• There were simulated explosions, smoke, blank gunfire, fire, and traffic disruptions in the areas surrounding the embassy and Rosslyn Academy.
• The drill caused panic in the area as some mistook it for a real attack.
The EU must show that Brexit has been“damaging” to the UK, the French prime minister has told Brussels in a letter calling for support for tougher actions over the Channel fishing dispute.
Jean Castex wrote a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday setting out reasons why the EU should act against Britain over the limited granting of licences for French fishermen to operate in British waters post-Brexit.
He wrote that the EU had to make clear that “leaving the union is more damaging than remaining in it”.
Paris is threatening to increase checks on British boats, stop them landing in French ports, slow customs arrangements in Calais and increase tariffs on energy bills in Jersey from Tuesday unless French fishermen are granted more licences to British waters around Jersey and Guernsey.
A translation of Mr Castex’s letter says: “The uncooperative attitude of the United Kingdom today risks not only causing great harm to fishermen, mainly French, but also for the [European] union, in that it sets a precedent for the future and challenges our credibility and our ability to assert our rights with regard to international commitments signed by the union.
“It therefore seems necessary for the European Union to show its total determination to obtain full respect for the agreement by the United Kingdom and to assert its rights by using the levers at its disposal in a firm, united and proportionate manner.
“It is essential to clearly show to European public opinion that respect for subscribed engagement is non-negotiable and that there is more damage in leaving the union than in remaining there.”
Mr Castex continued in his letter: “If no satisfactory solution is found in this context, the European Union will have to apply Article 506 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and take corrective measures, in a manner proportionate to the economic and social damage resulting from the breaches.”
He suggested to Ms Von der Leyen that they could impose “customs duties on certain fishery products” as punishment.
The “restoration of trust” lies upon the UK granting French fishermen more fishing licences, his letter also says.
Boris Johnson has said that he would “do whatever is necessary to ensure UK interests” if France carries out its threats over the licences.
He said that the Anglo-French relationship was undergoing “turbulence” and that the French authorities’ decision to impound a British fishing vessel may have broken international law.
Mr Johnson will meet with French president Emmanuel Macron over the weekend at the G20 summit in Rome for their first face-to-face encounter in four months – after both sides have been accusing each other of breaching the Brexit agreement.
The PM, who arrived in Rome last night, responded to the French threats by saying: “We fear that there may be a breach in terms of the Trade Co-operation Agreement implicit in what’s happening. We will standby to take the appropriate action.”
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Macron suggested that the UK’s “credibility” was at stake over the dispute.
He told the newspaper: “When you spend years negotiating a treaty and then a few months later you do the opposite of what was decided on the aspects that suit you the least, it is not a big sign of your credibility.” By Lamiat Sabin, The Independent/Yahoo News
REUTERS
KHARTOUM, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Sudanese military forces tightened security in the capital on Saturday ahead of planned nationwide protests to demand the restoration of a civilian-led government to put the country back on a path to democracy after a coup.
Thousands of Sudanese have already taken to the streets this week to protest against General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ousting Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's cabinet in a takeover that led Western states to freeze hundreds of millions in aid.
In central Khartoum there was a heavy military deployment of armed troops that included the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Security forces had blocked roads leading to the defence ministry complex and the airport, as well as most of the bridges connecting Khartoum with its twin cities of Omdurman and Khartoum North.
With at least 11 protesters killed in clashes with security forces, opponents fear a full-blown crackdown.
"The army should go back to its barracks and give the leadership to Hamdok," said an activist who gave his name as Mohamed, who plans to protest. "Our demand is a civilian country, a democratic country, nothing less than that."
In local neighbourhoods, protest groups blocked roads overnight with stones, bricks, tree branches and plastic pipes to try to prevent any attempts by security forces to enter.
In some streets there are makeshift barricades every 30-40 metres. “We will be on the streets to call for democracy,” said one activist who asked not to be named.
A 75-year-old man who gave his name as Moatez and was walking the streets searching for bread said normal life had been brought to a complete halt in Khartoum. “Why did Burhan and the army put the country in this crisis? They could solve the problem without violence,” he said.
The United States, which is calling for the restoration of the civilian-led government, said how the army reacted would be a test of its intentions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sudan’s security forces must respect human rights and any violence against peaceful demonstrators was "unacceptable".
The United States continues to stand with "Sudan’s people in their nonviolent struggle for democracy", he said on Twitter.
The U.N. Special Representative in Sudan, Volker Perthes, said he remained in constant contact with all sides to facilitate a political solution.
'NO FEAR'
With internet and phone lines restricted by the authorities, opponents of the coup have sought to mobilise for the protest using fliers, SMS messages, graffiti, and neighbourhood rallies.
Neighbourhood-based resistance committees, active since the uprising against deposed President Omar al-Bashir that began in December 2018, have been central to organising despite the arrests of key politicians.
Bashir, who ran Sudan for nearly three decades, was forced out by the army following months of protests against his rule.
Khartoum committee activist Hussam Ibnauf he was confident of a big turnout. There was now "no fear factor", he said.
Burhan has said he removed the cabinet to avert civil war after civilian politicians stoked hostility to the armed forces.
He says he is still committed to a democratic transition, including elections in July 2023.
Hamdok, an economist, was initially held at Burhan's residence when soldiers rounded up the government on Monday, but was allowed to return home under guard on Tuesday.
The U.S. State Department official said he was, however, still under house arrest and unable to resume his work.
The U.S. official said tens of billions of dollars of debt relief sought by Sudan would not happen as long as the army was attempting to direct Sudan unilaterally.
The United States and the World Bank have already frozen assistance to Sudan, where an economic crisis has seen shortages of food and medicine and where nearly a third of the population are in need of urgent humanitarian support.
Several mediation efforts have emerged but there has been no sign of progress towards a compromise.
• There were simulated explosions, smoke, blank gunfire, fire, and traffic disruptions in the areas surrounding the embassy and Rosslyn Academy.
• The drill caused panic in the area as some mistook it for a real attack.
Photo: Twitter @EFFSouthAfrica
The EFF contested its first-ever local government elections in 2016. The party managed to bring in 8% of the votes nationally. Now, just days before the 2021 elections, Julius Malema has decided to weigh in on a topic he’s spoken about several times before: White people.
The EFF held its closing rally in Katlehong in Ekurhuleni on Friday. With party supporters coming out in their numbers and the ANC failing to deal with an energy crisis, the red berets are feeling very optimistic.
But while Malema has received plenty of criticism for stoking racial tensions, he says people are getting him all wrong. And that people are misinterpreting his love for black people, as hatred for other races.
“My declaration for my undying love for Black people must never be confused with hatred for white people. White people stop pretending. You hear me properly. I speak in your language. Don’t be scared of equality because we are not anti-white but seek equality.”
EFF leader Julius Malema
While Malema’s latest comments are unlikely to bring in many white voters to the party before Monday, in 2018 he described white people as being “like trees”.
“Mama wanted the land and she said she did not want the madness of driving white people over the sea. We say that all the time in the EFF, but it does not suit the narrative of those that own the media.
“We want white people, there is no problem with white people. White people have naturalised here. They are like our trees and mountains; like our nature.”
With that all cleared up, and a promise to deliver land and jobs now, do you think the EFF will get above 15% in the coming week? Source: The South African
At least six men killed and 140 wounded; more protests planned tomorrow
‘The world is watching and will not tolerate further bloodshed’ - Deprose Muchena
‘I couldn’t even look at his body. His face was mutilated beyond recognition. He loved his country very much and he was my only brother’ - Gamal Abdel Nasir
Sudanese authorities must stop security forces from using unnecessary force, including lethal force, against protesters opposed to the military takeover, withdraw the military from law-enforcement operations, and respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, Amnesty International said today.
Security forces killed at least six men and wounded another 140 by shooting live rounds into multiple crowds of protesters in the capital Khartoum earlier this week. Further protests are expected tomorrow (Saturday 30 October).
Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said:
“At least six men were shot dead in cold blood and hundreds injured, some critically, simply for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. This is unconscionable and must not be allowed to happen again.
“Sudan’s military leaders, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, must make no mistake about it: the world is watching, and will not tolerate further bloodshed. They must order effective and independent investigations into the killings and ensure that anyone suspected of responsibility for arbitrary or abusive force is prosecuted in fair trials. They must also direct their security forces to desist from using such force at any future protests.
“We call on Sudan’s military leaders to ensure their security forces observe restraint, and respect and uphold the right to peaceful protest in line with the country’s own laws and international human rights standards.
“They must also take steps to reverse all measures and actions that trample on human rights, including by releasing all those who have been arbitrarily detained since the military takeover and restoring full access to the internet which has been partially shut down for days.”
Military takeover protests
The protests erupted in Khartoum and some provincial towns, including Madani in central Sudan and El-Fashir in Darfur, in response to General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan’s announcement declaring a military takeover and a state of emergency across the country.
The announcement came a few hours after the military detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several of his ministers, with whom the military had shared power shortly after the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir.
Protestors killed
Gamal Abdel Nasir, 23, was killed near the army headquarters in Khartoum, and suffered gunshot wounds to the eye and hand. His brother told Amnesty: “I couldn’t even look at his body. His face was mutilated beyond recognition. He loved his country very much and he was my only brother.”
Muhammed Al-Sadiq Musa, 27, was also shot and killed outside the army headquarters. A close family member who was at the protest told Amnesty that he was shot and mortally injured when soldiers opened fire after a group of four or five protesters picked up rocks and hurled them in their direction.
The family member said: “That’s the last time I saw him alive. When I arrived at the hospital the doctors had already pronounced him dead. I was asked to identify the body. I saw gunshot wounds, one in the right side of his neck and the other in the side of his right kidney.”
Both Gamal and Mohammed were killed by security forces. In neither case would lethal force have been warranted.Amnesty International
Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.
To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854.
If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.
We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.