SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Sudan PM Hamdok: Goal of the Road Forward Initiative is to unify revolutionary forces

26/8/2021: Radio Dabanga - Sudan PM Hamdok: Goal of the Road Forward Initiative is to unify revolutionary forces

Radio Dabanga report on resignations from Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok’s Road Forward Initiative, despite his emphasis that it aims to unite all the forces that have interests in revolution, in order to complete the transition and lead to free and fair elections.

Following the resignations of Darfur governor Minni Minawi and eastern Sudanese native administration leaders, professor Hadia Hasaballah announced her resignation from the initiative, stating that the committee’s composition cannot achieve its central goals due to the lack of representation of women and youth.

Shahinaz Jamal, a member of the Resistance Committees, also submitted her resignation from the initiative, saying that the mechanism contained people who are “part of the crisis”, such as remnants of the former regime and opportunists. She also criticised the fact that the members were not able to choose the composition and structure of the initiative's membership.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: al-Jareeda - Individual actions, inexcusable justification

26/8/2021: al-Jareeda - Individual actions, inexcusable justification, by Haider al-Mikashfi

Following the beating of journalist Ali al-Dali, his colleague Haider al-Mikhashfi calls on the security forces to check the conduct of their personnel by holding “intensive courses on human rights for their staff,” whereby soldiers learn to protect citizens and not take the law into their own hands.

Al-Mikashfi writes that all Sudanese security forces offer “half-baked” justifications for violations committed by their adherents against unarmed civilians on the basis they are, and he quotes, "isolated, individual behaviour that has nothing to do with our unit”, with the offenders going unpunished.

Al-Mikashfi notes that security elements assaults on unarmed civilian citizens “have increased in a worrying manner,” despite the enactment of legal provisions. Thus, through his proposed solution, al-Mikashfi concludes that the assault of al-Dali can be “the last of such misconduct, or else calls for judges to be assigned to investigate before the civilian judiciary will be logical”.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Distrust between security agencies, civilians behind reluctance to stop tribal violence: official

26/8/2020: Sudan Tribune - Distrust between security agencies, civilians behind reluctance to stop tribal violence: official

 Sudan Tribune report that Faisal Mohammed Salih, the Sudanese Information Minister, said that the lack of confidence between civilians and the security forces led to the slowness of the police forces in stopping the recent clashes between the Beja Hadandawa and Beni Amer in Kassala.

 Salih said it is imperative to hold a dialogue involving all political, social and security components to end the mistrust so that the security and military services resume maintaining security and stability and "respond to challenges in a timely manner and with appropriate force."

 The security services and regular forces are reluctant to intervene in all these crises because they fear accusations of violating human rights, Salih stressed.

 Sudan Tribune note that public perceptions perceive the Sudanese army and the security forces as embracing elements of the former regime who work to abort the revolution.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - One killed, 17 injured in tribal clashes in eastern Sudan

26/8/2020: Radio Dabanga - One killed, 17 injured in tribal clashes in eastern Sudan

 Radio Dabanga report that a man was killed and 17 were injured in tribal clashes that broke out in Kassala.

 The Kassala police said that the fighting was triggered by protests urging the newly appointed governor of the state, Saleh Ammar, to come to Kassala and assume his duties. This led to violent protests from another ethnic group.

 Ammar’s supporters announced that they will continue their protests.

 Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok responded to the violence by ordering “the imposition of the prestige of the state and the Rule of Law” in the state.

 Ammar, a member of the eastern Sudanese Beni Amer tribe, remains in Khartoum, after the cabinet postponed his departure after fierce protests erupted against his appointment.

 The High Council of Beja Nazirs and Independent Chieftainships, including the leadership of the Hadendawa clan, reject Ammar as their new governor and demand his replacement

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters - U.S. to keep up pressure on Sudan as it discusses lifting sanctions –official

26/8/19: Reuters - U.S. to keep up pressure on Sudan as it discusses lifting sanctions –official, by Leslie Wroughton

 Reuters reports that the US will test the commitment of Sudan’s new transitional government to human rights, freedom of speech and humanitarian access before it agrees to remove Sudan from a state sponsor of terrorism list, an unnamed senior US State Department official said.

 The official said that new prime minister Abdalla Hamdok would be the main point of contact, with US diplomats also needing to interact with Himedti.

 The official conceded that lifting sanctions is an “obstacle” which will “take a little bit of time to work through,” although the US is “committed” and wants a “positive dialogue with this new civilian government.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: AFP - Sudan villagers reel from Nile water floods

26/8/19: AFP - Sudan villagers reel from Nile water floods, by Menna Zaki

In a feature piece, AFP spoke to various locals from White Nile state in southern Sudan, which has been hit hardest by devastating floods that have swallowed up entire villages.

 The residents of Wad Ramli and Wawesi Ghrab vallages expressed devastation at their houses and belongings being destroyed and said they are running out of ways to roll-back the water threat.

Resident Hozeifa AlSir, expressed fear of an outbreak of disease amid “mosquitos and flies hovering everywhere.”

 Teenage student Shehab Al-Din Mohammed said: "the academic year will start soon and I have no idea how I would submit my documents after I lost everything.”

 "We have not been able to survey the number of houses affected…due to the rising water levels," said Farouk Ahmed, supervisor of a Red Crescent aid team.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: AP - Interview: Sudan PM seeks end to country's pariah status

26/8/19: AP - Interview: Sudan PM seeks end to country's pariah status, by Justin Lynch

 Sudanese prime minister Abdulla Hamdok told AP that ending Sudan’s designation as a terror-sponsor and drastically cutting military spending will be needed to rescue Sudan’s economy.

 Hamdok said that US officials reacted positively to the possibility of removing Sudan’s terror-sponsor designation, adding that “democratic Sudan is not a threat to anybody in the world." However, Human Rights Watch’s Jehanne Henry notes that Hamdok’s proposal may be vetoed by the military.

 Hamdok stated plans to bring all Sudanese state spending under the control of the ministry of finance.

 With military spending taking up 80% of the budget, Hamdok said ending Sudan’s internal conflicts would allow him to bring this down to 20% maximum, with the remainder going to development issues — health, education, infrastructure development and economic revival.

 Hamdok also promised a "peace commission" to attempt reconciliation with Sudan’s armed groups, and called for accountability for violence committed against rebels and protesters.