Sudanese Army Allies Propose Constitutional Document Amendments

People protest against the military, demanding it hand over power to civilians. (AFP)
People protest against the military, demanding it hand over power to civilians. (AFP)
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Sudanese Army Allies Propose Constitutional Document Amendments

People protest against the military, demanding it hand over power to civilians. (AFP)
People protest against the military, demanding it hand over power to civilians. (AFP)

The Forces of Freedom and Change – the National Accord Group in Sudan revealed the most prominent features of the constitutional declaration expected to be presented during the next few days.

The Group said it is committed to making amendments to the constitutional document - produced by the political agreement between civilians and the military in 2019 - instead of going to new constitutional arrangements.

Moreover, the Group stressed the need for “building a balanced relationship between the military and civilians.”

The political declaration, which the Group agreed upon, calls for a balanced relationship between the military component and its civilian counterpart.

It insists on the trial of all those accused and wanted by the International Criminal Court, most notably ousted President Omar al-Bashir, and his senior aides.

The Group is allied with the military component and supports the decisions of President of the Sovereign Council, army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

It represents political entities and armed movements that call for dialogue and consensus on national issues and includes armed factions that signed the Juba peace agreement.

The agreement had supported the 2021 military coup that overthrew the previous transitional government and resulted in amendments to the constitutional document.

In a press conference in Khartoum, the leader of the Group, Suleiman Sandal, revealed that most parties had proposed introducing amendments to the 2022 constitutional declaration because there isn’t enough time to talk about a new constitutional draft.



US Imposes Sanctions on Yemen Bank, Citing Support to Houthis

Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, US, August 29, 2020. (Reuters)
Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, US, August 29, 2020. (Reuters)
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US Imposes Sanctions on Yemen Bank, Citing Support to Houthis

Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, US, August 29, 2020. (Reuters)
Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, US, August 29, 2020. (Reuters)

The United States unveiled sanctions Thursday on a Yemen bank, including its key leaders, citing its support for Houthi militants in that country.

The designation of the International Bank of Yemen (IBY) complements a government effort "to stop Iran-backed Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea," said the US Treasury Department.

The Houthis launched an armed coup in 2014, seizing control of the capital Sanaa and other several provinces.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted shipping lanes using missiles and drones in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where a brutal war has raged since October that year.

"Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis' efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce," said Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender in a statement.

The official said the US government was "committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen."

Thursday's action follows a designation in January of the Yemen Kuwait Bank for Trade and Investment.

In a separate statement, the US State Department added that Washington was "committed to disrupting Houthi financial networks and banking access."

Besides the IBY, key leaders targeted in Thursday's actions are Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi and Abdulkader Ali Bazara, the Treasury Department said.

As a result of sanctions, property and interests in property of designated individuals in the United States are blocked and must be reported.