♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦

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

♦  Sudan army: Ethiopian attack repelled

June 23 – 2020 EL FASHAGA The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) pushed back an attack of the Ethiopian army in the border area of El Fashaga in El Gedaref on Sunday, the Sudanese army said in a statement yesterday.

According to the statement, the Ethiopian army attacked the El Anfal army base on the eastern bank of the Atbara River in El Fashaga locality on Sunday afternoon. SAF troops “caused the aggressors great casualties and repulsed them”.

Military leaders of both countries are in direct contact about the incident. They agree that both parties must show restraint and continue the dialogue.

The SAF statement affirmed the right of the Sudanese army to defend the Sudanese territory “by all legitimate means”.

On May 28, Ethiopian gunmen killed a Sudanese army captain and wounded three people. The Sudanese army claimed at the time that the gunmen were supported by hundreds of Ethiopian army soldiers. The violence caused at least 5,000 people to flee the area.

Last week, Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council and Commander of the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemeti’ visited Addis Ababa to discuss bilateral issues.

♦  Investigation: Satellite images show visible destruction in Darfur linked to RSF attacks

June 26 – 2020 AMSTERDAM By Nouska du Saar Sudan’s largest paramilitary force has carried out nearly 100 attacks against towns, farms, and civilians in North Darfur and Jebel Marra since 2016. A number of these villages have been destroyed and have turned into ghost towns after residents fled the area, satellite images from before and after the attacks show.

Verifying reports of attacks on residential areas in Darfur has been difficult due to the remoteness of towns, the lack of footage and the scarcity of news reports from Sudan’s western region.

Research and media non-profit Lighthouse Reports has analysed news reports and satellite imagery of villages that have reportedly witnessed large-scale attacks and arson at the hands of members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Attacks by the paramilitary RSF have led to numerous civilian deaths and displacement of people in Darfur, according to human rights organisations. The RSF have been formed by janjaweed fighters that have terrorised the Darfur region for years since 2003. Then, and now, commanded by Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemeti’, who also became deputy-chairman of Sudan’s now leading Sovereign Council after protesters toppled 30-year dictator Omar Al Bashir in April 2019.

In April this year, Sovereign Council Chairman Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan said that the army and the tens of thousands of RSF troops will protect Sudan and the revolution. This is the same force that follows tactics of arson in villages in Darfur, leaving abandoned areas they can lay their claim on.

While the influence of RSF commander Hemeti continues to grow in Sudan, Darfur’s ghost towns remain, and the land ownership issue is far from buried.

More news from Radio Dabanga:

Coronavirus lockdown in Khartoum eased next week

June 29 – 2020 KHARTOUM The High Commission for Health Emergencies announced that the lockdown in Khartoum will be extended for an additional week, from June 30 to July 7. The restrictions will be gradually eased …

Sudan: Relatives of December Revolution victims demand justice

June 28 – 2020 KHARTOUM On Friday afternoon, the Families of the Victims of the December Revolution handed a memorandum to the Sovereign Council and the Council of Ministers, in which they demand justice. The …

Rebel delegation in Khartoum optimistic about Sudan peace talks

June 28 – 2020 KHARTOUM On Friday, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereign Council, received a written message from South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit regarding the current negotiations …

More than 27,000 new displaced in Darfur’s Jebel Marra in need of aid

June 27 – 2020 KHARTOUM Following fighting between rebel groups in Central Darfur’s Jebel Marra in early June, thousands of people fled their homes. About 27,000 people took refuge in the village of Toga, near …

International partners to support Sudan with $1.8 billion

June 26 – 2020 BERLIN During the High-Level Sudan Partnership Conference, co-hosted by Germany, the European Union, the United Nations, and Sudan, in Berlin on Thursday, the international community pledged a …

Pompeo: Accord underway with Sudan on compensation for 1998 bombings

June 25 – 2020 WASHINGTON DC According to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, an agreement with the Sudanese government on the victims of the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, …

RSF shoot policeman dead in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains

June 25 – 2020 KADUGLI Four men wearing uniforms of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed a policeman and wounded another near Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, 10 days ago. The Sudanese Human Rights and …

Second European Covid-19 aid flight arrives in Khartoum

June 24 – 2020 KHARTOUM / BERLIN The European Commissioner for Crisis Management and Humanitarian Aid Janez Lenarčič visits Sudan today. He accompanies the second European Union's coronavirus humanitarian aid …

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