♦ 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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Sudanese shrug shoulders at Political Framework Agreement 'being touted as end of military rule'
 
December 7 – 2022 KHARTOUM While civilians and pundits cautiously welcomed Sudan’s new framework agreement, and others lauded its signing on Monday, several political parties and groups have expressed their categorical rejection of a settlement with the military.
 
In interviews with Radio Dabanga, many Sudanese, stressed by daily worries, shrugged their shoulders at the news that the agreement had been signed. The Sudanese “are seriously underwhelmed by what's being touted as the beginning of the end of Sudan coup military rule,” a tweet on Monday read. “Excitement [and] anticipation levels [are] almost zero, regarding [the] signing of Framework Agreement.” The agreement will be followed by the signing of a Final Agreement between the two sides on several outstanding issues.

Beja protesters close port in protest of Sudan's new Framework Agreement, port workers disagree
 
December 9 – 2022 PORT SUDAN Beja protesters have closed the gate to the Southern Port in Red Sea state since Wednesday evening in protest against the Framework Agreement, signed on Monday. Port workers are doing their best to continue work inside the port as usual.
 
Workers told Radio Dabanga that there are dozens of Beja protesters blocking the gate to the port, preventing lorries from entering. The port workers, and other people in Port Sudan who depend on the Southern Port, reject the protest action, the seaport workers’ trade union leader Osman Tahir told Radio Dabanga. He accused former Governor of Red Sea Mohamed Tahir Eila of inciting Sheiba Dirar, head of the National Beja Congress and the Eastern Sudan Movements Alliance, and called on them not to use the work at the harbour as leverage in political conflicts.

Sudan judge orders criminal case against Kober prison director in trial of tortured detainees
December 12 – 2022 KHARTOUM The Khartoum court dealing with the case against three young protesters, accused of killing a police officer during anti-junta demonstrations in January, instructed the filing of a criminal case against the director of Kober Prison for violating the law and ignoring court orders.
 
24 killed in renewed West Kordofan clashes after cattle theft
December 12 – 2022 ABU ZABAD At least 24 people were killed and others were injured in an ambush in ​​​​Abu Zabad, West Kordofan, on Saturday. The attack caused tensions in the region to rise.
 
Sudan doctors: 50+ injured as Dec 8 Marches of the Millions suppressed
December 11 – 2022 KHARTOUM / OMDURMAN / PORT SUDAN More than 50 protesters were wounded during the Marches of the Millions in Khartoum and Omdurman on Thursday, according to a field report on Friday by the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) say that 54 demonstrators were injured, 47 in Khartoum, and seven in Omdurman.
 
Call to review Sudan procedures and laws that ensure legal abortion access for rape victims
December 11 – 2022 KHARTOUM A workshop focusing on legal abortion in Sudan has called for amendments to procedures and laws regarding rape victims’ rights to legal abortion, and suggests a raft of training courses for police, medical professionals, and members of the media, to increase awareness when dealing with victims of gender-based violence (GBV).
 
Violence in West Kordofan, impunity for perpetrators said to be Al Bashir-affiliates
December 9 – 2022 EN NEHOUD / MUGLAD / HABILA A soldier and a young woman were shot dead in El Nehoud locality, West Kordofan. The incident drew widespread condemnation and demands to dismiss the local police chief. Locals say the incident is related to recent violence by Omar Al Bashir allies.
 
Cooking gas crisis continues in Sudan
December 9 – 2022 KHARTOUM People in the country complain about the worsening cooking gas crisis and the scarcity of gas distribution centres in various states of Sudan. The crisis comes not long after an attack on a West Kordofan oil field and a report in which whistle-blowers in Sudan’s oil industry reveal that the military intentionally neglected securing oil fields.
 
Perthes tells UNSC: ‘Political framework agreement in Sudan could signal a way out of the uncertainty and insecurity sparked by October 2021 coup’
December 8 – 2022 NEW YORK / KHARTOUM The political framework agreement signed in Khartoum on Monday “now offers a path to realise the aspirations of Sudan’s youth, women and men,” the head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Volker Perthes told the UN Security Council (UNSC) in New York via video link from Khartoum.
 
International community lauds Sudan's new FFC-military agreement
December 7 – 2022 KHARTOUM The regional and international community have lauded the signing of the long-awaited political framework agreement with the military junta by 40 parties, movements, and professional groups at the Republican Palace in Khartoum on Monday.
 
43 protesters injured during anti-FFC-military agreement demonstrations
December 7 – 2022 KHARTOUM The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors reported that 43 protesters were wounded during anti-framework-agreement demonstrations in the Sudanese capital on Monday.