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Sudan’s Bashir Doesn’t Regret Anything He’s Done

Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir is seen inside the defendant's cage at a courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan (File Photo: Reuters)
Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir is seen inside the defendant's cage at a courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan (File Photo: Reuters)
    Khartoum, London - Mohammed Amine Yassin, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Sudan’s Bashir Doesn’t Regret Anything He’s Done

Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir is seen inside the defendant's cage at a courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan (File Photo: Reuters)
Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir is seen inside the defendant's cage at a courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan (File Photo: Reuters)

Ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir refused to make any statements before the investigation committee during his court session, asserting that he does not regret anything he’s done.

Bashir is on trial for the 1989 coup and refused to deliver his statement before the Public Prosecution’s investigation committee without the presence of his lawyer. He also lodged an appeal with the public prosecutor accusing the constitutional court of lack of impartiality.

The representative of the committee stated that Bashir also refused to comment on a TV interview during which he details the coup.

Bashir told the judge that he insisted on his lawyer’s presence to ensure he won’t make a mistake in his statements, as was the case with a previous charge.

A committee member read the statements of defendant Youssef Abdel Fattah, known as Rambo, as mentioned in the investigation report. He recounted details of the meetings to plan the coup, which was backed by Islamist movement leader, Hassan al-Turabi, and his deputy, Ali Othman Mohammad Taha.

The investigation revealed that Abdel Fattah admitted he was one of the perpetrators of the coup, in addition to a number of civilian leaders of the Islamist movement.

The report noted that Abdel Fattah admitted to his knowledge of the criminality of the coup against the legitimately elected government, and they still went ahead with it.

However, Abdel Fattah denied confessing to that, adding he never mentioned any names in the official report.

Meanwhile, Sudan's Supreme Court has upheld death sentences for 29 intelligence officers for torturing and killing a teacher arrested during anti-government protests that toppled Bashir, a prosecution lawyer told AFP Tuesday.

Ahmed al-Khair, 36, died in custody in February 2019 following his arrest for participating in demonstrations triggered by economic hardship in the eastern state of Kassala.

His killing sparked wide public outcry, fuelling further mass protests, and the army eventually ousted Bashir in April 2019.

"This week's ruling by the Supreme Court confirmed the December 2019 death sentences of 29 intelligence officers," lawyer Adel Abdelghani told AFP, adding the men "could still appeal the ruling before the constitutional court."

Bashir was convicted of money laundering and corruption and sentenced to two years in Kober Central Prison. He is also on trial for the Islamist-backed 1989 military coup that brought him to power.

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Arab World

UN Appeal for Aid to Support 10 Million Yemenis

 In Yemen around 3.3 million IDPs are living in family hosting arrangements and rental accommodation (UN)
 In Yemen around 3.3 million IDPs are living in family hosting arrangements and rental accommodation (UN)
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UN Appeal for Aid to Support 10 Million Yemenis

 In Yemen around 3.3 million IDPs are living in family hosting arrangements and rental accommodation (UN)
 In Yemen around 3.3 million IDPs are living in family hosting arrangements and rental accommodation (UN)

The United Nations and partners launched last week the 2025 Yemen Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, seeking urgent humanitarian and protection assistance to more than 10 million Yemenis in need.
In its plan, the UN warned that more than half of the country’s population – 19.5 million people – needs humanitarian assistance and protection services.
The collapse of the Yemeni riyal, now trading at over 2,160 riyals per US dollar in the legitimate government-controlled areas, has significantly worsened living conditions for Yemenis and left authorities struggling to pay public sector salaries for the past four months.
Yemen’s financial crisis further worsened after the Houthi militia suspended oil exports, causing an electricity blackout in Aden, the country's temporary capital, for more than half a day.
In its Yemen Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, the UN appealed for $2.47 billion to provide urgent humanitarian and protection assistance to more than 19.5 million people in need.
Under the 2025 appeal, humanitarians aim to deliver life-saving assistance to 10.5 million of the most vulnerable people in need, Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Julien Harneis, said.
Despite significant challenges, Harneis said 197 aid organizations reached more than 8 million people with life-saving assistance last year – two-thirds of which were local Yemeni organizations.
This was made possible by the sustained support of donors, who contributed more than $1.4 billion to the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan.
The Humanitarian Coordinator said much more is needed this year to reduce needs, achieve peace, revive the economy and build the resilience of communities through sustainable development activities.
He noted that climate shocks, increased regional tensions and chronic underfunding of critical humanitarian sectors are further worsening people’s vulnerability and suffering.
This year, more than 17 million people will experience acute food insecurity—almost half the country’s population—with 5 million expected to experience emergency levels of food insecurity.
Moreover, 13.6 million people face challenges to access a water source of sufficient quality to prevent diseases while 40% of Yemen's health facilities are partially functioning or completely out-of-service due to shortages in staff, funding, electricity, medicines and equipment, and infrastructure integrity.
The UN last year requested $2.7 billion for a humanitarian response plan, but received only meager pledges, causing a huge gap in meeting the needs of the targeted population.
Jamal Belfaqih, head of Yemen's Supreme Relief Committee, confirms the numbers of humanitarian needs declared by the United Nations, its agencies and international organizations.
However, Belfaqih said the appeal that agencies request fail to meet their efforts to secure funding.
Also, he said, the UN and its agencies face challenges to reach the targeted population due to a lack of information and demographic changes caused by internal displacement.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Belfaqih said the funds required from donors to finance the humanitarian response plan will probably not be obtained due to a poor promotion of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
“The relief organizations have not changed their response plan methods since 2015, despite their failure to meet the needs of the Yemenis and to end or reduce the humanitarian crisis,” he said.
In 2025, an estimated 19.5 million people across Yemen need humanitarian assistance and protection services – 1.3 million people more than last year.
An estimated 4.8 million people, most of whom are women and children, remain internally displaced, with repeated displacement trapping families in cycles of dependency on humanitarian assistance.
In a briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said people in Yemen continue to face a severe humanitarian and protection crisis.
Almost half of Yemen’s population – over 17 million people – is unable to meet their basic food needs.
The most marginalized, including women and girls, those displaced and communities such as the Muhamasheen, are the worst affected.
Msuya said almost half of all children under the age of 5 suffer from moderate to severe stunting caused by malnutrition, while cholera is at appalling levels.