♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦

A compact weekly digest of Dabanga Sudan's news highlights from Darfur and Sudan

♦  Sudan PM Hamdok ‘safe and well’ after motorcade 'terror attack'

March 9 – 2020 KHARTOUM NORTH Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok is reportedly ‘in good health and in a safe place’ after his motorcade was attacked with an explosive device in the capital at 9 am this morning.

The official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported that the motorcade of Hamdok was ‘subjected to an explosion attempt at the entrance of Kober Bridge in Khartoum North, as the PM made his way to his office in Khartoum.

In a brief statement via SUNA this afternoon, Minister of Culture and Information Feisal Mohamed Saleh confirmed that the PM’s convoy was targeted by a “terrorist explosion” and “fire was opened against the convoy” near Kober Bridge while on the way to the office of the Council of Ministers in Khartoum.

“The Prime Minister himself came out unhurt, the guards of the convoy were also unhurt, save one member of the motorcade who sustained a minor injury on the shoulder as his motorcycle overturned.”

Minister Salih added that “the PM is currently in his office conducting his business as usual”. Security authorities have started an investigation into the attempt.

♦  Sudan Minister announces 'unprecedented wage hike'

March 4 – 2020 KHARTOUM Sudan's Minister of Trade and Industry Madani Abbas announced in a press statement yesterday that there will be “important and unprecedented increases” of salaries in Sudan on April 20.

Minister Abbas explained that the Council of Ministers approved the recommendations of the report of the National Wages Task Force.

The minister also announced that the government will invest in health care, education, infrastructure and electricity. Jobs will be created and working conditions will be improved.

The exchange rate for US Dollars at the parallel market jumped to SDG 113 (buying) and SDG 111.5 (selling). The Euro sells for SDG 120. Last week, traders asked SDG 107 for one Dollar. The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Sudan is SDG 55.14 for $1.

Traders attributed the rise to the scarcity of -and therefore high demand for- foreign currencies. They say that both traders and ordinary citizens wish to keep their savings in foreign currencies or real estate, as the value of the Sudanese Pound continues to fall.

The traders expect the exchange rate for foreign currencies to keep on rising.

More news from Radio Dabanga:

12 dead, many wounded in Darfur violence

March 10 – 2020 BELEIL / GARSILA At least 12 people died, and an unspecified number of people were wounded, in an attack by herders on Dewana village in Beleil locality in South Darfur on Monday. Troops have been …

Darfuri women demand peace ‘as soon as possible’

March 9 – 2020 JUBA A delegation of Darfuri women presented its recommendations to the Sudanese peace negotiations in the South Sudanese capital Juba yesterday. They urged the negotiating parties to accelerate …

US delegation: Sudan ‘soon’ to be removed from terrorism list

March 9 – 2020 KHARTOUM A delegation from the US Treasury Department met with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and Minister of Foreign Affairs Asmaa Abdallah yesterday to discuss removing Sudan from the US list …

Sudan’s sorghum production one third less than last year

March 7 – 2020 KHARTOUM According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ food supply assessment for Sudan, the national total production of sorghum and millet in 2019/20 is estimated at 5.1 million …

Sudan Finance Minister apologises for govt's inability to curb inflation

March 6 – 2020 KHARTOUM In a press conference on Thursday, Sudan’s Minister of Finance offered his apologies for the government's inability to curb the rampant inflation and stabilise the foreign exchange rates. The …

Human rights activist, businessman detained in Sudan capital

March 6 – 2020 KHARTOUM On Thursday, a group of Sudanese lawyers filed a complaint to the Public Prosecutor regarding the detention of a human rights activist in Khartoum earlier this week. An eastern Sudanese businessman …

Interview: Will Al Bashir face ICC in The Hague or Sudan?

March 5 – 2020 UTRECHT The case of deposed Sudan dictator Omar Al Bashir has been a prominent international criminal case for years. It is not only about the mass victimhood, but it is also about international justice, ending …

Sudan protests against water shortage and gold mines

March 4 – 2020 NEW MANASEER / SAWADRA Residents of New Manaseer in River Nile state staged a protest yesterday morning because they have been cut-off from water for more than a week as a result of power outages. People …

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