Day: August 3, 2022

Khartoum central criminal court Wednesday acquitted three prominent activists of the neighbourhood Resistance Committees that spearhead and ordered their immediate release after months in detention.

Among the released is Saif al-Islam Essam, a prominent Resistance Committee member in the Al-Sahafa neighbourhood, who have been arrested last May in Sharoni of central Khartoum. He lost his sense of smell and taste under torture.

After the deterioration of Saif al-Islam’s health, a social media campaign was launched calling for the release of the detained resistance committee members.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the Emergency Lawyers group said that Khartoum Central Criminal Court revoked the criminal case against Saif al-Islam and others and ordered their immediate release.

Saif al-Islam and the two other detainees had been charged with criminal damage including arson, graffiti on a public building, and destruction or damage of items belonging to another.

“The cancellation of the criminal charge is “a victory for justices and a crowning to the Emergency Lawyers committee’s efforts.,” said the legal defence group.

On May 29, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan lifted the state of emergency imposed after the coup of October 25, 2021.

However, the security forces continue to arbitrarily arrest protesters and use tear gas and live ammunition to disperse them, as it was under martial law.

Source: Sudan Tribune

Three displaced people were killed by gunmen in Tawila in North Darfur yesterday. In Saraf Omra, a group of traders were violently robbed of their belongings. Last week, a villager was shot in the same area. In eastern Chad, two Darfuri refugees were shot dead on Sunday.

On Tuesday afternoon, five people living in the Rwanda camp for the displaced were on their way back home from the village of Tabra, north of Tawila town, to the camp in a tuk-tuk, when three armed men riding on camels and fourth one riding on a motorcycle shot at them.

Adam Mohamed Ahmed, Abdallah Omar, and Abdeljabbar Hussein died instantly. Mohamed Jumaa, the driver of the tuk-tuk, and Adam Ibrahim were injured and had to be transferred to El Fasher for treatment.

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that the shooting “came out of the blue” though there are many armed robberies in the area.

Saraf Omra

In Sarfa Omra, near the border with Chad, four traders were beaten up and robbed on Sunday.

The victims were on their way from Saraf Omra to the market of Kulakul, when five gunmen intercepted them, a listener reported from the area. They severely beat them with sticks, and robbed them of their money and mobile phones at gunpoint.

Last Monday, Abdelkarim Shugar was shot in his knees near Saraf Omra.

The accident happened when the victim was returning from Saraf Omra where he had visited a doctor with his sick son on the back of a donkey, a source said. When they approached their village, Jamar Keteer, four armed men riding on two motorcycles, shot him, and fled.

Shugar was taken to Saraf Omra Hospital, and from there he was transferred to the Zalingei Teaching Hospital. The source did not rule out that the killing was motivated by revenge, because the attackers did not rob the victim.

Gaga refugee camp

In eastern Chad, two Darfuri living in the Gaga refugee camp were killed by gunmen in two separate incidents on Sunday.

Activists in the camp told Radio Dabanga that unknown gunmen opened fire on a refugee when he was returning from his farm. He was killed instantly.

In another incident, an armed group shot at Khadeeja Eisa El Hajj, when she was tending her farm with her two children, not far from the camp. She died immediately. Her daughter Najwa was wounded in the hand.

The sources complained about repeated attacks on refugees in the area, and requested the international community “to urgently intervene to provide protection and security”.

Source: Radio Dabanga

The road linking Abu Hamad with Atbara in River Nile state has been blocked since Friday. The people living in the area demand better services and a solution to land disputes in the area.

The protesters say that the road remains closed until the provision of drinking water and electricity has been improved. The also call for “projects related to social responsibility”, and the dismissal of officials in the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company in the area.

Yasir Benawi told Radio Dabanga that the closure seriously affects the movement of goods from Khartoum to Atbara, and from Atbara to Abu Hamad. “This has led to the doubling of prices of basic commodities such as sugar and flour.”

Gold found in northern Sudan is usually taken to Atbara and from there to Khartoum. “Now only a small percentage of the regular amounts reaches the Atbara market,”

Source: Radio Dabanga

The Sudan Troika (Norway. UK, USA) has welcomed “the reaffirmation by a range of Sudanese civilian and military stakeholders, as set out in recent public statements, to a civilian-led government leading Sudan’s transition to democracy”. The three countries further urge a strong women representation in the new government.

In a press statement yesterday, the Troika said that “Sudan is facing an economic, humanitarian and political crisis. Only a civilian-led transitional government, and a clear but realistic timetable for elections, can put the country on the road to recovery and allow a full resumption of international partnerships with Sudan.

“Yet no government will be credible unless it is grounded in an inclusive political agreement. Wide consultations, recognition of lessons learned and strong female representation in both the dialogue process and the resulting government, will strengthen the legitimacy of an agreement. We urge Sudanese stakeholders to move quickly to achieve such an agreement, while avoiding artificial deadlines.

“It is vital that upon agreement amongst civilian parties to form a transitional government, the military fulfils its stated commitment to withdraw from the political scene. The international community is clear that the military’s future role, pending elections, must be agreed in consultation with civilian groups in order to ensure a sustainable transition.

‘It is vital that upon agreement amongst civilian parties to form a transitional government, the military fulfils its stated commitment to withdraw from the political scene.’ – Sudan Troika

“We are encouraged by the recent willingness of various Sudanese parties to table specific proposals on the way forward, and urge them to continue to work together to fulfil the Sudanese people’s demands for freedom, justice and peace.

“The Troika continues to encourage intra-Sudanese talks to find a political solution, taking advantage of the resources available through the tripartite UNITAMS-AU-IGAD mechanism, the statement concludes.

‘Easy solutions’

Immediate reactions on the statement that was tweeted by the US Embassy and the UK Embassy in Khartoum, were negative. “Unfortunately, such statements give the impression that you (the Troika) haven’t yet understood the issue in depth, or you only see your wishes and seek easy solutions. Who kills young people every day if they demonstrate for civilian-led rule? Wake up & face the reality please,” a young man tweeted.

“And we say: military to their barracks, Janjaweed and all militias dismantled. Strange that they want to give them a role in the shaping of our future, why?,” another one asked.

A third tweet called for sanctions: “Put the adequate pressure on the corrupt generals and they will withdraw: sanctions and boycotts, otherwise such statements will defiantly encourage them to cling to the power by all means.”

And a fourth one asked a “vital question: Please, what is the definition the term, long repeated in your various statements, “civilian led government”? Because this can be very misleading. In other words, a civilian-led government can simply be controlled the military dictators.”

Sceptical

Many Sudanese have been quite sceptical about the mission of the Trilateral Mechanism (African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS)), which consisted of facilitating a new dialogue between the military that retook power in a coup d’état on October 25 last year and civilian pro-democracy parties and groups.

The main slogan of the demonstrators called for more than weekly since October last year is “No negotiations, no compromise, no power-sharing”.

In a statement on June 11, the United Sudanese Revolutionary Forces Abroad (USRFA) reflected the stance of the resistance committees, the Forces for Freedom and Change-Central Council, and other activists in the country who categorically reject any dialogue with the military junta.

In their statement on June 11, the USRFA rejected any talks seeking to legitimise “the coup government” and exonerate “those who committed unspeakable atrocities in Sudan”. Anything other than a complete rejection of the AU-IGAD-UNITAMS negotiations, would “only maintain and strengthen the set-back by the coup regime”.

Coup leader and head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, announced in a televised speech on July 4 that the military would no longer participate in the dialogue facilitated by the AU-IGAD-UNITAMS Trilateral Mechanism.

The armed forces would withdraw from the government, following the formation of a new government of technocrats by Sudan’s political forces and other national groups. form that would complete the tasks of the transitional period.

El Burhan’s announcement was widely rejected by the resistance committees and other opposition groups in the country, who have lost any confidence in the military leaders. Opinions varied within the forces that allegedly support the current authority.

‘Mr Volker, the only party that you need to talk to right now is the resistance committees, the youth of Sudan, and nobody else’ – tweet by a young Sudanese woman

UNITAMS head Volker Perthes tweeted yesterday that he had a “useful meeting” with leaders of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party.

“I am encouraged by initiatives for an inclusive dialogue to restore a civilian-led democratic transition in Sudan & will continue to support these efforts,” he said.

Yet, many activists have lost confidence in political opposition parties and have put their faith solely in the resistance committees active in the neighbourhoods and villages in the country.

“Mr Volker, the only party that you need to talk to right now is the resistance committees, the youth of Sudan, and nobody else,” a young woman tweeted. “They are the one who are tortured and killed by the military leaders. They are the future and the ones who know what is best for Sudan.”

Source: Radio Dabanga