An official investigation into the deadly June 3 raid on a Sudanese protest camp near the defence ministry in Khartoum has found that a feared paramilitary group was involved but without orders from the top.
Chief investigator Fatah Al Rahman Saeed said orders had been given to security forces to clear an area near the protest camp. But a general from the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary also ordered a colonel to disperse the sit-in outside the army headquarters, he said.
"They led the [RSF] forces ... inside the sit-in area and ordered them to get down from their vehicles and whip the protesters," Mr Saeed told a press conference on Saturday.
Protesters and rights groups have accused the RSF of carrying out the raid, but its leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is also deputy chief of Sudan's ruling military council, has steadfastly denied his group's involvement.
The Sudanese military took charge of the country after removing longtime president Omar Al Bashir on April 11 following months of protests against his rule. However the protesters continued their sit-in to demand a handover of power to civilians. Talks between the military and a coalition of civilian groups on a power-sharing arrangement broke down after the security down but were resumed after outside mediation
Mr Saeed identified the RSF general who allegedly ordered the raid by his initials ASA, and the colonel as AAM.
"It is clear to the committee that General ASA issued an order to Colonel AAM to deploy anti-riot forces of the RSF, even when they were not part of clearing Columbia," Mr Saeed said, referring to the area near the sit-in which the authorities had ordered cleared.
He said an RSF captain, identified as HBA, was involved in clearing Colombia but was later ordered to go to the sit-in to disperse it.
He said that security forces "broke the law and entered the sit-in area".
They "removed the barricades, fired tear gas and fired intense and random bullets that led to the killing and wounding of protesters and the burning of tents," he said.
Mr Saeed said 87 people were killed in the violence, higher than the 61 claimed by authorities, but much lower than the 127 deaths counted by doctors associated with the protests movement.
He said 17 of the 87 people killed were in the square occupied by protesters, and that 168 people were wounded, with 48 of them hit by bullets.
"The findings of this committee represent a shock to the Sudanese street and the regional and international communities," said Ismail Al Taj, a leader in the Sudanese Professionals' Association (SPA), part of the opposition coalition.
"Reality says that there are closer to 130 martyrs," Mr Al Taj said, adding that the committee had relied on health ministry records, which he said were inaccurate.
Reflecting anger at the findings, dozens of protesters chanted slogans against the investigation committee in Khartoum's Burri district and burned tyres in the street, witnesses said.
But Mr Al Taj said the committee's assessment would not affect the political process.
The opposition Forces of Freedom and Change coalition is negotiating with the ruling military council to finalise an agreement for a three-year transition to elections. The two sides signed a deal on July 17 determining the transition's institutions.
Negotiators travelled on Saturday to Juba, the capital of South Sudan which seceded from Sudan in 2011, to work on a constitutional declaration to determine the role of a new council to run Sudan. Direct talks are expected on Sunday.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
