SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga – PM Hamdok: Need to restructure civil service and security apparatus

25/11/19: Radio Dabanga – PM Hamdok: Need to restructure civil service and security apparatus

 Radio Dabanga reports that Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok has stated that his working to restructure the state, both the civil service and the security apparatus, to develop a balanced foreign policy that will remove Sudan from the US lists of states sponsoring terrorism, and to achieve debt relief.

 Hamdok acknowledged the daily suffering faced by the people of Sudan because of high prices and the transport crisis, stressing the government is addressing that and wants to have a dialogue about this topic with all sectors of society.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Opposition forces: ‘Al Bashir must be tried both in Sudan and abroad’

25/11/19: Radio Dabanga - Opposition forces: ‘Al Bashir must be tried both in Sudan and abroad’

 Radio Dabanga reports that the Darfur Bar Association (DBA) says that the indictment of Omar al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court does not mean he cannot be tried in Sudanese courts for other crimes.

 The DBA stated that the purpose of handing over Al Bashir and other Sudanese officials to The Hague is not vengeance, but “to consolidate justice in society, and achieve punitive deterrence that prevents rulers from tampering with human blood”.

 The DBA also stressed that Darfuri community leaders who also committed serious crimes in tandem with al-Bashir must be held accountable, in order to “ensure the Rule of Law, and …achieve justice for the sake of the victims.”

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga - UN humanitarian chief: ‘More support for Sudan needed’

25/11/19: Radio Dabanga - UN humanitarian chief: ‘More support for Sudan needed’

 Radio Dabanga reports that UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock called on the international community to act faster to scale up humanitarian support to Sudan, following a two-day mission to Sudan.

 During meetings with the Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, members of the government and the Sovereign Council, Lowcock welcomed Sudan’s commitment to improve access for humanitarian organisations to reach people in need. He stated that reducing administrative procedures are crucial to facilitate movement for aid workers inside the country.

 During a visit to Kassala in eastern Sudan, Lowcock said “the economic crisis has a very direct impact on ordinary people’s lives, particularly for women and girls. They live in an area with ongoing dengue and malaria outbreaks, yet cannot afford to pay for medicines. And recurrent droughts and floods means that they cannot grow enough food.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Washington Post – Sudan is still waiting for justice. The world can’t look away

25/11/19: Washington Post – Sudan is still waiting for justice. The world can’t look away, by Mohamed Osman

 Mohamed Osman, a Sudanese human rights lawyer based in Germany, questions whether the June 3 massacre investigation committee has the expertise, legal powers and independence to function in line with basic international standards.

 Therefore, Osman calls for the international community – especially donor governments – to adopt human rights benchmarks in their dealings with Sudan’s transitional government.

 In addition, Osman also calls for the transitional government to revise the investigation committee’s mandate, ensure its independence, listen to the families’ concerns and seek international and regional expertise.