Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Khalil Charles
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Blame the EU for Sudan’s tough border measures and deportations
Sudan’s immigration policy has been notoriously described as a “Border Control from Hell” by organisations critical of its tough entry conditions. In the past, those restrictions were far more relaxed. Sudan was a haven for political activists from Africa and the Middle East escaping persecution, a safe home for...
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Is Sudan about to withdraw troops from Yemen?
In June, Sudan sent additional troops to support the Saudi-led military intervention into Yemen. Exact numbers are not available but estimates and official briefings put the figure at close to 8,000 combat soldiers on the ground. In recent weeks reports of Sudanese casualties have increased with the Houthi media...
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Friends and foes unite to honour Sudan’s first female MP
In life Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, a committed communist left-wing politician, was perhaps a controversial figure about whom differing opinions were held, but in death her passing has united a whole spectrum of opposition and government politicians in her honour and praise. Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, with whom Ibrahim had major...
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Sudan must jump through more US hoops to get sanctions lifted
Donald Trump’s decision to delay for another three months the lifting of sanctions imposed on Sudan was, by all accounts, greeted in Khartoum with “complete shock”. Sudanese officials were caught off guard, especially as the US had given “firm” assurances that the sanctions would be lifted following intelligence reports...
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Will Sudan side with Russia and Iran if sanctions are not lifted?
The expectation that the United States will completely lift economic sanctions against Sudan is by no means certain. Just days before the 12 July deadline, Sudanese diplomats around the world are getting ready to either welcome the lifting of sanctions and see Sudan amerced into the international community; or defend a dramatic new foreign policy direction which could see a return to an anti-US stance should sanctions be re-imposed. The uncertainty over the decision is being fuelled by the unpredictable mercurial nature of US...
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How long can Sudan stay neutral in the Gulf crisis?
The sacking of the President’s Director of Office today and the circumstances of his detention at Khartoum International Airport present a dramatic picture of the extent to which differences over Sudan’s neutral stance in the Gulf crisis are beginning to emerge. His departure also puts into question how long...
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#CholeraInSudan
Sudan has witnessed 265 deaths and more than 16,000 infections of what the government is called “acute watery diarrhea”, however social media users have launched a hashtag to force Khartoum to admit that the country is in the midst of a cholera epidemic and action needs to be taken. This...
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Will Sudan, South Sudan end the conflict over Abyei?
The similarities between the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Pakistani-Indian Kashmir crisis and the Sudan and South Sudan Abyei question are striking given that they are all disputes over control of territory that was once part of a single country. Like Palestine and Kashmir, a series of agreements and negotiations have...
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REVIEW: The Hamas New Charter and the Western Response
The event served as a review and assessment of the new charter released last month by the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, and explored the impact of the changes on the organisation and on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Chairman and moderator, Adeeb Ziadeh, author of a book on the origins of...
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Sudan: The case for and against lifting economic sanctions
As the deadline approaches for the lifting of sanctions, Sudan may still have not done enough to win the sympathies of the members of the US Congress and other US agencies who will make the final decision on 12 July. There are a number of factors that might work...
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Sudan-South Sudan relations: Tentative steps from war to peace
The United Nations Security Council’s decision to give Sudan and South Sudan another six months to put together a joint monitoring force in the disputed area of Abyei in the Blue Nile region, or see the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers was a demonstration of the “mild irritation” felt by...
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There are mixed feelings over the new government appointments in Sudan
The announcement of Sudan’s new government positions has revealed that the ruling National Congress Party has given up 12 positions — six ministers and six state ministers — but it retains key positions, with the exception of the Ministry of the Interior. Over the next few days, journalists, commentators and...
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Will the new Sudanese government bring trust back into politics?
The long-awaited announcement of the new Sudanese government, expected next week, undoubtedly heralds a new era in the nation’s politics. It puts Sudan on a course to democratic change without the upheavals that have afflicted the region post-Arab Spring uprisings and, arguably, without the trust of the average citizen. Ever...
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Ugly media wars erupt between Sudan and Egypt
The expulsion of two Sudanese journalists from Egypt, at the beginning of this week, has further heightened the diplomatic and political tensions that have reached an almost uncontrollable frenzy in the past two months. Al-Tahir Satti, a columnist at Al-Intibah daily newspaper was deported after being told his name appeared...
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Is Sudan secretly talking to Israel?
The Israeli press have made no secret recently of the possibility that diplomatic channels could be established between Tel Aviv and Khartoum. Last September, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz boldly announced that the Israeli government had contacted the United States to encourage it to take steps to improve relations with...
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Democracy is in the Arab world to stay, says Ghannouchi
The founder of Tunisia’s Ennahda Party has told a London audience that democracy is in the Arab world to stay. “The Arab spring is not dead,” said Shaikh Rached Ghannouchi on Thursday. “The Arab world has entered a new era of change and democracy is here to stay; it...
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Is Sudan’s foreign policy controlled by Saudi Arabia?
Sudanese and Egyptian foreign ministers meet tomorrow for long-awaited talks to address major differences that have caused diplomatic tensions to rise. Last week’s proposed meeting was officially postponed due to “adverse weather conditions” at Khartoum International Airport, but commentators believe other mitigating factors would have delayed the discussions if...
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Political horse-trading delays formation of Sudan’s new government
Almost six weeks after the creation of a new prime ministerial position, political differences between the government and major opposition parties appear to be delaying the appointment of the ministerial cabinet, which is expected to form the Government of National Reconciliation. On 3rd March, President Omar Al-Bashir announced the creation...
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South Africa’s defence of its refusal to arrest Al-Bashir further undermines ICC
South Africa’s defiant defence at The Hague of its decision not to arrest the Sudanese President at the 2015 Head of States’ African Union Summit in Pretoria threatens to further undermine the credibility the beleaguered International Criminal Court (ICC). As a signatory of the Rome Statute of the ICC (1998),...
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Nothing is in the air in Saudi-Sudan relations
It is abundantly clear that Sudanese and Saudi relations have come a long way since the day in August 2013 when the Sudanese Presidential plane that Omar Hassan Al-Bashir was travelling on was unceremoniously refused entry into Saudi Arabian airspace. The journey had to be aborted and the beleaguered...
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Sudan-US intelligence exchanges unaffected by sanctions
At first glance, this week’s meeting of Sudan’s Top Security Chief with the heads of the American intelligence FBI and CIA appears to herald a new phase in the relationship between Washington and Khartoum, but security analysts who have followed Sudanese-American intelligence relations for decades will be aware that...
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Sudanese-Egyptian relations: What’s behind the tensions?
Sudanese Egyptian diplomatic relations are as old as the Pharaonic pyramids themselves. In recent weeks, however, a dispute over these ancient landmarks has threatened to severely damage the ancient historical ties between the two countries. However, commentators say the row over pyramids hides several important differences affecting the relationship...
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Sudan’s National Dialogue: A major step in the right direction
The two-year process of Sudan’s National Dialogue culminated last week with the appointment of the Prime Minister, General Bakri Hassan Saleh. In a few days, it will become clear which prominent opposition group leaders will be appointed to the new government of reconciliation. The process of the National Dialogue has...
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Will Sudan’s new PM bring in change or maintain political tensions?
The swearing in of General Bakri Hassan Saleh to the office of prime minister, the first in almost 28 years, marks a new chapter in Sudanese politics and a hope of real political change. Saleh is an erstwhile friend and confidante of President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir and was one of...