Credit: Wikipedia /  United States Special Envoy  to Sudan Donald E. Booth

By Gary Raynaldo        DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The U.S Department of State Wednesday announced the appointment of  Ambassador Donald Booth as Special Envoy for Sudan as the Horn of Africa nation descends into deadly violence.  Just a few weeks ago, the Sudanese people had real hope they would see democracy after decades of political dictatorship.  Sudanese security forces have reportedly gone on a rampage in capital city Khartoum subjecting civilians to violence in an effort to control protests. Sudan’s capital has been on lock down since last week as paramilitary groups dismantle the many sit-in protest sites that have sprouted as Sudanese people call for an end to the military-led government. More than 100 people have been reported killed in violence, including 19 children.  

  “The U.S. has a firm commitment to the Sudanese people and to efforts to advance a peaceful political solution.”

-Department Of State.

Ambassador Booth will lead U.S. efforts to support a political solution to the current crisis that reflects the will of the Sudanese people, according to the Department of State.  The Special Envoy is accompanying Assistant Secretary Tibor Nagy to meetings in Khartoum and Addis Ababa June 12-13, 2019. Special Envoy Booth is a retired Ambassador who previously served as Chief of Mission to Ethiopia, Zambia, and Liberia.  Ambassador Booth served as the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan from August 2013 until January 2017.

UNICEF chief, ‘gravely concerned’ over 19 child deaths since military backlash

Credit: UN / Masarib/Ahmed Bahhar / Protesters gather in front of the headquarters of the Sudanese army in the capital, Khartoum. (11 April 2019)

The deadly violence has prompted the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to express her grave concern “at the impact of the continuing violence and unrest in the country on children and young people”.

“We have received information that children are being detained, recruited to join the fighting and sexually abused”, said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.  ““Any attack on children, schools or hospitals is a grave violation of children’s rights”,   said the UNICEF chief, calling on the authorities to “allow humanitarian organizations to respond to those in need, including through access to hospitals that have been off-limits or closed”.

Credit: Wikipedia / Former Sudan president Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s  three-decade autocratic rule ended in a military takeover in April.

Last week,  the African Union  suspended Sudan’s membership “with immediate effect”.  Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed traveled to Sudan Friday and met the country’s ruling generals and protest leaders to urge a rapid transition to civilian rule. No breakthroughs were reported.