Sudan’s Bashir says civil disobedience was “one million percent failure”
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President Omer al-Bashir waves during a rally in Nyala town in South
Darfur on December 29, 2010. (Reuters Photo)
November 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir said
the civil disobedience act that took place in his country during the
past three days was a complete failure.
Large segments of the Sudanese people have engaged in a three-day
civil disobedience act from 27 to 29 November to protest the recent
austerity measures and the lack of freedoms.
In an interview with the UAE-based Al Khaleej newspaper on Tuesday,
al-Bashir said the recent civil disobedience was a “one million
percent failure”, pointing that all residents were keen to go to their
workplaces.
“Employee attendance rate was high last Sunday,” he said.
However, al-Bashir acknowledged the rising prices of commodities due
to recent austerity measures, saying the move was like a “slap in the
face” for the Sudanese citizen.
The Sudanese president described the price list of drugs issued by the
former secretary general of the Sudan Pharmacy Council (SPC) Mohamed
Hassan Imam as an “error by the competent entities”.
Earlier this month, Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) announced it will no
longer provide US dollar for drug importation at rate of 7,5 Sudanese
pounds (SDG) forcing pharmaceutical companies to buy the dollar from
the black market at 17,5 pounds.
Following the CBoS’s decision, the SPC issued a new list showing the
drug price has drastically increased by 100 to 300 percent.
The decision stirred a large wave of protests across Sudan forcing
al-Bashir to sack Imam and cancel the new list of drug price.
Al-Bashir pointed that the economic reform program was necessary
especially after the secession of South Sudan, saying the economic
situation is improving and the inflation fell to 13% from 60%.
Sudan’s economy was hit hard since the southern part of the country
declared independence in July 2011, taking with it about 75% of the
country’s oil output.
Meanwhile, al-Bashir said a new government of national concord will be
formed following the approval of the proposed constitutional
amendments in the parliament.
TIES WITH WASHINGTON
Regarding Sudan’s relations with the United States, al-Bashir said he
is “convinced that dealing with President-elect Donald Trump will be a
lot easier than dealing with others, because he is a straightforward
person”.
“He [Trump] focuses on the interests of the American citizen unlike
those who used to speak about transparency, democracy and human
rights. He is a businessman who seeks to achieve interests and it
would clear and easy to deal with him,” al-Bashir said.
Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in
response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights
abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur
which it labelled as genocide.
Also, Sudan has been on the US list of countries supporting terrorism
since 1993, for allegedly providing support and safe haven for
terrorist groups.
Sudan says Washington didn’t honour its pledges to lift Sudan from the
United States list of state sponsors of terrorism after the
independence of South Sudan and kept sanctions for political reasons.
But Washington says Khartoum has to end the armed conflict in South
Darfur and Blue Nile states and to settle Darfur crisis.
FIGHTING AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRATION
The Sudanese President further said his country is making significant
efforts to combat terrorism and illegal migration on the borders with
Libya, pointing they deployed more than 1000 four-wheel drive “Land
Cruiser” vehicles along the border to fight against human trafficking.
Sudan is considered as a country of origin and transit for the illegal
migration and human trafficking. Thousands of people from Eritrea and
Ethiopia are monthly crossing the border into the Sudanese territories
on their way to Europe through Libya or Egypt.
The European Union (EU) said it cooperates with the Sudanese
government on projects to tackle the root causes of migration,
pointing these “ projects contribute to improving livelihoods,
stimulating youth employment, and supporting basic services for
refugees, the displaced, and host communities”.
Earlier this year, the EU granted a €100m development package to
address the root causes of irregular migration in Sudan. The financial
support came after pledge by the Sudanese government to cooperate with
Brussels to stop human trafficking to Europe.
Also, in June 2014 the US Department of State hailed Sudan’s efforts
in containing and fighting against human trafficking.
Last June, a joint operation among Sudan, Italy and the United Kingdom
has led to the arrest of an Eritrean man suspected of controlling one
of the world’s four largest criminal migrant trafficking
organizations.
(ST)
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Kind regards,
The Sudan Tribune editorial team.
29 November 22:36, by Eric Reeves
Only an insecure mathematical fool would speak of the “1 million
percent failure” of an event—idiotic nervousness on al-Bashir’s part.
And if so much a “failure,” why did NISS confiscate four
newspapers—having in common only the fact they reported on the
“failed” civil disobedience? The people of Sudan are up against a
ruthless security apparatus—but their anger should not be
underestimated.
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