African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
(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 violent crackdown 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 four and 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).
Contact:
Mossaad Mohamed Ali, Executive Director, African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS. (English, Arabic, Swedish): +46764325862
