♦ This week’s news in brief ♦

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

♦  Sudanese women demand govt to sign CEDAW

January 3 – 2020 KHARTOUM On Thursday, hundreds of women demonstrated in downtown Khartoum demanding Sudan’s new government to sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The participants of the rally, called for by 60 feminist organisations, raised banners calling on the government to accelerate the signing of the CEDAW agreement. “The entire world, except us. You make us feel ashamed,” they chanted.

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly. It has been ratified by 189 states.

The regime of Omar Al Bashir, ousted in April 11 last year, was opposed to the equation of men and women. In February 2017, Islamist groups strongly resisted constitutional amendments that would give women more rights in marriage and inheritance affairs.

In post-Al Bashir’s Sudan, feminists have appealed for more women participation in the government and in the peace negotiations more than once.

♦  West Darfur violence leaves 47,000 people displaced

January 5 – 2020 EL GENEINA Sudanese volunteers reported that the number of people who have been forcefully displaced by the recent violence in El Geneina has reached 47,000.

The newly displaced, including 15.000 women and 20,000 children, who fled to the city have been allocated in 19 temporary shelter centres such as schools, mosques, and government institutions in El Geneina.

The volunteers confirmed that despite local efforts in providing basic needs for them, there remains a huge gap in humanitarian assistance. “The people urgently need temporary latrines, life-saving medicines, and soap, as well as blankets and clothing.”

Violence broke out in the evening of December 29, reportedly after a young Masalit tribesman killed a Maaliya herder in Kerending camp. In response the relatives of the victim attacked relatives of the perpetrator and torched the market. The attacks continued on Monday. The two Kerending camps burned down to the ground.

Districts of El Geneina and villages north-east of the city were attacked as well. More than 80 people were killed and 190 others injured. About 80,000 people have been affected.

On January 1, a delegation led by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and Sovereign Council Deputy Chairman Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemeti’ arrived in El Geneina to assess the situation.
 

More news from Radio Dabanga:

Sudan to double teacher salaries in education revamp

January 6 – 2020 KHARTOUM Minister of Education Mohamed El Amin announced that as part of a plan to restructure Sudan’s education system, the government has decided to double salaries for teachers to make the profession more attractive, and guarantee high-score students places at university.

SPA: ‘Structural changes needed for Sudan’s police and security services’

January 5 – 2020 KHARTOUM According to the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), the administrative structure of police and security services must be changed to avoid any potential violence. In a statement on Friday, the SPA said that the violence and insecurity the country has recently witnessed are “well organised acts rather than coincidences”.

North Darfur villagers flee militia attack

January 5 – 2020 KABKABIYA Dozens of people have fled their homes after gunmen attacked their village in Kabkabiya locality, North Darfur, on Wednesday. The attackers reportedly plundered the village. Activist Adam Juma told Radio Dabanga that armed men riding on camels and horses attacked Terinja village

Minister: ‘Sudan free of dengue, chikungunya’

January 5 – 2020 KHARTOUM Sudan’s Ministry of Health has declared that the country is free of dengue and chikungunya for the first time since August 2019. The International Epidemiological Office (OIE) of the World Organisation for Animal Health has declared that livestock is also free of epidemic diseases in Sudan.

Sudan’s hard currency reserves cover three months of imports

January 3 – 2020 KHARTOUM The hard currency reserves in the Central Bank of Sudan suffice the country's need for imports for a period ranging between two to three months, the Deputy Director of the Central Bank of Sudan said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Sudan’s Two Areas: Rebel cease fire extended till March

January 2 – 2020 KAUDA The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North faction led by Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N El Hilu) announced on Wednesday, the extension of the unilateral cease fire for three months in the states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Juba peace talks: Progress on northern Sudan track

January 1 – 2020 JUBA The Sudanese peace negotiations continued in the South Sudan capital of Juba on Tuesday, with progress made on the northern Sudan track. At the session on Tuesday, the Sudan government negotiation delegation headed by member of the Sovereign Council Lt Gen Shamseldin Kabashi received the proposal of the northern Sudan track team concerning the region.

64th anniversary of Sudan’s independence: El Burhan pledges reforms

January 1 – 2020 KHARTOUM The Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, has pledged to adopt a national programme that aims to promote Sudan, enhance living conditions, and focus on reforms to boost development in all fields

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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