SITUATION REPORT – HORN OF AFRICA No. 483, 28 September 2023

Situation in Sudan (per 28 September)

• Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, reportedly delegated oversight of ministries and important state bodies to deputy of the Sovereign Council, Malik Agar, and three other members of the Sovereign Council, reports Sudan Tribune. 
• Two members of the Council, namely Hadi Idris and Tahir Hajer, have been excluded from distribution of tasks. Idris and Hajer have been known to hold a position of neutrality in the current conflict between al-Burhan and his rival Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).
• More than 100 universities and research institutes have been damaged since the outbreak of war in Sudan. Students and academic staff have been displaced and remote teaching is also not possible due to limited connectivity. 
• Sudan’s national science academy called on the international community of researchers to support Sudanese universities’ staff, researchers and students through possible admission to universities worldwide until the war stops. 
• Darfur farmers raise the alarm over an emerging famine if the humanitarian aid is not provided to the people. 
• Alongside the ongoing fighting, the local crop farms are threatened by livestock, left behind by herders, eating and destroying the crops. Security forces cannot control the situation as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly occupy police offices. 
• The responsibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is to investigate the latest violence that occurred in Sudan since April, alongside an ongoing investigation of the crimes committed in Darfur since 2005, confirmed the chief prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan.
• Khan highlighted that both warring sides talk about the need for justice but no concrete evidence has been brought to the ICC from either general Al-Burhan or Hemedti to confirm their claims. 
• A cholera outbreak was announced by Sudanese medics in Gedaref state with 18 reported deaths and 265 known cases. Three cholera-related deaths were reported from Khartoum. 
• Dengue fever cases are spiking across several Sudanese states with reported 3,398 cases Gedaref, Red Sea, North Kordofan and Khartoum. 

Refugee Situation (per 28 September)

Situation in Tigray (per 28 September)

• The Central Committee of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) urged for extension of the mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), through a statement released on Monday. 
• The statement also called for further implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) Agreement, particularly ensuring that internally displaced people will be able return to their homes. 
• The TPLF recognized that there is a need for an reassessment of the party’s internal situation, programs, and ideology which currently is accompanied by “internal weaknesses”. 
• 1,329 hunger-related deaths in Tigray have been confirmed by research carried out at Mekelle University. A sharp increase occurred after the suspension of the food aid in March. 
• The research showed that this number accounts for more than 68% of total deaths of the studied sample. As the research was carried out in nine out of 88 subdistricts of Tigray and 53 out of 643 camps for internally displaced people, the total number is expected to be even higher.
• Trees and crops on a large area of 15,000 hectares were damaged by tree locusts in the Tigray. The Tigray Agriculture and Natural Resources Bureau confirmed it is one of the largest infestations ever seen in this region. 

Situation in Ethiopia (per 28 September)

• Dr. Chane Kebede, head of the Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice opposition party, was reportedly detained by the security forces in Addis Ababa on Sunday. 
• His house and premises of his office were searched. The reason for his detention is not yet clear. 
• Ethiopian airlines re-submitted a tender opening which aims to reconstruct the Axum airport which was heavily damaged during the war in Tigray. The previous tender did not meet the necessary standards due to the lack of applicants. 

Regional Situation (per 28 September)

International Situation (per 28 September)

• 71,999 Israeli Shekels (currently approx. €18,000) were reportedly transferred to the Eritrean embassy by the Israeli state two years ago for “transit documents for Eritrean citizens living in Israel who had agreed to voluntary repatriation”, reports Haaretz.
• The transfer of money by the Israeli immigration authority was reportedly done without any tender and indicates “rare evidence of ties” between the Eritrean government and Israeli institutions. 
• The EU should issue a draft resolution at the Human Rights Council to continue investigations into violations committed in Ethiopia and call for extension of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), said Human Rights Watch.

Links of interest

Sudan’s Burhan delegates government powers to deputy and three generals
Sudan’s scientists plead for help as war ravages research
Darfur farmers warn of impending famine as season falters
‘I feel ashamed we haven’t done a better job in Sudan,’ says ICC chief prosecutor
Sudan medics warn that cholera and dengue fever are spreading
IOM using biometrics to facilitate aid for displaced persons in South Sudan
TPLF Central Committee calls for UN experts’ mandate extension, full implementation of Pretoria agreement; admits “internal weaknesses”
Researchers have verified 1,329 hunger deaths in Ethiopia’s Tigray region since the cease-fire there
Severe tree locust infestation wreaks havoc, exacerbating food insecurity in Tigray region
Ethiopian opposition party leader Chane Kebede arrested 
በጦርነት የወደመውን የአክሱም አውሮፕላን ማረፊያ ለመጠገን ተቋራጮች ሊመረጡ ነው
S. Sudan’s Kiir reiterates commitment for peace in Sudan
Israel Transferred Tens of Thousands of Shekels to Eritrean Embassy Two Years Ago
UN Rights Body Should Extend Ethiopia Investigations