SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Protests against violence in Darfur

28/12/2020: Radio Dabanga - Protests against violence in Darfur

 Radio Dabanga report that The Peace Support Committees Coordination organised a protest vigil in Khartoum against the ongoing violence in Darfur.

Representatives of the group submitted a memorandum about recent human rights violations in Darfur to Mohamed al-Taayshi, the member of the Sovereign Council tasked with the coordination of the peace process. They referred to the recent killing of civilians across Darfur, and the targeting of farmers and displaced by militants.

The memo called on the transitional government “to take immediate action to maintain security in Darfur, protect citizens and property, arrest those involved in crimes and bring them to a fair trial”.

The Peace Support Coordination holds the transitional government responsible for the continued violence, and demand “the acceleration of the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement, especially the security arrangements protocol, including the establishment of a disarmament mechanism”.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Darfur tribal fighting leaves 15 dead

28/12/2020: Multiple sources – Darfur tribal fighting leaves 15 dead

• Radio Dabanga

• Reuters

• AP, by Samy Magdy

 At least 15 tribesmen have been killed and 34 others were injured during tribal clashes between Masalit farmers and Fallata herders in South Darfur.

 Community leader Omar al-Malik told reporters in Gireida that a dispute at the Rahad Abu Dereisa water well between members of the two tribes developed into a firefight. Two Fallata tribesmen were shot dead. In response, Fallata militants attacked Masalit neighbourhoods in Gireida town, which led to the death of 13 Masalit. 34 others were injured and had to be taken to hospitals in Gireida and the South Darfur capital Nyala.

Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries stationed in the area intervened, and separated the fighting tribesmen.

Meanwhile, in al-Geneina, West Darfur, a student was shot dead.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Radio Dabanga - SPLM-N: ‘National identity primary cause of wars in Sudan’

28/12/2019: Radio Dabanga - SPLM-N: ‘National identity primary cause of wars in Sudan’

Radio Dabanga reports on the insights presented by faction leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N El Hilu), Abdelaziz El Hilu at the University of Khartoum

El Hilu said:

-National identity is the primary cause of conflict in Sudan.

-Sudanese elites have not learned from past mistakes of insisting on coercive unity by “imposing” Arab-Islamic identity.

-The Darfur war is due to western Sudanese having different identity to central government in Khartoum.

-The proposed Constitutional Conference “merely represents the elite”

-Past peace talks and transitional administrations were wasted by elites.

-National unity is threatened by mass displacement, systematic persecution against specific groups, civil wars, lack of human rights, economic deteroriation and external interference.

-Self-determination and secularism remain primary obstacles during the current peace talks.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: UN Peacekeeping - UNAMID strongly condemns the looting of its former Headquarters in Nyala, South Darfur

29/12/2019: UN Peacekeeping - UNAMID strongly condemns the looting of its former Headquarters in Nyala, South Darfur

The UN-African Union Joint Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) called for the Sudanese government to take action to prevent further looting and vandalism, and conduct “appropriate” investigations, after UNAMID’s South Sector headquarters were allegedly looted by residents and “individuals in uniform.”

UNAMID handed over the Nyala camp to the government on 19 November 2019. UNAMID said it “particularly deplores” the participation of uniformed personnel in the looting of assets worth approximately $100 million. 

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Bloomberg – Sudan Freezes Decision to Lift Fuel Subsidies Until March 2020

28/12/2019: Bloomberg – Sudan Freezes Decision to Lift Fuel Subsidies Until March 2020, by Mohammed Alamin

Bloomberg reports that the transitional government will delay the gradual removal of fuel subsidies until at least the end of March, when an economic conference will be held to discuss the 2020 budget.

The suspension of the plan is to “enable more discussions with our people,” Information Minister Faisal Mohamed Salih said.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: BBC – Sudan after Bashir: 'The revolution is on the curriculum',

28/12/2019: BBC – Sudan after Bashir: 'The revolution is on the curriculum', by James Copnall

In a feature piece, the BBC explores changes in Sudan following the ousting of Omar al-Bashir.

Copnall reports that there is a “new openness in almost every conversation,” with criticism “freely and loudly expressed” and fear of the morality police disappearing.

However, a school teacher said that the revolution is not over until the military is completely gone.  Copnall also notes that many protesters reject the transitional government as a “bloodstained and totally unacceptable compromise.”