♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦

A compact digest of this week’s most-read highlights, from the heart of Sudan.

On September 24, Nuba in Khartoum march in support of the Hamdok-El Hilu deal to revive peace talks between Khartoum and the movement, from which the latter withdrew last month (social media)

A compact digest of this week's most-read highlights, from the heart of Sudan. Subscribe to receive this digest weekly in your inbox.


Sudan army, rebels blame each other for Central Darfur clash

September 29 – 2020 WESTERN JEBEL MARRA Government forces and the fighters of the Sudan Liberation Movement under the leadership of Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW) blame each other for a fierce clash that broke out between their forces in western Jebel Marra in Central Darfur on Monday. Each side accuses the other of launching the attack.
 
A statement issued yesterday by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) accused the rebel movement of attacking its positions in Jebel Marra, and confirmed that the armed forces responded to the attack.
 
The statement underlined the SAF commitment to the ceasefire associated with the current peace process, however in spite of that, “forces affiliated with the SLM-AW attacked our forces in the area of Boldon in Jebel Marra”. The statement indicated that the armed forces stationed at the site repelled the attack and put the rebel forces to flight.
 
In its own statement, the SLM-AW denied launching the Boldon attack.

New Dutch support for Sudan’s gum Arabic industry

September 24 – 2020 KHARTOUM Sudan and the Netherlands have agreed to support and facilitate establishment of gum Arabic processing factories in Darfur, Kordofan, and other states. The objective of the suggested factories is to increase the added value of Sudan’s substantial gum Arabic crop.
 
Sudan’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hiba Ali Ahmed and her accompanied delegation met with the deputy head of diplomatic mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sudan at the ministry on Wednesday, the official Sudan News Agency reports.

The minister praised the good historical ties between Sudan and the Netherlands and the assistance the Dutch provided to Sudan.

The Dutch deputy head of the mission affirmed the continuity of the technical support of his country to Sudan and efforts aimed establishment of investment relations to build partnership with Sudan in animal resources and agriculture, particularly in the field of Gum Arabic field.


European Union contributes to Sudan family support programme

September 28 – 2020 KHARTOUM The European Union and the World Bank signed an agreement yesterday to contribute $110 million to the Family Support Programme Samarat [Fruits] of the Sudanese government.

Sudan and South Sudan sign draft oil production agreement

September 27 – 2020 KHARTOUM The Sudanese Minister of Energy and Mining, Kheiri Abdelrahman, confirmed Sudan's commitment to providing aid in oil production in South Sudan "based on the eternal and historical relations between one people in two countries".

Economist: Khartoum economic conference ‘comes at time of disagreement’

September 26 – 2020 KHARTOUM The National Economic Conference was held in Khartoum following repeated postponement, against a background of hope that the deterioration of the Sudanese economy can be stopped and a road map can be created for its development.
 

Sudan relationship between religion and state 'defined'

September 26 – 2020 KHARTOUM Member of the Sovereign Council Mohamed El Taayshi said that the Juba Peace Agreement has defined the relationship between religion and state. He also confirmed that all actors have approved a federal governance system. 

IMF endorses staff-monitored programme for Sudan

September 25 – 2020 KHARTOUM The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund approved an agreement concluded between the Government of Sudan and the Fund, which will "pave the way for solving economic difficulties in Sudan".

USA compensation for USS Cole and embassy bombings ‘ready for payment’

September 24 – 2020 KHARTOUM Briefing the Council of Ministers, Hamdok clarified the efforts made to remove Sudan from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, and that the agreement contains clauses that protect the Sudanese government from any future issues.

ICC Prosecution seeks postponement of first hearing on Ali Kushayb case

September 24 – 2020 THE HAGUE The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecution has asked the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber II to postpone the ‘confirmation of charges hearing’ in the case of Ali Abdelrahman to June 1, 2021.
 

West Darfur women's forum for peace

September 23 – 2020 EL GENEINA The West Darfur Women’s Forum, that convened in the state capital El Geneina to involve women in the peace process, attracted broad participation of women in the state.

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