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Sudan: Khartoum Explosion, Death By Stoning, Tortured Journalist & Chinese “Musical” Diplomacy

Categories: Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Sudan, Arts & Culture, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Law, Religion, War & Conflict, Women & Gender

Sudan has been witnessing interesting developments in the past few weeks. The most recent one is the Khartoum ammo truck explosion [1], which Mimz blogged about [2]:

A little over 24 hours ago a series of extremely boisterous explosions took place in one of the military sites availed for storing ammo, in the Burri area of the capital of Sudan. The explosions occurred in three enormous gunnery-loaded trucks.

So this blast happened a few meters away from the University of Khartoum, students had to evacuate campus and basically run for their lives as they witnessed the thick, heavy black smoke approaching and heard the disturbing loud sounds of explosion.

Does this sound familiar [3]?, she asks:

I'm sure now that this sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Chaos, chaos, chaos. Should I just pack my bags and leave? It's getting ridiculous.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone

Aperadosini expressed her outrage [4] at a sentence issued against 2 Sudanese women [5] apparently guilty of adultery. They're both to be stoned to death:

What's disgusting isn't just the fact that they are being put to death in the most demeaning of manners, however, they haven't even been given the chance to adequately defend themselves. The women, who came from the African Fur tribe in Darfur, did not know Arabic and were not even provided with a translator during court proceedings and so were not given the chance to even defend themselves!!

Freedom of the press? Say that again

On the other hand Black Kush brings us news of a journalist he personally knows [6] who has been tortured [7] by the Sudanese authorities:

I told you before that I as following the clashes in Khartoum when it happened. Now the journalist [7] who was beaten up was someone I personally know.

…Freedom of the press? Say that again.

Musical diplomacy

Last but not least, Fluent-Sudani highlights the latest [8] Chinese efforts [9] at building closer ties with Sudan. He posts a YouTube video of Chinese musicians [10] singing a traditional Sudan nationalism song:

On the above video, a bunch of Chinese ladies are singing in a festival held in khartoum strengthening relations between Sudan and China.

I give them much credit for language perfection. What they are singing is a traditional Sudan nationalism song.