Situation in Sudan (per 27 November)

  • The latest massacres in Darfur have the “hallmarks of an organized campaign of atrocities against Massalit civilians”, warns Human Rights Watch (HRW).
  • The UN Security Council should urgently strengthen the UN presence in Darfur to protect civilians and prevent further ethnic killings, urges HRW.
  • HRW interviewed witnesses from Ardamata, Darfur, who described “a spree of killings, shelling, unlawful detentions, sexual violence, ill-treatment, and looting.” In addition, HRW analysed videos and satellite images showing possible new graves as well as bodies in the streets.
  • Clashes intensified between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Thursday. Several RSF positions were bombed and artillery was exchanged, resulting in casualties.
  • Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urges the world not to look away from the suffering of Sudanese women, and for international actors to play a constructive role in bringing peace to Sudan.

Situation in Ethiopia (per 27 November)

  • The situation in Lalibela in the Amhara region has calmed down after fighting last week. However, the situation is still tense and conflict is ongoing in other locations in Amhara.
  • Prisoners were broken out of Woldia prison by Fano militia, reports state.
  • Residents indicate that the incident occurred on the night of 24/25 November. 600 prisoners are said to have been freed, although some have reportedly been recaptured.
  • The Global Oromo Interfaith Council (GOIC) urges the Ethiopian federal government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) to resume peace negotiations.
  • GOIC called on both parties to keep in mind the larger goal of peace.

Situation in Tigray (per 27 November)

  • 60% of the Irob district remains under Eritrean occupation, reports Tigray TV.
  • There is no food aid available to many people and starvation is a severe problem in Irob, according to witnesses.
  • The Bureau of the Social Affairs in the Irob district stated that 59 people died of starvation since the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
  • Women struggle to seek help after being sexually assaulted and raped during the Tigray war, fearing ostracisation by their communities, survivors told the Washington Post.
  • A survey of women of reproductive age found that 8% had been raped, but this is likely to be an undercount due to the stigma and because some of the areas worst impacted are still under Eritrean occupation, and were excluded from the survey.

Regional Situation (per 27 November)

  • Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and SAF general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan held talks in Djibouti on Sunday with Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and IGAD’s Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu.
  • They agreed on the need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and discussed the organisation of an urgent IGAD summit in Djibouti to address the escalating crisis in Sudan. A date has not yet been set.
  • Burhan also met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki at Asmara International Airport. They reportedly discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.
  • Somalia has joined the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc. EAC membership now consists of Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda.
  • There was some hesitation by member states over the admittance of Somalia, as EAC citizens can freely travel between the member states, raising concerns over possible movement of al-Shabaab members.
  • South Sudan has taken over as chair of the EAC. South Sudan’s outstanding debt to the EAC of $15 million was waived by the EAC heads of state.
  • South Sudanese political parties, leaders and stakeholders should make critical decisions in the first quarter of 2024 to enable free, fair, and credible elections, stated The Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan  (UNMISS).

International Situation (per 27 November)

  • The UN Security Council is set to lift the arms embargo on Somalia next month, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud stated. The arms embargo has been in place since 1992.
  • Thirty-eight Yemeni fishermen were freed by Eritrea and returned home. They are the last group of a total of 118 fishermen released by Eritrea this month.
  • The fishermen spent over two months in Eritrean prisons. In addition, they were forced to participate in hard labour from 6am to 8pm working on roads and transporting boulders from mountains without adequate food, stated an anonymous fisherman.
  • The boats and goods of the fishermen were seized. They were arrested by the Eritrean navy while fishing in the Red Sea.
  • Petition e-4603 on the situation in Eritrea was presented to the Canadian parliament by Ms. Anita Vandenbeld. The petition relates to grave human rights abuses occurring in Eritrea and surveillance of pro-democracy Eritrean newcomers  by the Eritrean regime in Canada.
  • The petition calls for the imposition of Magnitsky sanctions on Eritrean officials; investigation into the targeting of Eritrean Canadians; denial of visas to those promoting hate speech or violence; and ensuring the usage of impartial interpreters.
  • A statement by the EU High Representative on behalf of the European Union strongly condemns the ongoing fighting between SAF and RSF in Sudan. The statement notes that the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Sudan is at stake.
  • The EU will “spare no effort with international partners on monitoring and documenting human rights’ violations and abuses”. The EU calls for coherence of peace initiatives on Sudan.

Links of interest

Sudan: New Mass Ethnic Killings, Pillage in Darfur

Sudanese army, RSF engage in fierce clashes in Khartoum
Do not ignore the suffering of Sudanese women

Ethiopia Woldia : Fano Rebels Attack Prison, Freeing Over 600 Inmates

News: Global Oromo Interfaith Council urges resumption of peace talks in Ethiopia amidst stalled negotiations

Tigray TV on X

Raped during Ethiopia’s war, survivors now rejected by their families

Somalia joins East African Community

South Sudan assumes EAC leadership, clears $15m EAC debt

Burhan Hopes IGAD Summit on Sudan Will Be a Success

S.Sudan: Elections in December 2024 conceivable only if critical decisions taken – UNMISS

UN Security Council to lift arms embargo on Somalia next month: President

Final group of Yemeni fishermen held in Eritrea return home

44th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the latest situation

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