Sudan’s Intelligence Imposes Travel Bans on Gov't Officials

Member of the Transitional Sovereign Council Mohammad al-Faki (SUNA)
Member of the Transitional Sovereign Council Mohammad al-Faki (SUNA)
TT

Sudan’s Intelligence Imposes Travel Bans on Gov't Officials

Member of the Transitional Sovereign Council Mohammad al-Faki (SUNA)
Member of the Transitional Sovereign Council Mohammad al-Faki (SUNA)

The Sudanese General Intelligence Service (GIS) informed the airport security authorities that several high-ranking officials are banned from traveling, according to sources in the transitional government.

Member of the Transitional Sovereign Council Mohammad al-Faki, Minister Khaled Omar Youssif, and members of the committee to dismantle the June 30 regime were on the list of figures banned from leaving the country.

A source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Intelligence Service handed over a list of those banned to airport security authorities following the failed coup attempt.

The list also included committee members Wajdi Saleh, Salah Manna, Babiker Faisal, and Taha Othman Ishaq.

The security authorities prevented the committee spokesman, Salah Manna, from traveling to Cairo before recanting and allowing him to leave.

Minister Khaled Omar formed a joint investigation committee including officials from the government and the Intelligence Service to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok held a series of unofficial meetings with the Forces Freedom and Change to address the differences between dissidents from the Alliance and the members of the coalition who signed the constitutional document.

A source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Forces of Freedom and Change rejected a proposal to hold a joint meeting between the two groups, forcing the prime minister to hold an unofficial meeting until late Tuesday without releasing any information.

A dissident group from the Declaration of Freedom and Change, which includes government members represented following the Juba Peace Agreement, accused the ruling coalition of excluding them and attempting to take over the revolution.

The ruling coalition says that the incident is linked to a coup attempt orchestrated by the soldiers in the Sovereign Council to avoid implementing the constitutional document governing the transitional period, which clearly defined the partnership between the coalition and the military in the transitional government.



EU Could Lift Some Syria Sanctions Quickly

FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
TT

EU Could Lift Some Syria Sanctions Quickly

FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa

European Union sanctions in Syria that obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid and hinder the country's recovery could be lifted swiftly, France's foreign minister said Wednesday.
The United States on Monday issued a sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule to try to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance.
Speaking to France Inter radio, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the EU could take a similar decision soon without giving precise timing, while adding that lifting more political sanctions would depend on how Syria's new leadership handled the transition and ensured exclusivity.
"There are other (sanctions), which today hinder access to humanitarian aid, which hinder the recovery of the country. These could be lifted quickly," said Barrot, who met Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday with Germany's foreign minister.
"Finally, there are other sanctions, which we are discussing with our European partners, which could be lifted, but obviously depending on the pace at which our expectations for Syria regarding women and security are taken into account."
Three European diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity said the EU would seek to agree to lift some sanctions by the time the bloc's 27 foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Jan. 27.
Two of the diplomats said one aim was to facilitate financial transactions to allow funds to return to the country, ease air transport and lessen sanctions targeting the energy sector to improve power supplies.
Syria suffers from severe power shortages, with state-supplied electricity available two or three hours per day in most areas. The caretaker government says it aims to provide electricity for up to eight hours per day within two months.
The US waivers allow some energy transactions and personal remittances to Syria until July 7, but do not remove any sanctions.