Day: September 13, 2022

At least six people were killed and an unknown number of people were wounded in new tribal clashes in Abu Zabad, West Kordofan, caused by a border demarcation conflict. Tribesmen from both sides crowded the town and there was continued shooting in the northern parts of the town on Monday morning.

Sources from Abu Zabad told Radio Dabanga that the incident is an extension of the conflict concerning the demarcation of the border between the Hamar* and Misseriya, which was frozen by Gen Shamseldin El Kabashi, a member of the Sovereignty Council.

A group of Misseriya tribesmen set up a signboard in Abu Zabad yesterday, saying that the town belongs to them. When Hamar wanted to remove the signboard, Misseriya shot at them, killing two people instantly and wounding a third.

The sources added that another group of angry Hamar tribesmen was on its way to remove the sign board, but the director of Abu Zabad locality stopped them and told them that a meeting would be held on the sign board.

Firefights between the two sides continued in the northern parts of Abu Zabad yesterday morning. Military troops were dispatched from El Fula, the capital of West Kordofan, to contain the situation.

Border conflict

The tensions started last month when the West Kordofan Security Committee and a group of Misseriya people formed unilateral committees to demarcate the borders between the two tribes without notifying the Hamar.

The Hamar then submitted a request to discuss the issue, but the Misseriya refused that and proceeded to draw the newly defined borders. This brought the Hamar to declare an escalation of protests. They also sent a delegation to Khartoum to discuss the problem, which eventually led to the freezing of the demarcation process.

Source: Radio Dabanga

About four million Sudanese live and work in Egypt. And many intend to follow. Up to at least eight daily flights depart from Khartoum International Airport with Sudanese leaving their country for good in search for a better life for their families in Egypt. Osman Mirghani, Editor-in-chief of the Sudanese El Tayyar newspaper, wrote in an opinion piece posted in Erem News about this “migration to the north”.

Since many years, Sudanese patients seek treatment in the Egyptian capital for treatment. It is better and cheaper than in their home country, they say. Those who cannot afford an air ticket, travel by bus along the Nile to the north. The number of buses at the Sudanese-Egyptian often exceeds 30, a traveller told Radio Dabanga early last year.

Yet, since the military coup of October 25 last year, people in Sudan, and in particular youth, have lost hope of a steady income and fear the future. Married men search for jobs in abroad as they cannot support their families anymore with their Sudanese salary. because of continuing high inflation. Those who do not find work in Saudi-Arabia and the Gulf, try their luck in Egypt.

Many students as well register at Egyptian universities as Sudanese universities are closed on-and-off, and have reportedly a lower level. And Sudanese who do have a good income, buy a second home in Cairo, “just in case, for when hell breaks loose in Sudan”.

“The political crisis in Sudan has completely paralysed the country. Most factories and projects are on the verge of bankruptcy. Even small companies have dried up like leaves in the dry season, but the greatest calamity is that there is no prospect of getting out of the tunnel, Osman Mirghani, Editor-in-chief of the Sudanese El Tayyar newspaper, wrote in an opinion piece, posted in United Arab Emirates-based Erem News earlier this month.

Following a “visit to ‘Secure Egypt’ as the famous poem of Sudanese Sheikh El Bur’i says”, Mirghani said he was shocked when he learned about the huge numbers of Sudanese living in Egypt “which reveal how far the Sudanese crisis has reached”.

‘Migration to Egypt is no longer just an escape from a miserable economic situation in Sudan, but rather a search for a life that meets the standards of dignity’ – Osman Mirghani

“No one knows the consequences of the rushing torrent of the Season of Migration to the North,” he states, referring to the famous novel written by Tayeb Salih.

Mirghani mentions that 22,000 Sudanese students are studying in Egyptian public universities. They pay “the same fees as the Egyptian students, all colleges are open to them without exception*.

“There are more than 110 Sudanese schools to accommodate the increasing numbers of students who prefer to adhere to the Sudanese curriculum and courses, and last year more than 4.000 Sudanese students sat for the Sudanese Secondary School exams in Egypt. [..] “Migration to Egypt is no longer just an escape from a miserable economic situation in Sudan, but rather a search for a life that meets the standards of dignity.”

In an analysis of the current crisis in Sudan, the editor-in-chief blames in particular the country’s political parties. “It is not possible to rely on reforming the political behaviour of the parties in the near future, as they are still in their old delusion, unable to criticise themselves and review their biography and trajectory, thus reproducing old mistakes.

Therefore, the Sudanese political system should be restructured “so that it does not become dependent on the ruling political system, no matter how rational or flawed it may be. “This is not a new invention. Rather, it is what all stable and developed countries do, making what is for politics for politics and what for administration is for administration. [..] “The solution to this problem is contained in legislation that prevents political regimes from invading the civil service institution, so the political playing field becomes confined to the sovereign domain that expresses ‘authority’ and not ‘government’.

“Otherwise, the emigrants will not return, but others will follow,” the article concludes.

Source: Radio Dabanga

Workers and traders went on strike in various parts of Sudan in the past few days to protest increased taxes and high fines. Workers also protested over unpaid salaries and the failure to implement the promised 2022 salary structure. Some strikes and protests took place around political disagreements as well.

Sudan’s economy is in peril, and poverty rates are likely to be even higher than reported. With rising inflation and low wages, most Sudanese are struggling to afford their basic needs.

The government lost more than $4 billion in international support, secured by the previous government of PM Abdallah Hamdok, when the military took power in a coup on October 25, 2021.

Since the coup, exports also decreased significantly, leading to a loss of income, and recently the Finance Ministry announced that it expects no external support for the 2023 budget. These factors do not paint a rosy picture for the state treasury.

For the people, unrest increased now that state governments announced significant tax increases to enhance their income, leading to strikes and protests.

Market traders in Sennar went on strike and all shops closed their doors on Sunday to protest the large tenfold increase in taxes. Not only market traders and shopkeepers went on strike, but private health institutions such as clinics, pharmacies, and medical laboratories are also part of the action.

Mohamed Abu Hereira, one of the Sennar market traders, told Radio Dabanga’s Voice of the States programme that the increase in taxes in the state seriously affected them. “The new tax estimates are arbitrary and imaginary, and should be reversed,” he said.

“The exorbitant taxes will certainly lead to great losses among traders and force many to leave the market permanently,” Hereira added.

‘The exorbitant taxes will certainly lead to great losses among traders and force many to leave the market permanently’ – Sennar market trader

The traders submitted a memorandum to the tax director in Singa, the capital of Sennar, but did not receive a satisfactory answer.

Neighbouring El Gezira also witnessed protests. In Tembol, workers embarked on a strike and traders closed their shops at the town’s market to protest a tax increase and recent days-long electricity and water outages.

In El Hasaheisa, rickshaw drivers staged a protest in front of the Judicial Authority building because of exorbitant fines.

In eastern Sudan, the El Gedaref Traders Association threatened to strike as well due to the imposition of taxes that exceeded the previous estimates by three times.

Kamal El Amir, a member of the steering committee of the El Gedaref Traders and Companies Association reported that, in a meeting, its members had unanimously decided to stop working, not to engage in commercial activities, and to close the public market because of the increased taxes.

Salary strikes

On Sunday, junior doctors in all hospitals across Sudan embarked on a three-day general strike because their salaries had not been paid for eight months.

The Junior Doctors Committee said in a statement on Sunday that the Federal Ministry of Health did not respond to the doctors’ demands within the period specified by the protesters.

The committee threatened to strike for an indefinite period if its demands are not met.

Yesterday, the High Committee for Claiming Workers’ Rights in Red Sea state announced the continuation of the strike for the second week to demand allowances according to the new 2022 salary structure.

Sudan has been witnessing a large number of strikes and protests following the federal authorities’ failure to implement the promised 2022 salary structure for civil servants, which increases wages amidst Sudan’s rising inflation. Despite being more than halfway through the year, many workers are still paid their old salaries instead of the increased 2022 wage.

The committee said in a statement that it rejected a proposal made by the state government to pay an alternative in cash and continue paying the clothing allowance according to the old salary structure.

The committee confirmed that it has no objection to scheduling the payment of the allowances in instalments, but they should be disbursed according to the new salary structure so that workers get the full amount they are entitled to.

Disagreements

In northern Sudan, doctors announced the escalation of their protests following the dismissal of the official spokesperson for the steering committee of the Northern State Doctors Association by the director general of the state’s Ministry of Health.

In a statement yesterday, the steering committee described the decision as unfair and announced new escalatory steps.

The medics had laid down their tools since last week to demand an improvement in the work environment and the payment of financial dues. Instead of implementing these demands, their spokesperson was dismissed by the ministry.

In North Darfur, protesters continued to close the state offices in El Sereif locality with a sit-in on Sunday, for the fourth consecutive day, to protest the appointment of a new superintendent from the Bani Hussein tribe. Chief Executive Officer Ismail Rabeh left the locality.

The protesters accused the North Darfur authorities of violating an earlier agreement concerning the appointment of native administration leaders, in particular concerning nazirs*. The agreement stipulates that each tribe should hold a conference to choose its nazir, and that they should not be appointed by state authorities.

The protesters told Radio Dabanga that two police vehicles arrived from Kabkabiya to contain the situation.

Source: Radio Dabanga

The Committee for Prisoners and Missing Persons working to gather more information on those who went missing during battles between armed rebel movements and Sudanese military forces before the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement officially commenced its work in its office in Khartoum yesterday and is now open to receiving complaints and information from stakeholders.

In a press conference on Sunday at the premises of the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), Head of the committee Suleiman Hajjana said that the committee deals with those who went missing or were captured during battles between the Sudanese government and armed rebel movements between 2002 and 2020, before the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement.

The committee was formed by decree of the Senior Public Prosecutor. Amongst its members are representatives from the various military and security authorities of Sudan: the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces* (RSF), the General Intelligence Service (GIS), and the Sudanese police forces.

On the side of the rebel movements, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the Sudan Liberation Movement faction headed by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council (SLM-TC), the Sudanese Alliance, and the Sudan Liberation Forces Gathering.

The tasks of the committee are to count and classify the prisoners and missing persons, investigate facts about their whereabouts, and to determine what their fate has been.

Source: Radio Dabanga

In sermons during Friday prayers in Khartoum last week, imams of mosques strongly criticised Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim for exempting his nephew from paying customs fees for a new car.

The Muslim preachers considered this corrupted practice “a breach of the balance of justice in the country”.

Videos and excepts of the sermons of well-known Sheikh Adam Ibrahim and Sheikh Mahran Mahir were posted on social media.

“They are lying in the name of religion,” Sheikh Ibrahim stated angrily. The Finance Minister is telling “the poor Sudanese population that they should depend on and support themselves. [..]

“He is giving the son of his brother the right to be excluded from customs fees, while at the same time he is barring the others from any rights. [..] “Where is his superior? Why do you keep silent on this corruption he is spreading? Or is he backed? He has forces. He has weapons. Don’t you fear God?” he asked.

Sheikh Mahran spoke about sheer injustice, and quoted the Prophet Mohamed who said that any leader should be held accountable for his deeds.

The sermons found a wide response among large sectors of society, El Intibaha newspaper wrote. Many people required the Minister of Finance to be held accountable.

Jibril Ibrahim, the leader of the Darfuri rebel Justice and Equality Movement, was appointed in February last year by former PM Abdallah Hamdok as Minister of Finance, following the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement in October 2020 between the Sudanese government and the Sudan Revolutionary Front alliance of a number of rebel groups in the country.

Following the coup d’état of October 25 last year, Hamdok and most of his ministers resigned, but Ibrahim and the ministers of Interior Affairs and Defence, both army generals, remained in their positions. Other rebel leaders who were appointed as members of the Sovereignty Council as well stayed put.

Radio Dabanga reported end August that Ibrahim expects the country’s budget for 2023, like the current year’s budget, to be devoid of international support. He said that industrial mining and agricultural production should be increased for Sudan to become self-sufficient in the future.

A month earlier, he said he expects large profits from the export of gold this year.

Many Sudanese are suffering from malnutrition and hunger. This month up to 40 per cent of Sudanese may slip into food insecurity, UN agencies warned.

Source: Radio Dabanga

Thousands of the Abyei residents on Sunday carried out peaceful demonstrations demanding autonomy and recognition by the international and African communities.

The community leaders handed a petition with their demands to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abye (UNISFA).

The 4,000 square mile Abyei Area lies on the border between South Sudan and the Sudan that was been accorded “special administrative status” by the 2004 Abyei Protocol in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). However, the issue remained unresolved when South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011.

The paramount chief of Abyei, Bulabek Deng Kuol, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that he wanted the international and African communities to accept the Abyei people’s decision to become an independent zone without any connection with Sudan or South Sudan.

“The important thing is that I beg the international and African communities to accept the decision of the Abyei people because they have been suffering since the Anyanya I war between the North and the South in 1955 until the Addis Ababa Agreement,” he said. “And again from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army war in 1983 until the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005.”

“The people of Abyei are still suffering although South Sudan gained its independence and for that reason, we hope the opportunity should be opened to the People of Abyei to enjoy stability, security, and prosperous life,” he added.

Paramount chief Bulabek said the decision to demand autonomy was reached by the nine Ngok Dinka communities without the involvement of any government.

An Abyei resident who was among the demonstrators and preferred anonymity for security reasons said they were demanding self-rule.

“Of course, the demonstrations are meant for Abyei autonomy for the time being until its fate is decided in the future,” he said. “Abyei must be an independent area and if the referendum is endorsed, they will decide later whether to join Sudan or South Sudan.”

Another Abyei resident, Nyanmou Majith, said they came up with the decision so that they would be free from threats along their boundaries.

“We are supporting the move and we are thankful because we want to make things ready and stay proud in our land,” she said. “We always run away from our homes for our lives so all women are supporting the resolution.”

Source: Radio Tamazuj