Sudan PM Hamdok sacks police chiefs after post-military takeover violence

Here is a copy of a news report by Agence France-Presse (AFP) dated Saturday 27 November 2021.

Sudan PM sacks police chiefs after post-military takeover violence

Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok said Saturday he has replaced Sudan's police chiefs after more than 40 people were killed in a crackdown on protests following last month's military takeover.

Military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power and detained Hamdok on October 25, but after international condemnation and mass protests he reinstated the premier in a November 21 deal.

Medics say at least 42 people were killed as security forces sought to crush weeks of anti-military takeover demonstrations, with protests continuing even after Hamdok's release from house arrest and return to his post last week.

On Saturday, Hamdok said he had sacked the director general of the police, Khaled Mahdi Ibrahim al-Emam, and his deputy, Ali Ibrahim.

In their place, he appointed Anan Hamed Mohamed Omar with Abdelrahman Nasreddine Abdallah as his deputy, the premier said in a statement.

Medics have accused security forces of targeting protesters in the "head, neck and torso" with live ammunition, as well as with rubber-coated bullets and tear gas canisters.

The police have denied reports they opened fire using live bullets.

In addition, hundreds of political activists, journalists, protesters and bystanders watching the rallies have been arrested in recent weeks, and remain in custody.

While several civilian leaders have been released since last Sunday's deal, key figures are also still in detention.

The deal raised hopes for some that Sudan will be able to return to its tenuous transition process.

But critics slammed the agreement as "whitewashing" the military takeover, with some protesters accusing Hamdok of "treason" by signing it.

Hamdok, who has headed a transitional government since the 2019 ouster of long-time autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir, said Wednesday he partnered with the military in order to "stop the bloodshed" and "not squander the gains of the last two years".

The deal he signed with Burhan lays down a "clear date" for Sudan's first free elections in three decades slated for July 2023, the premier said.

File Photo: Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok speaks during a session of the summit to support Sudan, May 17, 2021. AP

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Sudan frees several civilian leaders held since the military takeover

View original: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/443394.aspx

Sudan: UN train police and trainers in North Darfur

Article by African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)

Dated Thursday 05 September 2019 via APO

UN State Liaison Functions provide Human Rights training to Sudan Police in North Darfur

Photo: UN State Liaison Functions (SLFs) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in north Darfur, recently concluded two Human Rights training programmes held in north Darfur state capital, El Fasher.

The latest training course for 30 participants from Sudan Police Force (SPF), including 9 females, was held from 1-3 September with a focus on the application of Human Rights standards in investigations and prosecutions of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). The course was aimed at raising awareness between Sudan Police Force (SPF) and Prosecutors on each department’s role in the application of Human Rights Standards.

Another Training of Trainers (ToT) course was held from 18 to 29 August for 34 participants, aimed at creating awareness and providing background information on the different theories, practices and knowledge on international human rights standards and directives relevant to police operations.

In her remarks at the closing ceremony for the August event, the Officer-in-Charge of the SLFs in north Darfur, Heidi Van Heerden, highlighted the need to build the capacity and professionalize the SPF for them to be able to discharge their duties and prepare them to take over policing duties from UNAMID as the Mission prepares to exit from the region at the end of June 2020. “UNAMID is encouraging all participants to share its passion of striving to make Darfur a safer, secure and more harmonious place for all by applying the knowledge and skills they have acquired in these training programmes in their daily work routine,” Ms. Van Heerden said.

UNDP representative, Ibrahim Khirdin, noted that these training programmes are geared towards consolidating peace in Darfur. “I believe that the participants from both courses are now fully capacitated to deliver training to their colleagues”, he added.

In his address, Sudan Police Force Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Brigadier Abdulellah Ali Ahmad, urged all participants, certified by UNAMID/SPF, to make these institutions proud by delivering the same training to their colleagues.

UNAMID Police, in partnership with the UN Country Team in Sudan, is conducting these Training of Trainers workshops for Sudan Police Force to ensure the sustainability of knowledge and skills transfer to SPF as part of the Mission’s transition plan implementation and to facilitate a seamless handover of policing responsibilities to local police by the end of June 2020.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

SOURCE: https://www.africanews.com/2019/09/05/un-state-liaison-functions-provide-human-rights-training-to-sudan-police-in-north-darfur/

Sudan: UNDP UNAMID train 615 police from NDarfur

Article from and by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Dated August 29, 2019

Strengthening police service systems to stabilize Darfur

UNDP and UNAMID jointly delivered a series of Training of Trainers workshops on Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws for 615 Sudanese police officers who were selected from different locations in North Darfur.

UNDP and UNAMID create pool of police trainers to manage public security in line with human rights and humanitarian principles

“I learnt how to respond to public disorder without the use of lethal force. I also learnt new anti-riot platoon formations. I am now in a better position to deliver trainings on public order management to my colleagues”, says Warrant Officer Mubarak Baher Jamal, from the Sudan Police Force in Darfur who was one of the participants of the 10-day Training of Trainers (ToT programme that provided GoS police officers with specialized tools and competencies to effectively use policing measures with respect to freedom of assembly, human rights and humanitarian principles. The training programme taught him something very significant in the current context of Sudan, “the importance of responding to public crowds without resorting to violence”, he said.

Through a series of Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes held between January to June 2019, 615 GoS police officers in Darfur have been trained in eight specialized areas of policing: human rights and humanitarian law, crisis management, public order management, criminal investigation, crime scene management, protection of civilians, family and child protection and community policing.

The TOT programmes have been implemented in response to the aspirations of the people of Darfur for peace by UNDP and UNAMID who joined their efforts under the State Liaison Functions (SLF) project to implement a sustainable environment for protecting civilians and local communities across Darfur. This is mainly ensured through addressing insecurity as well as impunity which are among the root causes of instability in Darfur.

The capacity building programme is an opportunity to create appropriate conditions for the return of IDPs and prevent new conflicts and violence. The pool of 615 GoS Police Officers representing the police champions of Darfur should perform their responsibilities with guarantee of human rights. Supporting this transition towards sustainable development is crucial for Darfur to support stabilization and peace in Sudan.

Thanks to a strong cooperation with Sudan Police Force (SPF), an ambitious capacity building programme for Government of Sudan (GoS) police officers was designed for a period of 6 months (January-June 2019). The programme has strengthened the professional capacity of the police to uphold the rule of law in light of the planned withdrawal of UNAMID in Darfur. This is particularly important in areas with large internally displaced persons (IDPs) or in areas prone to conflict.

Reflecting on the benefits gained from the Family and Child Protection ToT course, Isra’a Mahmoud Adam, a media officer at SPA, appreciated the knowledge she gained from the course in how to handle cases of sexual violence.  “My knowledge on how to investigate Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) matters has been increased. I have learnt how to provide support to victims of SGBV in the execution of my duties. The topic that interested me the most was the one about providing psychological support to victims of SBGV. I hope to share my knowledge and experience gained with not only my colleagues but other members of the community who may need such support”, she said.

Technical training in areas like criminal investigation also yielded benefits to the trainees. Staff Sergeant Yousef Hameda said that the training he received on Crime Scene Investigation taught him “how to collect and preserve evidence in a more professional manner”. Suad Adam – Supervisor of the police participants, and also the Coordination and Liaison Officer at SPF in North Darfur, said that the feedback she received from her subordinates on the program was “very positive”. She emphasized the relevance of the ToT courses saying they “resonate with what is presently happening on the ground”.

According to other police officers who attended the capacity building programme, the benefits they received in terms of bolstering their knowledge of human rights have been tremendous. They also said the programme gave them the ability to impart the knowledge they gained to their peers in the police force. “This course has enhanced my understanding of internationally accepted Human Rights principles. It has also shaped my understanding of how to respond and report Human Rights abuses and violations in IDPs camps,” said Sargant Sa’deah Yousef Abdullah, a female Social Service Provider at SPF. “I hope to share the knowledge I acquired in the training with my colleagues”, she added.

The capacity building programme is an opportunity to create appropriate conditions for the return of IDPs and prevent new conflicts and violence. The pool of 615 GoS Police Officers representing the police champions of Darfur should perform their responsibilities with guarantee of human rights. Supporting this transition towards sustainable development is crucial for Darfur to support stabilization and peace in Sudan.

SOURCE:  http://www.sd.undp.org/content/sudan/en/home/presscenter/articles/2019/Strengthening-police-service-systems-to-stabilize-Darfur.html