Situation in Sudan (per 14 September)

  • Volker Perthes announced he is stepping down from his role as the UN Special envoy to Sudan. Perthes announced his resignation during the UN Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Wednesday. António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, accepted his resignation.
  • Perthes has been proclaimed as persona non grata by the Sudanese government since June.
  • The Sudanese government issued another warning ahead of the Security Council meeting claiming that it will terminate the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, if Perthes would deliver the briefing to the UNSC.
  • US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called the threats by the Sudanese government “unacceptable”. She further condemned atrocities carried out against civilians in Sudan and called on the international community to step up efforts in funding the humanitarian response plan.
  • Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged warring sides to stop the conflict “before it is too late to pull Sudan back from disaster”, delivering his speech at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
  • Airstrikes carried out by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) targeting the positions of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nyala hit two markets and residential areas killing at least 40 civilians on Wednesday.
  • Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of SAF, had reportedly met with Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, leader of the SPLM-North (SPLM-N) during his visit in Asmara, Eritrea, seeking an alliance of the SAF and SPLM-N forces to fight against RSF.
  • This has been reportedly the second meeting between al-Burhan and al-Hilu who previously met the RSF chief in Juba, South Sudan.
  • Al-Burhan continues with a series of state visits having travelled to Turkey on Wednesday. He held bilateral discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
  • The control of the RSF of the oil refinery in Bahri, north Khartoum, has resulted in scarcity of oil supplies and a surge of prices as the production decreased to 30% of its total capacity.

Refugee Situation (per 14 September)

  • Ethiopian authorities have reportedly been denying asylum claims of Sudanese refugees in Addis Ababa, ordering refugees to go back to the Metema refugee site in the Amhara region.
  • Witnesses say that the UNHCR office in Addis Ababa does not handle the requests of Sudanese applicants for asylum.
  • Refugees fleeing from Sudan are subjected to pay a monthly fee of 100 USD to be granted a residence permit in Ethiopia. Refugees are calling on the Ethiopian authorities to lift this rule for Sudanese refugees as it brings significant financial constraints.
  • Health conditions of refugees fleeing from Sudan to Ethiopia have been deteriorating.
  • 225 cases of cholera have been confirmed at the Kumer refugee site, in Metema, Ethiopia, which hosts about 10,000 refugees from Sudan, reports UN OCHA.
  • Malaria cases have been reported among refugee children, causing 3 deaths in the Kurmuk Transit Centre.

Situation in Ethiopia (per 14 September)

  • Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), urged for halting the use of weapons and called for the peaceful resolution of conflicts within Ethiopia. The speech was delivered at the occasion of the New Year celebrated according to the Ethiopian calendar on 12 September.
  • A global network of more than 300 human rights organisations called on the Federal government of Ethiopia to immediately end internet blockage in the Amhara region and uphold the international human rights framework concerning freedom of expression.
  • Kifle Horo, General Manager of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), said that five additional turbines will be put in operation within the new Ethiopian fiscal year. This announcement comes after completion of the fourth round of the GERD reservoir filling .
  • Danga Dhina, a young man who was arrested by the Federal government forces in August, was found dead in Anfilloo district in West Oromia.
  • Witnesses say that Danga was arrested together with 3 other young men by governmental forces on the basis of false accusations of belonging to a killing squat associated with Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). Whereabouts of the remaining 3 men are unknown.

Situation in Eritrea (per 14 September)

  • An earthquake of 5.0 magnitude was detected about 39 km from Massawa port city in Eritrea last night. No significant damage has been reported. 

Regional Situation (per 14 September)

  • A group of 82 Ethiopians who have been held in custody in Athi River, Kenya, went on a hunger strike saying that the repatriation process that they are subjected to by the court order is taking too long and they want to return back to Ethiopia without further delay.
  • The National Intelligence and Security Agency of Somalia published a list of 6 high ranking al-Shabaab officials who have been killed by the Somali National Army in collaboration with the foreign forces in the latest operations.
  • 5 of the al-Shabaab leaders were killed during operation in Awdheegle town, in Lower Shabelle region and one of the leaders was killed in an operation near Bulacle in the Galgaduud region.

International Situation (per 14 September)

  • An analyst for the US State and Justice Departments, Abraham T. Lemma, has been accused of spying for Ethiopia. The details of the case are not yet revealed to the public.

Links of interest

UN envoy to Sudan steps down after being declared unwelcome by government

Sudan renews threat to terminate UNITAMS if Perthes participates in UNSC briefing

Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Briefing on Sudan and South Sudan

Sudan: Türk says conflict must stop before it is too late to pull the country back from disaster

Sudanese army resumes bombing RSF sites in Nyala of South Darfur

Sudan’s al-Burhan seeks alliance with SPLM-N’s al-Hilu against RSF

Sudan’s al-Burhan embarks on official visit to Türkiye

السودان: شح الوقود وزيادة سعره بعد سيطرة الدعم السريع على مصفاة نفط

Cholera outbreak and asylum struggles plague Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia

UN OCHA: ETHIOPIA Situation Report

Patriarch denounces use of destructive weapons, calls for peace and national unity in new year address

Preserving freedom in crisis: Ethiopia’s internet shutdowns must not become the norm

Abbay Dam’s five additional turbines to go operational soon

Eritrea: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurs east of Asmara at around 20:51 Sept. 13

82 detained Ethiopians go on hunger strike, demand repatriation

Somalia: NISA Reveals Names and Photos of Al-Shabaab Leaders Killed in Somalia

Contractor for U.S. Government Charged With Spying for Ethiopia, Officials Say

Disclaimer: All information in this Situation Report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. EEPA does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. EEPA does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@eepa.be any additional information and corrections.