Metro

Sudan’s anti-coup groups meet with junta generals to resolve lingering crisis

Published

2 years ago

June 11, 2022

Leading Sudanese anti-coup and pro-democracy groups have met with the country’s ruling generals for the first time since a military coup in October, 2021, in a bid to find a lasting solution to the crisis it generated which had led to the killing of hundreds of protesters by security forces.

The historic meeting could signal a breakthrough in attempts to bring the East African nation back on track toward a democratic transition following the coup which truncated a power-sharing agreement that instated a joint military-civilian government that was supposed to rule until general elections be held.

The meeting which led on Thursday in the capital, Khartoum, brought together the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change (FDFC), an alliance of political parties and protest groups, together with representatives of the country’s Ruling Military Council.

The FDFC had previously boycotted military-civilian talks that kicked off earlier in the week under the auspices of the United Nations political mission in Sudan, the African Union, and the eight-nation East African regional Intergovernmental Authority in Development Group, (IGAD).

The alliance had criticized the participation of pro-military groups and Islamists who had been allied with the former regime of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir.

Since the military took over in October, the same pro-democracy group has refused to sit with the generals at the negotiating table, insisting they should first transfer power to a civilian government, return to the barracks, end violence against protesters and release all detainees.

But the alliance backtracked and agreed to attend a new round of talks facilitated by the US and Saudi Arabia Embassies which, according to a statement on Friday, were quite fruitful and focused on resolving the current political impasse.

“We thank the participants for their frank and constructive participation and for their willingness to end the political crisis and to build a peaceful, just and democratic Sudan,” a joint statement by the embassies said.

On why it attended the meeting, the pro-democratic alliance said that it had received an invitation from US Assistant Secretary of State Mary Catherine Phee and Saudi Ambassador Ali bin Hassan Jaafar to meet directly with the generals, the FDFC said.

“We are keen to have two of the most influential countries in the region and the world remain supportive of the Sudanese people and the pro-democracy forces,” it said, referring to Saudi Arabia and the US.

The group said that it had agreed to lay out a roadmap in consultation with other civilian groups that would include clear steps on how to reverse the political coup with the blueprint handed over to the international community.

The meeting, held in the residence of the Saudi ambassador was attended by four of the alliance’s leaders and three top military generals, including deputy head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, as well as Lt. Gen. Shams el-Din Kabashin and Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Gaber.

Related Topics:#COUP Featured Generals Protesters Sudan

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Metro

Following backlash, Nigerian govt withdraws treason charges against minors

Published

5 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian government has officially withdrawn the treason charges it entered against some minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest that spread across the country from August 1 to the 10th.

The nation was thrown into shock on Friday when the Nigeria Police presented 76 protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on treason. Among the suspects were four minors who slumped before they could be arraigned before the court.

This caused serious uproar in the country with Nigerians condemning the government and calling for the unconditional release of the kids and the dismissal of the charges against them.

The decision to withdraw the charges against the underage accused came following a directive by President Bola Tinubu who ordered the immediate withdrawal of the charges and an in-depth investigation into what led to the arrest and detention of the minors.

Tinubu had also ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) to officially take over the case file as well as review the cases following public outcry that came with the arraignment of the minors.

The charges were finally withdrawn on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja through an application for discontinuance filled by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF.

According to Abubakar, the discontinuance application was based on provisions of sections 174(1), (b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

The DPPF also applied for further proceedings to be conducted without the presence of the minors in the courtroom, in line with provisions of Section 266(b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Childs’ Rights Act.

In response, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Fanala (SAN), who stood in for the accused as well as other defence lawyers in the matter, did not oppose the applications which promoted the judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, to strike out the charges, while the four affected minors were also delisted from the charge sheet.

Metro

Zambia: President Hichilema urges traditional leaders to invoke rainmaking powers amid drought

Published

22 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on traditional leaders to call upon their rainmaking powers by praying for rain as the nation continues to face the menace of drought.

Hichilema, who made the plea while speaking during the Shikaumpa traditional ceremony of the Ila people in Namwala on Sunday, expressed hope for divine intervention and sufficient rains.

“We pray that this year, God will give us rains, sufficient rains, so we can grow more food, so we can take care of the things, the assets that we keep,” the President stated.

He noted that he was informed of certain chiefs known for their rainmaking abilities, including Senior Chief Mwamba of Northern Province, Chief Sailunga of North-Western Province and Mwami Monze from the Southern Province and urged them to use their powers to invoke rain, adding that the chiefs should continue their prayers for rain, believing that “God will hear our cry.”

The President also encouraged not only the chiefs but also the churches and the entire nation to join in prayers for rain.

“All of us, the churches, everybody, we must pray for rains so that we can take care of God’s people properly,” he said.

The head of state further urged farmers to intensify efforts at planting crops and maximizing their harvest for national food security once the rain comes.

The drought in Zambia in recent
seasons have left 84 districts severely impacted, leading to food shortages and a worsening electricity deficit due to low water levels.