Network of Eritrean Women stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan at this very difficult time. The last few months of demonstrations and activism had given hope to the Sudanese people but also to the whole region. The success of the Sudanese people’s revolt was something that everyone was watching with intensity.

Sudan’s revolution, however, is at risk of being hijacked by the regional geo-politics and this will cause greater violence and instability in Sudan but also with repercussions in the region. The Saudi led coalition clearly has a vested interest to ensure the regime in Sudan is maintained in order to protect their interest. TRTworld.com reported on 11 June 2019, that “Saudi Arabia and the UAE both pledged $3 billion in assistance to Sudan”.  Sudan’s Head of the Transitional Military Council and the RSF Commander have both been seen in the gulf states.

RSF previously known as the Janjaweed have committed crimes against humanity in Darfur. The sights of RSF on the streets of Khartoum and the massacre of over 100 people that took place is reminiscent of the human rights abuses that took place South Sudan. The situation unfolding is a question on our human conscientious and watching the images on TV we cannot be silent bystanders. It is our moral obligation to stand with the people of Sudan:

Sudan has also been a home to many Eritreans with over 1 million refugees having found shelter in Sudan. Sudan was a vital lifeline to many Eritreans during the war of independence and as such contributed to the Eritrean struggle.

Therefore, we call upon all civil society organisations to take a collective stand with the Sudanese people to ensure democracy is instituted and that power is transferred to civilian rule,

Network of Eritrean Women say:

• Enough to human rights abuses in Sudan
• We demand the end to all forms of sexual abuse to women as a tool to suppressing the protests
• We demand the release of all political prisoners
• We demand the end to military rule
• We demand that the voice of the Sudanese people be heard
• We demand that the rights of the Sudanese people is upheld so that they have the right to freedom of association, assembly and protest
• We demand that the Saudi led coalition not interfere in Sudan as they did in Egypt and elsewhere in undermining the Arab spring.
• We stand with all Sudanese civil society organisations in their non-violent resistance

Injustice to one is injustice to all