♦ 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.

UN Security Council extends mandate of Sudan Panel of Experts

February 16 – 2022 NEW YORK The UN Security Council (UNSC) has issued a unanimous decision to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Sudan Sanctions Committee until March 12 next year. The decision is based on a report from Secretary-General António Guterres concerning the progress made in the following four main criteria: political and economic governance, transitional security arrangements in Darfur, a national plan for the protection of civilians, and transitional justice and accountability.

In its report to the security council in December last year, the Group of Experts emphasised that “the overall situation in Darfur remains very fragile” and that many areas “have witnessed widespread violence and a deterioration in the security situation, which has been described as the worst in recent years”.

More than 38 activists detained yesterday, over 100 detainees on hunger strike

February 18 – 2022 KHARTOUM Security forces detained more than 38 activists from different parts of Khartoum and took them to unknown destinations. More than a hundred detainees in Soba prison in southeast Khartoum continued their hunger strike for the fourth day in protest against their continued detention without legal charges.

Lawyer Osman Basri told Radio Dabanga that 17 artists were held while painting murals near Tahrir Stadium in Khartoum North. 21 others were detained in various parts of Khartoum Those recently arrested and detained have often been unlawfully detained with no charges brought forwards to start a trial. The detainees are prevented from seeing their families and lawyers and have also been refused medical care by doctors.

Detainees released during UN expert visit 'presents false picture’ on human rights in Sudan
February 22 – 2022 KHARTOUM Authorities have released roughly 40 political detainees in what has been criticised as an attempt to mislead the UN expert on human rights in Sudan, Adama Dieng, who is currently visiting Sudan. More than 160 political detainees are still held in prisons, often without clear charges or access to lawyers.

Sudan: ‘GERD electric start-up a breach of legal obligations by Ethiopia’
February 22 – 2022 KHARTOUM The government of Sudan has reacted angrily after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated hydroelectricity production at the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Sunday. Sudanese authorities said that the unilateral action constitutes “a fundamental breach of legal obligations” and contradicts what was agreed upon between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt in the 2015 Declaration of Principles.

At least 200 injured in 'Break the Chains' Marches of the Millions in Sudan
February 22 – 2022 KHARTOUM / OMDURMAN / KHARTOUM NORTH Large crowds demonstrated in Khartoum and other states in the February 21 Marches of Millions, which the Resistance Committees called the 'Breaking the Chains' demonstrations in order to demand the release of detainees. More than 200 protesters were injured as authorities intervened with excessive violence.

Sudan junta detains another member of anti-graft committee
February 20 – 2022 KHARTOUM Another member of Sudan’s suspended Empowerment Removal Committee (ERC) has been detained, as the coup authorities continue their crackdown on political opponents. Taha Osman Ishag, who is also a leading member of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), was held by a joint force of police and security agents in central Khartoum on Saturday.

Doctors angry over huge increase of public hospital fees
February 18 – 2022 KHARTOUM Doctors in the Sudanese capital strongly criticised the large, roughly tenfold increase of prices of medical services in government hospitals, which was decided on by the Khartoum state government.

Sudan farmers continue to face junta clampdown
February 17 – 2022 SUDAN Farmers in Sudan’s Northern State have met with the head of the Sovereignty Council, Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, in an attempt to break the impasse. Military forces broke up the barricades in the Abri area of Sudan’s Northern State. The forces then proceeded to open the Sheryan El Shimal road (Artery of the North), which links Sudan with Egypt, in order to let lorries pass.

Outcry from Sudan activists amid rising deaths, arrests
February 17 – 2022 SUDAN Adama Dieng, who was appointed in November 2021 by the UN Human Rights Council, has expressed deep concern over the killing of two protesters in Khartoum on Monday. A vigil was held outside the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Khartoum to denounce the arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances of coup authority critics.

AU: Sudan political crisis presents ‘grave risks’
February 16 – 2022 KHARTOUM The African Union Commission warns that the sensitive situation in Sudan threatens the country with grave political, security, and economic risks. A high-level AU delegation has concluded a three-day visit to Khartoum `with the stated aim “to help Sudan reach solutions that guarantee peace, unity, and stability”.

Sudan-Egypt border still closed to freight traffic
February 16 – 2022 NORTHERN STATE Farmers and members of Resistance Committees in Northern State continued to close the Sheryan El Shimal (Artery of the North) road in El Borgeig, Abri, and other points on Tuesday, to protest the military coup of October 25, and to demand the abolition of the new electricity tariff.