Here’s a news roundup of the recent news regarding Sudan. We selected four articles we consider worth the read, on topics we regularly evoke on the MagkaSama Project.
Let’s start with this article from Sudan Tribune: Sudan vows continued cooperation with EU to combat illegal migration.
The government of Sudan has underscored its commitment to continue to cooperate with the European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to combat terrorism, illegal migration and human trafficking. In statements to the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC), the State Foreign Minister Atta al-Mannan Bakhit said Sudan is keen to continue cooperation with international organizations to play a pivotal role in serving a number of regional and international agendas.
On his side, the Enough Project points out Sudan’s Religious Oppression and Embrace of Extremist Groups in a new report published last week:
The Obama and Trump administrations, in temporarily and then permanently lifting comprehensive sanctions on Sudan, cited improvements in the Sudanese government’s counterterrorism and its broader humanitarian and human rights record. But a closer look reveals these claims to be very problematic, with major implications for the next stage of dialogue and policy between the United States and Sudan.
This report comes as no surprise, according to 2 others articles confirming the situation. In
Sanctions No More: Slouching Toward Normalization with Sudan?, John Hursh writes:
While the sanctions decision marked the culmination of a long and concerted effort by Sudan to improve its relationship with the U.S., Sudan certainly received some help along the way. Most notably, Squire Patton Boggs received $40,000 a month from the Sudanese government to push for sanctions removal. On the day the sanctions were revoked, the firm announced that subject to a few exceptions, “Sudan is now open for business.” Despite the firm’s optimism, few expect a rapid turnaround for Sudan’s beleaguered economy.
In another article recently published on African Arguments, Hursh explains how since removal of sanctions, Sudan’s economy has actually got worse:
However, in practice, the economy continues to show little gain and numerous problems. The most glaring derive from the government’s misguided economic policies, especially its massive spending on military and security combined with underinvestment in health care, housing, education, and infrastructure. Until the government of President Omar al-Bashir commits to significant economic reforms, the removal of sanctions will do little to improve the economy or better the lives of most Sudanese.
Lastly, a tweet by Juliette Paauwe we retweeted about the ICC: Decision under article 87(7) of the Rome
Statute on the non – compliance by Jordan with the request by the Court for the arrest and surrender or Omar Al-Bashir:
Yesterday the #ICC found that #Jordan failed to comply with its obligations under the Rome Statute and referred the matter of non-compliance to the #ASP and #UNSC See decision: https://t.co/PVyD0wCfZx #AlBashir #Sudan pic.twitter.com/pB93iUMJFN
— Juliette Paauwe (@JulietteM87) December 12, 2017
