Sudan: TMC cannot be trusted – The arrest of Mohamed Ismat after the mediation meeting is just insulting!

It is hard to imagine what the bright minds of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) is thinking as the Forces of Freedom and Change Declaration was earlier today having a meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali at the Ethiopian Embassy in Khartoum.

However, the TMC was not accepting this nor their demands. As the FFC are do dangerous to the TMC. As they are now arresting one of their leaders of the FFC, vital leader in the Sudanese Professional Authority and the Manager of the Central Bank of Sudan, this being Mohamed Ismat.

If the TMC thinking this is wise to do. It is not. Not only is this all undermining the supposed efforts to even mediate or hold talks with the TMC. As the TMC is showing again, what sort of leaders and people they are. They are talking peace, but waging war. They are speaking of unity, but spreading widespread violence across the Republic.

The TMC have for some reason accepted that the Ethiopian PM arrived in Khartoum. If it was a PR Stunt, the TMC leader Al-Burhan looked like he has had better days. Because the photo-ops of the meeting between the heads of state. Looked more a like a meeting for separating parents, than people who was engaging in meaningful dialogue. But maybe the snap was a mismanaged effort of spoiling the efforts behind the scenes.

Whatever it was, the idea of dialogue and talks, when the one party can dismantle, kill and arrest you without any forewarning. Shows what sort of leadership the TMC is and that it is no different from what was under dictator Al-Bashir. Just a new head and a rising star in the state-militia, the Rapid Support Force aka Janjaweed. Whose allowed to roam the streets and be the guards of the tyranny under the new rulers.

If the TMC wants to be serious transitional government, they should at least be able to cover the basics. Instead, they are showing their viscousness and vindictive ways to hold on to power. This arrest is just yet another violation. Another step in the wrong direction. As this proves, that the TMC cannot be trusted. Even on aftermath of suspension from the African Union. That is seemingly not enough for the leadership to care about their actions. They are just pursuing the same goal, by any means possible.

We have to see if the TMC will even listen to the FFC or if they will continue to arrest the ones who speaks up against them.

The FFC released this demands today:

The Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) made six demands to the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed when they met him today, as conditions for the resumption negotiations:

1) the removal of the deployed armed forces from the capital and towns across Sudan.

2) the formation of an international committee to investigate the crimes committed against the Sudanese population.

3) the release of all detainees and those facing prosecution for charges against the regime.

4) the return of internet across the country.

5) the freedom of press and all media channels

6) the TMC to take full responsibility for the emptying sit-in site”

Let’s see if the TMC will comply or just play like its crickets. Because, that is what it seems and this negotiations or dialogue is just buying time. So, that the revolution and the demonstrations doesn’t rise up again after the massacre. Who knows, but the TMC cannot be trusted, as they grab weapons to prove a point. That is how it seems and most likely it will happen again.

If not, more of the FFC and SPA will be arrested or charged by the authorities, because they cannot manage this noise… well, its the will of the citizens, which the military doesn’t want to comply too. Peace.

Sudan: Civil unrest Flash Update No. 1 (7 June 2019)

Sudanese Student Association of North America: Press Statement (06.06.2019)

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.