♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦

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

♦  Sudan to share govt posts with rebel leaders

July 3 – 2020 KHARTOUM The Sudanese government has reached an understanding with the armed movements about power-sharing on the highest level.

The decisions relate to the long-awaited appointment of civilian governors, changes in the police and security apparatus, and a cabinet reshuffle.

The government and the armed movements who are close to round up the peace negotiations agreed on replacing three to four federal ministers and two members of the Sovereign Council in favour of the rebels.

Representation quotas for the rebel groups in the still to be formed Legislative Council are still to be discussed.

In a speech to the Sudanese nation on Monday, PM Abdallah Hamdok pledged to correct the course of the 39-months transitional period within two weeks, “to put the locomotive of the revolution back on the right track”.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North faction in South Kordofan led by Abdelaziz El Hilu separately joined the peace talks. Though no progress has been reported, the rebel group decided on July 1 to extend its unilateral ceasefire until the end of this year. Hamdok has welcomed the decision.

♦  Sudan govt sends delegation to Nierteti sit-in

July 3 – 2020 NIERTETI / KHARTOUM The Sudanese government has expressed “full solidarity” with the sit-in in Central Darfur Nierteti set up in protest against the local authorities who reportedly do not move to stop the rampant insecurity in the area.

The vigil in Nierteti started on Sunday, when thousands of people, including residents of the adjacent camps for the displaced, took to the streets in protest against the continuing attacks in the area. They set up a sit-in in front of the Nierteti locality offices.

The protestors demand protection against repeated attacks by militant herders and militiamen, in particular during the agricultural season, arrest of perpetrators of attacks, disarmament of the militiamen in the area, and the dismissal of the director and the security committee of Nierteti locality, as well as the heads of the police, the security service, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the locality.

Government spokesman Feisal Mohamed Saleh described the demands as “fair and worthy of consideration by the government”. Within 48 hours, a government delegation will arrive from Khartoum to discuss the problems in the area directly with the demonstrators, he said.

On Wednesday, hundreds of people from nearby villages arrived in Nierteti in support of the sit-in. Yesterday, more supporters arrived, including people from neighbouring localities in Central and South Darfur.

In a statement on Thursday, the Sudanese Professionals Association condemned “the continued neglect and slow steps to solve the security problems faced by the people in the area”. These problems “must be dealt with immediately and at the highest levels”.

More news from Radio Dabanga:

Eastern Sudanese Koran teacher sentenced to death

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Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan resume talks on Renaissance Dam

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Pharmacists report major medicine gap in Sudan

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Sudan Families Support project launches pilot

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Mass response to Sudan’s 'March of the Millions'

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Sudan PM pledges to set transitional period ‘back on course’

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NCP sabotage plotters’ held in Khartoum raid

June 30 – 2020 KHARTOUM NORTH Nine leading members of the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP) and the Islamic Movement were arrested in Khartoum North on Thursday, Sudan’s Minister of Information has confirmed. The …

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