SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Who made it into Sudan’s framework agreement?

30/12/2022: Sudan Tribune - Who made it into Sudan’s framework agreement?

Sudan Tribune report on the divides between factions of the Forces of Freedom and Change coalition over the framework agreement, noting that it was signed by the Central Council (FFC-CC) but rejected by the pro-coup Democratic Block (FFC-DB).

FFC-CC official Ja’afar Hassan said dialogue with FFC-DB members, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Minni Minnawi and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by finance minister Jibril Ibrahim, was “continuing because we are aware of the importance of their presence” as armed groups who signed the Juba peace agreement.

However, Sudan Tribune note, Minnawi alleges that a transitional civilian government excludes his group from participating in the next government as it lacks civilians and technocrats.

FFC-CC official Shihab al-Tayyib said pro-coup figures such as Mubarak Ardol, the Secretary-General of the pro-coup National Consensus Forces (NCF), and Mubarak al-Fadil, the head of a Umma Party faction, are unwelcome.

SUDAN POLITICAL ALERT: UNAMID – United Nations - African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur

30/12/2020: UNAMID – United Nations - African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur

In a press release announcing the end of its peacekeeping mission in Darfur, UNAMID state that the drawdown will be undertaken in a phased manner across six months.

The Sudanese government will “fully assume its primary role” in supporting the peace process, protecting civilians, including facilitation of delivery of humanitarian assistance and supporting the mediation of intercommunal conflicts.

UNAMID conclude that UNITAMS and the United Nations Country Team will continue to support the Government of Sudan in addressing its multiple challenges related to security, political and economic challenges.  

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Sudan’s Religious Affairs Ministry to be probed for corruption

30/12/2019: Radio Dabanga - Sudan’s Religious Affairs Ministry to be probed for corruption

Radio Dabanga reports that Sudan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Nasreldin Mofreh, has announced that the Public Prosecutor will establish a special team to investigate corruption cases in his Ministry.

The departments dealing with endowments and with the Haj and Omra (pilgrimages to Mecca) will be subject to specific scrutiny.

He reported that corruption has been detected in contracts of up to 117 endowments. “We have found an infringement concerning two buildings in Saudi Arabia, in addition to theft of the contents of a building that was being exploited by the Sudanese Consulate in Jeddah.”

The Minister acknowledged the existence of fraud in the Haj and Omra administration: “Six ambulances disappeared during the hand-over process last year,” he said.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters – Sudan to deploy troops to West Darfur after deadly unrest

30/12/2019: Reuters – Sudan to deploy troops to West Darfur after deadly unrest

Reuters reports that Sudanese authorities said they would deploy military forces to West Darfur and suspend peace talks with rebel groups after an outbreak of deadly violence around el-Geneina.

A resident from el-Geneina told Reuters that the violence flared after a soldier from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was stabbed to death with two of his relatives in apparent retaliation for incidents in which locals had been hit by cars.

Arab groups responded to the soldier’s death by raiding camps for internally displaced people near el-Geneina, killing people and livestock both in el-Geneina and the camps, the resident said. A second resident confirmed the revenge attacks.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - Sudan sentences 29 Intelligence officers to death for teacher’s killing

30/12/2019: Multiple sources - Sudan sentences 29 Intelligence officers to death for teacher’s killing

• New York Times, by Abdi Latif Dahir

• BBC

• Reuters, by Ali Mirghani

• AP

A Sudanese court has sentenced 29 intelligence officers to death for the torture and killing of Ahmad al-Khair, 36, who was beaten and tortured to death by the officers at a detention centre in the eastern state of Kassala in February following his arrest for taking part in protests against then President Omar al-Bashir's government.

The killing sparked widespread protests.

The prosecution said the death sentences were a just punishment. After the sentencing, the judge asked al-Khair's brother, Sa'd, whether he wanted the 29 men to be pardoned – but he said he wanted them to be executed instead.

Itimad al-Mujamar, a representative of the Sudanese teacher’s union, said at a news conference on Monday that the convictions were “a win for justice.”

The ruling, he said, “sends a message to the other martyrs of the revolution and their families that we are intent on getting our lost rights back.”