| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
S U D A N : N E W S & V I E W S
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Issue No 12 15 September 1995
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+ 'Sudan News & Views' is an independent electronic Newsletter working+
+ to advocate peace, human rights and humanitarian aid for the Sudan. +
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+ * Editor: Dr. Yasin Miheisi * +
+ +
+ * Distribution is free of charge. +
+ * Reposting and reproduction are allowed (with acknowledgement). +
+ * To Subscibe send a message to yasin@dircon.co.uk +
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In this issue:
* SUDAN'S 'LOCKERBIE' SCENARIO
* OAU CONDEMNS SUDAN
* SUDAN UNREST
* MASS DEPORTATION OF SUDANESE FROM LIBYA
* DEFECTION OF A SUDANESE ARMY UNIT
* TWO SUDANESE KILLED IN ADDIS ABABA
* GERMANY RETURNS ASYLUM-SEEKERS TO SUDAN
* SPECULATION ABOUT NEW AMBASSADOR TO THE US
* ECONOMIC POINTERS
* SHORT NEWS ITEMS
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* SUDAN'S 'LOCKERBIE' SCENARIO
The silent crisis between Sudan and Ethiopia, referred to in our issue no.10, had erupted when Ethiopia publicly accused Sudan of involvement in the assassination attempt against the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, in Addis Ababa in June '95.
In a lengthy statement issued on 1 September, the Ethiopian government accused Sudan of sheltering three Egyptian extremists who were implicated in the planning and execution of the plot. It said Ethiopia repeatedly requested the extradition of the three suspects; Mustafa Hamza, Izzat Yassin and Hussain Ahmed (also known by the name of Siraj), but the Sudanese government has not shown any willingness to hand them over, despite its admission of their presence in its territory. Instead, it has chosen to resort to delaying tactics, to the reshuffling of its officials and to taking other measures unrelated to the issue. The statement, issued by the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, blamed the Sudanese government and the National Islamic Front (NIF), which it said controls the government and the security organisations. It added that all possible channels and diplomatic efforts failed to convince Khartoum to hand over the suspects, according to their extradition of criminals agreement of 1964.
As a result, Ethiopia decided to take a number of steps with respect to its relations with Sudan, which included the closure of the Sudanese consulate in Gambella; the closure and expulsion of staff of all non-governmental relief organisations, connected directly or indirectly to Sudan, believed to be a cover for NIF activities; the reduction of the Sudanese diplomatic staff to four from 15; the ban of all Sudan Airways flights to Ethiopia; and the introduction of visa requirements for all Sudanese nationals wishing to enter Ethiopia. All deportees were asked to leave the country within one week.
The statement added that Ethiopia will continue to pursue the matter and will raise it at all appropriate sub-regional, regional and international forums.
Sudan denied the accusations and expressed regret for the Ethiopian measures which it described as 'harmful to the interests of both peoples'. A Foreign Ministry statement said the Sudanese authorities treated the Ethiopian request with utmost seriousness and formed a top-level investigation committee. It was found out, after comprehensive investigations, that one the suspects entered Sudan but his whereabouts are not known. The other two suspects' entry to Sudan was not confirmed. Egypt welcomed the Ethiopian statement and said it is reviewing the evidence it had received from Addis Ababa and would take all necessary actions against Sudan.
One such action, was a presidential decree canceling the appointment of a new ambassador to Sudan to succeed the former Egyptian ambassador, Hassan Gad El-hag, whose term has ended.
* OAU CONDEMNS SUDAN
The 16-nation OAU (Organisaton of African Unity) Central Apparatus for Conflict Resolution had condemned the Sudanese government for supporting, facilitating and sheltering the terrorists who planned and carried out the failed attempt on the life of the Egyptian President. The statement, issued after the extraordinary meeting on 11 September in Addis Ababa, said the foreign ministers heard a comprehensive report by the Ethiopian Foreign Minister on the result of the Ethiopian investigation, and expressed their deep shock and anger at the terrorist assassination attempt. The statement called on the Sudanese government to hand over the three terrorists it is sheltering to Ethiopia, and pointed out the grave danger state-sponsored terrorism poses to regional and international peace and security.
The OAU Secretary-General, Salem Ahmed Salem, was asked to report on the issue to the next African summit.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry response, this time, was more aggressive. It said Sudan rejects these accusations which is a new conspiracy orchestrated by some foreign governments, and described it as 'a bad theatre show'. It accused Ethiopia of being behind the assassination attempt and reminded the rulers of Ethiopia of the history lessons, in reference to Sudan's support to them when they were fighting the former regime of Mangistu Haile Mariam.
* SUDAN UNREST
The Sudanese capital, Khartoum and its twin cities, had been a scene of three days of violent rioting from 11 to 13 September. The widespread protests, which were the worst since Bashir seized power in June 1989, started on Monday when students at the University of Khartoum demonstrated demanding the release of three of their colleagues who had been detained for allegedly holding a meeting. The demonstration sparked clashes between supporters and opponents of the government in which bricks, knives and iron bars were used. The rioting then spilled out of the campus and into the streets of Khartoum.
For three consecutive days student demonstrators, joined by members of the public, shouted slogans of protest against Al-Bashir's government and Turabi (NIF leader), smashed cars, burned motorcycles and attacked buildings associated with the NIF, especially Islamic banks.
Anti-riot police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, and there were reports of live ammunition being also used by plainclothes security men. The authorities said three people were killed and others injured and blamed the communists and foreigners (Ethiopian and Eriterian) for the riots.
Opposition sources said hundreds of people, including lawyers and politicians, were detained and mistreated.
* MASS DEPORTATION OF SUDANESE FROM LIBYA
Following the series of clashes between the Libyan security and Muslim fundamentalists in Benghazi in the last few weeks, the Libyan authorities embarked on a campaign of mass expulsion of foreigners. Libya suspected a Sudanese connection. 50,000 Sudanese were trucked to the border, and a further 300,000 were ordered to leave in 3 months time, claiming that they do not carry proper working permits.
The number of Sudanese in Libya is estimated between 1.5 to 2 million, most of them unskilled labour who crossed the border seeking work.
It was noted that the Sudanese government did not make any form of protest or complaint over the mass deportations, although President Bashir was in Libya to attend the celebrations of the 26th anniversary of the 1 September revolution. Libya is now the only neighbour that could still be counted as a friend and Sudan does not want to risk any tensions in relations at this time.
* DEFECTION OF A SUDANESE ARMY UNIT
The Sudanese Allied Forces (SAF), an opposition military group, announced on 3 September, that a unit from the Sudanese army, stationed in Eastern Sudan, had defected and joined SAF. The Commander of the unit, Captain Nabil Yahia, arrived at one of the bases of SAF inside Eriteria, accompanied by thirteen commissioned officers and soldiers, carrying their full army gear and arms.
'There is growing discontent among the Sudanese army' Captain Yahia said upon his arrival in Eriteria. He said he will also disclose important information about the locations of training camps for terrorists, administered by the NIF, in different parts of Sudan.
* TWO SUDANESE KILLED IN ADDIS ABABA
Two Sudanese nationals, working for Islamic relief organisations in Ethiopia, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Addis Ababa on September 3. Dr. Abdalla Sulieman Al-Ja'ali, head of the 'International Islamic Relief Agency' and Mohamed El-Fatih Yousif, a member of the World Islamic League, were shot in their car in front of their residence in Addis Ababa.
The Sudanese government accused Ethiopia of negligence and demanded that Ethiopia treats this incident with the same seriousness it treated the assassination attempt on the Egyptian President.
* GERMANY RETURNS ASYLUM-SEEKERS TO SUDAN
Germany had deported, back to Sudan, seven Sudanese who tried to claim political asylum, after a long wait of six weeks at the transit lounge in Frankfurt airport. The seven Sudanese staged a hunger strike and rioted on board a German plane to avoid being sent back.
Human rights groups and politicians in Germany attacked the Interior Minister for his decision to contact the Sudanese government for assurances of safe returning, saying that Eriteria and Egypt offered to take them. The Minister said Sudan is considered a safe country. However, it had been pointed out to him that Germany had cut off development aid to Sudan because of human rights violations.
The authorities in Khartoum, aware of the publicity surrounding this issue, said the seven had arrived safely and were met at the airport by officials who handed them 10,000 SP (Sudanese Pound)[$15] each. Amnesty International objected to the deportation and said that it is not in the refugees' interest to base asylum decisions on information provided by the 'persecuting states'.
The UNHCR in Geneva issued a vague statement, typical of the UN, in which it said it is not opposed to the return of rejected asylum-seekers to the Sudan. However, it added, 'in view of the relentless civil war which is being fought mainly in the South, UNCHR advises against any return of rejected Southern Sudanese asylum-seekers as they are likely to at risk since they could be suspected of being SPLA supporters'. The statement also referred to the numerous reports on the security and human rights situation in Sudan the decree authorizing the arrest of all returning Sudanese who left after the June 1989 coup and who have been away for more than a year.
* SPECULATION ABOUT NEW AMBASSADOR TO THE US
Reports from Khartoum had indicated that the Sudanese government might nominate Maj-Gen. El-Hadi Bushra, as Ambassador to the United States, after its nomination of Maj-Gen. El-Fatih Erwa had been turned down by the US Administration. Bushra was the second man in the Sudanese Opposition military wing, the Legitimate Command, but decided to return to Sudan in July '95 and declared his allegiance to the government. Analysts see the nomination as a signal to the US by the Sudanese regime that its doors are open for opponents and that they could even participate at the highest political level. Bushra was also head of the 'National Security Organisation' during the democratic period and had no record of human rights violations.
* ECONOMIC POINTERS
[] The deteriorating economic situation is seriously affecting the health services in Sudan. After one week of closing down the kidney dialysis unit, due to financial difficulties, Khartoum Teaching Hospital, the largest in the country, announced the suspension of all surgical operations. The hospital administration said the decision is due to the critical financial situation, whereby the hospital was unable to repair the central sterilization equipment which recently broke down. The hospital also lacks essential supplies such as cotton, pads, antiseptic and anesthetic gas.
[] The government-owned Bank of Khartoum, the largest in Sudan, had laid off 1,850 of its employees, in preparation for the bank's sale to private investors. The redundant workers organised a protest and marched to the cabinet's secretariat and presented a protest, addressed President Al-Bashir, against their dismissal, describing it as a violation of their basic right to work. The Governor of the central Bank of Sudan said the dismissals were for economic reasons and not political. He added that 'the bank is an economic establishment and not a charity'.
[] A technical mission from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) is currently visiting Sudan to follow-up and prepare a report on the country's economic performance. The mission will submit a report to the meeting of the IMF board of directors at the end of September to review Sudan's relations with the IMF for the next period.
* SHORT NEWS ITEMS
- The Sudanese government sent a high-level delegation to Nairobi on 9 September for talks with the SPLA (Sudanese People's Liberation Army). The SPLA refused to meet with the delegation, and its spokesman said 'We will not see them outside the framework of the IGADD initiative'.
- Following earlier decisions to free political prisoners, President Al-Bashir announced that his government will review the cases of all those dismissed from their jobs. Thousands of civil service employees, army and police officers and diplomats had their services terminated since 30 June '95. The reason given usually for the dismissals is 'public interest'. A committee had been formed to review cases petitioned by those affected. It was stated this review is 'a confirmation that the government is intent to proliferate the foundations of justice in the society'.
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Message-Id: 199510092227.SAA26062@orion.sas.upenn.edu
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 1995 22:51:33 +0100
From: Yasin Miheisi yasin@DIRCON.CO.UK
Subject: Sudan News & Views - 12
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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