Sunday, June 23, 2019

TMC VP Hemeti's Janjaweed killed and burned in Darfur, Sudan. Now Darfur has come to Khartoum

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Here is another interesting article from The New York Times by Declan Walsh 16 June 2019. Yellow highlighting is mine, for future reference.

Sudan Ousted a Brutal Dictator. His Successor Was His Enforcer.

Photo: Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, also known as Hemeti, the leader of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries that carried out the violent dispersal of protesters on June 3. Credit Declan Walsh/The New York Times

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Once a camel trader who led a militia accused of genocidal violence in Darfur, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan now sits at the pinnacle of power in Sudan, overlooking the scorched streets from his wood-paneled office high up in the military’s towering headquarters.

From his office in the capital, Khartoum, he can see the site where his unit, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, cleared thousands of pro-democracy protesters in a storm of violence that began on June 3.

The heavily armed troops burned tents, raped women and killed dozens of people, some dumped in the Nile, according to numerous accounts from protesters and witnesses.

The blood bath consolidated the vertiginous rise of General Hamdan, widely known as Hemeti, who by most reckonings is now the de facto ruler of Sudan. To many Sudanese he is proof of a depressing reality: Although they ousted one dictator in April, the brutal system he left behind is determined to guard its power.

“We thought this might happen,” said Alaa Salah, 22, the woman dressed in white who led chants from atop a car and brought the world’s attention to Sudan’s revolution. “For years Hemeti killed and burned in Darfur. Now Darfur has come to Khartoum.”
Photo: Alaa Salah during a protest against then-President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan in April. Credit Lana H. Haroun

For years, General Hamdan was an enforcer for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the brutal dictator who led Sudan for 30 years. When protesters filled the streets in April, roaring for Mr. al-Bashir’s ouster, the military toppled him.

General Hamdan, claiming to support the revolution, abandoned his patron.

But when the protesters refused to disperse, demanding an immediate transition to civilian rule, the generals refused to budge. With power-sharing talks stalled on June 3, the Rapid Support Forces began their crackdown.

Sudanese doctors put the toll at 118 dead.

With international pressure building, General Hamdan, 45, wants to present himself as Sudan’s savior, not its destroyer.

“If I did not come to this position, the country would be lost,” he told The New York Times in a rare interview with a Western journalist.

But he declined to answer direct questions about accusations that his troops committed atrocities, citing a continuing investigation that, he said, will publicize its findings in the coming days.

“I’m not escaping the questions,” he said. “I’m just waiting for the investigation.”

As he spoke on Thursday, a newly appointed American envoy to Sudan was arriving in Khartoum to press the military to stop attacking civilians.

A day earlier, the United Nations Security Council formally condemned the violence.

The American envoy, Donald Booth, a former ambassador to Sudan, also called for an independent investigation into the June 3 killings, a military withdrawal from Khartoum and an end to the internet blackout that has severed Sudan’s links to the outside world.

General Hamdan, for his part, said his troops had been goaded into action by what he called “unspeakable provocations.”

“One protester pulled out this,” he said, pointing to his crotch, “and waved it at our soldiers. Our vehicle was torn apart in front of us, and they filmed it live. There were many provocations.”

A lanky man with a primary school education, four wives and no formal military training, General Hamdan is enjoying the trappings of his new position.
Photo: Most of the Sudanese fighters in Yemen belong to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, a tribal militia previously known as the Janjaweed. Credit Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

At his office in the military headquarters, courtiers, advisers and waiters swarmed around him. Golden swords and military medals, awarded to past military leaders, filled the cabinet outside his door.

His fighters lounged in khaki-colored battle wagons at the gates, showing off the weaponry that underpins his authority. Some cleared piles of paving stones from the deserted streets outside, effacing the traces of the exuberant protest that a few short weeks ago enraptured the country.

Sudan is formally under the rule of Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, an older army officer who heads the Military Transitional Council that seized power from Mr. al-Bashir on April 11. But few doubt that, with Khartoum in his grip, General Hamdan is the true power.

Since the rampage on June 3, angry residents have started to refer to General Hamdan’s men as “the Janjaweed,” after the notorious Arab militias that terrorized ethnic African communities in Darfur in the 2000s. The term offends General Hamdan, who rose to prominence by commanding one such militia.

“Janjaweed means a bandit who robs you on the road,” he said. “It’s just propaganda from the opposition.”

It’s certainly true that, under his control, the Rapid Support Forces has evolved into far more than a gun-toting rabble.

With 50,000 fighters by some estimates, the force has been deployed to quash insurgencies across Sudan and to fight for pay in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition.

War has made General Hamdan rich, with interests in gold mining, construction and even a limousine hire company. His patrons include Mohammed bin Salman, the hawkish crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
Photo: An activist speaking to a crowd at the site of the sit-in in front of Sudan’s military headquarters in April. Credit Bryan Denton for The New York Times

Longstanding fears about the dominance of his group, which Mr. al-Bashir groomed for years as a sort of praetorian force, are being realized.

“Army generals and Darfur Arab leaders had repeatedly warned the Bashir regime that the militias were a time bomb,” said Jérôme Tubiana, a researcher and journalist who has covered conflicts in Chad and Sudan for more than 20 years. “Now here we are, and it may be too late to step back.”

For now, the Rapid Support Forces watch over Khartoum like hawks. 

Armed pickup trucks sit on intersections and bridges, or snarl the sandy streets with long convoys manned by fighters brandishing sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

Others work from offices. At a five-story villa in the upscale neighborhood of al-Manshiya on the banks of the Blue Nile, uniformed officers sit in air-conditioned offices with computers and printers.

On every floor, the elevator opens to large posters that show a smiling General Hamdan embracing the poor, opening schools or meeting tribal leaders. Surveillance cameras dot the ceilings.

Faced with a barrage of international condemnation, those officers are trying to shape an explanation for the violence on June 3, portraying the raid as a moral crusade against degenerate, armed pro-democracy protesters.

In one office, Gen. Nooreldeen Ahmed, a former Sudanese diplomat, heads the force’s human rights unit. A timetable of lectures on human rights for soldiers sat on his desk. A sign on the office next door read: “Child Protection Unit.”

In the past, the Rapid Support Forces have faced accusations of recruiting child soldiers to fight in Yemen. General Ahmed dismissed such claims and accounts of atrocities by soldiers during the June 3 operation as “fake news.”
Photo: A soldier passes by revolutionary graffiti at the now-empty protest site. Credit Declan Walsh/The New York Times

Their purported proof was available downstairs, where an intelligence officer piled items that he said were confiscated from protesters onto a table: a sword, an old pistol, batons, half-empty bottles of Sudanese moonshine, hashish and a fistful of condoms.

He then summoned five barefoot men in dirty clothes and with downcast eyes to the room — a few of the 300 people they said they had arrested. He did not permit questions.

Sudanese news channels, now under strict military control, pump out a stream of such propaganda every day. Protesters, who relied on the internet to mobilize opinion against Mr. al-Bashir, say they have videos and images that document army killings and beatings. But with the internet shut down, they cannot distribute them.

Dr. Sulaima Sharif, head of the Ahfad Trauma Center in Khartoum, said her staff has treated dozens of traumatized women who were beaten or abused by the Support Forces this month. At least 15 said they had been raped, she said, and many more had been beaten on the genitals by stick-wielding soldiers while in military detention.

The true number of rape victims is likely much higher, she added, because of stigma and cultural sensitivities.

Like many strongmen, General Hamdan claims his ominous reputation is overblown. “People say Hemeti is too powerful and evil,” he said. “But it’s just scaremongering. My power comes from the Sudanese people.”

Still, there are signs that his dominance of Khartoum has stoked resentment and anger inside the regular army, where some officers view him as an impudent upstart.

Those tensions exploded into the open on Thursday, when a spokesman for the Transitional Military Council said it had foiled an apparent takeover plot led by army officers this past week. But dislodging General Hamdan would be difficult, requiring the army to start a civil war on the streets of Khartoum, said a Western official in Khartoum who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the military situation. That seems unlikely for now, he said.

At the top ranks, generals of all stripes are joined by powerful, shared economic interests.

Under Mr. al-Bashir, General Hamdan and the army generals became business tycoons who cornered entire sections of the economy, said Suliman Baldo of the Enough Project, which seeks to end atrocities in African conflict zones.

“This is not just about power; it’s about money,” he said. “Army commanders and Hemeti are up to their necks in corrupt proceeds — that’s why they have zero tolerance for civilian rule in Sudan.”

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VIDEO: RSF leader and TMC VP, Hemeti threatens dismissal of anyone who participates in a general strike and civil disobedience

 HERE is a tweet, posted with a film clip, by Sudanese Translators for Change STC at its Twitter page @SudaneseTc [ https://twitter.com/SudaneseTc ]. If the film footage is genuine, it shows how Hemeti speaks and dictates to crowds. Note, Hemeti is also known as Hemedti or Himedti.
SOURCE: "Sudanese Translators for Change STC @SudaneseTc [ https://twitter.com/SudaneseTc ] "A body of professional activists on the ground and in the diaspora dedicated to transmitting the latest updates on Sudan. Email us at: sudanesetc@gmail.com"
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VIDEO: Himetti, leader of Janjaweed militia -  
HERE is a copy of a tweet, posted with a film clip with English subtitles of a speech showing, quote:
Himetti, leader of janjaweed militia: 
-Thanking countries Saudi, UAE and Egypt
-Has 30K soldiers in Yemen (Using children /reports) 
-"Protecting" europe, arresting millions of illegal migrants in Sudan (referring to Kh process)
 
The tweet, date stamped 23 June 2019, claims to be by Ali Salih @00AliSalah [ https://twitter.com/00AliSalah ] whose Twitter page bio says: Through chaos as it swirls.. | part-time freedom fighter amid the meaninglessness. حرية | سلام | عدالة
Location Khartoum
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ali.salah.ds
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Saturday, June 22, 2019

UK Ambassador in Khartoum Irfan Siddiq confirms internet has been out in Sudan since 03 June 2019

THE internet has been shutdown in Sudan since 3 June 2019. The shutdown by the Transitional Military Council (TMC) in Sudan is costing people and businesses millions of dollars, according to local newspapers.

Unusually, this site Sudan Watch has not received any visitors located in or around Sudan and South Sudan since 3 June.

Here is a copy of a 5 June 2019 tweet by Mr Irfan Siddiq, the British Ambassador in Khartoum, Sudan confirming the internet has been out in Sudan since 3 June:
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Letter from Sudan

As part of the BBC’s series of letters from African journalists, journalist Ms Zeinab Mohammed Salih describes what life is like without the internet for Sudan's revolutionaries. 

Here is a copy of Zeinab's letter published at BBC News online on 17 June 2019, followed by film footage showing BBC Africa editor Mr Fergal Keane in Sudan's capital Khartoum speaking to some people who witnessed the terrible violence in Khartoum. 

Sudan's revolutionaries offline but not silenced
By Zeinab Mohammed Salih (pictured)
Many Sudanese are still in shock after the crackdown by security forces who brutally broke up the crowds at the sit-in outside the military headquarters on 3 June.

The opposition says more than 100 people were killed in the capital, Khartoum, that day - and doctors say 40 of those who died were dumped into the River Nile.

In the wake of the massacre the internet was shut down by ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC), which said it was necessary in the interests of "national security".

In the heady days of the mass protests that prompted the military's ousting of Omar al-Bashir as president - nearly everyone in Khartoum was glued to their phone.

The main body organising the demonstrations - the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) - would make its announcement via its Facebook page, which has more than 800,000 followers.

Thousands used Twitter and Facebook to galvanise their efforts to demand a return to civilian rule.
Image copyright AFP/BBC

Now that the sit-in site - which covered a vast area from the military's HQ to the campus of University of Khartoum and north to the River Nile - is in ashes, there is an overwhelming feeling of isolation.

Not only are the demonstrators no longer able to gather, but they have found it difficult to communicate and share their disappointment, frustration and anger at the turn of events.

'Costing millions'

It also leaves them isolated from the rest of the world - and in the days after the crackdown those in the diaspora were desperate to contact friends and family.

The internet shutdown is costing businesses millions of dollars, according to the local newspapers, something the country can ill afford given that it was the economic problems that first kick-started the protests in December.

For me as a journalist, it has made my working life very difficult. At first I had to send stories to London via text - and these would not always be delivered.

This was until a friend told me about a hotel in downtown Khartoum with a good landline internet connection.

But reaching the hotel is also not easy.

Most roads in Khartoum have been blocked by barricades erected by activists angered by the killings - and people, especially in the first days after the crackdown, had to walk everywhere.

Eerily this was done in complete silence - and in stark contrast to the noise that emanated for two months from the sit-in site.

A few offices also have landline internet connections and my sister walked for three hours to get to hers in Khartoum east to check an urgent email from a US university where she is hoping to study.

Those forced to walk have been seen carrying knives and sticks, especially in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, to protect themselves.

The SPA has now started to send out text messages to mobilise people but not everyone is signed up to these - I have yet to receive any - and some fear that texts are tracked by the authorities.

Most people prefer to turn to old-fashioned phone calls to pass on information.

I have spoken to more friends and contacts in the last few weeks than I have done in a year.

There is still a worry that these conversations may be tracked but it is felt that not everything can be monitored.

Word of mouth

Without the internet, many pro-democracy activists are also cut off from news that they trust.
Image copyright AFP/BBC. Image caption: There is tight security in some areas of the capital

State TV is largely ignored as it the mouthpiece of the military junta.

The Saudi channel Al-Hadath is probably the most watched television station - even though the Saudis are seen as backers of the TMC, it has wide coverage of events in Sudan

And the protest movement is slowly re-galvanising itself - by word of mouth.

Protests are beginning to be held at night in suburbs across the capital and in neighbouring cities.

As more people hear about them, the bigger they become - though witnesses say they are kept to smaller streets because of the presence of the security forces on the main roads.

Nonetheless it shows the resilience of the demonstrators - and their hope that their demands will eventually bear fruit.
Media caption
The BBC's Africa editor Mr Fergal Keane spoke to some of those who witnessed the violence in Khartoum.

To read the original article click here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-48640939
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Friday, June 21, 2019

UK advises against all travel to South Sudan: "If you're in South Sudan, you should leave if it's safe to do so"

The UK Government Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to South Sudan: "If you’re in South Sudan, you should leave if it’s safe to do so". Here is a copy of the advice published at the website UK GOV.

The Government of the United Kingdom 
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 
Website www.gov.uk

Foreign travel advice
South Sudan

Summary

Still current at: 21 June 2019
Updated: 10 May 2019
Latest update: Summary - removal of information on scheduled formation of a new government on 12 May 2019

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to South Sudan. If you’re in South Sudan, you should leave if it’s safe to do so.

There are daily reports of fighting between armed groups across the country, and regular reports of serious criminality in Juba. There’s no official government curfew in Juba, but the British Embassy and most international organisations observe a self-imposed curfew, the timing of which changes in response to the situation.

Juba Airport is open and commercial flights are operating, but you should check flight schedules with airlines before travelling to the airport. Timings are subject to change at short notice. You should make sure you have a valid visa before travelling.

Consular support is severely limited in South Sudan. The British Embassy in Juba does not have a consular section. If you are in South Sudan and need urgent help from the UK Government, contact the British High Commission in Nairobi.

If you choose to remain you should monitor this travel advice, subscribe to email alerts for updates, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

You should be vigilant of the local security situation, monitor the local media, and stay in a safe location. Most international organisations in South Sudan employ a security manager to monitor the situation and keep employees safe.

You should make sure you have comprehensive contingency plans that don’t rely on support from the Embassy, including a stock of essential supplies and up-to-date travel documents and visas. If you’re concerned about your safety, you should contact the FCO on +44 207 008 1500.

Further deterioration in the security situation remains a real possibility, and could be prompted by a number of factors including developments in the fragile economy and the ongoing peace process. In the event of a serious deterioration, similar to those of July 2016 and December 2013, routes in and out of South Sudan may be blocked, Juba airport may be closed or inaccessible, and flights may be suspended at short notice. Regional developments may also increase the unpredictability of infrastructure and transport, as happened recently when events in Sudan led to the temporary closure of South Sudan’s airspace. The main road connecting Juba to Uganda is extremely dangerous, with regular reports of car crashes and attacks on vehicles by armed groups.

Terrorist attacks in South Sudan can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism

Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

Safety and security

Crime

The security situation across South Sudan remains volatile with fighting escalating recently in parts of the country. Weapons are plentiful and easily obtained in South Sudan and criminals are often armed. Many armed men who are without jobs or have not been paid are resorting to criminality. Drive-by thefts by individuals or groups on motorbikes have been reported.
South Sudan is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for aid workers; over 100 have been killed since the conflict began in 2013, and there have been other violent incidents including arbitrary detentions and kidnappings, although these have mostly affected South Sudanese or regional nationals. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to South Sudan, however if you decide to travel, you should make sure you have carefully considered the threat and have reasonable, proportionate mitigation measures in place.

Local travel

During the rainy season (June to October/November) most roads outside of Juba become impassable, and some parts of the country can become inaccessible.

There are daily reports of fighting between armed groups across the country. Criminal attacks have taken place on the main Juba-Nimule road, which is one of the main supply routes from Uganda into South Sudan. There are mined areas and unexploded ordnance in parts of the country, including in and around Juba.

If you’re currently in South Sudan you should exercise your own judgment, based on your knowledge of the local situation, media reporting, or advice from the UN. Our advice is that you should leave South Sudan immediately if it’s safe to do so.

Our ability to provide assistance outside Juba is severely limited. If you’re concerned about your safety, you should contact the FCO on +44 207 008 1500 or by email at crisis@fco.gsi.gov.uk.

Road travel

Driving conditions and standards in South Sudan are well below those in the UK and other European countries. Very few roads are surfaced and maintained. Residential areas usually have dirt roads. At night, there is almost no street lighting and many vehicles have no lights. Roads are used by pedestrians, donkey-carts and rickshaw-style cabs, as well as motor vehicles. Checkpoints, manned by armed men, demanding money from drivers and passengers are common, particularly after dark.

There is a high risk of being involved in a traffic accident when using public transport, as many vehicles are unsafe. There are many car crashes on the main road from Juba to Uganda, especially near the border, where drivers switch from driving on one side of the road to the other (in South Sudan they drive on the right).

Although drivers should have a licence and insurance, many don’t have these. Make sure you have adequate insurance.

Air travel

You can find a list of incidents and accidents on the website of the Aviation Safety network. An internal flight by a South Sudanese airline crashed in March 2017, although there were no fatalities.

The FCO can’t offer advice on the safety of every individual airline, but the International Air Transport Association publishes a list of registered airlines that have been audited and found to meet a number of operational safety standards and recommended practices.

This list isn’t exhaustive and the absence of an airline from this list doesn’t necessarily mean that it is unsafe.

Political situation

Following the July 2016 crisis, when fighting broke out and the First Vice President was forced to flee the country, the political and security situation has remained volatile. Interlinked national and local level conflicts continue to drive a dire humanitarian situation across the country.

If you choose to remain in the country, you should follow political developments closely, and observe any curfews in place. In the event of civil disorder, stay at home and restrict your movements as much as possible, especially after dark. Avoid public gatherings, political rallies and protests.

There are credible reports of border incursions and engagements involving armed actors along all of South Sudan’s frontiers, and you should exercise extreme caution in the country’s border areas. A US journalist was killed in August 2017 near the town of Kaya close to the Ugandan border during a gunfight between government forces and armed rebels.

Economic situation

The economy remains in decline, which has led armed men to turn to criminality, including in Juba. Extortion at checkpoints by armed men, particularly after dark, is common. South Sudan is an extremely difficult environment for businesses and non-government organisations (NGOs) to operate in. A British national was killed on a NGO compound in February 2015 and foreign nationals have been subject to harassment, sexual assault, and crime.

Terrorism

Terrorist attacks in South Sudan can’t be ruled out. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.

The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.

There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by conflicts in Iraq , Libya, Somalia and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.

Find out more about the global threat from terrorism, how to minimise your risk and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.

Local laws and customs

You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially if you intend to visit religious areas.

Carry a form of photo identification with you at all times, including colour copies to hand over to immigration or traffic police if required.

There are severe penalties for drug trafficking in South Sudan.

All photography including on a camera phone requires a formal permit from the Ministry of Information. Don’t take photographs close to government buildings, military installations, public utilities (including petrol stations), and other sensitive areas (bridges, airports). Many plain clothes public security officers operate across South Sudan. Two foreign nationals were followed, harassed and arrested by the authorities in Juba after photographing a petrol station.

A number of British nationals have been arrested over commercial disputes, even where the individual has no direct link to the ongoing dispute. Some others have been approached with fraudulent commercial scams. There have been credible reports of increased harassment, temporary detention and expulsion of foreign nationals including NGO staff and journalists entering and leaving Juba airport by South Sudan security services linked to visa and work permit issues. You should exercise caution at all times.

Society is socially conservative. Homosexuality and extra marital relations are not culturally accepted.

Natural disasters

South Sudan suffers from both drought and flash flooding, which can make some parts of the country inaccessible by road.

Money

Credit/debit cards aren’t widely accepted and very few businesses will accept travellers’ cheques. It’s very difficult to get cash against credit cards at banks or to use them in shops and restaurants. Make sure you have enough cash in US Dollars (clean, unblemished notes dated 2009 onwards). Juba is comparatively expensive; one night’s accommodation in an international standard hotel can be up to $200 and vehicle rental can be from $150 per day.

Travel advice help and support

If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. If you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad, contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London on 020 7008 1500 (24 hours).

To read further about Entry requirements, Health, Foreign travel checklist, Travel safety, Further help, click here for a print copy of the entire report:
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LATEST BBC NEWS: Arabic TV satellite frequencies, Shortwave English radio, Arabic and Persian News TV Radio Podcasts Twitter, World Service, Pidgin Africa

BBC Arabic TV is on these satellite frequencies for Mid East and Africa:

Hot Bird 13B 11727 V / 27500 / 3/4
Hot Bird 13D 11117 V / 27500 / 3/4
Badr 4 11996 H / 27500 / 3/4
Nilesat 102 12207 V / 27500 / 3/4




On the web BBC Arabic and Persian News TV Radio Podcasts Twitter, World Service Africa Podcast, Pidgin, click here:

Internet BBC Arabic News TV Radio
Twitter BBC Arabic @BBCArabic
Internet BBC Persian News TV Radio
Twitter BBC Persian @bbcpersian

Internet BBC World Service Africa Podcast

Internet BBC NEWS Pidgin Minute
The links above are now listed in the sidebar here at Sudan Watch.
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Sudan: Arab or African? Sudan belongs to both the African Union and Arab League. "We're all Africans, we're all black - talk of Arabs killing blacks is a lie"

Arab League chief urges settlement of Sudan crisis without foreign intervention
CAIRO, June 16 2019 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit urged Sudanese parties on Sunday [16 June] to find solutions to the ongoing crisis "away from foreign interventions or dictations," the Cairo-based pan-Arab body said in a statement. 

Aboul-Gheit's remarks came following his visit to Khartoum and his talks with concerned parties in Sudan including General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, head of the temporarily ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and leaders of the Forces for Freedom and Change. 

"The AL will be side by side with all the people of Sudan to overcome the current challenges, urging them to maintain dialogue and return to the table of negotiations to reach vast national consensus," the AL chief reaffirmed during his meetings in the Sudanese capital.

He added that the continuous chaos in Sudan could open the door for foreign interventions, mediations and attempts to affect the course of affairs in the country.

"This requires the AL to be strongly present in the Sudanese scene to help the people of Sudan overcome the current difficulties," Aboul-Gheit pointed out, according to the statement.

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Further Reading

From Sudan Watch archive - Feb 24, 2007:
"We're all Africans, we're all black - talk of Arabs killing blacks is a lie" 
-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Khartoum Sudan 2007
To read more click here:

From Sudan Watch archive - Dec 05, 2010:
Sudan: Arab or African? (The Debate Continues)
Ingrid @ Sudan Watch asked the following question:
Since Sudan belongs to both the African Union and Arab League, I wonder if Sudanese women see Sudan as an African or Arab country. …
To read more click here:

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Thursday, June 20, 2019

EU supports AU call for civilian-led transitional authority in Sudan in cooperation with IGAD Chair

  • The European Union (EU) supports the leadership role of the African Union (AU) and the mediation efforts led by the AU envoy to help to move the political transition process forward in Sudan, in cooperation with Ethiopia, IGAD* Chair.
  • The EU commends the decision of the AU’s Peace and Security Council to suspend Sudan from participation in all AU activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led transition authority, including the announcement that AU punitive measures would be applied if transition to such an authority is obstructed.
  • A civilian-led transitional authority is the only partner with which EU Sudan relations can be normalised. 
  • Full story here below in an EU Press Release dated June 17, 2019. (Note from Sudan Watch Editor: Yellow highlighting is mine)
  • 68th Extra-Ordinary Session of #IGAD Council of Ministers in #AddisAbaba 19 June 2019 to discuss situation in #Sudan and status of peace process in #SouthSudan. Details to follow at a later date.
  • *The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was created in 1996 to succeed the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development that was founded in 1986 to deal with issues related to drought and desertification in the Horn Africa. 
    For more information on IGAD click here: https://igad.int/about-us/what-we-do

European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council statement
Press Release - June 17, 2019
The EU firmly condemns the violent attacks in Sudan on 3 June 2019, which resulted in the killing and injuring of many peaceful civilian protesters, as well as sexual and gender-based violence
KHARTOUM, Sudan, June 17, 2019 - The Council today discussed the situation in Sudan and adopted the following statement:

Over the past six months the people of Sudan, with the strong participation of women and youth, have clearly and bravely demanded a new path for their country, one of democracy, political plurality, security and prosperity. This represents a historic opportunity for Sudan. A peaceful, united, democratic and prosperous Sudan remains crucial, including for the peace and stability of the region, and is a priority for the European Union.

The EU firmly condemns the violent attacks in Sudan on 3 June 2019, which resulted in the killing and injuring of many peaceful civilian protesters, as well as sexual and gender-based violence. It is clear that the responsibility lies with the Transitional Military Council (TMC) as the authority in charge of protecting the population. All human rights violations and abuses committed must be investigated in an independent and transparent manner, and perpetrators held accountable for their acts.

The EU calls for an immediate cessation of all violence against the Sudanese people, including extrajudicial, arbitrary and summary killings, beatings and sexual and gender-based violence, arrests and disappearances. It is the duty of the TMC to ensure the safety of all in Sudan. Members of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and other civilians that have been arrested and detained during recent events must be immediately released. Restrictions placed on freedom of assembly, freedom of the media, civic space and access to the internet must also be lifted.

The EU remains deeply concerned by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, and remains committed to help addressing the needs of the population. Obstacles to the timely delivery of the humanitarian assistance need to be removed immediately, including in Khartoum. Staff and supplies need to be brought in urgently to provide humanitarian assistance to more than 8 million people in need. Attacks against hospitals, medical staff and patients must stop. Respect of international humanitarian law and protection of civilians must be ensured, including safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

The EU supports the call of the African Union (AU) for the establishment of a civilian-led transitional authority. To that end, the EU calls for the immediate resumption of negotiations between the TMC and the FFC, based on agreements reached so far. The EU also calls on the TMC to implement the required confidence-building measures, on the FFC to respond accordingly, and on both parties to refrain from unilateral moves.

The EU supports the leadership role of the AU and the mediation efforts led by the AU envoy to help to move the political transition process forward, in cooperation with Ethiopia, IGAD Chair. The EU commends the role of Ethiopia in facilitating the resumption of the talks. The EU also commends the decision of the AU’s Peace and Security Council to suspend Sudan from participation in all AU activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led transition authority, including the announcement that AU punitive measures would be applied if transition to such an authority is obstructed. The EU further calls on other regional and international actors to play a constructive and coordinated role in support of the leadership of the AU on this basis and stands ready to work with international partners in that regard.

The aspirations of the Sudanese people can only be met through an orderly, peaceful, inclusive and civilian-led transition that establishes the conditions for the return to constitutional order and democratic rule through transparent and credible elections, and full respect of human rights. The EU seizes this opportunity to recall the obligation of Sudan to cooperate with the International Criminal Court pursuant to the UNSC Resolution 1593.

A civilian-led transitional authority is the only partner with which EU-Sudan relations can be normalised. When Sudan embarks on a transition to civilian rule, the EU looks forward to supporting the country in tackling the social, economic and political challenges and implementing the necessary reforms, and will provide assistance accordingly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to Sudan.
SOURCE: Delegation of the European Union to Sudan
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Communique of the 68th Extra-ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers held of 19 June 2019
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