Day: May 30, 2021

May 30, 2021 (EL-FASHER) – The International Criminal Court General Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that the war crimes tribunal will not abandon its demand for the handover of indicted former leaders of the ousted regime in Sudan.

On Sunday, Bensouda began a two-day visit to Darfur as she previously stated that she would like to meet communities affected by war crimes and crimes against humanity in the western Sudan region.

In statements to the Sudan News Agency after a meeting with the governor of North Darfur, she said that the militia leader Ali Kushayb would not be the last person to appear before the court.

“The International Criminal Court will continue to demand that the handover all those against whom arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the crimes committed in Darfur,” she said according to a report in Arabic.

She described as good the cooperation of the transitional government with the court pointing out that this would help achieve justice in Darfur.

The prosecutor further demanded to continue providing the court with the needed support to accomplish its mission in Darfur.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, affirmed their keenness to cooperate with the court and hand over the ousted President Omer al-Bashir after the end of his trial before the Sudanese courts.

The armed movements in Darfur made al—Bashir’s handover to the ICC one of the issues included in the Juba Peace Agreement.

Bensouda held a meeting with representatives of the displaced people in North Darfur camps at El Fasher University.

The representatives stressed their demand for justice and the trial of former regime officials.

For its part, the General Prosecutor urged the victims to cooperate with the investigation teams and provide them with the necessary information and evidence to complete the investigation files.

After a meeting with Bensouda on Saturday, Minni Minawi, Governor of the Darfur region, renewed their demand to send all the indicted former official to The Hague court.

Also, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) welcomed the ICC General’ Prosecutor visit to Darfur and called her to visit all the camps for displaced people in Darfur and the areas that have recently been subjected to “heinous” attacks in Darfur.

The holdout group further called on the Sudanese government to hand over the wanted persons and fully cooperate with the ICC without condition.

 

Source: Sudan Tribune

May 30, 2021 (NEW YORK) – The Security Council on Friday renewed the arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze imposed on South Sudan for another year, extending till July 1, 2022 the mandate of the panel of experts tasked with helping to oversee those measures.

Resolution 2577, which saw 13 votes in favour, none against and two absentees, also prohibited the supply, sale or transfer of weapons, as well as the provision of technical assistance, training and other military assistance to the young nation’s territory.

The resolution expresses the Security Council’s willingness to consider adjusting targeted sanctions, including modifying, suspending, lifting or strengthening measures to respond to the situation.

Meanwhile, the Council members requested the South Sudan authorities to report on progress achieved on those benchmarks, as well as additional reforms, to the Committee overseeing the country’s sanctions by no later than 15 April 2022.

They also requested the Secretary-General, in close consultation with the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) and the panel of experts assisting the sanctions committee, to conduct an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks by mid-April next year.

 

Source: Sudan Tribune

May 30, 2021 (NAIROBI) – The Leadership Council of South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) virtually met on Friday with Troika special envoys to Sudan and South Sudan to discuss issues of peace and security in South Sudan.

SSOMA, in a statement, described the meeting as “candid” and “constructive”.

“The meeting discussed the current impasse in the Rome Peace Process under the auspices of the Community of SANT’EGIDIO,” partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

It added, “SSOMA-LC extensively briefed the TROIKA envoys on issues agreed and on the points of divergence with the government regarding negotiations on the Declaration of Principles (DoP)”.

While meeting the Special Envoys, SSOMA said it also affirmed its unwavering commitment to achieving lasting and durable peace through the meditation of the Community of SANT’EGIDIO.

The opposition movement’s leadership council also urged the Troika to continue playing an active role in bridging the gaps between the government and SSOMA in order for the ongoing Rome initiative under auspices of the Community of SANT’EGIDIO to be successful.

Meanwhile, the TROIKA envoys urged SSOMA and the government of South Sudan to stop violence and allow unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in dire need of assistance.

They further called upon the parties to resume talks as soon as possible. The SSOMA-LC expressed to the TROIKA envoys concerns over the security and movement of its members, in the neighbouring countries of South Sudan, who will participate in future peace talks.

Members of SSOMA include, Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM), National Salvation Front (NAS), South Sudan United Front (SSUF), United Democratic Revolutionary Movement/Army (UNDRM/A), National Democratic Movement-PF (NDM-PF) and Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC).

 

Source: Sudan Tribune

May 30, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Eight people were killed and dozens injured following the intercommunal violence that broke out, in Furo Baraga of West Darfur state on Saturday.

Tribal fighting erupted after killing a 24-year-old man, Ammar Abdel Majid, on Friday night when a group of gunmen opened fire on his shop in the Furo Barnaga market.

Abdel Majid relatives from the Fur ethnic group killed three Darfur Arab tribes to avenge his death.

Adam Rahal, the official spokesman for the IDPs and Refugees Coordination said that Abdel Majid was killed by two people riding a motorbike and armed with Kalashnikovs.

In turn, the relatives of the three killed Arabs Killed 5 people from the Fur tribe to avenge them.

Eyewitnesses told the Sudan Tribune that the Arab gunmen attacked the hospital to kill some Fur people who were inside the medical facility.

The attack resulted in dozens of injuries, further said the eyewitnesses, pointing that the medical staff left the hospital fearing for their life.

The official news agency SUNA reported that hundreds of people burned the local government offices, tax office and shops in the locality.

The burning of public institutions and shops was done by a mob of hundreds of protesters angered by Abdel Majid’s death.

The local authorities deployed security forces in the market area to prevent further escalation.

The West Darfur was the theatre of tribal clashes between the Massalit and Arab tribes in the past months particularly in the state capital Geneina.

The Sudanese army carried out several campaigns to collect arms but the clashes and attacks show that weapons are always in the hands of civilians.

 

Source: Sudan Tribune