♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦
A compact digest of the past week’s most-read highlights, from the heart of Sudan.
Judicial Authority in Khartoum (File Photo: SUNA)
A compact digest of the past week's most-read highlights, from the heart of Sudan. Subscribe to receive this digest weekly in your inbox.
October 23 – 2022 THE HAGUE *By Emma DiNapoli, Legal Officer at REDRESS* Since the October 25 2021 military coup, rumours of an “imminent” political breakthrough have circulated countless times. This time around, almost exactly one year since the coup, a deal between the military and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) may actually be drawing nearer.
Earlier this week, a story in Bloomberg indicated that “under the suggested deal… the pact would provide some form of independence and immunity from prosecution for the military, concessions that would roll back commitments made in a constitutional document written after Bashir’s fall.” Without knowing more about the specifics of the deal, no concessions to the military in relation to immunities should be accepted by either Sudanese opposition groups or international mediators.
Sudan taxes to be amended further in 2023 amidst waves of protests
October 25 – 2022 KHARTOUM On Sunday, the Council of Ministers approved the proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to amend the income tax on businesses and real estate profits and the personal income tax for the year 2023 amidst complaints and strikes against the government’s tax policies.
The decision came after the Chambers of Commerce Federation (CCF) demanded an immediate review of the current economic policies and the abolition of the business profits taxes, which were recently increased significantly. On Sunday, the merchants of Shendi Grand Market in River Nile state went on a two-day general strike because of the exorbitant taxes recently announced by the federal Ministry of Finance.
’This kind of violence is new to Blue Nile' says Sudanese state Health Minister
October 26 – 2022 ED DAMAZIN / WAD EL MAHI / EL ROSEIRES Jamal Nasir, Minister of Health of Blue Nile state, reported that the number of victims during the recent clashes has risen to 233 dead, and 217 wounded, many of them suffering from burns. "This kind of violence is new to the region," he told Radio Dabanga.
Sudan anti-junta demos face brutal resistance
October 26 – 2022 KHARTOUM At least one demonstrator has died as hundreds of thousands of Sudanese took to the streets across nine states, to mark the anniversary of the dawn coup d’état of October 25, 2021. Marchers were met with fierce resistance from Sudan’s security forces.
Sudan's Blue Nile state capital 'completely paralysed' after Sunday's violence
October 25 – 2022 ED DAMAZIN / EL ROSEIRES Ed Damazin, capital of Blue Nile state, witnessed a relative calm Monday morning although the situation remained tense and normal life in the town is completely paralysed after shooting continued until late Sunday evening in El Rabee and El Nahda neighbourhoods and inside the city’s Grand Market.
Sudan’s new Revolutionary Movt to focus on rural areas, calls for wide participation in today’s protests
October 25 – 2022 KHARTOUM The SPLM-N Democratic Revolutionary Movement split-off group headed by Yasir Arman called on the Sudanese to join the demonstrations against the coup that took place one year ago. This weekend, the group’s Central Council members met for the first time and agreed to focus on the Sudanese “living in the countryside”.
Protester killed during demonstrations against Sudan's military coup
October 24 – 2022 KHARTOUM The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors (CCSD) reported on Sunday that an unidentified demonstrator was killed in Khartoum after being shot in the chest during street protests earlier that day.
Sudan: Fighting in Blue Nile state capital, demos call for governor's dismissal
October 24 – 2022 ED DAMAZIN / WAD EL MAHI / EL ROSEIRES As the situation in Blue Nile state deteriorates due to outbreaks of violence, demonstrators calling for the dismissal of Governor Ahmed El Omda burned the buildings of the Secretariat of the state government in Ed Damazin, capital of Blue Nile state, on Sunday.
ACJPS: Death sentence of young Sudanese woman a human rights violation
October 24 – 2022 KOSTI On Friday, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) published a statement condemning the sentencing to death by stoning of 20-year-old Amal*, after she was found guilty of adultery, violating article 146 (2) of the Sudanese Penal Code 1991.
Renewed Sudan inter-communal conflict leaves four dead in West Kordofan
October 23 – 2022 LAGAWA Four people were killed in an armed inter-communal clash in the Um Khashmin area of West Kordofan on Friday morning.
At least 198 dead in Sudan Blue Nile state clashes
October 23 – 2022 WAD EL MAHI / ED DAMAZIN / EL ROSEIRES The death toll rose to at least 198, with more than 90 injured as a result of the Wad El Mahi inter-communal clashes in Blue Nile state. The regional government declared a state of emergency, preventing large gatherings and vehicle rental, as well as imposing a curfew in an effort to stem the violence.
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