- Agreement on Russian military base is still under consideration: Sudanese military
The agreement of the military naval base on the Red Sea with Russia has not yet been finalized, a senior Sudanese general said on Thursday 18th Nov.
Recently, the Russian TASS news agency reported that Moscow approved a draft agreement to build a military logistics base in eastern Sudan on the Red Sea.
“So far, we do not have the final agreement which determines the time and place where the base will be established,” said Lt Gen Mohamed Osman al-Hussein, Sudan Armed Forces Chief of Staff in statements to the Saudi funded Al-Arabiya TV.
“Sudan will not compromise its sovereignty,” al-Hussein said before adding that “the agreement on the naval base is still under consideration”.
- Sudan rejects resumption of talks on Ethiopian dam without mediation:
Sudan reiterated its refusal to resume negotiations on the “ReRenaissance’s dam” unless a mediation body has been established.
Also, the Sudanese government directed its criticism against South Africa, the chairman of the African Union, for refusing its request to refer the file to the AU Bureau of the head of states and governments.
In a meeting held on the 4th of November, the three riparian countries Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt failed to agree on the role that the African Union, the European Union and the United States can play to end the eight-year trilateral talks over the filing of the Grand Renaissance Ethiopian Dam.
“During the meeting, Sudan stressed that it would not continue negotiations under the previous approach. Further, it demanded to return to the African Union (Bureau) to endorse the role of experts and to boost the negotiations politically to reach an agreement to the satisfaction of all parties,” said a statement issued by the irrigation ministry in Khartoum.
- World Bank approves $61.5 million education grant for Sudan
The World Bank has approved a $61.5 million grant toward reforming Sudan’s education system as part of the country’s biggest education financing project, according to the bank’s statement.
The grant, funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), includes a project which will support the improvement of public schools by cutting down tuition, purchasing educational equipment, and increasing sanitation.
The Sudanese education minister welcomed the support of the World Bank saying it will help to implement the sustainable development goals.
“The Project will certainly take us a good way towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Education (SDG 4); namely good quality education, and free, inclusive and equitable education,” said Mohamed al Amin Eltom.
- JEM leader proposes to dismantling Sudan’s former regime through judiciary mechanism
The head of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Gibril Ibrahim proposed to dismantle the former regime of the former President Omer al-Bashir, through an independent judiciary, to prevent injustice from occurring again.
Gibril Ibrahim speaks to the media in Khartoum on 17 November 2020
“We want a real dismantling of the previous regime without empowering a new party. That is why this should be done by a just and impartial judiciary,” Ibrahim said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“If you are a party and the arbiter at the same time, injustice will happen again, and this is not desirable and not useful,” he further stressed..
Until now, the committee confiscated lands and houses owned by the dignitaries of the former regime or their families such as al-Bashir’s wife and his brothers.
Ibrahim who is an economist said he has a plan to alleviate the economic crisis the country is experiencing but he needs to consult with the government before to disclose it.
- African Union, UN approve UNAMID termination by end of 2020
The African Union and the United Nations have recommended the termination of the hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) paving the way for the deployment of the political support mission to Sudan (UNITAMS).
Initially, the UNAMID withdrawal was planned to take place by the end of June 2020. But, in October 2019 Sudan’s civilian Prime Minister requested to align the drawdown of the hybrid force with the peace process in Juba.
In June 2020, fearing further instability in Darfur region, the Security Council requested the African Union (AU) Chairperson and the UN Secretary-General to provide a special report with recommendations on the appropriate course of action regarding the UNAIMD withdrawal.
Following a series of meetings with the Sudanese government, African Union and the United Nations, approved the withdrawal of the joint operation pointing to the efforts done by the government to ensure the protection of civilians particularly after the signing of the Juba peace agreement.
- Darfur Gov: Peace process ‘differs from other states
The governor of Central Darfur said that the peace process in his state differs from the other four Darfur states, as Jebel Marra is home to the combatants of the mainstream Sudan Liberation Movement under the leadership of Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW), which has not yet signed the Juba Peace Agreement.
His state is the most affected by war in Darfur and “the country’s stability depends on silencing the voice of the gun in all parts of the nation,” Governor Adeeb Abdelrahman said in a press statement in the state capital Zalingei on Thursday.
He welcomed the Juba Peace Agreement, and called on the SLM-AW and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North under the leadership of Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N El Hilu) to join the peace process.
- Sudan school year postponed until COVID-19 precautions are in place
Acting Minister of Health, Osama Abdelrahim, ruled out a second lockdown on Thursday, meanwhile the Higher Committee for Health Emergencies decided to postpone the opening of schools until further notice.
The decision to keep schools closed was made during a committee meeting at the Republican Palace, to guarantee that health precautions are implemented by the educational institutions and logistics are in place to create a safe and healthy school environment.
The Sudanese Ministry of Health reported 231 new COVID-19 cases as of November 18, six deaths, and 12 recoveries.
This brings the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 15,530 cases.
- Sudan to combat money laundering and financing terrorism
Siham Osman, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice and Head of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism, confirmed that Sudan has full political will to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, under the supervision of the Council of Ministers.
She addressed the general meeting of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force, which was held virtually.
Osman spoke about Sudan’s desire to “coordinate and cooperate with the all countries in the task force through standards and procedures which allow Sudan to combat money laundering and terrorist financing”.
In her speech, she affirmed Sudan’s readiness to integrate into the global financial system following the completion of the procedures for removing Sudan from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
- Over 36,000 Ethiopian refugees arrive in Sudan
The Minister of Interior, Lt Gen El Tereifi Idris announced that the number of Ethiopian refugees in eastern Sudan has risen to 36,000, during the Sudanese government’s cabinet meeting 19th Nov.
He expects an increase in the flow of refugee numbers, noting the importance of the international community’s role in providing aid and shelter, and the challenges facing Sudanese authorities.
Women, men and children have been crossing the border at the rate of 4,000 per day since 10 November, rapidly overwhelming the humanitarian response capacity on the ground, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
- Sudanese govt accused of ‘fuelling conflict in eastern Sudan’
The Revolutionary Alliance for Eastern Sudan has accused the government of fuelling the conflict in the region by “irresponsible interference”, and treating the conflicts as tribal.
At a press conference on Wednesday, members of the alliance read out a memorandum addressed to the Sovereign Council, accusing the new government of continuing in the same manner as the former regime in firing on peaceful demonstrators.
The memorandum demanded that the prime minister be held accountable for the decision to dismiss Saleh Ammar, Governor of Kassala, and the subsequent bloodshed in Kassala and Red Sea state.
