Sudan: Consensus emerging on many issues, UN’s Sudan envoy tells Security Council (29.03.2022)

The African country has had no functioning government in place since the military coup d’état of 25 October 2021.

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 29, 2022 – The United Nations envoy for Sudan told the Security Council today that consensus has emerged on many issues towards establishing a functional government, warning that Khartoum could lose out on billions of external aid without such an administration.

“Unless the current trajectory is corrected, Sudan will head towards economic and security collapse as well as significant humanitarian suffering,” Volker Perthes, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, warned.

Political vacuum

The African country has had no functioning government in place since the military coup d’état of 25 October 2021.

Perthes, also the head of the UN’s transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), said the UN-led broad consultations on a political process – involving more than 800 participants from all parts of the country – have found “visible” consensus on many issues, including on the need to end the violence, establish a technocratic Government and an oversight body, and adopt critical legislation.

There was also wide-reaching agreement on the need to reconsider the role, size and membership of the Sovereignty Council, which was to have functioned as the collective head of state for a 39-month transitional period, scheduled to end in November 2022.

Points of agreement

The consultations also found common ground on a minimum of 40 per cent representation of women in transitional institutions, and on mechanisms to advance women’s rights.

Moreover, an overarching consensus emerged around the need for a single unified professional army, for the establishment of judicial entities, for the conditions for credible elections and for an inclusive constitutional process.

Going forward, he told the Security Council, the UN, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will jointly lead efforts to support Sudan’s political process, drawing on their respective strengths.  The intention is to facilitate an inclusive, Sudan-owned and Sudan-led political process.

New phase of talks

An intensive phase of talks is expected to start in the next couple of weeks with a view to a return to constitutional order and an empowered civilian-led government to steer Sudan through the transitional period.

“Time is not on Sudan’s side”, he warned, adding that Sudan could miss out on billions of external support, as disbursements from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other major donors have been paused, and will continue that way as long as no functional government is in place.

Sudan: Central Committee of Sudan Doctors – Report on the Injuries and Deaths due to Excessive Use of Cartridge Weapon against Civilians’s Protesters since the 25th October 2021 coup till the 21st March 2022 (25.03.2022)

4 Martyrs and 327 injured, victims of the new deadly weapon: The Cartridge since the day of the of the Coup, up to this day, the peaceful protesters have been subjected to various types of violence, with the intention to kill. Those violent practices ranged from killing with live bullets, beatings with rifle butts, the use of car run-down over the bodies and the direct targeting of the protesters with tear gas and sound bombs.

Recently, we have been working on series of reports under the tag of:

(The New Killer)

We have noticed that (Cartridge Weapon) is being extensively used in the marches of February and March causing the deaths of a number of protesters and resulting in hundreds of sustained injuries of varying degrees some of which were serious.

Surgery for such injuries is complicated due to the difficulty of removing the scattered fragments that settle next to some vital organs.

The Coup forces do not hesitate to use any lethal force, as they are confident of the immunity they have against punishment.

Moreover, there is a distinct administrative slackness from the government of the generals. Police and the Prosecution are not playing their role in investigating these violations to human rights. Up to this moment, no investigation reports of violence or violations were submitted to the authorities.

In the year 2019, the Cartridge Weapon was used in killing Martyr Dr.Babiker Abdel Hamid. That was the first time that we observed the use of this deadly weapon.

Since the October 25th Coup, the Cartridge Killer Weapon has been extensively used in suppressing the protests marches.

Up to this day we have documented (4) deaths and (327) cases of injury by this deadly killer, with confirmed some other mild injuries which fall outside the scope of our inventory, as they are treated by field teams.

– in the 21st of March anti-coup protests, we monitored 101 cases of Cartridge injury, including a case of serious eye injury, during the processions of the city of Wad Madani in the Gezira State, that ultimately led to the loss of the eye.

– Also serious injuries to the head, neck, chest, abdomen and thigh, some of which required surgical intervention, and some of the injured are still hospitalized.

-In conjunction with imposing sanctions by US on the Central Reserve Police -with its combat missions- whose members, with the participation of the police and other military forces, committed murders with this weapon.

We issue these reports, documented by numbers, to demonstrate the criminal attitude of these forces and their other partner forces.

Here are some details of the deaths and injuries resulting from the use of the Cartridge Wbeapon:

The total number of deaths are (4):

1. Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Nakhli,17 years old, killed by scattered gunshots causing wounds to neck and chest, on the February 14th anti-coup protests. He died on the same day.

– The site of the

injury: Khartoum.

2. Muhtadi Haider Othman, (26) years old, killed with scattered gunshot wounds to the pelvis and thigh, Muhtadi was among the injured of February 14 anti-coup protests, and his soul rose on February 26, 2022.

-The site of the injury: Omdurman.

3. Mohab Adel Qassem Al-Sayed, (14) years old, shot in the abdomen and chest. One of the injured of the February 28 anti-coup protests, and his soul rose on the same day.

-The site of the injury: Bahri.

4. Ahmed Maqam Al-Din, (13) years old, shot in head, injured in March 17 anti-coup protests and his soul rose on March 20.

-The site of the injury: Omdurman.

The total number of injuries reached (327):

-On 21/3/2022: 101 gunshot wounds

-On 17/3/2022: 70 gunshot wounds

-On 15/3/2022: 1 cartridge hit

-On 14/3/2022: 35 cartridge hits

-On 10/3/2022: 21 cartridge cases were hit

-On 08/3/2022: 51 shotgun injuries

-On 03/3/2022: 1 cartridge hit

-On 28/2/2022: 25 gunshot wounds

-On 24/2/2022: 1 cartridge hit

-On 22/2/2022: 2 cartridge cases were hit

-On 02/2/2022: 1 cartridge hit

-On 14/2/2022: 14 cartridge cases were hit

-On 07/2/2022: 4 gunshot wounds

CCSD’s Media Office

March 25, 2022

Sudan: World Food Programme – Worsening Food Crisis Looming in Sudan Amid Economic Downturn, Displacement, and Ruined Crops (23.03.2022)

The situation looks grim for millions as the conflict in Ukraine is causing further spikes in food costs.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, March 23, 2022 – The combined effects of conflict, economic crisis, and poor harvests are significantly affecting people’s access to food and will likely double the number of people facing acute hunger in Sudan to more than 18 million people by September 2022, warns the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

“There are already worrying signs that access, affordability, and the availability of food is shrinking for most people in Sudan, which is pushing more people deeper into poverty and hunger,” said Eddie Rowe, WFP Representative and Country Director in Sudan.

In recent months, there has been a surge in the numbers of people displaced due to conflict in parts of Darfur and the Kordofan region. This insecurity has eroded livelihoods, damaged farms, and triggered widespread unemployment.

The depreciation of the Sudanese Pound (SDG) in addition to rising food and transportation costs are making it harder for families to put food on the table. A lack of access to hard currencies is likely to result in the SDG further depreciating.

TheCrop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) report by FAO and WFP indicates that the domestic cereal production from the 2021/22 agricultural season is expected to produce 5.1 million metric tons. This will only cover the needs of less than two thirds of the population, leaving many reliant on humanitarian food assistance and dependant on imports of essential grains at prices beyond the reach of most people.

“Rising food prices and scarcity of essential agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and seeds mean that farmers have no other option than to abandon food production if they do not receive immediate support. This will likely have grave consequences not only for their food security but also on food availability in Sudan and may ultimately lead to more conflict and displacement,” said Babagana Ahmadu, FAO Representative in Sudan.

The situation looks grim for millions as the conflict in Ukraine is causing further spikes in food costs, as Sudan is dependent on wheat imports from the Black Sea region. Interruption to the flow of grain into Sudan will increase prices and make it more difficult to import wheat. Currently, local prices of wheat are at over US$ 550 per ton – an increase of 180 percent compared to the same period in 2021.

“The ripple effects created by the bullets and bombs landing in Ukraine will be felt far and wide, including here in Sudan, as families are set to suffer even further with basic meals becoming a luxury for millions. But at the same time, WFP finds itself in the awful position of not having enough resources to meet the ever growing needs,” added Mr Rowe.

In 2021, WFP was a lifeline for nearly 9 million people in Sudan who suffered through the turmoil of political unrest and economic instability. On top of life-saving food assistance, cash and livelihood support for families helped them not only survive, but also thrive. But this year, WFP food stocks in Sudan are running dangerously low and without new funding they will begin running out by May. A funding crunch, led by a US$270 million shortfall, has already forced WFP to prioritize the most vulnerable of the vulnerable people, meaning others in need go without, and further cuts may be necessary if WFP does not receive new funds immediately.

In 2021, FAO reached nearly 1.5 million vulnerable people in Sudan with life-saving livelihoods assistance to enhance the resilience of their agriculture-based livelihoods. This year, FAO requires USD 51.4 million to support 2 million vulnerable farming and pastoral households to produce their own food, keep their livestock alive and productive, and strengthen their resilience. Urgent support is required to provide essential agriculture inputs to vulnerable farming households before the main agriculture season starts in June, so that they can produce enough food and become self-reliant.

Sudan: Forces of Freedom and Change – Press Statement (20.03.2022)

Some leaders of the Forces of Freedom and Change and members of the Committee to dismantle the regime of the thirtieth of June – frozen by the coup order – are still under political and arbitrary arrest in the prisons of the coup authority under the pretext of malicious communications intended to provide a false legal cover for this arrest.

Arrest and deprivation of rights continue, with some of them not being investigated, despite the passage of several weeks. To deliberately wasting his right to medical care for a period of ten days, as he suffers from an injury that caused inflammation of the feet and legs and requires medical intervention to treat it and may need surgical intervention. However, the request made by his defense to refer him to the specialized doctor has not found approval so far despite the exacerbation of inflammation and the accumulation of pus.

Announcing this, we affirm that the coup authorities and their assistants in the security and justice agencies bear full responsibility for the safety and health of Mr. Taha and all detainees.

Prisons, detention centers and all forms of oppression from the coup authority will only increase our people’s determination to resist and defeat it and to restore the march of civil democratic transformation.

March 20, 2022 AD

Sudan: Al-Ma’Moura Resistance Committee – A Critique Paper For: The UNITAMS Initiative to Solve the Political “Crisis!” (January 2022)

Sudan: Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change – Press Statement (19.03.2022)

In the Declaration of Freedom and Change, we condemn the shameful act of sabotage that affected the Communist Party symposium this evening in Omdurman, in the strongest terms of condemnation and condemnation.

Poisoning the atmosphere and the political process while silencing mouths and preventing political parties from communicating with the masses is the first beneficiary of the coup and its followers, and confirms that the margin of public freedoms in light of the coup situation is in a state of continuous erosion, as in the case of military dictatorships.

The coup forces seek to close the political and public sphere by targeting political and civil activities, which is an unacceptable matter that must be addressed through the establishment of a modern and democratic civil state with a civilian authority that begins to overthrow this coup, through the formation of a broad front of the revolutionary forces that engage in anti-coup action until its complete overthrow.

March 19, 2022 AD

Sudan: Sudanese Congress Party – The state of Khartoum – Statement on the spread of murder and looting (17.03.2022)

The media and various media reported the incident of the killing of young Mazen and the armed attack on the Naivasha commercial complex in Khartoum, which resulted in the first’s death as a result of the attack and stabbing of him by an unknown group.

We in the Sudanese Congress Party in the state of Khartoum hold the coup authorities responsible for the deteriorating security situation in the state of Khartoum, which was represented in the spread of looting and kidnappings that spread in all districts of the state of Khartoum.

At a time when Khartoum has turned into a huge military barracks with the aim of suppressing, chasing and arresting peaceful demonstrators in processions, these forces ignore their primary role in protecting citizens, preventing crimes and securing property, until the security chaos became a real threat to the lives of many in the national capital.

Khartoum state supporters:

We in the Sudanese Congress Party, in the state of Khartoum, demand the police and the state security committee to play their primary role, extend security throughout the state, bring criminals to justice and prevent security breaches.

March 17, 2022

Sudan: Khartoum City Resistance Committees Coordination – The implications of the October 25 coup on the economy (17.03.2022)

The coup authority’s policies directly contributed to the country’s current economic collapse, and these policies resulted in a direct loss of $150 million dollars from the International Monetary Fund, which would have been used to treat & support the budget of life-saving medicines, fertilizers, the agricultural winter season, the electricity sector, & the “Thamrat” program totalling more than 1.5 billion (one and a half billion) dollars.

This implies that the coup authorities will resort to printing more currency and purchasing dollars on the black market, causing prices to increase and the cost of living to rise.

March 17 2022

Sudan: Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change – Important Statement (16.03.2022)

The rebellious masses of the people,

Greetings to the masses of the Sudanese people as they continue day and night in protest and rejection of the coup despite the repression, killing and abuse, demanding the city of the state.

We do not fail to bow in respect to the beacons of knowledge, the country’s teachers and educators, as they fight the battle for change, continuing their valiant strike and their strong, solid stances.

Our scholars and writers,

We in the Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change have been throughout the previous period and are still studying and evaluating the experience of that we consider it a wealth of negatives, as well as positives and estimates in which it is wrong and right, and it bears many of the inconveniences that we bear the burden of, 

And the successes that every believer in change shares with us, we discuss in this space a critique of our experience in the period of transition and democratic transformation that ended with the coup of October 25, 2021 AD.

We will put our effort into evaluating the experience of our people in order to develop shared visions for the future.

March 16, 2022 AD

Sudan: The Generals can kill a man but you can’t kill an idea

The Sovereign Council and the Army Commanders who controls it. Are using vicious force and violence to stagnate the will of the people. The authorities are using brutal means to address the marches. Thousands of people are wounded and countless of people murdered since the second coup of 26th October 2021.

The ones in-charge can hold on too power and cling-on to it. However, they cannot assault every civilian, arrest all activists or coordinators. The Forces of Freedom and Change, the Resistance Councils and their allies are not getting any weaker. The marches, the structures and the charter sets all in motion.

The Transitional Sovereign Council isn’t on the merits of the public, but they are there on the graces of loyalty amongst the soldiers. It is the arms, the tear-gas and the guns that keeps them a-float. It isn’t the popularity or the justified representation of people in Sudan.

No, these are violent leaders who repress, suppress and oppress people on a regular basis. While they are not taking into account the masses or their will. That is very evident. Since, the first coup d’etat after Omar Al-Bashir. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) thought they could hijack the revolution. Even as they killed, massacred and slaughtered civilians in their name.

Now, the same gentlemen in the mighty council continues to crack skulls, harm civilians and target the ones who is resisting them. That is very clear by now. The stories, the tales of rape and other violent attacks on hospitals. Only shows what the authorities under guidance of these military commanders are willing to do.

I cannot see any sort of relief or escape from it. The violence of the state, the brutality and the pain it serves it citizen is endless. There is no bound and people are arrested just for their political belief or the power of resistance. The state is willing to make them criminals for fighting for a just cause. A cause of which, the people elects a civilian government and have good governance.

That is what the army commanders works against. They are thriving, having all power to themselves and they can muster the army, if in need or the Rapid Support Force (RSF) to knock some sense into the public. Therefore, it is hard to see any changes or read of movement, which serves the interests of the people.

No, the Sovereign Council acts like the marches, demonstrations or the resistance councils even matters. No, it acts above it and thinks it can quell it. However, the Sovereign Council and it’s warlords cannot stop an idea. They can get rid of a few leaders and activists, but the idea that they have envisioned. Is bound to happen eventually. Either by the hands of righteous men or by the mercy of the lord.

Since, the TMC or the Sovereign Council will not last forever. The transitional powers will tear off and the bickering inside will suddenly transpire too. As the greed and the merciless grab of power wears off. The army commanders cannot shield themselves from it. The public and their cause is justified. They are reigning on borrowed time… and sooner or later… their time is over. Peace.