♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦

29/10/2020 01:11 DABANGA SUDAN

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

US President Donald Trump calls Sudan PM, Abdallah Hamdok, the President of the Sovereign Council, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to confirm normalisation of ties between the two countries (US State Department)

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

October 26 – 2020 KHARTOUM Sudan, the United Nations and the African Union have confirmed that the UN-AU mission in Darfur UNAMID will exit Sudan on December 31 as planned.

The decision was taken during the visit of African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Smaїl Chergui and UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix to Khartoum. They met with Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, chairman of the Sovereign Council, Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Gamareldin on Sunday.

Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok said that the Sudanese government will fully support the new UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), and facilitate the exit of UNAMID. According to the UN Security Council Resolution 2524 (2020) adopted on June 3, UNITAMS will be established for an initial period of 12 months.

Both Chergui and Lacroix praised the government’s efforts in implementing its National Plan for the Protection of Civilians in Darfur. The government has deployed joint forces in Darfur. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Mohamed Shareef said that Sudan will be able to fill the void when UNAMID exits.

Sudan's political parties divided over relations with Israel

October 26 – 2020 KHARTOUM Political parties in Sudan are divided about normalisation of relations with Israel. The Sudanese government defends its decision to do so.

Sovereign Council chairperson Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that Sudan will normalise its relations with Israel.

The National Umma Party, the Communist Party of Sudan, the Arab Baath Party, and the Nasserite Baath Party, denounced normalisation of relations with Israel. The Sudanese Congress Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, the National Umma Party faction led by Mubarak El Fadel, the Republican Party, and the Sudan Revolutionary Front rebel alliance support it.

The Democratic Forces Movement (Hagg), which also supports normalisation of the relations with Israel, called on the Sovereign Council and the Council of Ministers to cancel the Israel Boycott Law of 1958.

400% fuel price hike announced
October 28 – 2020 KHARTOUM The government will introduce new fuel prices, with an increase of more than 400 per cent over the previous price. Effective at 18:00 on Tuesday, a litre of service diesel will cost SDG46, while the price of a litre of commercial diesel will become SDG106.

October 27 – 2020 KHARTOUM Religious leaders and heads of Sufi orders in Sudan signed the International Religious Freedom Round Table Declaration in Khartoum on Monday, “inspired by the spirit of peace and prosperity for the people of Sudan and all those of goodwill in the world.”
 
October 27 – 2020 KHARTOUM / ADDIS ABABA / CAIRO / TSHWANE To resume the trilateral negotiations, the three country’s respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Irrigation will held a ambassadorial meeting at the invitation of the African Union’s current president, South Africa.

$370m agreement signed for 'Samarat' family support programme

October 24 – 2020 KHARTOUM The government and the World Bank signed a $370 million grant agreement yesterday to support economic reforms of the transitional government in Sudan, the sum of which includes $200 million from the World Bank and $170 million from Europe.

Israel relations to be normalised as Sudan is taken off US terror list

October 23 – 2020 WASHINGTON DC This afternoon, US President Donald Trump confirmed to congress his intent to formally rescind Sudan’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, in a move that has been eagerly and cautiously awaited by Sudan.

Attack on South Darfur villages leaves 12 dead

October 23 – 2020 GIREIDA / KUTUM At least 12 people were killed by gunfire and 27 others were wounded in attacks on the area of Haddad in Gireida locality in South Darfur and a villager was abducted in Kutum locality in North Darfur this week.

One dead, several injured as forces fire on demo

October 22 – 2020 KHARTOUM A protestor died and several others were hospitalised after security forces allegedly opened live fire on a group of demonstrators in Khartoum North. A Sky News Arabia camera crew was arrested, beaten, and forced to erase their footage.

Kassala issues emergency order

October 21 – 2020 KASSALA The order prohibits public gatherings, road blocks, and spreading “harmful pictures and rumours”. Violating the order will carry up to five years of imprisonment, a fine of SDG50,000, and confiscation of the devices which were used during the offence.

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