Sudan: RSF eradicating the Masalit from West Darfur

The EU stressed that Sudan's warring sides "have a duty to protect citizens". It said it was working with the International Criminal Court to document violations "to ensure accountability". Read more.

From The Barron's Daily
By AFP - Agence France Presse
Dated Sunday, 12 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

EU 'Appalled' By Reports 1,000 Killed In Darfur

The EU said Sunday it was "appalled" by reports of  more than 1,000 people killed this month in Sudan's West Darfur in an apparent "ethnic cleansing campaign"by the paramilitary  Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

"These latest atrocities are seemingly part of a wider ethnic cleansing campaign conducted by the RSF with the aim to eradicate the non-Arab Masalit community from West Darfur, and comes on top of the first wave of large violence in June," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

Since April, forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan -- Sudan's de facto head of state -- have been at war with the RSF commanded by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The European Union statement said there were "credible eyewitness reports (that) more than a thousand members of the Masalit community were killed in Ardamta, West Darfur, in just over two days, during major attacks carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its affiliated militias".

The toll was higher than a previous one of 800 given by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which said 100 shelters in a displaced persons' camp in Ardamta had been razed.

"What is happening is verging on pure evil," the UN humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, said Friday, citing reports of young girls being raped in front of their mothers.

She voiced fears of a repeat of the genocide campaign that gripped Darfur in the early 2000s.

The EU stressed that Sudan's warring sides "have a duty to protect citizens". It said it was working with the International Criminal Court to document violations "to ensure accountability".

"The international community cannot turn a blind eye on what is happening in Darfur and allow another genocide to happen in this region," it said.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the Sudan conflict so far, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project.

The war has displaced more than 4.8 million people within Sudan and has forced a further 1.2 million to flee into neighbouring countries, according to UN figures. rmb/bp 

The Barron's news department was not involved in the creation of the content above. This story was produced by AFP. For more information go to AFP.com. © Agence France-Presse

Source: https://www.barrons.com/news/eu-appalled-by-reports-1-000-killed-in-darfur-3b306234

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Sudan: EU supports removing Sudan from terror list - Provides €30m aid Sudan, S. Kordofan & Blue Nile

EU Spokesperson to Asharq Al-Awsat Says Supports Removing Sudan from Terror List

Report from Asharq Al-Awsat - aawsat.com

Dated Saturday 29 February 2020, 07:00

Photo: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. (Reuters)

The European Union will continue its efforts to remove Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, announced Virginie Battu-Henriksson, Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the European Commission

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat in Brussels, she said the EU welcomes recent progress between Washington and Khartoum in this regard.

She made her remarks hours ahead of an anticipated visit by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell to Khartoum.

Battu-Henriksson said Borrell will stress to Sudanese officials that the EU will continue to play an active role in supporting the political transition in Sudan as it pursues political and economic reform.

The EU will continue to stand by the Sudanese people as they work towards democracy, peace and stability, she added.

Borrell will travel to Sudan on Saturday. He will meet Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and the Chairman of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and bring a message of support to the civilian transition.

He will also meet in Khartoum with Foreign Ministers from member countries of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD).

On Sunday, Borrell will visit a camp for Internally Displaced People in Darfur.

In a visit to Brussels in November, Hamdok said Sudan does not sponsor terrorism, stressing the importance of cooperation with Europe in removing it from the US terror list.

He said this goal was a priority for the Sudanese government and that it can be achieved with European support.

View Original: https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2155316/eu-spokesperson-asharq-al-awsat-says-supports-removing-sudan-terror-list

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Sudan: European Union provides €30 million in humanitarian assistance

Article by European Union

Dated Sunday 01 March 2020 

Photo: Terminal Dr, Juba, South Sudan (Chetan Sharma, Unsplash)

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

The European Union provides €30 million in humanitarian funding for vulnerable people in Sudan to help address needs in the country.

The announcement comes as High Representative/Vice-President, Josep Borrell, visited EU aid projects in El Fasher, North Darfur, one of the conflict-affected areas in Sudan. “The European Union continues to stand in solidarity with the people in need in Sudan. Our humanitarian assistance notably helps children get access to education, which is crucial to build a better future. In time of crisis, it is fundamental that our humanitarian partners can fully exercise their lifesaving job. We welcome the recent positive steps taken by the Sudanese transitional government to ensure this.”

Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, said: “Helping those most in need is our priority. Our new aid package will provide food and nutritional assistance, shelter, emergency healthcare, access to clean water, and education for children caught in humanitarian crises.”

The EU is a leading humanitarian donor in Sudan. Since 2011 it has allocated almost €550 million in life-saving assistance to address various humanitarian needs in the country, largely destined for the Darfur states. 

The new funding will also support delivery of aid in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, areas that have been cut off from international assistance for years.

Background

More than 9 million people in Sudan are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance, with access to food remaining a major humanitarian concern. Nearly 2 million people in Sudan are still uprooted from their homes, while the country itself hosts over 1 million refugees who rely mostly on humanitarian aid for their survival. The EU complements its humanitarian funding with development assistance that helps communities build resilience to increase people’s access to social protection in the long-term.

The bulk of EU humanitarian aid in Sudan provides food assistance and nutritional care as many households struggle to afford enough food to meet their needs. The EU also contributes to treating and preventing malnutrition among children under 5 years of age, and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. Support for protection assistance remains also key, in particular for internally displaced people and refugees.

View Original:
https://europeansting.com/2020/03/01/sudan-european-union-provides-e30-million-in-humanitarian-assistance/

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European Union announces additional €100m for Sudan

Article from and by Sudan Tribune.com

Dated Sunday 01 March 2020

(KHARTOUM) - Josep Borrell, the new EU foreign policy chief, Saturday announced an additional €100 million support to Hamdok’s government to meet the most urgent needs for democratic transition in Sudan.

Photo: Josep Borrell new EU foreign policy chief (L) shakes hand with Sudanese premier Abdallah Hamdok on 29 Feb 2020 (ST photo)

Borrell who is in a two-day visit in Khartoum reiterated the European Union’s commitment to supporting the democratic and economic transition in Sudan which is a country of origin and transition for refugees and migrants moving to Europe.

Following his arrival to Khartoum, the Spanish diplomat met with the head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok to discuss ways political and economic they EU can provide to Sudan’s transitional institution

Following his meeting with Hamdok, he posted a tweet announcing an additional EUR 100 million packages of EU support for the transition and economic reform process.

In a separate statement, Jutta Urpilainen, the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships said the European assistance to Sudan aims at supporting economic reforms, economic opportunities for youth and women, and the peace process and democratic governance.

"This new package of financial assistance will help the Sudanese Government to implement critical economic reforms required to create jobs and expand the provision of public services across the country, and to provide an opportunity for the youth and women at the forefront of change in Sudan", said Urpilainen.

The additional €100 million will be given disbursed through the EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa’ (EUTF for Africa).

Through the same fund for Africa, the EU already provided a €7 million support to the office of the Prime Minister, €35 million to bolster the country’s social protection system.

Also, the EU allocated €60 million to fund development projects in Sudan for this 2020.

In October 2019, an EU delegation pledged that EU will give Sudan €200 million followed by €141 million at a later date. They also agreed to provide Sudan with €100 million and 25 million as humanitarian aid.

European diplomats have launched calls to remove Sudan from the U.S. terror list to allow the international financial institutions to support economic reforms in the East African country which ravaged by civil wars and corruption.

The visiting EU diplomat also held a meeting with the IGAD ministers to discuss the joint partnership with the region countries on migration and climate change.

The EU has already paid over €500 million for development programmes dealing with migration and forced displacement in the region.

View Original: https://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article69046