♦ This week’s news in brief ♦

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

♦ Price hike protesters beaten by police officers

January 16 – 2018 KHARTOUM In the past week at least 39 politicians and protesters have been detained by the security apparatus during demonstrations against the recent price increases following the implementation of the new annual budget. Protesting students faced tear gas and beatings by riot police.

Videos circulating on social media or sent to Radio Dabanga show the use of force by Khartoum's riot police against peaceful demonstrators in the street. In the first video, a man is beaten by riot police with batons. In the second video, marching and chanting women and men are violently dispersed by riot police with batons.

Newspapers covering the protests have been seized a total of eleven times this week by the Sudanese security apparatus.

In the government's attempt to halt the steadily increasing hard currency rate at the black market, it completely cut its wheat subsidies. The prices of wheat, but also fuel and other commodities, immediately doubled or even tripled. Experts have criticised the budget for relying mainly on levies and taxes to cover its deficit.

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♦ Sudan buffs up security: 'Eritrea, Egypt threaten borders'

January 12 – 2018 KHARTOUM / KASSALA Khartoum has officially announced its preparation for “security threats” from its neighbour Eritrea after military movements in the area adjacent to Sudan’s Kassala state. The border remains closed.

The border between Sawa (Kassala) and Eritrea has been closed for two weeks while Sudan deployed a large contingent of Rapid Support Forces to the area – their exact number has not been reported. Kassala has been in a State of Emergency starting December, which coincides with Sudan’s collection campaign of illegal weapons.

Sudanese foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, said that he and his Ethiopian counterpart Workneh Gebeyehu were not talking "about threats to a country per se" but that they have information that shows there are some who would mean them harm, during their meeting on Sunday. "This is why we are anticipating whatever danger can come from there," Ghandour said.

Both the Sudan-Ethiopia and Sudan-Egypt relations have soured. Khartoum has recalled its ambassador in Cairo following the reports of Egyptian troops presence in Eritrea. The latest tension was sparked after Sudan signed an agreement to temporarily hand over the Red Sea island of Suakin to Turkey. Also, struggle over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam between Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia has affected their relations.

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