After over a year of violent incidents both inside and outside the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-supported Turkish Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan – including threats made against the lives of MSF staff – MSF has taken the decision to evacuate our team from the hospital. This decision has not been taken lightly.

Amidst the ongoing war in Sudan, MSF had managed to provide continuous, hands-on, lifesaving treatment in the facility for almost 14 months, despite many, often deliberate, obstructions from the warring parties. However, as a result of recent events, this hands-on support is now no longer possible.

“The situation in the Turkish hospital, located in a Rapid Support Forces-controlled area, has become untenable,” says Claire Nicolet, head of MSF’s emergency response in Sudan. “Multiple violent incidents have taken place inside and outside the premises over the past 12 months, and the lives of our staff have been repeatedly threatened.”

“Most-recently, on the nights of 17 and 18 June, dozens of wounded combatants were brought to the Turkish hospital, and our team was aggressively woken up as Kalashnikovs were fired into their bedrooms,” says Nicolet. “This type of violence against our staff is unacceptable.”

“Hospitals and health facilities should be protected and respected by the warring parties as sanctuaries for the sick and wounded where health workers can safely deliver medical care,” continues Nicolet. “They cannot have their lives put at-risk as they try to save the lives of other people.”

Over the past year, MSF staff working at the Turkish hospital have been frequently harassed both inside the facility and on the street going to and from work. Many have been threatened with arrest. At the start of June, one MSF employee was arrested inside the hospital by two armed men, taken to an unknown location, and severely beaten.

“The team are physically and mentally exhausted. Due to the blockade that has been imposed by the Sudanese authorities since September – forbidding the transportation of medical supplies and humanitarian personnel into Rapid Support Forces-controlled areas – the team in the Turkish hospital have been working without a break for the past 10 months,” Nicolet explains. “The blockade means it has not been possible for us to bring in a new team to replace them, and they have been working tirelessly to keep the hospital open under intense pressure.”

The Turkish hospital remains open thanks to the presence of the Ministry of Health staff.  However, surgery will no longer be possible without the presence of the MSF staff who have been evacuated, and the future of the hospital is uncertain.

Since the start of the war, the Turkish hospital has been a crucial part of the health system, serving patients not only from Khartoum, but also from as far away as Wad Madani in Al-Jazirah state. MSF was also forced to suspend operations there in May 2024, due to repeated security incidents and obstructions to bring in staff and supplies, similar to those impacting Khartoum.

Before MSF established an emergency room and expanded the capacity of the operating theatre in the Turkish hospital in mid-May 2023, it was a specialist women’s and children’s hospital. Almost 80 per cent of all surgical procedures in the hospital over the past year were lifesaving caesarean sections for women experiencing complications during pregnancy and childbirth. As a result of these repeated security incidents, all surgery in the hospital has now stopped.

MSF also provided ante-natal care, post-natal care, family planning, ran the paediatric intensive care unit, the inpatient therapeutic feeding centre for children with severe acute malnutrition, and the neonatal unit – the only neonatal unit in the whole of Khartoum. MSF’s hands-on support to these activities has also now been suspended.

Bashair Teaching hospital in Khartoum, also supported by MSF, has faced multiple armed incursions over the past few months as well, and between October 2023 and January 2024, MSF was forced to suspend surgery in the hospital. MSF continues to work in this hospital in spite of these incidents. The security situation across the board has deteriorated significantly, and in Khartoum especially.    
 
MSF urges the warring parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure – including hospitals and other health structures. For facilities that are able to remain operational, it is vital that medical supplies and humanitarian workers are provided with the necessary permits to be able to move across frontlines. Due to the ongoing blockade imposed on humanitarian organisations by the Sudanese authorities, many facilities are struggling to remain open and the lives and health of millions of people in Khartoum and other parts of the country are at risk. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

Zimbabwe’s army commander has openly stated that the country’s security forces intend to play a partisan political role, threatening future elections and those participating in them, Human Rights Watch said today.

On June 29, 2024, the Zimbabwe National Army commander, Lt. General Anselem Sanyatwe, was quoted as saying that people would be marched to polling stations “whether you like it or not,” and that the ruling party, ZANU-PF, would “rule forever.” Since the August 2023 general election, in which ZANU-PF failed to win an outright majority in parliament, the country has witnessed several by-elections in constituencies where opposition members of parliament were dismissed in a bizarre ploy. The dismissals were seen as an attempt to tilt the balance of power in ZANU-PF’s favor.

“The Zimbabwe military commander’s open endorsement of the ruling party not only threatens the fairness of elections but opens the door for security force abuses against voters, the opposition, and civil society organizations,” said Allan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “Zimbabwe’s security forces need to comply with the country’s laws and regulations that uphold its international human rights obligations to ensure that elections are free and fair.”

For decades, Zimbabwe’s military and other state security forces have interfered in the nation’s political and electoral affairs in violation of citizens’ civil and political rights. Zimbabwe’s constitution states that no member of the security services in exercising their functions may act in a partisan manner, further the interests of any political party, or cause or violate anyone’s fundamental rights or freedoms. However, senior members of the security forces have routinely ignored these provisions with impunity.

The government should take urgent steps to end the military’s participation in partisan politics, including by disciplining or prosecuting military officers who violate laws and regulations that prohibit the security forces from directly supporting any political party.

Zimbabwe has a history of elections that fall far short of international and regional standards, characterized by the involvement of the military in deeply flawed electoral processes. The government has not remedied some of the flaws of the August 2023 election that Southern African Development Community (SADC) observers documented.

Election periods in Zimbabwe, especially in 1985, 1990, 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2008, were characterized by widespread political violence, committed mainly by ZANU-PF, its allies, and government security agencies, including sections of the army.

These problems were particularly evident during the 2008 elections, when the army was credibly implicated in numerous systematic abuses that led to the killing of up to 200 people, the beating and torture of 5,000 more, and the displacement of 36,000.

The 2017 coup against President Robert Mugabe further entrenched the military in its partisanship with the ruling party and interference in civilian affairs. The military leadership and some sections of the army have, since the coup, taken highly visible steps that adversely affect the political environment.

Lt. General Sanyatwe’s recent statements that militate against the holding of free, fair, and credible elections raise the urgency to carry out reforms to ensure that state security forces do not threaten future democratic elections and the electoral affairs of the country, Human Rights Watch said.

Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Zimbabwe is party, states that every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without discrimination because of political opinion or other unreasonable restrictions, “to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors.”

SADC heads of state, who will meet on August 17 in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, for their 44th summit, should press the Zimbabwe government to ensure the political neutrality of its security forces and noninterference in the country’s civilian and electoral affairs.

Zimbabwe is party to the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, established to promote regular free and fair, transparent, credible and peaceful democratic elections. Under these principles, countries commit to take all necessary measures and precautions to prevent political violence, intolerance and intimidation, including ensuring the neutrality of security forces in providing election security.

“Security force commanders need to speak and act in a manner that reflects a strictly neutral political position in accordance with Zimbabwe’s constitution and international law,” Ngari said. “Authorities should take appropriate disciplinary action against officers in the security forces, regardless of rank, who violate laws and regulations prohibiting partisan conduct.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the long-standing relations of friendship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America and ways to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields to achieve the common interests of the two countries within the framework of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA).

They also exchanged views on the current situation in the Middle East, the most prominent outcomes of the recent Arab Summit held in Bahrain, and the initiatives adopted by the Summit, including the convening of the International Peace Conference for the establishment of a Palestinian State, the provision of education and health services to those affected by conflicts in the region, as well as a number of issues of common concern.

The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the Chief of the Coordination and Follow-up Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Saeed Abdulkhaliq Saeed, and the delegation accompanying the Foreign Minister.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In a move to bolster regional environmental safety and fortify its oil and gas sector, Ambassador Richard Kabonero, Head of Regional Economic Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met today with a delegation from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), led by Dr. Joseph Kabusheshe, Director of Environmental Health and Safety. The discussions focused on enhancing Uganda’s international collaboration efforts concerning oil spill contingency preparedness and response mechanism. During the meeting Dr. Kabusheshe said that PAU has a robust, detailed and comprehensive National oil spill contingency plan which she needs to share with her neighbors.

“These strategic frameworks are designed to ensure rapid and effective response to any potential oil spill incidents within Uganda,” he said. Highlighting the inherent need for Trans boundary cooperation, Dr. Kabusheshe emphasized the critical importance of collaborating with neighboring countries that could be affected by oil spill events. Recognizing the importance of this initiative, Ambassador Kabonero expressed support for enhanced regional partnerships. He articulated the necessity for a cohesive, multinational approach to oil spill management, which not only safeguards the environment but also ensures sustainable development and mutual prosperity. The meeting agreed to establish a dedicated committee tasked with formulating and implementing strategic agreements with neighboring nations.

This committee will serve as a pivotal platform for dialogue, cooperation, and coordination, ensuring that Uganda and its neighbors are well-prepared to address any oil spill contingencies with unparalleled efficiency and effectiveness. “Uganda and her neighbors need to be prepared in the unlikely event of an oil spill,” stated Ambassador Kabonero. “Our proactive measures and collaborative efforts underscore our dedication to protecting the environment and fostering regional stability. By working hand in hand with neighboring countries, we can collectively mitigate the risks associated with oil spill incidents and safeguard our shared natural resources,” he said. This initiative marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s environmental and energy sector policies, reflecting the country’s steadfast commitment to international standards of safety, sustainability, and regional cooperation. The proactive stance taken by Uganda will not only enhance the nation’s capacity to manage oil spill incidents but also strengthen its position as a responsible and forward-thinking leader in the global oil and gas industry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.