♦ This week’s news in brief ♦

July 6 – 2019 KHARTOUM The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) coalition of armed movements does not accept the agreement reached between the Transitional Military Council and the Alliance for Freedom and Change (AFC) on Friday morning.

According to SRF chairman Minni Minawi, the agreement “does not reflect the country's pressing issues nor respects its sacrifices”. In a statement on July 5, he stressed that “Any agreement not based on peace-making is an extension of the old regime” under the leadership of Omar Al Bashir.

Malik Agar, leading member of the SRF, called for an urgent meeting of the AFC to be sponsored by the African Union “to link the democratic transition to a just peace”. The African Union that together with Ethiopia brokered the talks between the military council and the opposition, should facilitate the Addis Ababa meeting. “Through this meeting the AFC decisions can be supported by all of its members. In this way, the civil society will be able to support transition, peace, democracy, and regional stability in Sudan,” he stated.

Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW), leader of the mainstream Sudan Liberation Movement, called the agreement a “cheap bargain” and “a betrayal of the revolution and the blood of the martyrs”. He described the new government to be formed as “an extension of the former regime.

♦ Military junta and Alliance for Freedom and Change reach agreement on transitional period in Sudan

July 5 – 2019 KHARTOUM The ruling Transitional Military Council and the opposition Alliance for Freedom and Change (AFC) reached an agreement on power-sharing in the early hours of Friday morning July 5. The transitional period will last three years and three months and will followed by general elections.

A Sovereign Council will be established, consisting of 11 members. Five members will be from the military, five will be civilians. The 11th member, a civilian, will be selected by both the TMC and the AFC. One of the Council members will act as president.

The presidency will rotate. The coming 21 months the president will be from the military, followed by a civilian for 18 months. The AFC will be responsible for forming a non-partisan government of technocratic.

An agreement has also been reached on an investigation into the violent breakup of the Khartoum sit-in on June 3 and the more than 100 protestors killed. There will be a “national, meticulous, transparent and independent investigation” and the findings will be made public.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Khartoum and Omdurman after the news came out, celebrating the agreement.

♦ EU accused of 'hiding' links to Sudanese armed groups in migration funding

July 3 – 2019 KHARTOUM The European Union has been accused of “hiding” the impact of its funding of the Sudanese government and its paramilitary forces as part of a programme to stem the flow of migrants from Africa to Europe.

Though the EU claims it provides no funding to Khartoum, activists and researchers say otherwise, arguing the organisation’s migration initiatives also benefit, at least indirectly, the country’s notorious Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.

A letter from Sudanese and Eritrean rights groups accused European Council president Donald Tusk of farming out its migrant policy to countries known for systematic abuses, including Sudan.

“During your term as president of the European Council, the European Union and its member states have externalised migration policy through direct and indirect cooperation with regimes and militia forces that are entirely unaccountable,” said a collective letter to Tusk, signed by a group of mostly Sudanese and Eritrean rights groups last week. “The European Union has hidden behind the execution of such programmes by third parties.”

More news from Radio Dabanga:

Experts warn against consequences of Sudan economic deterioration

July 8 – 2019 KHARTOUM Several experts have warned against the consequences of a continuous economic deterioration in Sudan. The sooner the situation is taken care of, the …

Sudanese celebrate agreement between junta and opposition
July 6 – 2019 KHARTOUM Since Friday morning, people in Khartoum and other Sudanese cities have been celebrating the conclusion of the agreement between the Transitional Military …

Darfur armed groups question partial release of rebel combatants
July 6 – 2019 KHARTOUM The Sudan Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) welcomed the release of combatants of two rebel groups, but wonders why imprisoned members of other …

Abandoned by the UAE, Sudan’s Bashir was destined to fall
July 4 – 2019 KHARTOUM In his 30-year rule, Sudan’s Omar Al Bashir survived coup attempts, rebellions and war. Insiders say it was his failure to read the politics of the region, and …

New restrictions on Sudan internet

July 4 – 2019 KHARTOUM  The Sudanese authorities have imposed new restrictions on the telecommunications sector and the internet, blocking the loading and uploading of multimedia …

‘Organised liquidation’ by Sudan militia: Four resistance committee members slain
July 3 – 2019 KHARTOUM / WAD MADANI Four leading members of resistance committees, set up in the neighbourhoods of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, were reportedly killed during …

US Dollar rate rises sharply on the streets of Sudan
July 3 – 2019 KHARTOUM / PORT SUDAN The buying price for the US Dollar rose sharply on the Sudanese parallel market on Tuesday, while the prices of basic commodities continues to rise …

Demos defy Sudan’s militia as more bodies found in Nile
July 2 – 2019 OMDURMAN / ATBARA / EL OBEID / WAD MADANI On Monday, people demonstrated in Omdurman chanting slogans condemning the Transitional Military Council …

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