♦ Sudan: This week’s news in brief ♦
A compact weekly digest of Dabanga Sudan’s news highlights from Darfur and Sudan
Passenger transport in Sudan (Retlaw Snellac / Creative commons)
A compact weekly digest of Dabanga Sudan's news highlights from Darfur and Sudan
♦ Coronavirus: Dusk-to-dawn curfew declared across Sudan
March 23 – 2020 KHARTOUM Sudan is to impose a country-wide curfew from 8 pm to 6 am effective tomorrow, until further notice. The National Security and Defence Council announced the decision following its meeting earlier this evening.
The new precautions against the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic also include a shut-down of public transport to limit travel. All bus traffic will have to stop at 6 pm on Thursday.
As of yesterday, no new cases of the virus have been identified in Sudan. Radio Dabanga reported earlier today that according to the Sudanese Ministry of Health 47 people are still in isolation in two centres in Khartoum. In total, 341 people have been cleared and discharged from quarantine.
As of March 21, two cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Sudan. One of them died.
During the border opening to allow Sudanese from abroad to re-enter Sudan on March 20 and 21, a total of 413 people arrived. They were screened at Khartoum International Airport, the seaport at Port Sudan, and along the border with Chad. Those coming from Covid-19 affected countries must stay in quarantine at home for a period of 14 days.
A government-sponsored call centre was activated on March 19 for questions related to the coronavirus. The call centre operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
♦ Sudan govt, rebels agree on Darfur wealth sharing issues
March 19 – 2020 JUBA The Sudanese government delegation and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebel alliance agreed on most issues of the Darfur wealth-sharing file yesterday.
Darfur which will be one province again will be able to use its resources and funds freely, without interference from Khartoum.
Ibrahim Zariba, chief negotiator of the Sudan Liberation Forces, an alliance of Darfur rebel factions, told Radio Dabanga from the South Sudanese capital of Juba where the peace talks are being held that the two parties agreed on the distribution of resources, the expenditure of services, and a fund to support sustainable development in Darfur.
SRF chairman El Hadi Idris reported in a press statement in Juba on March 17 that some wealth-sharing issues still need to be agreed on. “There are issues related to the size of financial obligations to be paid by the government to a number of special commissions, particularly the Commission for the Reconstruction of Darfur.”
Another outstanding issue in the wealth-sharing file concerns the proportion the Darfur province receives from its resources such as oil, gold and other minerals.
According to the adjusted peace talks schedule set by the South Sudanese mediation, a comprehensive peace agreement should be reached by April 9.
More news from Radio Dabanga:
Ministry: No confirmed coronavirus cases in South Darfur
March 24 – 2020 KASS On Monday, the Ministry of Health in South Darfur announced two suspected cases of a Coronavirus (Covid-19) among the Egyptian nationals who are currently serving as United Nations African …
Sudan peace talks: Agreement on commission for nomads and herders
March 22 – 2020 JUBA The government delegation and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebel alliance in the Darfur track of the Sudan peace talks being held in the South Sudan capital of Juba, have agreed on the formation …
UNSC proposal to replace Unamid during Sudan’s transition to democracy
March 22 – 2020 NEW YORK The UN Security Council is considering a new peace-building mission that could replace the current UN-AU peacekeeping mission Unamid. The mandate of the new mission would be to assist Sudan …
Sudan fuel crisis continues amid complaints about corruption
March 20 – 2020 EL TADAMON / SENNAR / PORT SUDAN / EL GENEINA / KHARTOUM The fuel crisis is continuing in various parts of Sudan, while people complain about fraud. At the land port in Khartoum, the prices of bus …
Darfur refugees in Chad: ‘No peace without security, justice’
March 20 – 2020 DABANGA SUDAN According to Darfuri refugees residing in eastern Chad camps, there can be no peace without security or justice. “First, we need security. Without security, there can be no voluntary return, justice, …
Economist: ‘Support small businesses while combatting coronavirus’
March 18 – 2020 KHARTOUM The head of the economics department of the International University of Sudan, Dr Majda Mustafa, has called on the government to mitigate the effects of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures on small …
Arrest warrant against Sudan’s former foreign minister
March 18 – 2020 KHARTOUM The Public Prosecution of Sudan issued an arrest warrant yesterday against Ali Karti, former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2010-2015) and former coordinator of the Popular Defence Forces militia. The Public …
March 18 – 2020 OMDURMAN / BOUT In the past three weeks two churches have been torched by militants in Sudan, one in Khartoum and another in Blue Nile state. Lawyer and human rights defender Dimas Marajan strongly condemned …
This digest is an excerpt from the weekly Sudan News Update. Subscribe here to receive the newsletter directly in your inbox.
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