♦ 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.

Crime and insecurity on the rise in Sudan capital
 
October 7 – 2022 KHARTOUM Sudan's economic and political crisis has led to much unrest and many strikes and protests but it is also having another, very problematic effect: increased crime and insecurity. Kidnappings, looting, and theft are becoming increasingly common in Khartoum and some seem to believe that the authorities deliberately allow and even encourage the chaos to distract from their failed policies and intimidate revolutionaries.
 
Armed groups with machetes have reportedly raised terror in Khartoum North (Bahri), assaulting and robbing people and shops. Apparently, the police responded by firing tear gas but did not pursue any of the perpetrators. Police inaction is common in Khartoum and activists accused security forces of not carrying out their duties. The military junta is also accused of exploiting these events to maintain control after failing to curb political unrest or gain popular support.

Sudan trader strikes continue, more market closures to come
 
October 11 – 2022 EL GEDAREF / KOSTI / DELLING / WAD MADANI Traders in El Gedaref and White Nile state went on strike again to protest a tenfold tax increase. Strikes have been announced in South Kordofan and El Gezira too. They coincide with the start of the tax appeals committees' work. The increased taxes are a new government strategy to fill the national treasury.
 
Traders and merchants in El Gedaref went on strike again and closed all stores and stalls in the main market and other markets They also marched to the tax appeals committee office to show their opposition to the committee's work and their rejection of the tax increases recently imposed by the Federal Ministry of Finance on traders amidst fears that the exorbitant taxes will force many to leave the market permanently.

Sudan's SPLM-N release nine Misseriya herdsmen
October 14 – 2022 KHARTOUM / JUBA Deputy Chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemeti' Dagalo praises the release of nine Misseriya herdsmen held captive by the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) under the leadership of Abdelaziz El Hilu. The release was mediated by President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit.
 
Sudan politics: 'Imminent agreement' between FFC-CC and military
October 14 – 2022 KHARTOUM There has been news of an agreement between the Forces for Freedom and Change-Central Council (FFC-CC) and the military component of the government that provides for a civilian prime minister and a 'government of competencies'. Control over the proposed Security and Defence Council remains a point of contention.
 
‘Disappointment’ after Sudan re-elected to UN Human Rights Council
October 13 – 2022 NEW YORK / GENEVA / KHARTOUM Lawyers and human rights defenders have voiced their disappointment after Sudan was re-elected by the UN General Assembly on Monday to serve on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the period 2023-2025.
 
Opposition parties reject moves towards any settlement with Sudan coup leaders
October 12 – 2022 KHARTOUM The National Consensus Forces (NCF), an alliance of progressive political parties, reject any movements towards a political settlement after several meetings between Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council and the tripartite mechanism.
 
Sudan food crisis: Children poisoned in Darfur camp after eating from landfill
October 11 – 2022 NYALA Head of the Otash camp for the displaced in Nyala locality, South Darfur, Sheikh Abdelrazeg Jales revealed that a child has died and three others were taken to the hospital in critical condition after being poisoned eating from the landfill in El Kosha near the camp as Sudan's food crisis worsens.
 
Military involvement in Sudan's transition proposed by political forces
October 10 – 2022 KHARTOUM The National Accord Forces (NAF), and the Sudan People’s Call initiative signed a political declaration on Saturday, which is an amendment of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, for a transitional period of 24 months.
 
Khartoum resistance committees continue protests against Sudan 2021 coup
October 10 – 2022 KHARTOUM / OMDURMAN On Sunday, resistance committees in Khartoum organised demonstrations as part of the October protest escalation schedule marking the first 'anniversary' of the October 25 coup, calling for comprehensive civilian rule.
 
NGOs urge UN members to block Sudan’s bid for Human Rights Council
October 9 – 2022 GENEVA / NEW YORK / KHARTOUM A cluster of 18 NGOs have called on the permanent representatives and all member states of the United Nations to reevaluate the candidacy of Sudan to the UN Human Rights Council as “the human rights practices in Sudan are clearly incompatible with the well-defined criteria for membership of the HRC”.
 
FFC rejects Sudan re-election to the UN Human Rights Council
October 7 – 2022 KHARTOUM The Forces for Freedom and Change-Central Council (FFC-CC) call for Sudan's re-election to the UN Human Rights Council to be rejected because "Sudan’s current unconstitutional regime has continuously and systematically violated the human rights of its citizens since 25 October 2021" when the military took power in a coup d'état