Statement on Sudan by the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari (07.06.2019)

Sudan: Forces of the Freedom and Change Declaration- Announcement (06.06.2019)

Forces of the Freedom and Change Declaration – Announcement

Our Sudanese people,
We are closely monitoring some poisonous calls by the Coup Council for resumption of the negotiations, in blatant disregard of the innocent lives we have lost.

Therefore, we unequivocally confirm that we will not sit again with the Coup Council. We stand firm in our demands for:

– Calling to account the Coup Council and everyone who was complicit in the crimes committed since the 11th of April.
– A full transfer of the transitional authority to a civilian government as stated in the Declaration of Freedom and Change
– The immediate dissolution of the Janjaweed militia and relinquishment of their weapons to the army, and an end to their takeover of the cities of Sudan

Our pledge to the Sudanese people is that the revolution shall continue, and victory is certain. Complete civilian disobedience is the weapon that will topple these tyrants.

The Forces of the Freedom and Change Declaration
06 June 2019

Sudanese Professional Association: Complete civil disobedience, and open political strike, to avoid chaos (04.06.2019)

June 4, 2019: The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) issued a statement that confirms the need for complete civil disobedience and open political strike, immediately, as the only measure left for the Sudanese people to hold the country from collapsing into total chaos and insecurity under the rule of the military coup council.

In just two days, Khartoum and other cities in Sudan have witnessed a good sample of life under the rule of the coup council: mass murders and extrajudicial killings by the army, security forces and paramilitary militias allied with them; pillaging of innocent civilians and their properties; sharp increase of victims of rape, assault and violence; terrorizing and beating people openly in the streets without discretion; forcing striking workers to work under threats on their lives or firing them without any due process; and other signs of a collapsing, extremely fragile state that will not only be vulnerable internally but also subject to external manipulation and exploitation at the highest level.

“Let the coup council know that they were the initiators of total chaos that they claimed to warn against and protect the people from, and that extremism and terrorism are now taking hold openly, which will also be met by more extremism and terrorism. Our country will be lost, and then regret and sorrow will not help. The risks that the coup council took, for the sake of usurping complete power, undermine national peace and would, eventually, affect regional and international peace,” said the SPA statement.

The current situation “is worse than any that came before it in time,” said the statement, and while the coup council claims to prepare for ‘general and fair elections’, it is clear to everyone that it is trying to legitimize the continuation of its own rule through such elections. “Any government that comes as a result of such arrangements would have no shred of legitimacy, will be managed through the military council members and their bloody agenda, and the country will not evade violence and counter violence.”

“Therefore, we at the SPA categorically reject all orders and decisions made public by and through the coup authority, and we call upon all states and international agencies to refrain from recognizing  the current ruling junta in Sudan and corner the members of the coup council, who are deep to their knees in the blood of the innocent in Darfur, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, in addition to  Khartoum and other cities and towns,” said the statement. The SPA also called upon the international community to focus on the violations and crimes committed these days everywhere in Sudan, to put an immediate stop to it through pressure to handover power without any conditions, and to form committees of investigation into the crimes that have been committed (recently and earlier). Such committees should coordinated by the forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change and relevant international agencies. Additionally, there is a clear need for the isolating and dismantling the Janjaweed militia, national security armed forces, and all other paramilitary groups that belonged to the former regime (and now inherited by the coup council).

“We call upon our Sudanese people to be steadfast in their commitment to nonviolent resistance, as it is our strong fort and superior weapon, and to refuse the attempts of the coup council to draw the whole country towards violence and counter violence. We also reiterate the importance of documenting all violations and crimes committed by the militias of the ruling junta, in the streets of all cities and villages of Sudan, under the sponsorship of the coup council. The time of answering to all their crimes is neigh, whether they see it or not,” said the SPA statement.

The statement finished by calling upon the Sudanese people to continue their revolution, and escalate the resistance through four main directives:

  • Complete civil disobedience; closing of all main streets, bridges and openings; and bringing public life to a general halt.
  • Open political strike at all places of work and facilities, in the public and private sectors.
  • Continuous work, coordination, and strong organization through neighborhood committees and strike committees.
  • Holding to the principle of nonviolent resistance in all our direct actions, towards change.

The Sudanese Professionals Association

June 4, 2019

African Union: The 854th meeting of the Peace and Security Council on the situation in the Sudan (06.06.2019)

Sudan: The TMC speaks peace, but acts like war!

Let’s be clear, the Transitional Military Council (TMC) speaks today of unity and reconciliation, while arresting opposition members. While the numbers of deceased civilians are growing from the massacre done on the 3rd June 2019 in Khartoum. The TMC acts like a villain and thinks they can get away with pleasant words after the melee. However, the skulls will be remembered for the cost it took to get civilian rule.

The TMC is acting in ill faith. Using Rapid Support Force (RSF) and National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) to take the public hostage, to use guns against innocent civilians. Whose only mission was to fulfil their civic duty as citizens. They was guarding their rights as citizens to get a supportive government based on civilian rule and not on a military junta taking total control. As it has done over the last 72 hours.

There is still reports of RSF killing in the streets of Khartoum and in Omdurman, where the inflicting violence is persistence, as the junta continues to arrest, harass and even kill. There are reports of 40 more bodies taken out of the river Nile and dropped together at unknown location. This with the already 60 people killed on the 3rd June, means the amount of officially killed people is a 113, and while the highest estimates of wounded by the massacre on June 3 was 723 people, arrested about 650 people. Surely still with unknown hits, as the shelling of civilians plus the door-to-door attacks in Khartoum has surely more people hit, than the ones reported.

We can only imagine the amounts of people scorn during the last 72 hours in Sudan. The amount of bloodshed and usage of force. While this is happening, the TMC is promising elections and call for unity. Unity for whom? Them? No one else. They are united in power, while the public is suffering. Is that justice and rule of law? The TMC must think the public and international community is blind. Maybe the dollar signs from United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have blinded their deluded vision of grandeur. Because, this is just selfish killings for one stature and not for the greater good.

The RSF is continuing its crackdown in the streets of Khartoum, who knows to what extent, as the internet is blocked and little information is released at this current moment. However, what we do know is that this is brutal killings and destruction of society. Sponsored and ordered by the TMC on behalf of themselves. To prove that they are worthy of the throne after Al-Bashir.

Diversion is what they trying to do, so it deflects from its evils, but we are memorizing the evils of them. So, that when calm returns, the sinister acts of these people can be exposed again. The TMC got blood on its hands, crimes against humanity and this will not be forgotten. Peace.

WHO alarmed at reports of attacks against health care in Sudan (05.06.2019)

Hospitals affected by the violence are already overwhelmed, and have been receiving scores of injured patients every day.

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 5, 2019 – Amidst the recent escalation of violence in Sudan, WHO is alarmed by reports of attacks against health staff and patients, including the use of live ammunition inside and around hospitals injuring health staff and patients, as well as disrupting life-saving services.

Hospitals affected by the violence are already overwhelmed, and have been receiving scores of injured patients every day.

Health staff must be allowed to treat the wounded without additional risk to their safety, or that of their patients.

Joint Statement on Developments in Sudan (05.06.2019)

The Troika condemns the violent attacks in Sudan on June 3, which resulted in the killing and injuring of many peaceful civilian protesters.

OSLO, Norway, June 5, 2019 – The text of the following statement was issued jointly by the Governments of the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

The Troika condemns the violent attacks in Sudan on June 3, which resulted in the killing and injuring of many peaceful civilian protesters. By ordering these attacks, the Transitional Military Council has put the transition process and peace in Sudan in jeopardy. We call for an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government as demanded by the people of Sudan. We welcome the statement of the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and support the important role of the AU in solving the crisis in Sudan, including its demand for an immediate handover to a civilian-led government.

The Troika also expresses its serious concern over the TMC’s announcement that it will cease negotiations with the Forces for Freedom and Change, retract all previous agreements with them on formation of an interim government, and will hold elections within nine months. The people of Sudan deserve an orderly transition, led by civilians, that can establish the conditions for free and fair elections, rather than have rushed elections imposed by the TMC’s security forces.

Sudan: TMC spin undermines their effort to thwart the public into submission!

Khartoum on the 4th June 2019 isn’t what is supposed to be. The streets is filled with Rapid Support Force (RSF) who’s prepared to assault, dehumanize and kill the ones who are in their way. Yesterday’s numbers are growing worse by the hour and who knows how many who was really touched by the acts done by the “security forces” yesterday. Because, they had a clear mission, it was to colonize and control the public, by any means.

The current numbers are 35 dead and 650 wounded by the “security forces” yesterday, but with the knowledge of people fearing to leave their homes. The RSF knocking on people houses, stopping cars and directly assaulting them. We can just imagine how many who are hurt at home afraid to go to the closed hospitals and in-danger of their own lives.

Today, the same gangs are roaming the streets, the public in-doors and afraid. Just a mere few has defied the RSF and actually gone to the mosques to pray. However, they are an minority.

Surely, the RSF, the Transitional Military Council (TMC) have done this, as they yesterday evening said they have frozen negotiations with the Forces of the Freedom and Declaration of Change (FFC), which big part of is the Sudanese Professional Authority (SPA). Who in spite of the acts of evil, have asked the public to defy the state, do more industrial action and called for a general strike. Clearly, aimed at the TMC and their military savvy individuals, who only knows how to strike fear and not govern.

Now, the ones guarding the Capital are the same people who terrorised South Kordofan, Blue Nile State and Darfur, the same Janjaweed now renamed RSF. While they are doing this to anyone who dares to defy the RSF, they will terrorize and harass the ones passing on the streets. As we saw on footage yesterday, just by-passers in cars was hunted down by these armed forces. There was nothing sacred or holy for these people, only shelving guns against the public, hitting anyone in sight.

This is the men ordered by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo aka Hemeti who uses same methods in Khartoum now, as done in the provinces, this is the sign that the TMC is not planning to peacefully give way to civilian authority. Now, these people are guarding their own fortune, by the mercy of foreign backers in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt to keep their pockets fat. They do not care about innocent civilians nor rights of citizens of the state.

They are calling a snap election, but it will be prefixed for the TMC to continue its rule, there will be no fair play and the ones standing in its way will be persecuted. That is just what they are saying. It will be a short lived show, before turns back to normalcy with them in power. That election will only be a charade not a real “election”. If they had cared about that, they would have continued negotiations with the FFC before the massacre in the streets yesterday.

This proves what sort of people they are, they don’t care and have no consideration. They don’t value life, except for their own fortune. The rest is just mere pawns and possible pieces of silver for them to fine dine.

The TMC is a military junta in the spirit of Omar Al-Bashir. He may left, but his henchmen is still doing his bidding. They got no concern for the public. None. Peace.

Sudan: UN chief deplores excessive force used against pro-democracy protesters, calls on military and civilian leaders to ‘stay the course’ in negotiations (04.06.2019)

Mr. Guterres reminded the Transitional Military Council of its responsibility for the safety and security of the citizens of Sudan.

NEW YORK, United States of America, June 4, 2019 – Security forces in Sudan fired on pro-democracy protesters in the capital Khartoum on Monday, leaving a number of dead and many more injured, prompting the United Nations chief’s condemnation and an appeal for “peaceful dialogue” to resume.

Secretary-General António Guterres “strongly condemns the violence” and “the use of force to disperse the protestors at the sit-in site”, said a statement issued by his Spokesperson, adding he was also alarmed at reports that “security forces have opened fire inside medical facilities”.

Mr. Guterres reminded the Transitional Military Council of its responsibility for “the safety and security of the citizens of Sudan”, and urged all parties to “act with utmost restraint”, including their responsibility to uphold “the human rights of all citizens, including the right to freedom of assembly and of expression”

He also called for “unimpeded access to deliver essential care” at the sit-in site outside army headquarters in the capital Khartoum, and in hospitals “where the wounded are treated” and urged the Sudanese authorities to “facilitate an independent investigation into the deaths and to hold those responsible accountable”.

“The Secretary-General urges the parties to pursue peaceful dialogue and to stay the course in the negotiations over the transfer of power to a civilian-led transitional authority, as required by the African Union (AU)”, the statement continued.

It concluded with the UN chief’s commitment to working with the AU in support of the process, saying that the UN “stands ready to support the Sudanese stakeholders in their efforts to build lasting peace”.

For her part, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called the peaceful demonstrations in Sudan “an inspiration” as the protesters worked “to engage with the Transitional Military Council”.

“I utterly deplore the apparent use of excessive force in the protest camps” she said.

Ms. Bachelet noted that reports stating that live ammunition was used by security forces next to, and even inside, medical facilities are “extremely alarming”.

“I urge the security forces to immediately halt such attacks, and to ensure safe, unimpeded access to medical care for all”, she asserted.

Ms. Bachelet stressed that “those exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression must be protected, not targeted or detained”, calling it “a fundamental tenet of international human rights law”.

“The use of excessive force must be promptly and independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice” she spelled out, adding that the human rights violations that have marked Sudan’s history, and sparked the sustained protests over the past six months, “must not be allowed to continue”.

“This is a real setback”, she concluded.

When the three-decade autocratic rule of President Omar al-Bashir ended in a military takeover in April, hope sprung anew in the African nation. However, as talks faltered between the ruling Transitional Military Council and protesters’ leaders over the timetable for civilian rule, violence ensued.

Sudan: The TMC colonized Khartoum today!

Rapid Support Forces soldier records the massacre. He says: “kill them all. They took away my holiday” The woman at the end is asked “military or civilian (governmentt)?” Under durress, she says “military,” The soldier responds “If you said civilian, I will show you.”” (Sudan In The News, 03.06.2019).

Well, the dreadful news is out. The internet is blocked, the news coming out from Sudan is through VPN. While the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) combined with Rapid Support Force (RSF) assaulted the public, killed and burned the places where the sit-in protest has lasted since April 2019.

Now today, the Sudan’s Doctors Committee says atleast 30 people are killed, but hard to verify, as people haven’t gotten to hospitals. As several of hospitals been blocked or even attacked by the state security agents. Also, reports of bodies dropped into the river Nile. As well, hundreds of wounded people, but not sure about the full extent, as the authorities are controlling it all.

The RSF and others have tried to assault, kill and even sexually assault people in broad-daylight, as they have directly annexed the capital with force. They have come in as a foreign invader and colonized Khartoum. The Transitional Military Council, the leadership of it has not showed character, but instead their thirst of blood.

These men whose in charge of the TMC are shown what they are, they are warlords and despots, as evil and sinister as the henchmen of a dictator would be. They show why Omar Al-Bashir trusted them until the end. Because, they have no heart and no care. The TMC are now having more bodies on their heads, than can be verified and surely they will do whatever to downplay the excessive force used. As the Sit-In is a burned field of former barricades and camps blown away. As they used live-bullets, blocked roads and took people out of cars to assault them.

The live footage from Khartoum is devastating and that is just minor moments of what happened. As the TMC, the RSF and NISS had no interest in getting this broadcast. Surely, the want to kill the revolution and not give way for civilian rule, but they are just showing why the public want this. Because, who can trust people who senselessly kills and destroys without any prewarning. Who can trust leaders who are cowards with guns, who cannot stand up and listen to the will of the people. These are weak men with arms, not leaders, they are cowards, petty criminals with temporary power.

The TMC are living on borrowed time, they will answer for their crimes, the Forces of Freedom and Change Declaration (FFCD) and the Sudanese Professional Authority will react to this and call for more demonstrations. As they will say, this is the reason why the military have to give way for civilian rule. They are proving why the coup d’etat isn’t changing anything, because the head is different, but the acts is the same. The TMC is just as bad as the previous master.

The TMC can act a fool and come out with statements, but the deceased, the fatalities will speak, the innocent civilians hurt and living in fear. Is the memo to the world of the atrocities and level of killings they will do to stay in power. It is officially 30 dead, but we know there was plenty more. As the people didn’t dare to go out of their houses, they were afraid going to the hospitals, where the RSF was awaiting their destiny. This is how these sinister acts go.

The TMC will be remembered for this, these acts of evil. They got blood on their hands and it will haunt them, just like the rest of them. At one point it will get caught up and destroy them. The TMC is only protecting itself, not the people. The army is supposed to protect the territory and the citizens of it, not colonize and destroy it to rule, but that is what it does. Peace.