Skip to main content

27 September-4 October, 2015

Domestic Media Monitoring Report for Sudan
Posted on October 2, 2015

Contents

Compiled by Kitty Shepard

  1. Darfur
  2. East Sudan Peace Agreement
  3. President Al-Bashir invited to mid-year African Union Summit
  4. New parliament speaker commits to national dialogue

“Darfur crime overview: Robberies, gunfight in South Darfur” 29th September 2015, Dabanga News , Independent source

  • Displaced people were assaulted by gunmen near Gireida. The perpetrators looted the families’ possessions.
  • A series of attacks on displaced peoples have occurred in the past couple of months.
  • Shooting in Nyala, South Darfur has put civilians in danger with five sustaining injuries.
  • A traffic officer stopped a gunman after he violated a red light and was stabbed in the altercation.
  • 3 passersby were injured by stray bullets.
  • Displaced in Saraf Umra were robbed last week. The raid was carried out in the early morning. The father was held at gunpoint demanded for his motorcycle keys.

 

“S.Sudanese army abduct 10 girls in Unity State, rebels claim “ 30th September 2015, Sudan Tribune , Domestic Source

  • Pro-government forces have been accused for the disappearance of 10 girls from Geer and Kany-gal in Leer County in Unity state.
  • The area is rich in oil-reserves and has become a target for pro-government forces violations.
  • A series of violations of the existing ceasefire happen in the last few months.
  • The girls were between 14 and 17 years of age.
  • Conflicting stories of the event have emerged: a civilian has said that the girls were used as sex slaves. However the minister of cultural, youths and sports has denied these claims.
  • This minister has spoken out against the rebel forces and saying they have provoke government forces.
  • A recent report in the Guardian gave testimonies from victims of rape from Unity state.
  • It’s been estimated that from April to September disturbing numbers of casualties have been realised

Civilians killed: 1000

Women and girls raped: 1300

Women and children abducted: 1600

 

“Sudan needs national dialogue to preserve unity and stability: Bashir” 24th September 2015, Sudan Tribune, Domestic Source

  • The president has expressed that now is a crucial time to start a national dialogue to ensure the unity of Sudan as a nation and in its political, economic and social stability.
  • Al-Bashir acknowledged that this national dialogue would reflect emerging challenges faced by Arab and African countries.
  • This week a ceasefire commenced to attempt to produce cooperation between all members of the rebel forces, the National Umma Party (NUP) and Reform Now Movement (RNM) and other forces, and bring them to the discussion table.
  • He praised the Sudanese forces for protecting their homeland.
  • The president also commented on the Palestine’s and the unjust aggression they are facing. The other international issue he commented on was the current Syrian and Yemenis refugee crisis. He welcomed the refugees who had made it to Sudan.

 

“Sudan: Rebels doubt al-Bashir’s motives for amnesty “ 23rd September 2014, all Africa , Domestic Source

  • The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebel alliance have expressed their reservations on the proposed 2 month ceasefire and the safety of their members who will attend the national dialogue.
  • The rebels suspect that the president’s announcement is more concerned with international issues rather than the security of the nation.
  • The have questioned the moderator of the dialogue and expressed it needs to be a neutral body.
  • The ceasefire comes after the president’s summer campaign against civilians, which sees escalated violence occur.

 

“Bashir to avoid UN event over ICC issue “ 24th September 2015, the Citizen

  • Due to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity President al-Bashir is not attending the UN General Assembly in New York.
  • The delegation will be led by the Foreign Affairs minister.
  • As the United States are not a signatory of the Rome Statue they would not be obligated by international law to arrest him.
  • This has been a contentious issue for America. On several incidents Washington has banned al-Bashir from entering the country with a threat that he would be arrested.

 

“Unknown gunmen kill UNAMID soldier in North Darfur “ 27th September 2015, Sudan Tribune, Domestic Source

  • Unknown gunmen carried out an ambush on African Union and United Nation Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) killing one soldier.
  • The attack happened near El-Fasher the capital of North Darfur.
  • The perpetrators escaped with two reserves of fuel.
  • Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and urged the Sudanese authorities to bring justice to this killing.
  • Since the mission started in 2007, 59 UNAMID soldiers have died.

 

“Sudan signs agreement with Saudi Arabia to finance diesel imports “30th September 2015, Sudan Vision, Independent Source

  • The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) agreed to finance the import of petroleum product and fertilizers this week.
  • The Saudi authorities had negotiated with Khartoum to encourage relationships between the two states’
  • The fuel shortages faced by the country in the previous two years have become a problem in Khartoum.
  • The minister of Petroleum and Gas stated that that resources would be allocated to agriculture and industrial fields.
  • The financing was written in the form of Islamic financing rules to boost relations further.
  • Since the separation of South Sudan in 2011, Sudan has lost 75% of oil reserves.

 

 

 

2. East Sudan Peace Agreement
Independent Media

"Sudan: Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement a Failure’ -Report" 31st May 2015, All Africa

  • The Easter Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) operations started to gather in 2005 and has been evaluated as having some positive effects in the region by directing authority.
  • However the Small Arms Survey (SAS) based in Geneva, have reported that the issues of conflict, security and humanitarian relief still remain.
  • The SAS has explained that the root causes for individuals to join the opposition forces are still present. This disrupts the everyday civilian life making normality impossible to achieve.
  • The report explained that the area is on the verge of needing desperate humanitarian aid. The geopolitical advantages of Eastern Sudan have become useful for criminal networks to develop. Human trafficking and other networks have become problematic in this region.
  • The ESPA was projected as an agreement to change Eastern Sudan and to bring security to the lives of everyday citizens. A decade since the signing of the document the SAS have reported large failures of the ESPA operations.
3. President Al-Bashir invited to mid-year African Union Summit
Independent Media

"Will Bashir take a walk on the wild side." 21st May 2015, Institute for Security Studies

  • The South African government have invited the Sudanese president to attend the next African Union (AU) meeting in Sandton next month.
  • The invitation has been issued to all head of countries on the continent. There is one factor which jeopardizes al-Bashir’s journey. South Africa is a contracting and founding party of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which means they would have to cooperate with the 2009 warrant on al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity and genocide.
  • The South African authorities have been caught in this dilemma before when in 2009 and 2010 al-Bashir was invited to two specific events: President Jacob Zuma’s inauguration and the FIFA World Cup.
  • The issue has become a political matter where South Africa cannot be excused from its obligation to cooperate with the ICC.
  • Researchers at the ISS have since expressed their expectation for al-Bashir to decline the invitation to avoid any embarrassment.
  • ·The ICC warrant has caused problems for al-Bashir recently and suspected to be the reason for his cancellation of a trip to Indonesia.
  • The invitation for al-Bashir to attend the meeting is after Malawian president Joyce Banda explained that Al-Bashir is not welcome to Malawi to attend the AU summit.  However, AU chairperson Robert Mugabe supports an anti-ICC stance creating divisions in the AU authority.
  • South African authorities have not confirmed whether al-Bashir will be arrested if he attends the conference later this year.
4. IGAD ask Sudan president to aid South Sudan peace talks
Domestic Media

"IGAD asks Bashir to facilitate resolution of S. Sudan conflict" 25th May 2015, Sudan Tribune

  • The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have asked for president Bashir’s help to end the inter-South Sudanese violence.
  • The Sudanese government have confirmed that Bashir is intending to cooperate with the IGAD demand and will engage in new techniques in an attempt to end the conflict.
  • Al-Bashir is to meet with representatives from the European Union and Norway to discuss the conflict and a future plan to resolve the violence.
  • After talks failed in March of this year the IGAD extended their coalition to involve the EU, UN Security Council and Troika countries named the IGAD-Plus.
  • The coalition has been extended to Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa to represent the north, central, western, eastern and southern African regions.
  • The Sudanese authorities have recently been accused on supporting the SPLM-in-Opposition forces but quickly denied these accusations.
  • The government officials have explained that security in the south in necessary to create it in the north. The government officials further explained that there is no desire to intervene military in the southern conflict.
5. New parliament speaker commits to national dialogue
Domestic Media

"Sudan new parliament speaker vows to push national dialogue efforts" 2nd June 2015, Sudan Tribune

  • The newly elected speaker of the Sudanese parliament Ibrahim Ahmed Omer has committed to promoting national dialogue talks between al-Bashir and opposition parties.
  • 375 votes elected Omer into the position of speaker of the new cabinet
  • Omer’s emphasis on the need for a dialogue to happen promise that there is hope for the future of Sudan. Omer explained that the dialogues original intent to increase cooperation and unity between parties is still the principle objective.
  • The recent election win by president al-Bashir is one area which is keen to be discussed. Among the 43 political parties who participated in the elections 21 have agreed to join the new parliament.
  • As a prominent figure in the parliamentary system the sentiments expressed by Omer have given some hope to a national dialogue being held with both parties discussing key aspects for a unified future.
Back to top

© Concordia University