♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦

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

♦  Covid-19 cases ‘higher than official data’ – Eid prayers banned in Sudan

May 24 – 2020 KHARTOUM / OMDURMAN / EL FULA / EL FASHER Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health reported 235 new Covid-19 patients, which brings the total number to 3,378 recorded cases in the country.

On Friday, Sudan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments banned the traditional Muslim prayers of Eid El Fitir to limit the spread of Covid-19. He instructed all mosques in the country to comply with the decision.

In an interview with the BBC Arabic on Friday, Minister of Health Akram El Tom admitted that the actual number of those infected with Covid-19 is higher than those formally reported.

“The undermining of the health authorities and the precautionary social distancing measures are the primary reason for the rapid increase of the pandemic in the country,” El Tom said. He also criticised the weak implementation of the social distancing measures in some states.

On Friday, a delegation of the Sudanese government officials arrived in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, to assess the recent disproportional death toll in the state. On May 20, Radio Dabanga reported that a full lockdown was imposed in El Fasher, after dozens of people, most of whom were seniors, died within a week.

♦  Newly displaced in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains living rough

May 21 – 2020 KADUGLI The Sudanese Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO) reported today that a group of armed men belonging to the Rapid Support Forces raided El Berdab on May 13.

They asked the villagers about their ethnic background. Those belonging to a Nuba tribe, the majority of the villagers, were killed or beaten-up. More than 200 homes burned to ashes.

A listener told Radio Dabanga from Kadugli that almost the entire population of El Berdab, at least 2,000 villagers, sought refuge in two schools near the base of Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in the town. Others searched for protection in neighbouring villages.

He said that the newly displaced people are now living in a very critical humanitarian situation, without water or food. No aid has been provided. The state government has requested them to return home without offering any protection.

A report by the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies on violence in Sudan between March and May this year indicates that members of the army and the RSF continue to violate human rights in the country.

More news from Radio Dabanga:

Khartoum massacre demo dispersed, hospital director arrested

May 25 – 2020 KHARTOUM / PORT SUDAN The police violently dispersed a demonstration in Omdurman on Saturday to commemorate the first anniversary of the Khartoum sit-in massacre. The medical director of El Tijani …

Foreign Ministry: Sudan’s removal from US terror list ‘a matter of time’

May 24 – 2020 KHARTOUM Sudan’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Omar Gamareldin, asserts that the removal of Sudan from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism – regarded as a priority for Sudan’s economic …

Sudanese doctors strike after assault on colleagues

May 22 – 2020 KHARTOUM On Thursday, the United Doctors Office announced a strike in all hospitals in Sudan for a period of 72 hours, after four doctors in the Omdurman Teaching Hospital were injured in an attack on …

Eastern Sudanese lawyers: Clashes are political, not tribal

May 22 – 2020 KHARTOUM The Eastern Sudan Lawyers' Association has called for the formation of an independent investigation committees and the establishment of special courts in Red Sea state, Kassala, and El Gedaref …

Overcrowding during re-opening of banks in Sudan

May 22 – 2020 KHARTOUM During the past three days, banks in Khartoum and a number of state capitals witnessed severe overcrowding. Following the Central Bank of Sudan's decision to re-open the banks for three days ending on …

Sudan peace talks continue despite split in rebel alliance

May 21 – 2020 JUBA On Tuesday, the South Sudanese team mediating peace talks between the Sudanese government and the armed movements in Juba confirmed the continuation of the negotiations after the rebel group of Minni …

Registered coronavirus cases in Sudan double in two weeks

May 20 – 2020 KHARTOUM / EL GEDAREF / RABAK / SENNAR / KASSALA The total number of registered coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Sudan since the beginning of the pandemic is now 2,728, the federal Ministry of Health …

Op-ed: Unamid presence is desperately needed in Darfur

May 19 – 2020 DABANGA SUDAN By Dr Adeeb Yousif. Before I embark on proposing my ideas regarding the fundamental need for Unamid in Darfur, here are powerful words from former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: “Humanity …

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