Day: March 2, 2023

The death of 16-year-old protester, Ibrahim Majzoub, who was shot in the chest, allegedly by a police officer, during the February 28 pro-democracy processions in East Nile in Khartoum North, has sparked widespread condemnation from both the national and international community.

A suspect has reportedly been arrested and is being questioned, and had his immunity lifted. Activist groups in Sudan have called for the accused to be tried for premeditated murder.

In a press release by the head of the Martyrs’ and Violations Prosecution Office, El Taher Abdelrahman, he states that procedures for Majzoub’s autopsy have been completed and an official report under Article 130 of the Criminal Code has been registered.

Abdelrahman added that events surrounding the killing have been caught on the viral video depicting Majzoub’s death and “a number of witnesses, as well as the weapon used in his killing” will be used as evidence against the accused.

In an interview with Radio Dabanga, lawyer Ishraga Sultan stated that this incident should be treated as a “premeditated execution”. She demanded that charges under Article 130 of the criminal code be escalated to premeditated murder and crimes against humanity. According to the lawyer, a statement issued by the Khartoum state police press office depicted the killing as a response to “demonstrators using violence”.

Khartoum Resistance Committee member, El Fateh Hussein, also denounced the police statement which excused the accused’s actions as a response to violence on the part of the demonstrators. Hussein stated that the “police had shown a total disregard” for protesters, and that the accused “pointed his weapon at the demonstrator and fired with intent to kill”.

He added that this issue was endemic and Majzoub’s killing was not simply “individual behaviour on the part of the policeman”.

Unified Doctors’ Office member and leader in the mainstream Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC-Central Council), Dr Alaa Nugud, echoed the endemic issue of violence on the part of the junta. He stated that these crimes were “aimed at thwarting the political process and pressuring civilians to withdraw from it”.

Nugud told Radio Dabanga that the “political process represents the only way out of the country’s crises” and stressed that “since the signing of the Framework Agreement, we expected an escalation of violence”. The FFC-Central Council leader stated that authorities resorted to violence “after the failure of their other options”.

The Unified Doctors’ Office also stated that the culture of security apparatus suppression during peaceful processions, “led to the accused daring to commit such a crime”.

The head of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr Rifat Mirghani, called on the authorities to take all measures to protect demonstrators from all forms of violence.

Mirghani underlined that peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are unequivocal rights “guaranteed under the constitutional document, as well as international and regional treaties ratified by the state, and as such, the state must respect and protect these rights”.

The commission reiterated its observation about the persistence of impunity in all cases of violence committed against demonstrators and stressed the importance of the public interest in this current investigation.

International reaction

The Troika member states (USA, UK, and Norway) expressed their deep concern over the continued killing of peaceful demonstrators, now making Ibrahim Majzoub the 125th protester to have died, since the military coup on October 25, 2021.

In their statement, the Troika representatives strongly condemned the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, “stressing the need for perpetrators to not go unpunished”.

They expressed their appreciation for the prompt action taken by the Ministry of Interior in condemning the killing of the protester, and confirming that necessary legal measures were being taken against the accused officer.

Troika stated that they were steadfast in their support in the restoration of a transitional government led by civilians to meet the demands of the Sudanese people for a free, peaceful, and just future for Sudan.

The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) also issued a condemnation of the shooting of a young demonstrator, stating that “the use of live bullets against demonstrators is unacceptable and contradicts Sudan’s human rights obligations”.

In a statement by UNITAMS, they urged the “authorities to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation into this death”, and all other human rights violations that occurred in the context of the protests since October 25, 2021, to hold those responsible accountable.

Source: Radio Dabanga

A member in the Unified Doctors’ Office in Sudan attributed the dengue fever epidemic in Khartoum and other states to the Ministry of Health’s failure in stemming the spread with “sound scientific methods”.

In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Dr Alaa Nugud stated that the ministry’s announcement of the first wave of the epidemic that began last year, as well as their actions in closing certain areas off to contain the spread, was far too late.

According to him, the only reason the ministry took any steps in announcing the fever’s emergence in the fist place, was due to the news that had surfaced of dengue-related deaths in Khartoum.

As well as the poorly timed announcement and cordoning-off of fever stricken areas, Nugud stated that the doctor’s strike and lack of available blood bags was another serious issue that exacerbated the epidemic. He added that the ministry should have done more in the way of funding an awareness campaign.

The Higher Committee for Health Emergencies in Khartoum earlier announced a state of alert and mobilisation of support from all capable states and partners, to contain dengue fever in the capital.

Khartoum and El Gedaref

Sudan’s Federal Minister of Health, Dr Haisam Ibrahim, announced earlier this month that *dengue fever had emerged in the Khartoum and El Gedaref for the first time, noting that two separate deaths from symptoms related to dengue fever, also referred to as haemorrhagic fever, were recorded in both locations.

At a press conference held in Khartoum on February 23, the minster stated Khartoum had recorded 110 confirmed cases and 169 suspected cases, while El Gedaref had recorded 59 confirmed cases and 80 suspected cases.

Dr Ibrahim stated that 104 cases were confirmed in Ombadda in Omdurman, as well as five cases in the Karari locality.

He emphasised that the cases had nothing to do with *Rift Valley fever, which affects animals.

Haitham pointed out that entomological surveys confirmed the presence of vector-borne mosquitoes in most states, attributing the extensive spread of the disease to the “cessation of routine operations related to disease control during the last three years”, as a result of Sudan’s economic, political, and security conditions.

Source: Radio Dabanga

South Sudan’s Presidential Press Secretary on Wednesday demanded an apology and withdrawal of a report by The Sentry released late last year that claims to have uncovered massive corruption in the South Sudan National Security Service (NSS).

Addressing a press conference at the Office of the President, Lily Adhiew Martin Manyiel, said the government demands the immediate withdrawal of the report from circulation and issues an apology to every individual, company, or entity that has been named in the report.

In the report released in early December, The Sentry accused the NSS of being ruthless, secretive, and well-funded and its personnel involved in widespread grave human rights abuses, including kidnapping, torture, and illegal detention.

Adhiew said the report purports to be a fact-based document with commentary that has been widely disseminated internationally with false and or misleading allegations.

“The intended recipient of the false and or misleading information published by the Sentry is international agencies such as United Nations and its satellite organizations. The Sentry is a US-based organization that seeks targeted sanctions, seizure of assets, and notice of financial risk amongst many other measures, to cause harm to the sustainability and economic development of the Republic of South Sudan,” Adhiew said.

She noted that The Sentry has misrepresented South Sudan’s laws for companies and misled its readers by citing dormant companies as actively trading.

“The report is based upon flawed methodology, using second-hand hearsay including click-bait and newspaper articles, generic references to document collections, self-referential material, and anonymous sources, all of which prevent further proper scrutiny of the serious allegations made against both individuals and the National Security Service,” she said. “The Sentry’s Report reveals a lack of investigative rigor, the recycling of information without independent research, and misjudgment in making the most serious of allegations of wrongdoing based on false, misleading, and incomplete information that was either deliberate or reckless.

Adheiu continues to cite examples: “In one instance, for example, no substantive information was cited to underpin the most serious of recommendations, namely the sanctioning of a named individual, Mr. Jalpan Obyce, whose reputation has now been tarnished. In another instance, the Report recycles a so-called “well-exemplified” case cited by the United Nations Panel of Experts that is flawed and misrepresents the true facts concerning Brigadier General Malual Dhal Muorwel and 25 others.”

She stressed that the government is aware that a significant number of individuals named in the report have issued letters of complaint to The Sentry, providing corrective information.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

A 20-Year old woman identified as Christine Ihideng was found hanging in her room in the Hai Battery residential area of Torit Town in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State.

Mustafa Albino Zacharia, the Mayor of Torit Municipal Council told Radio Tamazuj that the woman committed the act at 5 Am on Wednesday and that police were investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

“A girl hanged herself in Hai Battery, and she was aged between 19-20 years old. The reason for her committing suicide is not known up to now because she hanged herself without telling anybody,” he said. “We don’t know why she hanged herself, it was the police who took her dead body and they did not tell us the report.”

James Monday Enoka, Eastern Equatoria State Police Commissioner confirmed the incident and attributed the case to harsh economic times.

“Even last week there were three cases of suicides. The rate of suicides in Eastern Equatoria is alarming. This is the first time seeing the rate of suicide very high like that because of trauma, poverty that is why I am appealing to other people to do the study,” he said.

Source: Radio Tamazuj