Sudan Tribune, News from the Dysfunctional State

The Sudan Tribune aims to give mostly unbiased, usually accurate and partially non-propagandic news to the Sudanese diaspora across the world

Khartoum - Q1 - 2013

Omar al-Bashir targeted in major bomb attack

The Sudanese capital was the site of a major car bomb attack, which many security officials believe was targeted towards the President, Omar al-Bashir. Al-Bashir is obviously the leader of the nation, and has been so for the last twenty to thirty years. His rule has seen the detention of many individuals who are alleged to be 'traitors' to the nation. During his tenure, he has undoubtedly built up a large base of detractors.

However, what makes these attacks so unique is the fact that they occurred. Khartoum has not been the site of major terrorist attacks in many years, and the President has never come so close to death - his car was about 100 feet away from the bomb when it detonated.

The attacks themselves killed over 40 people in the city's center, many of them security officials and bystanders. An additional 204 have been taken to the city's various hospitals for wounds, ranging from serious to minor.

We have yet to see what exactly the Sudanese Governmental response will be, though it is likely that they will blame rebels in Darfur for these attacks.

Al-Fashir - Q2 - 2013

Sharp rise in Darfur attacks as al-Bashir orders UN out

President Omar al-Bashir ordered the entire UN mission, as well as foreigners, out of the nation a few weeks ago, forcing many to leave the nation. Since that time, the number of foreigners has dwindled as the number of attacks on Darfur have risen sharply.

Darfur has long been the troubled region of Sudan. In 2003 an uneasy peace was broken by two rebel groups - the JEM and the SLM. These rebel groups attacked sovereign govenrmental insitutions across Darfur as an effort to demarginalize Darfur in national politics. Unfortunately, they succeeded. Sudanese army forces have been deployed in the region, and along with the janjaweed they have been successful in hunting rebel groups. The official death toll is less than 20,000 - the majority being rebels. Certain international aid groups have claimed figures higher as a fundraising ploy, these groups will not receive money otherwise.

Since foreigners were 'forced' out, the number of government attacks on rebel forces have been reported to increase. Several successes in the government have occurred in parts of Southern and Northern Darfur, where governmental aircraft have the opportunity to fly.

Khartoum - Q4 - 2013

Attempted Army Coup fails

During the last few days, heavy fighting in parts of the capital have been reported. This fighting is mainly due to an attempted army coup which was put down by loyalist forces - according to governmental news agencies. President Omar al-Bashir made an address to the nation earlier today, stating that, "certain traitors to the nation have been dealt with after they tried to attack the symbol of our nation. Khartoum has risen up and attacked these thugs, stopping this vicious attempt at power grabbing. Sudan has stood strong, and will remain strong. Long Live Sudan!"

This army coup is understood to have come from the lower rungs of command, as tensions in the army with the President seem to have risen in response to his orders to step up efforts in Darfur. This is the second assassination attempt on the President's life in less than eight months - a dangerous sign for the President.

Khartoum - Q4 - 2013

President al-Bashir to inspect troops across the country

The Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, has announced plans to visit several parts of the country to inspect troops and other such armament. The President has in the past been noted to take a special interest in the Popular Defense Force - the military wing of his party, as well as the Air Force.

The Sudanese Air Force has several modern aircraft, the majority of which are located in the south west of the country for use against Darfuri rebels. This particular visit is in preparation for Victory Day later next year in which many believe Omar al-Bashir will detail his succession plans for after his death.

Khartoum - Q4 - 2013

Omar al-Bashir dead in plane attack

The Sudan Tribune can report that President Omar al-Bashir is dead. The President was inspecting troops and the military in several parts of the country when a massive explosion tore apart his Presidential jet. There were no survivors when the jet subsequently broke up into many small piece strewn over several square miles.

This attack leaves Sudan without a President, and although it is too early to tell who is behind the plot, we can saw for certain that Sudan will be destabilized for the near future.

There are already reports of violence in several cities, which we assume to be from either perpetrators of this violent crime or as a result of army units looking to secure power for themselves.

Khartoum - Q1 - 2014

Scientists warn of major drought in Darfur

Leading scientists across the world, including those at the University of Khartoum, have all warned of an increased risk and likelihood of a major drought in Darfur. Darfur is a very drought prone region of Sudan which has already experienced 11 years of anti-Rebel fighting between the government and rebel forces. In the absence of a major central authority, Sudanese army forces have either toned down the Rebel hunting operations or pulled out of Darfur.

President Omar al-Bashir died about a month or two ago, and since then there has been no central leader. The Army controls the majority of the country, but this hold on power is weak in some areas, and the army itself is divided into various factions.

Army officials have stated that they have a plan to stability, however this plan seems quite fictitious as no plan has been released, and the army itself is quite factionated.

Khartoum - Q3 - 2015

Summary to the Present

As a summary to the present date, from the previous news entry (Q1 2014):

Q1 2014:
- Army announces plans for fresh elections in three months time, as well as a plan for a proper constitutional convention to be drafted three months post-elections.
- Violence rocks several major cities as Army struggles to maintain control against local warlords.
- National Islamic Front announces its intentions to stand as a separate political party - different from its traditional political wing in the National Congress.
- Hassan al-Turabi; the leader of the NIF since its inception announces his intentions to stand for the Presidency.
- National Congress spends several weeks deciding on candidates for the Presidency, eventually asks formerly overthrown Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi to stand. Al-Mahdi accepts.

Q2 2014:
- The main election campaigns step up as violence attacks several constituencies. One terror attack kills two candidates in the North of the Country.
- Election polling puts the NIF and NC essentially tied at about 40-42% of the polls each.
- al-Turabi and al-Mahdi face off in the first of a series of debates; many analysts agree al-Turabi went on to win the debate.
- Some Army generals call for a withdrawal from Darfur

Q3 2014:
- In the first round of the Presidential election, al-Turabi secures 46% of the vote to al-Mahdi's 44% of the vote: both proceed to the second round.
- In the second round, al-Turabi wins with 56% of the vote to al-Mahdi's 44%. This concludes the turnaround of Hassan al-Turabi's political fortunes, years after his arrest following al-Niamey's political coup in 1969 which ended the Islamic Charter Front's rule over Sudan. Al-Mahdi continues his downturn in political fortunes, ever since Omar al-Bashir's coup which overthrew him in 1989.
- In the Parliamentary elections, the NIF defeats the NC, capturing a slight majority in Parliament - with 229 seats out of the 450 in the National Assembly. They went on to capture 30 seats in the Council of the States. The NC captured 204 seats in the National Assembly, and a mere 12 seats in the Council of the States.
- The handover of power to the 'civilian' authorities is relatively peaceful - with the Army ceding power to al-Turabi and his party.

Q4 2014:
- Al-Turabi orders the Army to being to withdraw from Darfur and end its combat operations against the rebels.
- Peace talks are opened with the Darfuri rebels, which the main rebel groups accede to.
- Janjaweed attacks continue, however, in Darfur - something which causes much tension between Sudanese Army forces and rebel forces.

Q1 2015:
- The Khartoum-Darfur Accords (shortened to KDA) are signed between the rebel and Governmental forces in Khartoum, ending the main struggles between the Army and the Rebels over Darfur. The KDA also set forth a plan to eventually grant Darfur independence from Sudan in early 2017 - until which the states will be referred to as autonomous regions of Sudan with their regional governments.
- Al-Turabi and al-Mahdi repair their decades long struggle against each other, with a plan to 'cooperate' for the betterment of the Sudanese future.
- Al-Mahdi is announced to be the regional governor of Darfur along with a rebel commander as the two Co-Governors of the state.

Q2 2015:
- The Sudanese Army finishes its combat operations in Darfur, and repositions itself on the border of Darfur, rather than inside of Darfur.
- Regional tensions with South Sudan flare up once again over the disputed regions, as Sudanese forces once again cross the border and seize several oil fields.
- Skirmishing with South Sudanese forces kills dozens of Northern troops, unknown number of Southern troops.

Q3 2015:
- Sudanese forces pull out of the disputed regions, as high level talks between the North and the South yield in a withdrawal by the North.