Sudan Calls for Stiffer Sanctions Against RSF for Resurgent Attacks on Civilians

By: Michael Mike

Sudanese Government has condemned recent attack on civilians by the militia, calling on the international community to come had on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which is currently in battle with the Sudanese Army.

The militia was alleged to have attacked the Merowe power station and substations in Al-Shawak, Sinnar, Sennjah, Atbara, and Dongola, with the aim of disrupting electricity and water supplies to the safer states, and deliberately crippling essential services, such as hospitals, bakeries, food production, and public utilities, so as to further deepens the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Reacting to the recent attack in Abuja on Friday, the Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Omer Jaboul, said these practices constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and conventions.

The envoy while calling on United Nations and its agencies, African Union and humanitarian agencies to act against the militias, said: “The government affirms that the militias commission of this type of crime represents a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions on vital facilities.

“The Sudanese government calls on all countries and human rights organisations to classify the militia, its members, and its agents from countries, institutions and individuals as terrorist entities that are pursued and punished internationally.”

He alleged that: “In continuation of its destructive and criminal approach, the rebel Rapid Support Militia today burned the Khartoum Refinery in Jele. This operation is a continuation of a series of systematic criminal practices in destroying vital facilities in Sudan. It has previously destroyed water and electricity stations, dams, hospitals, citizens’ homes, government institutions, museums, schools, universities, and other vital facilities.

“These practices constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit targeting vital facilities.

“This is an attack done by the rebel RSF militia on the Al-Shawak power station in Gedaref State, Eastern Sudan, as well as on the Gedaref water station.

“These attacks were done on Sinnar and Sinja and Dongla States power stattions.”

The Sudanese government had earlier in a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office of the Spokesperson and Media Directorate, alleged that after realizing its utter inability to confront the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and supporting forces, in the wake of
humiliating losses it has sustained, the Janjaweed RSF militia, restored to overt acts of terrorism, targeting power
stations, water facilities, hospitals, remote villages, internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, and civilian convoys.

The statement read that: “Over the past few days, the RSF militia has carried out
multiple drone strikes on the Merowe power station and substations in Al-Shawak, Sinnar, Sennjah, Atbara, and Dongola. These attacks aim to disrupt electricity and water supplies to the safer states, deliberately crippling essential services, such as hospitals, bakeries, food production, and public utilities, which further deepens the suffering of the
Sudanese people. These crimes are part of a broader genocidal strategy being pursued within the context of its war of aggression against the Sudanese people, with the
support of its regional sponsors.

“At the same time, the RSF militia continue to perpetrate massacres in villages across Gezira State and has escalated
its assaults on IDP camps in North Darfur, notably the Abu Shok and Zamzam camps. In addition, the RSF has attacked
civilian infrastructure in El Fasher. Despite repeated calls for accountability, the militia remains in defiant violation of UN
Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024), threatening further massacres in the city of El Fasher.

“The Government of Sudan strongly condemns these actions and calls on the international community, particularly the
United Nations, to take immediate and decisive action. The Government urges the international community to
unequivocally condemn these terrorist crimes as clear violations of international humanitarian law, the Jeddah
Declaration, and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

“The Government further urges the international community to take effective measures against the RSF terrorist militia to prevent further criminal actions.”

Sudan Calls for Stiffer Sanctions Against RSF for Resurgent Attacks on Civilians

NESREA to partner Rwanda in Tackling Plastic Pollution

By: Michael Mike

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has initiated talks with the Rwandan High Commission in Nigeria for partnership in the area of environmental sustainability.

The Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor, who met with the Rwandan High Commission in Abuja on Monday, expressed the Agency’s interest in learning from Rwanda’s expertise and successes in combating plastic pollution.

He said NESREA specifically aims to exchange experiences and inculcate best practices in plastic waste management, leveraging on Rwanda’s notable progress, stressing that, “Nigeria is pushing for the Circular Economy growth and NESREA is at the forefront, likewise the ban on single-use plastics.”

Barikor expressed his admiration for Rwanda’s exemplary commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation, and thanked the Government of Rwanda for their support towards capacity building for staff through study visits, and noted the need for high level collaboration between the two countries on environmental protection and sustainability management.

The Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Christophe Bazivamo noted the daunting challenge of tackling plastic pollution and reiterated the willingness of the government of Rwanda to collaborate with Nigeria.

He said addressing environmental issues is very important for any government as sustainable development is impossible without sound environmental protection considerations.

NESREA to partner Rwanda in Tackling Plastic Pollution

VP SHETTIMA DEPARTS ABUJA FOR DAVOS TO ATTEND 2025 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM MEETING

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja to represent Nigeria at the 2025 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) scheduled for Davos, Switzerland.

The Vice President will join world leaders, top business executives and representatives of development partners at the meeting to discuss the state of the world economy with the view to improving its conditions.

While in Davos, the Vice President will hold bilateral meetings with other leaders as well as participate in workshops and forums slated for the annual gathering.

Among events slated for the VP include, a workshop entitled, “Roadmap to Co-create Investment Opportunities for Africa’s Frontier Markets”, organised by the African Development Bank in collaboration with the World Economic Forum to boost the flow of capital into Africa’s frontier markets, to scale solutions that build a prosperous, inclusive and resilient continent. It is slated for the Congress Centre in Jakobshorn.

Top on the agenda will be an announcement of the Humanitarian and Resilience Investing (HRI) Roadmap for Africa, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), and foster partnerships between public and private sector leaders interested in mobilizing investment in Africa’s frontier markets, among others.

The Vice President will also attend a dinner for heads of state, government and international organizations, as well as Annual Meeting 2025 Crystal Awardees, the International Business Council and Strategic Partners slated for Kurpark Village, Eiger.

Senator Shettima will also co-chair a forum on “Turning Digital Trade into a Catalyst for Growth in Africa” slated for the Pischa Congress Centre.

The session will provide a dynamic platform for forward-thinking dialogue on digital trade and the crucial role of the private sector in advancing the implementation of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol adopted by the AU heads of state/government in January 2024.

VP Shettima will attend, as a panelist, a Stakeholder Dialogue entitled, “Global Risks 2025”. The Global Risks Report highlights an increasingly volatile global landscape, marked by accelerating geopolitical, technological and environmental challenges. The event is slated for the Aspen 2 Congress Centre in Davos.

The VP who will be accompanied by top government functionaries including Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and Executive Secretary of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi, will return to Abuja at the end of his engagements in Davos.

VP SHETTIMA DEPARTS ABUJA FOR DAVOS TO ATTEND 2025 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM MEETING