Panafrican News Agency

Sudan denies issuing statement criticizing US sanctions on police unit

Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Sudanese government has refrained from issuing any comments on recent US financial sanctions imposed on a police unit responsible for law and order and riot control.

In fact, the ministry of Foreign Affairs has gone to the extent of “categorically denying” insignificant reports in the social media that it has commented on the topic, let alone criticize or condemn it.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to categorically deny the truthfulness of such a report, and that the minister has made any form of comment on the issue at any fora, or to any news outlet,” a terse release published in the official media said on Tuesday.

It described what the social media reported as “false news that was not even attributed to any sources”.

On Monday, the US Administration imposed sanctions on the Sudanese Central Reserve Police, police unit responsible for handling riots and public order breaches which it accused of committing “serious” human rights abuses in dealing with youth riots that demanded full civilian rule in the Sudan, in lieu of the current hybrid civil-military formation.

A press statement issued by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was taking this step to put an end to current practices by this unit and to frustrate future use of extreme violence by the said unit.

Blinken described this Sudanese police unit as a militarized police unit involved in multiple violent responses to peaceful protestors which prompted the US to sanction it for using excessive force, including lethal force, against demonstrators protesting the military takeover.

The release by the US Administration charged that since the 25 October, 2021, military takeover, Sudanese security forces have reportedly used lethal violence against protesters or violated or abused human rights.

The US said reports of rape, killings, torture, and arbitrary detentions, among other abuses committed by CRP officers as recently as 14 March, were ongoing.

"Reports that CRP officers raped and committed other acts of sexual abuse against female protesters – notably on December 21 and 22, as well as on March 14 – are particularly egregious. These actions are unacceptable and contrary to the Sudanese people’s desire for freedom, peace, and justice in their country. All abuses against protesters by CRP officers must be stopped," Blinken said.

The US stressed its continued full support for the collaborative efforts of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), the African Union, and the sub-regional grouping, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to facilitate a Sudanese-led political process to restore a civilian-led transition to democracy.

The US administration said the sanctions, which include asset freeze, build upon the United States’ previous actions towards these goals, including pausing and redirecting assistance that would have benefited the Government of Sudan.

Blinken said the reversal of that decision would be considered with Sudan’s progress toward and accomplishment of a civilian-led transition to democracy.

It was clear from the reaction of the ministry of Foreign Affairs and the type of sanction imposed on the various police units of the departments of the Ministry of Interior, was meant to send a political message rather than a serious sanction on the Sudanese police, a very vital tool in staving off human trafficking and illegal migration from central, west and east African regions pouring towards Europe.

It was also clear the US, given recent Sudanese flirting with Russia, shortly after Putin started grinding Ukraine, did not want to corner the Khartoum government and send it into the arms of the Russian bear.  

But both sides, the US and the government in Khartoum, wanted to play the game of politics to the end: telling the youth demonstrators in Sudan that the US and western forces were backing their wishes for a civilian led government.

This is to  allow the government to keep the country away from falling into anarchy and sending a message of assurance to western civil society organizations and NGOS that the US was taking action against human rights abuses in the region.

-0-PANA MO/RA 22March2022