Sudan: Civilian Forces Signatories to the Framework Agreement – Press Release (20.04.2023)

The civil forces that signed the framework agreement submitted a detailed proposal on cessation of humanitarian hostilities during the blessed Eid Al-Fitr period to the leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, and I communicated with them throughout the day.

We welcome the positive position of the leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, and we will continue our efforts in the hope of silencing the voice of the guns and favoring peaceful options that remove the specter of collapse from our country, and give our great homeland an opportunity to recover and preserve its unity, sovereignty, security and freedom.

In conclusion, we extend our congratulations to our people on the occasion of the blessed Eid Al-Fitr, and we sympathize with our honorable martyrs who fell victims of this war, civilians and military, we hope that this holiday will be the beginning of an end to the grief, an end to the bloodshed, and the recovery of our wounded and bereaved homeland.

Civilian forces signatories to the framework agreement

April 20, 2023 AD

Sudan: Coordinators of the Resistance Committees of the state of Khartoum – The Resistance Committees condemn the clashes and the forces of the December Revolution demand an immediate cessation of fire (21.04.2023)

More than a hundred resistance committees in 18 states described what was going on in the country as an elite struggle.

The resistance committees that signed the Revolutionary Charter for People’s Power called in a statement for those they described as (honorable people within the army to wrest the army institution from the hands of those it described as generals, coups and subordination), stressing the need to confront all intelligence polarization attempts that use the military institution as a vehicle to serve narrow interests.

And she stressed the necessity of blocking the movement of (Al-Kizan) and trying to sympathize with the army to ensure the return of their organization.

He questioned the professional competence of the current army leadership, explaining that the leaders grew up during the period of political manipulation of the army in favor of the Islamic Front organization.

And she stressed the need to start immediately to reformulate the current military and security reality in order to reach as soon as possible a single professional national army.

It called for the dissolution and demobilization of the Rapid Support Forces, or its integration into the army through the well-known scientific and professional methods. This also applies to armed movements, up to the unified professional army.

In addition, the forces of the December Revolution demanded the immediate cessation of operations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces

The forces, which include 18 political parties and civil entities, including the Baath Socialist Party and the Darfur Lawyers Association, considered the failure of the one-day truce as evidence of the two parties’ indifference to the lives and suffering of the people.

And she called for broad solidarity with the victims in the camps, the stricken neighborhoods, the survivors of the chaotic bombing, or the injured. She stressed the need to stand together to stop the war.

Uganda: Deputy Attorney General Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi letter to Speaker Anita Among – “The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023” (20.04.2023)

Opinion: Déjà vu of 2014

It has nearly been a decade ago since the last Anti-Homosexual Bill was tabled and put into law in the Republic of Uganda. My stance has been the same the whole time. A bill that targets one minority will do no good. If you target one minority, the minority you belongs too could be next.

While the oppression, the brutal state and the authorities are unforgiving in their ways. The manners of which has only continued without any stops. The law enforcement are using means of kidnapping, keeping people incommunicado, imprisoned for years without charges or trials and neither is the actions of the state justified. Just like the state continues to arraign and put civilians into Military Courts. That’s a deliberate act and all the security agencies are in on it.

That’s why the new law from Asuman Basalirwa MP is a useless enterprise. His going after the same issue and same moral obligation as his predecessors did in 2014. What is striking is that he didn’t consider the Constitutional implications and how that would need to be amended before writing such a law. It was bound to fail and not happen…

That’s why the latest NRM Resolution are so in order. The Parliament has already enacted it and waited for the President to assent it. However, the President knows he cannot defy the donors or the multi-national organizations who feeds him. He won’t bite the hand that feeds him. The President know perfectly well that the economy isn’t booming and the domestic revenue isn’t growing either. He needs cash and fiscal stimulus. That can only come from afar and they won’t accept the law striking hard against the LGBTQ.

The International Community might write a condemnation and a warning for breaching human rights laws. Heck, they might even show support and visit a fellow opposition leader who are seeing their comrades suffer on the regular. However, they will not stop the criminalization of the opposition or the oppression, thereof… and the President knows this. So, it is easier to take away this law and get a bargain. Than to actually follow the populist and popular narrative of the day.

Museveni knows he can dismiss and call homosexuality “disgusting”. He can speak ill of it and call it unnatural. However, he will not give away the chance of fresh dollar bills or euros over a “holier than thou” bill in Parliament. I would have estimated that it would be challenged in the Courts and they would call it “void”.

I wouldn’t have thought or considered that Museveni would refer the bill back to Parliament for revision. No, that’s to much action and work for the old man. He could just await the game… and let the bygones be bygones. That’s what I anticipated, but the old man wants them to taste the bitter fruits. Because, his been here before… and we all have been here too.

This law was bound to fail, the way it was launched, manners of judgement and the whole ordeal was a tragic mess. Basalirwa MP should reconsider himself lucky. He has stained his name and reputation, as a “human rights” lawyer. His now just a pawn in a populist game and a man who has no issues digging the graves of a minority to get some political capital. That’s the sort of fella he is and the Parliament all went in on it.

The President just does this… to “win” and also prove a point. That you cannot twist the 1995 Constitution, only he can and he will when he needs it. Peace.

Sudan: Bait Al-Mal Resistance Committee – General Advice (20.04.2023)

According to people’s experiences in the past days, these are general instructions and tips for dealing with the military forces, “rapid support specifically” if they meet you on the street or at a base..

Note that there is no fixed rule, but it is preferable for people to adhere to the following:

1 – Don’t sleep in the morning, very early or immediately after sunset, “I sleep with the people” , movement is generally preferred during the day.

2- Do not move before you explore the street that walks in it. Make sure first that it is safe or not. “You can ask the people around you or find out from the media.”

3- If you pass by as an Arab driver, it is advisable for you to open the windows, “so that if they call you or stop you, you will hear and stand up for me.” It is better to dismantle the shading these days if the Arabic is shaded and does not move quickly.

4- If they told you to stop, I would stand for them without hesitation, don’t run!

Most of those who beat Dale are mostly young and they didn’t stand up.”

5- Do not be afraid to speak with me, trust those who ask you, answer as much as the question, and show them where you are going and where you are coming from, simply.

6- Do not carry any card with you that has a relationship with a legal entity, “because it will involve you in stories that you will not pass through easily.”

7- No matter how much they provoke you, do not trade with them, just be patient and do not work with them.

8 – Large vehicles are often targeted, such as buggies, Land Cruisers and 4WDs, so it is advisable to install a small saloon.

9. Delete any photos and videos that have anything to do with war, demonstrations, and politics in general from your phone.

10- Do not carry valuables with you while you are on the move.

And last but not least, it is recommended that you do not look out of the house unless absolutely necessary.

Somaliland: Office of the Ambassador at Large – Press Statement (20.04.2023)

Kenya: The Bipartisan Team – Joint Communique No. 1 (20.04.2023)

Philippines: National Privacy Commission – Statement on Privacy Commissioner John Henry Naga on the alleged leak of personal data among law enforcement agencies (20.04.2023)

Mali: Ministere de la Securite et de la Protection Civile (20.04.2023)

Senegal: Patriotes Africains du Senegal pour le Travail, l’Ethique et la Fraternite (PASTEF) – Communique PASTEF-Les Patriotes (18.04.2023)