SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: AFP - Sudan Generals Face Off In Post-coup Power Struggle

16/3/2023: AFP - Sudan Generals Face Off In Post-coup Power Struggle, by Abdelmoneim Abu Idris Ali and Menna Zaki

AFP explore the “dangerous power struggle” between Sudanese army chief Abdulfattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia commander Himedti.

The Rift Valley Institute’s Magdi al-Gizouli said “al-Burhan wants the RSF to be integrated into the army in accordance with the rules and regulations within the army [whereas Himedti] seems to want restructuring of the top army command to take place first, so that he can be part of it before the integration."

Al-Gizouli added that the framework agreement was “a delaying tactic for al-Burhan” while Himedti sought "to improve his competitiveness" and bill himself as "an ally to the [Forces of Freedom and Change]”.

Analyst Kholood Khair said a recent initiative by Egypt has appeared to favour al-Burhan and "catalysed renewed tensions between the generals".

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Guardian - Protests in Sudan after alleged gang-rape of young woman by security forces

16/3/2022: Guardian - Protests in Sudan after alleged gang-rape of young woman by security forces, by Zeinab Mohammed Salih

The Guardian report that protests took place across in Sudan following the alleged gang-rape of an 18-year-old by up to nine uniformed men belonging to the security forces who were involved in dispersing the regular protests held across Sudan following the 25 October 2021 military coup.

Sulaima Ishaq, the head of the violence against women unit at Sudan’s social development ministry, said that security forces are “increasingly using this tactic – [sexual assault] - to decrease people’s movements on the streets. That is a well-known oppressive policy in our country … it is not the first time that they have been doing this and it will not be the last time.”

Ishaq added “We have a history of using women’s bodies, whether it is in Darfur or at the dispersal of the sit-in in 2019 or at the protests. The security apparatus use rape as part of their work”.

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Atlantic Council - Removing Sudan’s terrorism designation: Proceeding with caution

16/3/2020: Atlantic Council - Removing Sudan’s terrorism designation: Proceeding with caution, by Cameron Hudson

Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Cameron Hudson identifies US concerns that impede the lifting of Sudan’s State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) designation.

 Hudson suggests that the US is concerned that it may lose the leverage of the SST designation in deterring future bad behaviour, as it does not want to inadvertently empower the armed factions “it wants to see removed from the political scene.”

 According to Hudson, the case often cited by US officials is that of Myanmar, where sanctions were lifted in 2013, only for the military to begin a “genocide against the minority Muslim Rohingya community.”

 In addition, Hudson argues that Prime Minister Hamdok’s survival is crucial for US SST delisting, with the US cautious delisting might ensure that Hamdok “rapidly, and inadvertently, outlive his usefulness in the eyes of the security sector [who are believed to] not yet given up their designs on power.”