Sudan Tribune

February 15, 2025 (SINJAH) – A unit of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stationed in the Al-Muzmum area near the border with South Sudan surrendered to the Sudanese army in Sinjah, the capital of Sennar state on Friday, military sources told Sudan Tribune. The source said the 100-member unit had crossed into South Sudan before deciding to return to Sudan via the Joda border crossing and hand themselves over to the army in Senga. The presence of RSF troops in the border area with South Sudan has been a source of concern for local authorities, who fear that weapons could be smuggled into South Sudan and destabilize the region, the sources said. Some members of the unit sold their weapons to locals in exchange for money, according to reports. The RSF withdrew from Senga to Al-Muzmum, in the far south of Sinnar state near the South Sudan border, after the army took control of the state’s cities in November. The army’s advance came days after it regained control of the Jebel Moya area west of Senga. A military source said that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) remain in Al-Muzmum with a force of more than 30 military vehicles and that …

February 15, 2025 (WAD MADANI) – The Al Jazirah Conference reported on Saturday that documented cases of rape committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their control of Al Jazirah State in central Sudan reached 890 cases. The RSF committed horrific atrocities against the residents of Al Jazirah since taking control of the state in late 2023, culminating in October and November 2024, before the army regained most of its areas this year. The victims in Al Jazirah State were forced into destructive behaviours to deal with the stigma of sexual violence, including some women fleeing their families and others committing suicide, according to the United Nations Population Fund. The Secretary-General of the Al Jazirah Conference, Al-Mubarak Mahmoud, told Sudan Tribune that “humanitarian and human rights organizations are in contact with the Al Jazirah Conference, which documented 890 cases of rape committed by RSF members in villages east, west and north of the state.” He reported that 112 minors were subjected to rape out of the total number of victims, including 18 cases in need of health care, and arrangements are being made to transfer them to Port Sudan, in eastern Sudan, to receive treatment. He pointed out that …

February 15, 2025 (ADDIS ABABA) – African leaders and international officials warned on Saturday against the continuing fighting in Sudan, calling for a halt to the violence and the delivery of humanitarian aid to millions of hungry people. The 38th African Union Summit began on Saturday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. African presidents, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and representatives from European and Gulf countries participated widely. Sudan was absent from the African summit for the fourth year in a row due to the suspension of its membership in the continental body as a result of the coup carried out by the military in October 2021. Representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and the United States participated in the opening session. The presidency of the African Union was transferred from Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to Angolan President Joao Lourenco. Several leaders and international officials spoke in separate speeches about the war in Sudan and the devastating crisis that Sudan is experiencing due to the fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. Advice for al-Burhan The outgoing African Union President, Mauritanian President Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani, called for bold decisions to be …

February 14, 2025 (ABYEI) – The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) condemned on Friday two recent carjacking incidents targeting its personnel and contractors in northern Abyei.

The Sudanese political forces coalition, known as “Tagadum,” experienced a split on February 10, 2025, dividing into two groups. Tagadum was established as a coalition calling for a ceasefire in Sudan, comprising a majority of the civilian forces that participated in the constitutional and executive positions in the transitional government and a wing of the Sudanese Professionals Association. This coalition persisted throughout the transitional period interrupted by the 2021 coup, followed by the April 2023 war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

February 16, 2025(ADDIS ABABA) – The election of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson sparked intense political manoeuvring, last-minute alliances, and unexpected shifts in stance during the voting rounds held on Saturday at the continental summit. Following their election, the newly appointed Chairperson, Mahmoud Youssif and his deputy, Malika Salma Haddadi, were sworn in before the General Assembly of African Heads of State and Government, which convened in a plenary session on Saturday. Youssef is set to officially assume office as Chairperson of the African Union on March 15 for a four-year term, succeeding Moussa Faki of Chad, who has held the position for the past eight years. After the results were announced, Djiboutian President Ismaïl Guelleh stated that his country extends a hand of cooperation to all Africans and all AU teams to strengthen unity and solidarity across the continent. Meanwhile, newly elected Deputy Chairperson Malika Salma Haddadi emphasized in a press statement that her victory represents Algeria’s growing influence in African affairs, affirming that “Algeria is the heart of Africa.” Observers anticipate a challenging tenure for Youssef, especially with escalating crises in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside other pressing issues in …

February 16, 2025 (NAIROBI) – The announcement of a new government in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan has been postponed to Tuesday, with a key political figure’s support for the move triggering a rift within his own party. Al-Hadi Idris, a leader within the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, an alliance of armed groups, announced the delay on Saturday. He also confirmed that Fadlallah Burma Nasir, leader of the National Umma Party, will participate in the signing of the charter establishing the government. Burma’s involvement comes after he participated in several meetings regarding the formation of the parallel administration, with some reports suggesting he was being considered for the presidency of the Sovereign Council. However, the Umma Party’s official stance appears divided. Secretary-General Al-Wathiq Al-Berair warned on Saturday of the escalating risk of the country’s fragmentation, stating that the party is not affiliated with any such government. Rabah Al-Sadiq, a prominent Umma Party member, sharply criticized Burma’s support for the RSF-backed government, calling it “political suicide” and an attempt to “destroy the party.” She emphasized the party’s foundational principles of democracy, institutionalism, and national unity, arguing that no individual, regardless of their position, can compromise these values. …

February 16, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s inflation rate eased to 145.14% in January, down from 187.83% recorded in December 2024, the Central Bureau of Statistics said on Sunday. The inflation rate, which measures the change in the general price level in the current month compared with the same month of the previous year, has been on a downward trend in recent months. It was 198.22% in November and 211.48% in October, down from 215.52% in September. “The rate of change in the general price level – inflation – rose in January by 145.14% compared to the same month last year,” the Central Bureau of Statistics said in a statement. The urban inflation rate in January was 124.26%, compared with 158.62% in December, while the rural rate was 159.66% in January, down from 207.17% in the previous month. The inflation rate decreased in all 18 states, with the largest decrease in West Darfur (170.13%), followed by Gedaref (147.40%) and River Nile (79.70%). The Central Bureau of Statistics relies on 663 commodities to measure inflation, representing the consumption patterns of the population in various economic, social, and geographical categories in rural and urban areas. These commodities are divided into 12 groups, …

February 16, 2025 (NAIROBI,) – A key figure in the formation of a parallel government in areas controlled by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), al-Hadi Idris, revealed plans to acquire warplanes to “defend citizens.” The signing of the political charter for the anticipated government, initially scheduled for Tuesday in Nairobi, has been postponed to Wednesday to allow more signatories to arrive. The announcement of constitutional arrangements and the government itself will follow. “The new government will purchase weapons to defend citizens, acquire warplanes and train personnel. This is part of the defence ministry’s tasks,” Idris said in an interview with Al Jazeera TV. He stated that the government plans to form a unified army from various military factions, including the RSF, to protect citizens from attacks “by air and land.” “Otherwise, there is no need to form it,” he added. Idris affirmed that providing defence mechanisms is among the government’s responsibilities. According to Idris, the parallel government, which he referred to as the “peace government,” will rely on its own resources, starting with opening border crossings and airspace upon its declaration, while welcoming any international support. Regarding the financial pledges made by the UAE, Ethiopia, and Kenya, he clarified that …

February 16, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The governor of Darfur, Minni Arko Minawi, on Sunday accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of destroying 11 water stations and burning some 8,000 shops during a violent attack on the Zamzam camp in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. He called on the international community to designate the RSF as a terrorist group.