Sudan: West Darfur clashes displace thousands (03.01.2020)

The displaced have sought refuge in and around El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State.

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 3, 2020 – An estimated 30,000 people have been displaced in Sudan’s West Darfur State following intercommunal clashes earlier this week in several villages, according to the Sudanese Government.

Humanitarian partners are working to verify the displacement figures. The displaced have sought refuge in and around El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State.

There have also reportedly been attacks on camps for internally displaced people, and reports of homes being burned. Humanitarian partners are closely monitoring the situation and gathering information on needs to respond as soon as the security situation allows.

Shelter, food, water, health services and non-food items are the most urgent priorities. Local organizations, including youth groups, the Zakat Chamber and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society have already provided some food and non-food items.

The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur has helped to relocate 32 aid workers to Zalingei, Central Darfur, amid security concerns.

UNAMID Welcomes Framework Agreement between Transitional Government and the Darfur Track (30.12.2019)

Zalingei, 30 December 2019– UNAMID welcomes the framework agreement signed between the Transitional Government of Sudan and the Darfur armed movements (Darfur Track) during the peace talks in Juba, South Sudan, on 28 December 2019. The agreement demonstrates progress in advancing the peace process as it outlines key issues and principles that would guide the ongoing negotiations and serves as a basis for a fair and comprehensive peace agreement.

UNAMID’s Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator, Jeremiah Mamabolo, commended the signing of the framework agreement and said, “This is a very positive development confirming the political will and readiness of the parties to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. We congratulate the Transitional Government of Sudan and the Darfur parties on this step and encourage them to continue in the same vein.”

“UNAMID shall continue to support the peace talks in Juba in line with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2495 (2019) and within its capability in order to assist all parties to the negotiation process to achieve the ultimate goal of lasting peace and a prosperous future for all the Sudanese people,” Mr. Mamabolo added.

Note to Editors

  • UNAMID has provided technical support to all tracks of the Sudanese peace talks in Juba since 10 December 2019. The Mission assumed the role of Secretariat in accordance with UNSCR 2495 which requested UNAMID to provide necessary support to the Transitional Government of Sudan and the armed movements in progressing the peace process.

UNAMID Strongly Condemns the Looting of its Former Headquarters in Nyala, South Darfur (30.12.2019)

UNAMID condemns the acts of looting and vandalism in the strongest possible terms as they constitute a blatant disregard of the intended purpose of those assets.

ZALINGEI, Sudan, December 30, 2019 – On 27 December 2019, an estimate of hundreds of residents, as well as individuals in uniform, entered the former UNAMID Sector South Headquarters (Super Camp) in Nyala, South Darfur, by breaching the perimeter fence. Former United Nations-owned assets were looted and the premises of the Super Camp were vandalized. The situation continued throughout the duration of 27 December and was still ongoing on 29 December 2019.

UNAMID condemns the acts of looting and vandalism in the strongest possible terms as they constitute a blatant disregard of the intended purpose of those assets. The Nyala Super Camp and UN assets worth approximately $100 million were handed over to the Government of Sudan pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding and Handover Agreement signed by UNAMID and the Government of Sudan on 19 November 2019, which agreed to ensure the use of the premises and assets for civilian purposes only.

The Mission particularly deplores the participation in these acts by uniformed personnel, who are expected to assist the UN peacekeepers in securing the camps, advancing human rights, and protecting civilians.

UNAMID is deeply concerned about the deterioration of the situation as looters were still active in the Nyala Super Camp as of 29 December 2019. The Mission calls upon the Government of Sudan to take appropriate and immediate action to prevent further looting and vandalism in order to give full support to UNAMID personnel and assets in the Super Camp, including by conducting appropriate investigations into the incidents and bringing the perpetrators to account.

Opinion: The year Gen. Hemeti got forgiven for his sins

El Burhan pointed to the importance of working towards a culture of peace among the RSF militiamen. “They are to be messengers of peace and love until a comprehensive peace is achieved in a new Sudan in which all Sudanese will have equal rights”.In this ‘new Sudan’ the paramilitaries can protect the revolution and fight terrorism and illegal immigration, he said” (Radio Dabanga – ‘El Burhan: ‘Rapid Support Forces are an integral part of the Sudanese army’ 23.12.2019).

Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo aka Hemeti has gotten of the hook. As the Sovereign Council are doing swift changes are more accepted world-wide. Getting international loans, sufficient help from aid organizations and even negotiate with former advisories all across the border.

Hemiti is now an integral part of the Sovereign Council, he has vast power and also seems to have a continued hold over the Rapid Support Force aka Janjaweed. Which was an militia who has caused havoc, massacres and destruction in Darfur and the Blue Nile State. While there are also reports of illegal arms trade to other combat-zone. Still, the General have never been taken to court or charged, just caught in the act and collected evidence in United Nations Experts Reports over the years.

What is striking to me, as he goes abroad for international functions, as a representative of the Sudanese government. It is like all of his sins is passed away, that his action as a militia commander and war-lord in Darfur is forgotten. Just like the state is only pinning crimes on Omar Al-Bashir and Salah Gosh. There was several more who was part of the elite and the military state of the former dictator, but they are just pinning these two it seems. While the ones in Sovereign Council with a past connections are now “safe”.

Seemingly, the world has moved on. As the demonstrations and the crisis has gone. The troubles of yesterday are now a mere fad. While the destruction and killings of the past will seemingly not matter now. Since, the possible of a peaceful transition with so many former henchmen are supposed to move softly. The steps ahead all depends on goodwill, but will the Sudanese and the ones living in Darfur forgive him? Will they? After all the years of violence, fear and warfare created by the Janjaweed with Hemeti at the helm?

That what I wonder about, as well as all the other close associated with the ills of the previous regime. It is easy to pin crimes and charges on Al-Bashir, now that his incarcerated and behind bars. That is just playing law and order, while not stopping him for decades. Neither, many of the high ranking officials who are in power today. Would have even dared to face up to the previous President. But easy to do that now.

Hemiti is right now, the proof that doing crime pays. He has done crimes and still he looms in the rooms of power without any fear or consideration of the victims he has hurt. Hemeti has power and resources at his disposal. Nobody will really stop him. Even in the time of everything, the revelation of his illegal arms trade came out, but nothing has materialized in those regards.

That’s because his a untouchable. He can touch others, but no one can point at him without getting into trouble. That is how the worlds move. Right now its his and all his past aggressions are swiped off his plate. However, the day his not in office or in command, he will be in the same trap Al-Bashir is in just right now. Peace.

Sudan: WFP Executive Director in breakthrough visit to Yabus in the Blue Nile State following decade of inaccessibility (18.12.2019)

Khartoum, Sudan – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director, David Beasley, accompanied by teams from WFP’s Sudan and South Sudan operations and leaders of the UN country team in Sudan have achieved a significant breakthrough in humanitarian access, by landing in Yabus, a town in the Southern Blue Nile State where they witnessed a food distribution to its war and flood-stricken residents for the first time in nearly a decade.

The UN team included the United Nations Children’s Fund, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Health Organisation, United Nations Population Fund and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from Sudan.

Parts of southern Blue Nile State have been inaccessible to UN agencies and most humanitarian groups since conflict began there and in the Nuba mountains of South Kordofan in May 2011.

In October, Beasley used his good offices to support a humanitarian confidence-building visit to Kauda in South Kordofan – the first UN visit to the area in nearly a decade. This followed months of negotiations with the new Government of Sudan, leaders of South Sudan and the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) leader, Abdulaziz Al-Hilu. Following this visit, commitments were made to enable humanitarian access to the conflict-affected areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

“This is a new day in a new Sudan and a government that recognizes the value and the dignity of the Sudanese people wherever they live and whoever they are,” said David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme. “We will be doing assessments in all the areas that need assistance over the next few months to help everyone who needs this help at this critical time.”

The first UN humanitarian assistance in the area in nearly a decade was distributed by a WFP-led, UN interagency team. The UN team provided food to nearly 10,000 people in Yabus. This was made possible through the work of UN staff from Sudan and cross-border assistance from South Sudan. The United Nations humanitarian agencies in Sudan will move forward together to provide sustained assistance to address food security, health, education and livestock health deficits in the area.

Yabus and some areas in the Blue Nile State were recently affected by floods, pests and diseases resulting in low farm harvests leaving many of its residents short of food.

The support we have received from Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo, Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan and Cdr. Abdul Aziz Adam al-Hilu, Chairman and C-in-C of the SPLM/A-N has been extraordinary.

Sudan’s economic crisis is affecting living conditions and pushing more people into poverty. Nearly 9.3 million people – one in four in Sudan – will need humanitarian assistance in 2020. Around 5.8 million people are food-insecure. That number could rise to more than 10 million if wheat and fuel subsidies are removed. The cost of food has more than doubled in the past year.

WFP and its partners are ready to address rising humanitarian needs, while helping strengthen social protection systems to respond to the challenging economic situation and reduce the impact of planned subsidy reforms. WFP supports internally displaced people, refugees, and vulnerable people through a mixture of cash, food and vouchers. More robust social safety nets are needed to cushion them against the impact of macro-economic reforms.

Additional funding is needed to enable WFP to meet the increasing humanitarian needs across Sudan. WFP Sudan faces a funding shortfall of US$29 million for the next six months. This may increase, given the rising humanitarian needs.

The United Nations World Food Programme – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.

Sudan peace talks: Troika statement (11.12.2019)

Troika statement on the resumption of peace talks with Sudan armed opposition groups.

The UK, US and Norway have issued a Troika statement:

On December 10 the various Sudanese armed opposition groups met in Juba to resume peace talks. The success of these talks will be critical in Sudan’s journey towards ensuring lasting peace. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway (the Troika) welcome the resumption of these talks. It is our sincere hope that all interested stakeholders will join these talks and show a renewed spirit of cooperation, pragmatism, and realism to ensure these negotiations succeed. This is what the people of Sudan expect and deserve.

For too long, internal conflict was waged at the expense of Sudan’s most vulnerable people. Only lasting peace will ensure that the humanitarian and security needs of those in the areas affected by the conflicts can be met and for those marginalized areas to benefit from the changes ushered in by the creation of a civilian-led transitional government.

We urge all sides to support the formation of the Transitional Legislative Assembly and appointment of civilian governors (known as walis) by the end of December 2019. We furthermore encourage all sides to come to the talks without pre-conditions. Progress in the talks will maintain confidence in building a stable, secure, democratic and inclusive Sudan where all Sudanese are equal. It is vital that all sides demonstrate the political will to work together, and engage productively, to find solutions to outstanding issues. If they do so they will have the support of the Troika.

Communique of the 13th Ordinary Summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government – November 29 2019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (29.11.2019)

Sudan: UN humanitarian chief calls for urgent support to Sudan to address the most acute humanitarian needs (24.11.2019)

World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director visits Sudan to meet new government and sends off first barges to South Sudan (22.10.2019)

On his visit to Kosti, Beasley saw the three WFP-contracted barges loading 4,500 tons of food procured locally in Sudan.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, October 22, 2019 – The Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) David Beasley, today concluded a two-day visit to Sudan where he met leaders of the new government and travelled to Kosti to waive off the first three barges to carry humanitarian food supplies down the River Nile to South Sudan since 2011.

“This is a new dawn for Sudan, a Sudan that can positively impact the future of the whole region,” said David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme after meeting the Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok. “WFP has been a long-time partner to the Sudanese people, and we’re ready to support the government and the people during this historic moment.”

On his visit to Kosti, Beasley saw the three WFP-contracted barges loading 4,500 tons of food procured locally in Sudan. They then sailed upriver to the South Sudanese towns of Renk, Malakal and Bor. These food supplies are enough to feed 370,000 people for one month. River transport of humanitarian goods between Sudan and South Sudan largely stopped when the border closed after South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

The resumption of river transport was made possible by collaboration between the two governments and a recognition by all parties that the transport of humanitarian assistance is vital to conflict-affected civilians in South Sudan.

Transporting goods up the Nile is cost-effective and provides an alternative to road transport between the two countries – important in the rainy season when roads can become blocked.

WFP has delivered a total of 265,000 tons of humanitarian assistance across land borders to South Sudan since 2014.

This was David Beasley’s second visit to the country since he assumed leadership of WFP in April 2017. During his visit, Beasley also met the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan; Deputy Chairman of the Sudan Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Hemeti; and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Labour and Social Development and the Deputy Minister of Finance where he discussed Sudan’s historic transition and the need to expand humanitarian access across the country.

Joint Communique Issued at the End of the Official Visit of H.E. Abdallah Hamdok Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (11.10.2019)