Category Archives: Sudan

The line of army pickup trucks rumbled into the dusty streets of Um Rawaba, a once placid city in the heart of Sudan that days ago became a new front in the war of attrition between government and rebels. Six days earlier, hundreds of insurgents had stormed in, spraying bullets and killing up to 13 civilians and soldiers, before pulling out as government planes started flying overhead. A week on, Um Rawaba’s traders and shoppers cheered and gave “thumbs-up” signs as the latest government reinforcements arrived and drove past buildings still bearing the scars of the attack. Even as government minders looked on, some citizens acknowledged they were worried. “This … Continue reading →

Rebels from Sudan’s Darfur region launched a dawn attack on the city of Um Rawaba on Saturday, taking their fight closer to the capital Khartoum, witnesses said. The attack marks the biggest push by a rebel alliance that is seeking to topple President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Fighting had hitherto been limited mainly to remote regions of Darfur and South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, which border South Sudan. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), which launched an unprecedented assault on Khartoum in 2008, said the rebel alliance stormed Um Rawaba in North Kordofan state, around 500 km (300 miles) south of the capital. Sudan’s army said late in the evening … Continue reading →

A Sudanese court sentenced nine army officers to prison terms of up to five years on Sunday for their role in an alleged coup attempt against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, a lawyer said. In November, Sudan arrested its former spy chief Salah Gosh and other senior military and security officials after foiling what the government says was a coup plot. In the first verdict since the arrests, a military court in the capital Khartoum handed down jail terms of between two and five years to nine army officers, said Hisham al-Ja’ali, a lawyer for the defendants. “They were also dismissed from the armed forces,” he told Reuters, adding that another … Continue reading →

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has said all political prisoners in the country are to be released. In a speech at the opening of parliament, Gen Bashir also said the government was committed to a “national dialogue” with all groups. It was not immediately clear how many prisoners would be released under the announcement. The move comes as tensions ease in Sudan amid improving relations with neighbouring South Sudan.  Bashir said Sudan had now “guaranteed the atmosphere for freedoms and the safeguarding of the freedom of expression of individuals and groups”.  ”Today, we announce a decision to free all the political prisoners and renew our commitment to all political powers about … Continue reading →

By Netsanet Belay Sudan’s Deputy Chief Justice recently made the alarming announcement that his government might start training judges to cut off the hands and legs of convicted criminals, if doctors refuse to carry out amputations as punishment. Abdul Rahman Sharfi said non-cooperation over the use of such amputations would be punished. Adopting a defiant posture, he denied his government had ever stopped the use of one of the most severe forms of “hudud” punishments, which are based on an interpretation of Islamic law. Sharfi revealed that 16 people had been subjected to amputations since 2001, although the first reported case was that of Adam al-Muthna, 30, whose right hand … Continue reading →