♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦

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.

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Central Darfur trader slain in market dispute
 
January 1 – 2023 ZALINGEI Two people were killed and four others injured in an attack on a market south of the Hameedia camp for the displaced in Zalingei, capital of Central Darfur. Camp residents told Radio Dabanga that a trader was stabbed to death at his stall at the Moreen market following a dispute over a bank payment. The police had arrested the alleged debtor, after which relatives of the accused reportedly killed the trader and attacked the nearby camp.

After the arrest of the alleged debtor in the dispute over the payment of a phone battery, his relatives stormed the market, shot heavily into the air, stabbed the trader, plundered several shops, and torched large parts of the market. Two others were stabbed as well and one of them died. Gunmen reportedly also attacked the eastern side of the camp on Thursday evening, firing heavily and burning three houses in the presence of the government forces stationed there.

Hemeti visits South Darfur to investigate security concerns
 
December 30 – 2022 NYALA / JUBA Commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Vice-President of the Sovereignty Council Gen Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Dagalo met with the South Darfur Security Committee in the state capital Nyala concerning the attacks on over 10 villages in Beleil with alleged RSF involvement. On Wednesday evening, Hemeti also met with several Darfur Administration leaders in Khartoum, pledged not to take sides with any party, and called on all “to ignore the claims of some who want to divide the people into ‘blacks’ and ‘Arabs’”.
 
More than 10 villages in Beleil, which is located south-east of the state capital and is populated by non-Arab farmers of the Daju tribe, were attacked by large groups of Arab gunmen on December 21 and 23. Some of them allegedly were wearing uniforms of the RSF and driving in RSF vehicles. RSF soldiers even appeared in video recordings of the attacks.

New Dabanga Sudan website: only 1 day till launch
January 8 – 2023 DABANGA SUDAN As part of our core mission to provide independent news from the heart of Sudan, the designers at Dabanga Sudan have redeveloped, updated, and renewed our website, adapted to today’s needs to be viewed dynamically across platforms and devices, and to dovetail seamlessly with social media.
 
Sudan deploys extra forces on border with Central African Republic
January 7 – 2023 UM DUKHUN A large joint force of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, army soldiers, and other Sudanese security forces has been deployed along the border with the Central African Republic (CAR).
 
Sudan police ‘still controlled by beliefs and behaviour of former regime’
January 6 – 2023 KHARTOUM The use of violence against protesters continues “as in former years”, retired Police Lt Col El Tayeb Osman El Samani told Radio Dabanga and explained that “the police are still controlled by beliefs and behaviour inherited from the former regime,” posing a challenge to meaningful reforms.
 
South Darfur tribes agree to ‘cessation of hostilities’
January 4 – 2023 BELEIL Leaders of the Daju and Rizeigat tribes signed an agreement ‘to end hostilities’ in South Darfur under the supervision of  Vice-President of the Sovereignty Council and Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Dagalo. Jurists and community activists question the feasibility of quelling the violence through reconciliations.
 
Egyptian initiative to break Sudan political impasse
January 4 – 2023 KHARTOUM In a bid to break the political stalemate between a number of political groups in Sudan over important but thorny issues in the Final Agreement on the coming transitional period, Egypt has presented a new platform for dialogue between the parties.
 
Decision to disband the Sudanese Bar Association committee halted until appeal
January 3 – 2023 KHARTOUM The Sudanese Supreme Court ordered a temporary halt to the disbanding of the Sudanese Bar Association (SBA) Steering Committee after the SBA had submitted an appeal. The SBA called the original Supreme Court ruling “a political move”.
 
Sudan street protests against the military continue despite violence
January 1 – 2023 OMDURMAN / KHARTOUM On Friday, pro-democracy protesters commemorated the people killed during anti-junta protests on December 30, 2021. During the recent December 26 demonstrations, at least 42 protesters sustained injuries.
 
Over 16,000 displaced following attacks by gunmen in South Darfur
December 28 – 2022 BELEIL / NYALA The United Nations reported that more than 16,000 people have been displaced after attacks on villages in Beleil, South Darfur. Members of the Sultanate of Daju said people in Rapid Support Forces (RSF) uniforms took part in the attacks.
 
Native administration condemn ‘weak response’ of Sudan’s Blue Nile gov to crisis
December 26 – 2022 ED DAMAZIN / EL ROSEIRES / KHARTOUM Native administration leaders of the Blue Nile region are calling for the replacement of Ahmed El Omda, the acting governor of the Blue Nile region because of his “weak response” to the ongoing crisis.
 
Economist: Budget approval delays impact Sudan’s fragile economy
December 25 – 2022 KHARTOUM Economist Mohamed El Nayir criticised the delay in the 2023 budget approval, pointing to its negative effects on the economy, which already constitutes a heavy burden on the Sudanese. It is the first time that the national budget approval is delayed.

Eastern Sudan’s Adarob faction of the Beja Nazirs Council refuses invitation to join negotiations
December 23 – 2022 PORT SUDAN / KHARTOUM The High Council of Beja Nazirs and Independent Chieftains faction led by Ibrahim Adarob told Radio Dabanga that it was invited by the Trilateral Mechanism to participate in the upcoming Final Agreement negotiations but refused after not being included in the previous stages.