Omdurman Archives - Jean-Jacques Cornish

Sudan soldiers force evacuation of wounded demonstrators from Khartoum hospital

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 22:00:00 +0000

Sudanese soldiers have forced Khartoum’s central hospital to evacuate protestors wounded in Monday’s attack on their sit-in outside military headquarters.

Since that onslaught that killed more than 60 people the Rapid Support Force, formerly known as the janjaweed, has spread out around the capital and twin-city Omdurman as the military digs in.

There has been increasing international condemnation of Sudan’s military junta’s deadly clearing out of protestors.

Intent on enforcing their control after ousting President Omar Al Bashir in a coup nearly two months ago, the generals have scrapped agreements made with the pro-democracy coalition aimed at getting a civilian administration in Sudan.

Clearing hundreds of wounded demonstrators out of the Royal Care Hospital shows what a heavy hand they have opted for.

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Ominous presence of janjaweed at Sudanese protests

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 22:00:00 +0000

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have continued their sit-in outside Sudan’s army headquarters, insisting their protest will continue until President Omar Al Bashir leaves office.

There have been clashes between soldiers trying to protect the predominantly female protestors and others trying to disperse them.

As demonstrations in Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman, now in their fifth month, gain momentum, there are indications from the presidency Omar Al Bashir wants to talk to dissidents in a bid to build national consensus.

However there are ominous signs of a tougher line with the growing presence of the janjaweed stopping supplies reaching protestors.

The shadowy militia is responsible for atrocities in the Sudanese territory of Darfur for which Al Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court.

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Eight die in Sudanese bread riots

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 22:00:00 +0000

Riots are continuing in Sudan over a government decision to triple the price of bread.

At least eight people have died and a police headquarters has been torched.

The riots began in the capital Khartoum after the price of bread rose from R2,80 to R8,40.

They spread to the east of the country.

In clashes with riot police, six people died in Al Qaddrif and two were killed in Atbara.

In the capital’s twin city of Omdurman demonstrations calling for the fall of the government erupted after Friday prayers at a mosque frequented by followers of the Al-Ansar sect that is linked to Sudan’s main opposition group the Umma party.

Police fired tear gas at them.

Supporters of Umma have been urged to join the protests

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Al-Bashir promises a new page for Sudan

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:00:00 +0000

Being sworn in for another five years , Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir promises a new page in the African giant’s dealings with the world.
The ceremony in Omdurman was attended by a number of African leaders, but not the Western presidents who gave the thumbs down to the April election that renewed his mandate

Still wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in Sudan’s western province of Darfur, President Omar al Bashir promises to bring peace and mend relations with the West.

Dressed in traditional gleaming white robes and turban, Bashir promises to bring about a comprehensive peace and look to the future.

The national dialogue aimed at ending the conflicts roiling Sudan’s peripheries and addressing its faltering economy has so far failed to materialise because opposition groups insist on dissolving his government as a precondition to talking.

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Beat the world to Sudan

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 22:00:00 +0000

It is one of the great sights on a great continent. In fact, you have not seen Africa until you have seen the confluence of of the White and Blue Nile.
Laying eyes on the meeting of the churning White and the smooth Blue gives meaning to the word arteriaL
A lone angler sits on the aquatically busy corner gently dipping his line into the water where the rivers converge, probably grateful that the Sudanese authorities have not done must to embellish this attraction.
An eight arch bridge nearby joins the capital with Omdurman across the White Nile. The troika of these two cities plus Bahri resemble a giant elephant with the river forming the trunk.
That is what Khartoum means in Arabic: elephant.
The island of Tuti fits in here somewhere – although residents of what amounts to the capital’s vegetable garden are legendary misfits.
Their antiquated water pumps thump noisily. They have refused government offers to replace them with new devices because they are suspicious that there might be strings attached.
They did not like the building of a bridge with the mainland – a gift from Turkey – which brought the first cars onto the island. So they fiercely oppose building hotels and villas.
They say: bLet the residents of the capital have their giant orange-squeezer shaped, Libyan-built Burj, the Hall of Friendship, which is one many Chinese expressions of gratitude for accessing virtually every drop of oil this country can pump, and other impressive pieces of cutting edge architecture. They will keep growing greens.
Sudan is still on Washington’s list of terrorist-sponsoring countries and subject to some US sanctions.
But like Cuba and Iran it is coming in from the cold.
The conventional wisdom is one should get into Cuba and Iran now, before the world does.
The same applies to Sudan.
My advice is take this Madhi-Kalmis-Ter-I tour before the marketing buffs get in.
Arabic is essential for business but English more than gets one buy in this country with a strong British colonial background .
Before you say: ah cricket! remember that the Brits were not here long enough to instill an appreciation of willow on leather.
The Mahdi rather spoiled things by sending his troops from Omdurman just across the river to fetch Gordon who was under siege in Khartoum trying to evacuate British troops and citizens.
The Mahdi’s men went totally off message and removed the British administrator’s head.
There is a brass plaque on the steps of the Presidential Palace indicating the site of this slaying.
I was not able to see it this time because chez Gordon has become the old palace – replaced by an impressive Chinese-built replica. Both old and new are now under security lockdown.
My rambling, slightly-foxed hotel on the banks of the Blue Nile was the first five-star establishment in Khartoum.
It has the same architect as Singapore’s famous Raffles. Don’t try walking into the bar and ordering a Sudanese Sling though. There is no bar is this very dry country.
And don’t trying walking into the fancy hotel next door because that is the headquarters in Sudan of the China National Petroleum Company.
My hotel has housed Queen Elizabeth II and Winston Churchill.
It has also accommodated Thomas Cook which is ironic because foreign credit cards are not accepted in sanctions-hit Sudan.
My source on the famous guests is the editor of Sudan Vision. It is one of three English-language newspapers in this country.
Navigating the convoluted contents confirms the harsh reality that because the King’s tongue is indeed the second most spoken language on the globe does not mean it is always delivered as she should be.
This piece first appeared on jjcornish.com

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