Situation in Sudan (per 4 December)

  • The Saudi and US mediators in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have indefinitely suspended the negotiations between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
  • RSF refused to withdraw its forces from roads and cities, and insisted on keeping its bases and checkpoints in Khartoum.
  • In addition, SAF failed to arrest former regime leaders, a confidence-building measure put forward by RSF.
  • South Sudanese interior minister, Angelina Teny, stated that South Sudanese nationals are engaging in the war in Sudan on both sides of the conflict.
  • She warned that the South Sudanese fighters could also carry weapons across the border into South Sudan.
  • Between 28 October and 24 November, ACLED recorded over 360 political violence events and over 1,690 conflict-related deaths in Sudan. This brings the total recorded deaths since the start of the war to 12,190.
  • Over 108 battle events took place in Khartoum between 28 and 24 November. These focus mostly on strategic locations linking Bahri, Omdurman and Khartoum together.
  • In Darfur, RSF is taking over as the de-facto ruling faction, having gained control of 4 out of 5 major cities, as it turns its attention to Kordofan.
  • The cholera outbreak in Sudan continues to worsen, with 5,178 cases confirmed in Gedaref and 161 people dead.
  • Cholera has spread to the Al Jazirah, Blue Nile, Gedaref, Kassala, Khartoum, Red Sea, Sennar, South Kordofan, and White Nile states.

Situation in Ethiopia (per 4 December)

  • High-level delegations from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, and the Ethiopian Catholic Church, met at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, in a meeting facilitated by the World Council of Churches (WCC).
  • The Church leaders discussed the dire humanitarian situation in Ethiopia.
  • The leaders discussed creating a council of churches on advocacy for human rights, establishing a task force to set out the next steps.
  • At least 36 people from three villages in the Shirka district of the Oromia region were killed by unknown attackers, state residents. The attacks followed the breakdown of negotiations between the Ethiopian federal government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
  • The Ethiopian government has made an agreement with United Arab Emirates’ AMEA Power to build a $600 million wind turbine farm which will cover 18,000 acres of land.
  • Once built, the wind farm will be the largest in the country.

Situation in Eritrea (per 4 December)

  • Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki promises to direct Eritrean authorities to provide free visas for Sudanese citizens, grant them residency without fees and treat them as citizens, states Eritrean media source Tesfanews.
  • Flynas, the national air carrier of Saudi Arabia, announced it will set up weekly direct flights from Jeddah to the Eritrean capital of Asmara. The flights are set to start from 17 January 2024.

Regional Situation (per 4 December)

  • The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit of heads of state on Sudan will take place on 9 December in Djibouti.
  • The Horn of Africa continues to be impacted by heavy rains in relation to the El Niño weather phenomenon. In Somalia, the number of people affected has increased to 2.4 million, according to the authorities, with over one 1 million people displaced and 110 killed spread across 36 districts.
  • Around 2 million people have been displaced due to floods in the Horn of africa.
  • The European Commission mobilised €3.5 million in additional aid to help those affected by the floods in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.

International Situation (per 4 December)

  • The UN Security Council (UNSC) voted to terminate the mandate of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The penholder, the UK, noted that the UK delegation would not have chosen to end the mission.
  • The operations of UNITAMS will end on 29 February 2024 after a three-month wind down period. The UNSC called for the Sudanese authorities to ensure the safety of the mission staff in the transition period.
  • The United Nations country team will continue essential work in Sudan, including humanitarian assistance, in the wake of the termination of UNITAMS, stated a spokesperson for the UN Secretary General.
  • The UNSC unanimously voted to lift the arms embargo on Somalia.
  • The UNSC called on the Federal government of Somalia to implement the national weapons-and-ammunition-management strategy and to professionalise police and security forces, and to prevent weapons and ammunition from falling into the wrong hands.
  • The United States should sanction Eritrean dictator Isaias Afewerki over the continued presence of Eritrean troops in Tigray, where they have committed grave human rights abuses, stated congressman Brad Sherman in a hearing.

Links of interest

Mediators suspended Sudan’s ceasefire talks Indefinitely

Interior minister admits involvement of South Sudanese in Sudan conflict

Sudan: Unraveling the Conflict Dynamics in Darfur

Sudan: Cholera outbreak Flash Update No. 4, As of 4 December 2023

Tesfanews on X

In historic show of unity, Ethiopian churches commit to establishing national council

Ethiopia’s Oromiya region accuses OLA rebels of killing ‘many’ people

Ethiopia signs $600 mln wind farm deal with UAE’S AMEA Power

flynas launches two weekly direct flights to the capital of Eritrea Asmara from Jeddah as of January 17

IGAD Plans Summit on Sudan in December, Amid Fresh Violence

Somalia Situation Report, 4 Dec 2023

EU allocates emergency humanitarian aid for floods in Horn of Africa

Security Council Terminates Mandate of UN Transition Mission in Sudan, Adopting Resolution 2715 (2023) in Vote of 14 in Favour to 1 Abstention

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Sudan

Security Council Lifts Arms Embargo on Federal Government of Somalia, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2714 (2023)

Brad Sherman on X

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.