- Here is a full copy of a report at and by SUNA-news.net
- Dated Wednesday 24 November 2021
Dr Hamdouk Meets Members of FFC Central Leadership Council
- Khartoum Nov. 24 2021 (SUNA) - Prime Minister Dr Abdalla Hamdouk met on Tuesday [Nov 23] evening eight members of the Central Leadership Council of the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC).
- The meeting discussed the political crisis in the country and the political agreement between the Prime Minister and the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council.
- The FFC delegation announced its agreement to the political agreement and expressed support to the Prime Minister.
- The Prime Minister and the FFC leaders stressed necessity of expediting release of all detainees in the capital and regions, protection of peaceful processions, guaranteeing freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration and organization across the country, in addition to importance of reaching consensus over political charter between the all active political forces in the Sudanese society to secure success of the remaining civilian democratic transitional period.
- The delegation affirmed importance of putting a roadmap for implementation of the political agreement and stop and review decisions of appointment made during the past period and reinstatement of all who have been dismissed from their jobs.
- The attendees from members of the FFC Central Leadership Council expressed appreciation and support for the Prime Minister and for his patience with the events of the past period as keenness from the Prime Minister on restoring the path of the civil democratic transition.
- The meeting discussed role of the all political forces in explaining and implementing the political agreement.
- For his part, the Prime Minister thanked the members of the FFC Central Leadership Council for the communication and support made by a number of the council's leaders in helping reach a political agreement.
- Dr. Hamdok presented a briefing to the delegation about the priorities of the coming period in the importance of the success of the political agreement to preserve the gains of the past period in the economy, peace and public freedoms; with importance of completing the process by holding elections and completion of rest of the democratic transformation processes. ab/ab
- View original: https://www.suna-news.net/read?id=726778
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Sudan: PM Hamdok meets members of FFC
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
VIDEO CNN EXCLUSIVE: Newly-freed Sudan PM Hamdok made deal to avoid bloodshed and a civil war
NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: In this excellent exclusive video interview with CNN, the newly-freed Sudan Prime Minister Hamdok explains why he compromised in a deal with Sudan's military.
The video interview can be viewed in the original (see link below) of the following report. The interviewer asked good questions and received good answers from Mr Hamdok.
It’s heartwarming to see that he looks strong, fit and well, proving that some news reports saying he looked 'frail' and 'haggard' are not true at all. Naturally, he must have been under a great deal of strain and exhausted from working non-stop ever since his shocking arrest with his wife at their home on Oct 25.
Ever since Mr Hamdok has been at home, there has been a stream of high level international visitors meeting with him in person throughout the time he was under house arrest with guards outside his home.
Fortunately, he has a wonderful wife. They were arrested together and taken to the home of the military coup leader, Gen. Burhan, after which they were taken home and received high level contacts. More later.
CNN EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW REPORT
- By Becky Anderson, Eoin McSweeney, Zeena Saifi and Noon Salih, CNN
- Yassir Abdullah and Eyad Kourdi contributed to this report
- Updated 1710 GMT (0110 HKT) Tuesday November 23, 2021
- Newly-freed Sudanese PM tells CNN why he took military deal
- (CNN) Sudan's newly reinstated prime minister told CNN on Tuesday [Nov 23] that he compromised in a deal with the country's military in order to "avoid bloodshed" and a civil war.
- Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other ministers were detained during a military coup last month that saw the country's power-sharing government dissolved; more than 40 people have since been killed in protests.
- But the country's military chief, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, reinstated Hamdok on Sunday as part of a deal between the military and civilian leadership in the country,
- In an interview with CNN on Tuesday [Nov 23], Hamdok said he "regretted the bloodshed" that had followed the October 25 coup; he said the agreement had been signed in order to "avoid further killing."
- "This a not a personal interest for me," he said. "There is a motto that says you will die for country. I took the right decision."
- Under the deal agreed by Hamdok and Al-Burhan, Hamdok again becomes leader of the transitional government, which was first established after strongman President Omar al-Bashir was ousted in 2019.
- The Council of Ministers, which was dissolved on October 25, will be restored and the civilian and military leadership will share power. The constitution will be amended to outline the partnership between civilians and the military in the transitional government.
- But the agreement also includes as yet unspecified restructuring, according to Mudawi Ibrahim, a prominent official in the National Forces Initiative (NFI) which helped mediate the talks, and it has been met with resistance in Sudan.
- Police fired tear gas at a large group of protesters near the presidential palace in Khartoum on Sunday, according to eyewitnesses on the ground.
- The deal was rejected by Sudan's Forces of Freedom and Change coalition (FCC), which insisted there was "no negotiation, no partnership, nor legitimacy for the coup plotters."
- On Monday, Ibrahim told CNN that the agreement was "very humiliating for the Prime Minister," adding that it had been accepted "for the sake of the country."
- "There are so many people dying on the streets ... so the Prime Minister had to take this step and accept the humiliation," he said.
- But Hamdok, who had been held under house arrest until Sunday, refuted the idea he had been humiliated and insisted he had made the right choice.
- He called the agreement with the military imperfect and deficient, but said the decision to sign it was taken in order to avoid a catastrophe.
- "There is a perfect agreement and there is a workable agreement. If you wait for a perfect agreement, you will be waiting too long and it will be too late," he said.
- He said he was confident in the military and pledged to work with them to "establish a fair roadmap" for the future of Sudan.
- The deal, signed on live television, calls for the release of all political prisoners arrested by security forces following the coup.
- Only nine prisoners out of 31 have been released so far, Hamdok said; he called for the immediate release of those still in detention.
- "This is the number one agenda item," he added. "I will not rest until all of them are released."
- Yassir Abdullah and Eyad Kourdi contributed to this report.
- View original and the video interview here: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/23/africa/sudan-abdalla-hamdok-interview-ctw-intl/index.html
INTERVIEW PM Hamdok: FFC in Sudan will remain effective - Release of all political detainees asap
Here is a full copy of a report at Al Arabiya English
Ismaeel Naar, Al Arabiya English
Published: Tuesday 23 November, 2021: 07:54 PM GST
Updated: Tuesday 23 November, 2021: 10:04 PM GST
Political deal based on sparing of Sudanese blood: PM Hamdok tells Al Arabiya
The sparing of Sudanese blood and the preservation of gains made in the recent past are the bases of the political agreement reached with the military, Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok told Al Arabiya during a sit-down interview.
“The political agreement was made based on sparing the blood of the Sudanese and preserving the gains made. There is no alternative to dialogue in Sudan and we are working towards reaching the elections,” Hamdok told Al Arabiya on Tuesday.
“The elections will open the way for the consolidation of democracy in Sudan,” he added.
The Sudanese military reached a deal with Hamdok on Sunday [Nov 21] that reinstated him as the head of a new technocratic Cabinet ahead of eventual elections. But the agreement has angered Sudan’s pro-democracy movement, which accuses Hamdok of allowing himself to serve as a fig leaf for continued military rule.
“I personally don't think about my popularity, but about the interest of the Sudanese people. The Forces for Freedom and Change in Sudan will remain effective,” he said.
Hamdok also said the current priority of the government is for the release all political detainees at the soonest available time.
“We support the release of all political detainees, without exception,” Hamdok said.
View original: https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/11/23/Political-deal-based-on-sparing-of-Sudanese-blood-PM-Hamdok-tells-Al-Arabiya
INTERVIEW: Sudan's newly reinstated PM Hamdok expects a new govt to be formed within two weeks
Here is a copy of a full report at english.alarabiya.net
Written by Tuqa Khalid, Al Arabiya English
Published: Tuesday 23 November, 2021: 11:53 PM GST
Updated: Wednesday 24 November, 2021: 12:28 AM GST
Political deal based on sparing of Sudanese blood: PM Hamdok tells Al Arabiya
Photo: Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok sits down with Al Arabiya
Sudan's newly reinstated Prime Minister Abadalla Hamdok told Al Arabiya on Tuesday that he expects a new government to be formed within two weeks.
“I will make every effort to accomplish [forming a new government] within a time period of no more than two weeks,” he said in an interview with Al Arabiya.
Hamdok signed on Sunday a deal with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan that saw the PM reinstated and allowed him to form an independent cabinet of technocrats, until an election can be held.
This comes almost a month after Burhan led a military coup in late October.
Hamdok added that he asked the military to end the violence against protesters. Sudanese medics reported that security forces killed at least 40 civilians in violent crackdowns.
“One of the first issues discussed… is a halt to using violence against protesters. It is a demand I will not cede at all,” Hamdok said.
After the deal that saw Hamdok reinstated was signed, at least five political prisoners were released.
“This is the most important issue on the PM’s agenda. It is the first issue I discussed with the military, releasing the prisoners… We will work towards that, and they will be released soon,” he told Al Arabiya.
He added that out of those released, should they be accused of committing a crime, they will be referred to the judiciary and, in some cases, rearrested.
TEXT: Terms of agreement between Sudan's Burhan and Hamdok (framework)
NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the following report and a tweet outlining 14 articles in the political agreement between Gen. Burhan and PM Hamdok signed on Sunday 21 Nov 2021.
Here is a full copy of a report at The Eastern Herald www.easternherald.com
By Arab Desk - Dated Sunday 21 November 2021
Sudan… The terms of the political agreement between Al-Burhan and Hamdok (framework)
On Sunday [21 Nov 2021], the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, signed a political agreement with Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok; With the aim of ending the crisis that the country has been going through for about a month, in the wake of intense international pressure and continuous demonstrations calling for civilian rule.
The agreement, whose signing ceremony was attended by a number of military and political leaders, included 14 articles, as follows:
1- Emphasis on the constitutional document of 2019 and amended in 2020, and that it is the main reference for completing the transitional period.
2- The necessity of amending the constitutional document by consensus to ensure broad political participation, except for the dissolved National Congress Party (the party of former President Omar al-Bashir).
3- The partnership between civilians and the military is the guarantor of the stability and security of Sudan, based on an agreement to implement the partnership in a spirit and confidence, and a commitment to form a civilian government of independent competencies (technocrats).
4 – That the Sovereignty Council be the supervisor of the implementation of the tasks of the transitional period, without direct interference in the executive work.
5- Ensuring the transition of the transitional authority on time to an elected civilian government.
6- Managing the transitional period according to a declaration and a political framework in partnership between the military and civilians, the native administration, the resistance committees, the forces of the living revolution, the youth and women sectors, and the Sufi orders.
7- Conduct an investigation into the events that occurred during the demonstrations, including deaths and injuries of civilians and military personnel.
8- Implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement and its entitlements, and the annexation of non-signatories.
9- Completing all the institutions of the transitional authority by forming the Legislative Council and the judicial organs from a constitutional court, appointing the chief justice and the attorney general, and completing the establishment of the rest of the negotiations and other transitional institutions.
10- Starting a broad dialogue with all political and societal forces and the forces of the live revolution establishes the establishment of a constitutional conference.
11- Re-work of the committee to remove the dismantling of the 1989 system and review its performance in the previous period.
12- The release of all political detainees.
13- Work to build a unified national army.
14- Annulment of the decision of the Sudanese army chief, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, to relieve Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Photo: Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Sudanese Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (File Photo/AP) © The Eastern Herald
View original: https://www.easternherald.com/2021/11/21/al-burhan-hamdok-political-agreement/
Sudan: Quick summary of 14-point Political Declaration circulating as a photo on WhatsApp
Here is a copy of a tweet by Eddie Thomas @eddiethomas88 dated 4:14 pm · 21 Nov 2021:
Quick summary of 14-point #PoliticalDeclaration circulating as a photo on WhatsApp. Declaration brings PM #Hamdok back into #Sudan govt.
1. Constitutional Declaration of 2019, as amended in 2020, is ‘fundamental reference’ for completing transition, with special attention to East
2. Constitutional Declaration needs amendment in order to ensure participation of all political forces apart from the dissolved National Congress Party.
3. Civilian-military partnership necessary for stability, commitment to form civilian technocratic govt.
4. Oversight role for civil-military Sovereignty Council transition in line with Art.8 of Constitutional Declaration, no implementation role.
5. Guarantee of transition to civilian rule ‘on time’ (the photo has actual date, July 2023, printed and then crossed out in pen)
6. Transition will be administered in line with a political declaration setting out partnership between civil forces, military structure, Native Administration chiefs, resistance committees, revolutionary forces, youth and women sectors, Sufi tariqas
7. All political prisoners to be released.
8. Implementation of Juba Peace Agreement.
9. Speed up completion of transitional institutions including legislature, constitutional court, Chief Justice and prosecutor, formation of other transitional commissions etc
10. Initiation of dialogue political, social and revolutionary forces to set up constitutional convention.
11. Reestablish committee to dismantle Bashir regime, review its performance to date, support it with qualified staff, committee to hear appeals against its decisions
12. Investigation of civilians and military deaths and injuries during protests.
13. Build unified national army.
14. Repeal of decree of commander in chief dismissing PM Hamdok.
View original:
https://twitter.com/eddiethomas88/status/1462454414699118594
Sunday, November 21, 2021
UK: Two years ago, Sudanese put their lives on the line for freedom. They should not have to do so again
British Ambassador to Sudan @GilesLeverUK: 'Two years ago, Sudanese men and women like Abdelsalam Kesha put their lives on the line for freedom. They should not have to do so again.' pic.twitter.com/F4zJCxtulO
— UK in Sudan 🇬🇧 (@UKinSudan) October 29, 2021
Sudan: Darfur war leader Abdelwahid El Nur calls for revolution to overthrow Burhan's military coup
NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: It is difficult to imagine where Sudan and South Sudan would be without Mr Abdelwahid El Nur (pictured below). Putting a complicated situation simply, he and other armed rebels including JEM started the Darfur war in 2003. They have much blood on their hands.
The photo caption does not indicate where or when the photo was taken. Since shortly after starting the Darfur war he has been living in luxury in Paris and travels widely even as far as Israel. Once in a while he pops up in Sudan on rare occasions when the security situation is unusually calm.
In the photo he is wearing an expensive jacket. His face still doesn't show any worry lines, guilt, angst, suffering, poverty or malnutrition. He is from Darfur. Years ago he used to brag about the people from Darfur being his people. Until fifteen years ago he had the support of many Sudanese people in and from Darfur. I suspect most of them gave up on him while he sat enjoying himself in Parisian bars and hotels. Maybe he's too shy to visit Darfur incase the world will see how little support he has nowadays.
He once said he aims to be the president of Sudan. As stated many times here at Sudan Watch, I believe he is too cowardly and not intelligent or skilled enough to preside over Sudan or anything else. In the report below by Netherlands-based Radio Dabanga one can see how he states the obvious and uses the words and ideas other people have already thought of and publicised for years. He's an opportunist, not a leader.
When he uses his brain and his own words and ideas he sounds like an idiot. I can't recall reading news that explains how he is funded and manages to travel abroad while living safely in Paris. He directed the Darfur war using a satellite phone while sitting in a comfortable armchair in a Parisian hotel.
If he made sense and was a genuinely brave freedom fighter with realistic and good intentions not only for the people of Darfur but for all Sudanese people, he could be someone to respect and admire. Frankly speaking, seeing his face makes me feel sick. I've observed how much death and destruction his idiotic thinking and actions have caused. Deep down he must know he's responsible for the suffering of millions of Sudanese people. I find it odd that journalists fail to explain how he lives and how he is funded.
The following report respectfully gives him a platform from which to pontificate his nonsense, none of which he deserves. In my view, he's a dodgy character and a deluded chancer. He reminds me of Tintin.
Copy of news report at and by Radio Dabanga.org
Dated 4 November 2021 - KHARTOUM
Sudan rebel leader Abdelwahid El Nur calls for ‘comprehensive popular revolution to overthrow coup’
Photo: The head of the mainstream Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW), Abdelwahid El Nur (File photo)
The head of the mainstream Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW), Abdelwahid El Nur, has called for “a comprehensive popular revolution in order to overthrow the coup and restore Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok”, and calling on the resistance committees “not to accept any compromise”.
In an interview with Radio Dabanga broadcast today, El Nur asserts that “the salvation of Sudan lies in the restructuring of the military institution,” and called for the reintegration of all military and paramilitary forces into a single unified army, with a combat doctrine aimed at defending the citizens and protecting the land and the constitution, and non-interference in politics.
‘The army’s intervention to suppress the demonstrations is an attempt to turn the peaceful uprising into a bloody one…’
He considers the army’s intervention to suppress the demonstrations as “an attempt to turn the peaceful uprising into a bloody one,” stressing the need to adhere to peace. He stressed that the people’s will is stronger than all weapons.
El Nur accused the military institution of committing crimes in the south, Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, the Blue Nile and the East since 56, and said that it had committed genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and caused the displacement of millions, and created militias and mujahideen.
‘Sudan possesses the human and economic resources that can rescue it from the current situation…’
On the Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue initiative adopted by the movement, the rebel leader said that the initiative aims to reach the state of institutions and form a unified national army. He stressed the need to adhere to PM Abdallah Hamdok’s government “to move from a state of obstruction to future horizons”, explaining that Sudan possesses the human and economic resources that can rescue it from the current situation through a national project. He called for giving priority to the interests of the Sudanese people, dealing with foreign countries according to their positions, and helping Sudan to get out of the crisis in order to reach a civil state and a civil government.
Saturday, November 20, 2021
'Complicity' in war crimes alleged: Top Lundin Energy executives charged over Sudan legacy
Full copy of news report published at Upstream Online.com
Written by IAIN ESAU in London
Dated 11 November 2021 14:22 GMT UPDATED 17 November 2021 16:08 GMT
'Complicity' in war crimes alleged: Top Lundin Energy executives charged over Sudan legacy
Swedish Prosecution Authority lays charges against chairman Ian Lundin and director Alex Schneiter after 11-year investigation into historic operations of Lundin Oil
Pictured in 2009: The Thar Jath oilfield lies in Block 5A in South Sudan. It was discovered in 2001 before South Sudan's independence and before Lundin Energy sold its stake in the block Photo: AFP/SCANPIX
The Swedish Prosecution Authority (SPA) has laid criminal charges, including "complicity in grave war crimes", against Lundin Energy chairman Ian Lundin and director Alex Schneiter, related to the company's legacy operations in Sudan.
Lundin Oil was a key player in war-torn Sudan between 1991 and 2003, when it exited Block 5A.
It quit the country fully in 2009, two years before the country split into South Sudan — which holds most of the oil — and Sudan, through which the south's oil is exported.
The SPA said Lundin Oil was active in Sudan when control of oilfields in the country's southern region became a contentious issue in a long-running civil war.
The SPA — which began its probe into the company's Sudan activities in 2010 and has now generated an 80,000-page report — said the two men are "suspected of having been complicit in war crimes committed by the then Sudanese regime with the purpose of securing the company’s oil operations in southern Sudan".
Lundin 'refutes' charges
The Stockhom-listed independent said it "refutes that there are any grounds for allegations of wrongdoing by any of its representatives", stressing that both executives "strongly deny the charges and have the full support of the board in contesting them at trial".
Lundin Energy said in a statement today the charges against its chairman and director refer to periods of operations in Sudan running between 1999-2003 and 2000-2003, respectively.
The charges include claims against Lundin Energy involving a forfeiture of economic benefits of about SKr1.39 billion ($159 million) and a corporate fine of SKr3 million.
This forfeiture represents a gain of SKr720 million the company made when selling its Sudanese business in 2003.
The prosecution said the company was actively exploring Block 5A in Unity State, which eventually became one of the areas worst affected by the war.
Military forces from the south were originally charged with providing security around Lundin Oil's assets when the company started operations in 1997, said the SPA, claiming that a militia group allied to the Khartoum government tried to take control of Block 5A, but failed, although its attacks led to "great suffering" among civilians.
Khartoum-militia protection
In 1999, the SPA said that Sudan's military, together with the same militia group, led operations to take control of the area and create the necessary conditions for the company to continue its activities, leading to a conflict that was still underway when Lundin Oil quit the block in 2003.
The SPA believes Sudan's government, through its military and the militia allied to the Khartoum regime, carried out a war that conflicts with international humanitarian law and, according to Swedish law, constitutes grave war crimes.
Systematic attacks
Public prosecutor Henrik Attorps, SPA's head of the Sudan probe, said: ”In our view, the investigation shows the military and its allied militia systematically attacked civilians or carried out indiscriminate attacks. Consequently, many civilians were killed, injured and displaced from Block 5A.”
Chief public prosecutor Krister Petersson, alleged that directly after the military went into Block 5A in May 1999, in breach of a local peace agreement, "Lundin Oil changed its view of who should be responsible for security around the company’s operations", requesting from Sudan's government that its military should undertake this role, "knowing that this meant" the use of "force."
"Complicity"
He said: "What constitutes complicity in a criminal sense is that (the company) made these demands despite understanding or... being indifferent to the military and the militia carrying out the war in a way that was forbidden according to international humanitarian law.”
The SPA alleges that Ian Lundin and Schneiter "continued to promote crimes that the (Sudan) military and its allied militia were to commit to enable continued oil operations until March 2003."
"Comprehensive" evidence
The SPA said its evidence is "comprehensive" and centres on civilians who were attacked.
"We will also hear witnesses who followed and studied the situation in Sudan and... met refugees and heard their stories. We will rely on written reports from the area, primarily from the UN and other international organisations as well as from journalists who observed the area”, said public prosecutor Karolina Wieslander.
In terms of support for its allegations of complicity in war crimes, the SPA said this consists of Lundin Oil's internal reporting, its communications with Sudan's government and witnesses connected to the company.
In total, the SPA said it has carried out about 270 interviews with about 150 people.
As a result of these charges, Ian Lundin will not stand for re-election as chairman at Lundin Energy's 2022 annual general meeting, but both he and Schneiter will remain board directors.
"Incomprehensible decision"
Commenting on the charges, Ian Lundin said: “This is an incomprehensible decision by the SPA since it is not supported by any evidence in the investigation, a situation that has not changed for the last 11 years.
"I know that we have done no wrong and that we will ultimately prove this in court."
He was placed under investigation by the SPA in 2016 and interviewed for the first time a year later.
Lundin Energy said it is "extremely concerned about the fairness, reliability and legal basis of the investigation and about the credibility and accuracy" of reports from a non-governmental organisation "that seem to form the basis of the prosecution case."
While the company did not name the NGOs, Amnesty International and Christian Aid have both published reports on the Sudan conflict.
"No evidence"
"In the company’s firm opinion," said Lundin Energy, "there is no evidence linking any representative to the alleged primary crimes and this will be fully demonstrated at trial."
The company said it is "firmly convinced" it was a positive force for development in Sudan and operated there "responsibly", as part of an international consortium, and in "full alignment" with the policy of constructive engagement endorsed by the United Nations, European Union and Sweden at the time."
"No legal basis" to fines and forfeitures
Lundin Energy said it will "firmly contest the claims for a corporate fine and forfeiture."
The company said the forfeiture amount is less than announced by the SPA in 2018, and believes "there is no legal basis for any such claim."
Lundin Energy pointed out that the SPA's decision to lay charges is another step in a lengthy legal process that may take "many years" to reach a conclusion. (Copyright)
Friday, November 19, 2021
Swedish oil executives charged with complicity in Sudan war crimes
SWEDEN has charged two executives (pictured below) of a Swedish oil exploration and production company for complicity in the military's war crimes in Sudan from 1999 to 2003. Full story here below.
Note, in this site's sidebar there is a USAID 2001 Sudan Oil and Gas Concessions Map. Click on title above the map to view a larger version and see Block 5A. Also, in the sidebar there is a search box. Type in the words 'Darfur oil' to read related reports in the archive of this 18-year-old site.
Full copy of article published at India Express.com
Dated 11 November 2021 07:08 PM
Written by The Associated Press (AP)
Sweden charges two oil executives for war crimes in Sudan
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Sweden has charged two executives of a Swedish oil exploration and production company for complicity in the military's war crimes in Sudan from 1999 to 2003, including in its dealings with the country's regime to secure the company’s oil operations in the African nation.
The two, who were not identified by the Swedish Prosecution Authority, had “a decisive influence” on the business of Stockholm-based Lundin Oil AB in Sudan, the prosecutors said, adding one was indicted for complicity for the period May 1999-March 2003, and the other for the period October 2000-March 2003.
Lundin Oil later became Lundin Petroleum and is now known as Lundin Energy.
From 1983 to 2005, Sudan was torn apart by a civil war between the Muslim-dominated north and Christian south.
A separate conflict in Darfur, the war-scarred region of western Sudan, began in 2003. Thousands of people were killed and nearly 200,000 displaced.
A 2010 report by an activist group, the European Coalition on Oil in Sudan, alleged that Lundin Oil and three other oil companies helped exacerbate the war in southern Sudan by signing an oil exploration deal with the Sudanese government for an area the regime didn’t fully control. That led the Swedish prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into the company. Six years later, its chairman, Ian H. Lundin, and then CEO Alex Schneiter, were informed that they were the suspects of the investigation.
Lundin was the operator of a consortium of companies exploring site Block 5A, including Malaysia’s Petronas Carigali Overseas, OMV (Sudan) Exploration GmbH of Austria, and the Sudanese state-owned oil company Sudapet Ltd.
Our ”investigation shows that the military and its allied militia systematically attacked civilians or carried out indiscriminate attacks," Public Prosecutor Henrik Attorps said in a statement. In a reaction, Lundin spokesman Robert Eriksson said the Swedish prosecutors decision to issue charges was “incomprehensible" and called the investigation “unfounded and fundamentally flawed."
“Both Ian and Alex strongly deny the charges, and we know that Lundin did nothing wrong. There is no evidence linking any representatives of Lundin to the alleged primary crimes in this case," said Eriksson, head of Lundin's media communications, said.
After the Sudanese military went into Block 5A in May 1999, Lundin Oil “changed its view of who should be responsible for the security around the company’s operations,” the prosecution said, and added that the company requested that the military should now be made responsible for the security, knowing that this meant that the military would then need to take control of Block 5A via military force.
"What constitutes complicity in a criminal sense is that they made these demands despite understanding or, in any case being indifferent to the military and the militia carrying out the war in a way that was forbidden according to international humanitarian law”, the Chief Public Prosecutor Krister Petersson said.
Eriksson said that Lundin operated in Block 5A “responsibly, as part of an international consortium, and in full alignment with the policy of constructive engagement endorsed by the United Nations, European Union and Sweden at the time.”
The authority said that there also was a claim to confiscate an amount of 1.4 billion kronor ($161 million) from Lundin Energy AB, which, according to the prosecutor, is the equivalent value of the profit of 720 million kronor ($83 million) which the company made on the sale of the business in 2003.
”It is important that these serious crimes are not forgotten. War crimes are one of the most serious crimes that Sweden has an international obligation to investigate and bring to justice," Attorps said.
Photo: Sweden Flag (Photo | AFP)
PHOTO CREDIT: the above photo of the two oil executives is from a Financial Times.com report dated 11 Nov 2021 entitled 'Swedish oil executives charged with complicity in Sudan war crimes' - Lundin case is first prosecution of corporate bosses for such serious offences since Nuremberg trials: https://www.ft.com/content/8fd015a3-622f-4741-86ca-97d462f3ed9d
1. Charged: Lundin Energy chairman Ian Lundin. Photo: LUNDIN ENERGY
2. Charged: Lundin Energy director Alex Schneiter Photo: STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM/NTB/SCANPIX
3. Pictured in 2009: The Thar Jath oilfield lies in Block 5A in South Sudan. It was discovered in 2001 before South Sudan's independence and before Lundin Energy sold its stake in the block Photo: AFP/SCANPIX
PHOTOS: the three photos cited above can be viewed in a report at Upstream: https://www.upstreamonline.com/people/complicity-in-war-crimes-alleged-top-lundin-energy-executives-charged-over-sudan-legacy/2-1-1097152
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Swedish prosecutors on Thursday brought charges against the chairman and former CEO of Lundin Energy for complicity in war ...
Sweden charges oil execs with Sudan war crimes
Two executives from Swedish oil company Lundin Energy have been charged with complicity in war crimes committed by Sudan’s regime between 1999 and 2003, Sweden’s Prosecution Authority said Thursday.
Sweden: Top oil executives charged with aiding and abetting war crimes in Sudan
Two top Swedish oil executives are facing prosecution in their home country for aiding and abetting war crimes in Sudan.
"Complicity" in war crimes alleged: Top Lundin Energy executives charged over Sudan legacy
Swedish Prosecution Authority lays charges against chairman Ian Lundin and director Alex Schneiter after 11-year probe into ...
Thursday, November 18, 2021
PHOTOS: Members of Sudan's Sovereignty Council
The Member of the New #Sudan 🇸🇩 Sovereignty Council pic.twitter.com/nEwFhFEhzm
— Saida Zahidova (@Saida_Zahidova) November 15, 2021
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
British photographer Tom Stoddard 'who shone a light where there had been darkness' dies aged 68
ACCLAIMED BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHER TOM STODDART 'who shone a light where there had been darkness' has died aged 68 after bravely battling cancer. Known for his distinctive black and white pictures he has documented key moments in history from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the World Trade Centre attacks and is firmly established as one of the worlds most respected photographers. Tom took this iconic photograph of a man stealing maize from a starving child at a feeding centre at Ajiep, southern Sudan, in 1998. In 2019 he told London's Evening Standard: “I have seen many awful things, but I have also seen a lot of fantastic and beautiful things. Humans do terrible things to each other, but there is also courage and humanity. That helps me keep it all in perspective…I’ve been very lucky in my career, with a ringside seat to history.” Rest In Peace Tom + + +
Sources: https://photoarchivenews.com/news/winning-images-tom-stoddard-2021-photojournalism-award/ https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/photographer-tom-stoddart-dies/Photo credit: Copyright © 2008 Tom Stoddart/Getty Images. Caption from British medical journal The Lancet established in 1823, from an important article by Alex de Waal entitled 'On famine crimes and tragedies' published November 1, 2008: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(08)61641-4/AJIEP, SUDAN-JULY 1998: A well nourished Sudanese man steals maize from a starving child during a food distribution at Medecins Sans Frontieres feeding centre at Ajiep, southern Sudan, in 1998. (Photo By Tom Stoddart/Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/G39HxC3yFD
— KH (@iKuchayHilal) November 15, 2021
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Sudan's military has released Al Jazeera's journalist - Sudan remains under internet blackout
🇸🇩 Following global pressure, #Sudan's military has released Al Jazeera's journalist in Khartoum, but the country remains under an internet blackout as the army continues cracking down on anti-coup protesters. 👇 https://t.co/TfyBXvlrAR
— Doha News (@dohanews) November 16, 2021
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