(17 April 2019) African Centre
for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has received reliable information
indicating that more than 800 peaceful protesters and activists have been
released after spending more than 2 months in custody without charge. Their release
on 13 April 2019 comes after the newly appointed head of the transitional
military council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ordered the release of all
political prisoners detained under the emergency declaration announced by the
toppled Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir in February 2019. Detainees were arrested between December 2018
and April 2019 by security agents following their actual or suspected
participation in the anti-government protests which have lasted for months
since 19 December 2018.
A reliable source informs ACJPS that political
activist, Mohamed Hassan Alim commonly known as Alboshi and renowned Sudanese
blogger, Hisham Ali Mohammed Ali (Wad Galiba) were among those released.
Mohammed Hassan was detained incommunicado by the National Intelligence
Security Services (NISS) since 9 October 2018 following his deportation from
Egypt where he had lived since 2017 as an asylum seeker under the protection of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In November 2018, he was
charged with the crime of espionage and crimes against the state, which carry
the death penalty. Mr Hisham on the other hand was in NISS custody since 29 May
2018 after his deportation from Saudi
Arabia where he had been detained since November 2017 at the request of
Sudanese authorities. Both activists were vocal critics of corruption and human
rights abuse in Sudan.
ACJPS welcomes the release of detainees,
however expresses deep concern for the continued detention without trial of 250
officers from the Border Guard Forces detained and charged between August and December 2017 during a Government-led campaign intended to
disarm and collect firearms from civilians in Darfur and 157 war prisoners detained since May 2017
during a clash between the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudan Liberation Army and
the Transitional Council in Darfur region. We call on the authorities to drop
charges and release all detainees or in the event that the charges are not
dropped, authorities must ensure that detainees are promptly brought before an
independent and impartial court to stand trial and challenge the legality of
their detention.
On Friday 12 April 2019, General Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan was sworn in as head of the newly established transitional military
council. General Abdel succeeded General Awad Ibn Auf, who resigned in less than day after the military
announced the over throw of President
Omar al Bashir on Thursday 11 April 2019. The transitional military council has
been mandated with overseeing a transitional period of two years, a proposal
that has been strongly opposed by the opposition and peaceful protesters who
have continued to demand for a civilian transitional council. In addition to
releasing political prisoners, Mr Abdel also cancelled night-time curfew but
the Constitution remains suspended.
International bodies have since issued
statements urging the military to transfer power to a civilian led authority.
On 15 April 2019, African Union Peace and Security Council issued a statement
that gave the transitional military council an ultimatum of 15 days to transfer
power to a civilian led political authority or else Sudan would be barred from
taking part in the activities of the African Union until the restoration of the
constitutional rule. The council added that “a military led transition would be
completely contrary to the aspirations of the people of Sudan. Troika of the
United States, United Kingdom and Norway said on 14 April, “To date, the
legitimate change that the Sudanese people are demanding has not been achieved.
It is vital that that the authorities listen to the calls from the Sudanese
people”.
Meanwhile in Khartoum, peaceful protesters have
continued a sit-in outside the military headquarters, calling for a quick
transition to a civilian government, prosecution of President Omar al Bashir,
resignation and prosecution of all his aides, accountability for extrajudicial
killings of approximately 99 peaceful protesters since 19 December 2018 and the disbandment of
NISS.
Following these demands, ACJPS received
reliable information indicating that the Director of NISS, Mr Salah Abdallah
Mohammed Salih, widely known as Salah Ghosh resigned on 13 April 2019 and was
replaced by Lieutenant General, Abu Bakr Mustafa. As the Director of NISS,
Salah Gosh led a violentcrackdown by NISS agents on peaceful protesters taking
part in the anti-government protests that led to the toppling of Al-Bashir. General
Awad Ibn Auf was also removed as Minister of defense. A reliable source also
informs ACJPS that on Tuesday 16 April 2019, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
dismissed the prosecutor general, Omer Ahmed Mohamed and replaced him with Mr
Al-Waleed Sayyed Ahmed as the country’s new acting prosecutor general.
ACJPS also expresses deep concern over the
appointment of General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, the head of
the Rapid Support Forces as deputy of the transitional military council
considering his links with the Janjaweed, an armed militia implicated in mass
atrocities including war crimes and crimes against humanity that have occurred
in Darfur. On 14 April 2019, the transitional military council called on the
opposition to agree and appoint an ‘independent’ Prime Minister in the
transitional period.
Although recent statements of the transactional
military council have been positive, reported
attempts to break up the sit-in by peaceful protesters outside the
military headquarters on Monday 15 April 2019 raises a cause for concern. This
could mean there are still some people in positions of power who would prefer a
violent crackdown to real engagement with protesters’ concerns. We urge
authorities to respect the rights of citizens to freedom of assembly and
expression guaranteed in the Sudanese Constitution, regional and international
treaties which Sudan is party.
ACJPS calls on Sudan to;
To restore and uphold the Sudanese Interim
Constitution of 2005.
Disband the NISS and undertake a comprehensive
reform of the National Security Act of 2010 in line with regional and
international human rights treaties ratified by Sudan.
Ensure full accountability, including for the
use of excessive force, extrajudicial killings and alleged torture that has
taken place since 19 December 2018.
Guarantee the safety and well-being of all
remaining detainees; protect them from torture and other ill-treatment and
grant them immediate and unfettered access to their lawyers, family members and
medical services.
Release all those arbitrarily detained, and for
those charged, ensure prompt access to a lawyer of their own choosing.
Background
Since December 2018, hundreds of peaceful
protesters have been arrested and detained for actual or suspected
participation in the anti-government protests which began on 19 December 2018
in Atbara state spreading to other cities and towns in Sudan. Our previous
reports indicates that at least fifty fourand fifty one detainees were released
in March and February 2019.
The protests initially denounced the hike in
prices and scarcity of basic commodities but quickly developed into an
anti-government protest calling for the resignation of President Omar
al-Bashir, following a violent response from security agencies. In a bid to
quell the protests, a state of emergency was declared by President Bashir on 22
February 2019 banning all protests and strikes without authorization from the
authorities.
On 6 April 2019, protests intensified with a
sit-in outside the Military headquarters in Khartoum. Security agencies tried
to break up the gathering by firing live ammunition and tear gas into the
crowds killing at least 31 peaceful protesters including soldiers, at least one
peaceful protester was allegedly run over by a NISS vehicle. On 8 April 2019, violent
confrontations broke out between the security forces and Sudanese army who
according to a reliable source, intervened to protect the peaceful protesters.
On Thursday 11 April 2019, the Sudanese army
announced that they had ousted President Bashir, who ruled Sudan since 1989.
The army also announced the establishment of a military council to run the
country for a transitional period of two years led by General Awad Ibn Auf who
resigned after hours and was replaced by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Thousands of Sudanese peaceful protesters have
continued their sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum to demand
the transfer of power to a civilian government.
List of peaceful protesters killed since 6
April 2019.
ACJPS has received details of 31 peaceful
protesters killed in April 2019, where available, date of death has been
included.
Abdul Kariem Ahamed(m) was shot in the chest
Abdullah Yousef Almardi (m) was shot from in
front of the Sudanese Military Headquarter in Khartoum on April 9.
Abu Algasim Ibrahim(m) was shot in Mayo
neighborhood of Khartoum, April 7.
Adam Adil Hamad(m) was shot on 11 April in
Kassala, East Sudan. He died on 17 April.
Ahmed Abdul Raziq Amin Ahmadi (m), was shot in
the stomach on 7 April in front of the Sudanese Military Headquarters in
Khartoum.
Ahmed Ibrahim Tabidi (m) was shot from in front
of Sudanese Military Headquarter in Khartoum.
Ahmed Ibrahim(m) was shot in Nyala
Ahmed Mahmoud Gadim(m), a soldier in the
Sudanese Armed forces (SAF) was shot from in front of Sudanese Military
headquarters in Khartoum on April 8.
Ahmed Muaiz (m) was shot in front of Sudanese
Military Headquarters of Khartoum on April 8.
Ahmed Safi Eldien(m) was knocked dead by NISS
vehicle on 7 April 2019 in Al- Obid, North Kordofan.
Al -Muazi Mahjoob(m) was shot on April 7 in
Arabic Market of Khartoum.
Al- Muaiz Al-Ataia(m), a student, was shot on
April 6 by NISS in Al-Abasia Neighborhood in Omdurman.
Al- Nazir Abdul Bagi (m),) was shot from in
front of the Sudanese military Headquarters in Khartoum on April 9.
Amoro Jamal(m), was shot in the head in front
of Sudanese Military Head quarter in Khartoum on April 7.
Ibrahim Osman(m), 55 years old was hit in the
face by a tear gas canister in Yathrib neighborhood in Khartoum.
Ismail Omer Zalingi(m), killed on 11 April.
Kamal Adam Abdakka (m) was shot in Nyala.
Maab Hanafi Karar(m), was shot from in front of
Sudanese Military Headquarter in Khartoum.
Mohamed Adil Salih Fadul (m), was shot from in
front of the Sudanese Military Headquarters in Khartoum on April 9.
Mohamed El Fatih Mohammed(m) was shot in the
chest.
Mohammed Salih Osman Khair(m) was shot on 12
April.
Muhanad Mohamed Elhaj (m), was shot in Omdurman
on April 8.
Najat El Shikh Elnashih(m)
Nashid Saeed (m), was shot from in front of the
Sudanese Military Headquarter in Khartoum on April 9.
Omer Osman Aldoibi(m) was shot in the chest in
Wad Madani neighborhood on 11 April.
Osman Abdulla Juma (m) in Omdurman on April 8.
Saber Adam (m), was shot from in front of the
Sudanese Military Headquarter in Khartoum on April 9.
Sami Shaekh Eldien(m), a soldier in the SAF was
shot in stomach from in front of Sudanese military Headquarters in Khartoum on
April 8.
On 13 April, at least three people were shot
dead in Kalma IDP Camp, South Darfur. Their names are;
Mohamed Abdu Rasil(m)
Dafalla Abdul Kariem(m)
Younis Adam(m).