his dissatisfaction with tribal polarisation and racist rhetoric in the state, attributing the emergence of “tribal discourse” to “the divide-and-rule policies of the former regime,” appealing to the Kassala residents to distance themselves from tribalism.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - New Sudan PM Hamdok sets out plans to rebuild Sudan's economy

24/8/19: Multiple sources - New Sudan PM Hamdok sets out plans to rebuild Sudan’s economy

 Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said Sudan requires $8 billion in foreign aid for the next two years to cover its import bills and regain trust in its currency, with $2billion in foreign deposits needed to stop its pound from falling further.

 Hamdok told Reuters:  “there won’t be a forced prescription from the IMF or the World Bank,” and confirmed that Sudan started negotiations seeking to have the US remove Sudan from its terrorism-sponsor list.

 Hamdok insisted that “the people” will make the decision on the controversial topic of government subsidies for bread, fuel, electricity and medicine.

 To make Sudan’s economy productive, Hamdok said: “we want to…stop exporting products such as livestock and agriculture as raw materials…we will aim to process so as to create added value.”

 Hamdok also said: “stopping war, which represents 70% of the expenditure…will create a surplus that can be invested in production, agriculture and livestock.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: AFP – Sudan women fight gender imbalance

24/8/19: AFP – Sudan women fight gender imbalance

 AFP’s feature piece examines women’s under-representation in Sudan’s new institutions, with women poorly represented in the power-sharing negotiation committees, despite the Forces of Freedom and Change’s chief negotiator being Ibtisam Sanhouri.  

 AFP note that the power-sharing agreement ceremony featured one female speaker (the host), a scene that woman activist Rabah Sadeq called “a slap in our face.”

 Samahir el-Mubarak, a Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) spokeswoman, attributed women’s absence in Sudanese institutions to “the organizations and political parties that are active in the transition [always excluding] women.  She expressed optimism that this would change, but warned of another revolution if not.

 SPA member Sarah Abdul Laleel added that political parties lacked public trust, and called for a debate to find new ways to integrate women in Sudan’s institutions.

 Sudanese prime minister Hamdok said: “we have to concentrate on women’s participation. Sudanese women played a very big part in our revolution.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Witness testify in al-Bashir corruption and money laundering case

24/8/19: Multiple sources – Witness testify in al-Bashir corruption and money laundering case

 Witnesses testified regarding the corruption-related charges against former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, including a prosecutor, an army major and a bank employee.

 High Prosecutor Mutasem Abdulla, the first witness, said the room in al-Bashir’s house where millions of dollars were found looked "more like a storage facility with metal cabinets on the wall. Many empty sacks belonging to Seen Flour Mills were found on the floor and a bag with cash inside."

 Seen Flour Mills General Manager Tareq Siralkhatim was identified in court as a member of Bashir's Congress Party. Last week, al-Bashir's lawyer said Bashir used Siralkhatim to convert the cash from foreign to local currency.

 Abdulla testified that a banker and two money-counting machines uncovered 6.9 million euros, $351,000 and 5 million Sudanese pounds ($112,697).

 Al-Bashir’s defence team previously told CNN that the money was gifted by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, and distributed to “worthy causes.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Bashir defence asks court for release on bail

24/8/19: Multiple sources – Bashir defence asks court for release on bail

 Ahmed Ibrahim, the lawyer for Sudan’s ex-president Omar Hassan al-Bashir said on Saturday that he will request that Bashir be released on bail because “[his] trial is an ordinary case.”

 The judge said he would review the request, if submitted.

 Al-Bashir is charged with illicit possession of foreign currency and accepting gifts in an unofficial manner. He acknowledged receiving millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, a police detective told the court earlier this week.

 Two opposing groups demonstrators staged protests in and around the courthouse.

 Demonstrator Yasser Mohammed said: “Bashir has committed a number of crimes that he should be prosecuted for as a priority, not for these sums of money.”

 A protest group turned out in support of Al Bashir waving signs that read: “the trial of the president is the trial of the nation.”

 One of them, Abdelrahman Omar, said: “we came here to support the legitimate president.”