Sudanese Journalist Abu Aagla Amasa has been released after a 48-hour detention by the Sudanese Army Intelligence Service at the headquarters of the Third Infantry Division in Shendi, River Nile State. Amasa, who was set free on Sunday, posted on his Facebook page that his detention was due to his longstanding friendship with Mak Ubayd Mohammad Suleiman Abu Shotal, the leader of the Hamaj community in the Blue Nile…Amasa’s detention sparked a wave of criticism regarding the press freedom in Sudan. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate condemned the detention, calling it a blatant violation of the press and media freedom. The syndicate warned against the continued infringement on journalists’ rights and the relentless targeting of the press, urging all parties to cease using detention to silence and intimidate independent voices. The Syndicate noted that over 40 journalists, including five females had been detained by the Army Intelligence, RSF, and other entities, since the war broke out on April 15, 2023, jeopardizing the core principles of free press in the country. (Radio Tamazuj)

The UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, has invited the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to participate in indirect talks aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis and protecting civilians in Sudan. The invitation follows Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024), adopted on June 13th, which called for further recommendations on civilian protection and encouraged the coordinated engagement of Mr. Lamamra with regional actors to advance peace in Sudan. In letters dated June 26 seen by Sudan Tribune, Mr. Lamamra invited the Chairman of the Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese army, as well as the RSF commander, to discuss measures to ensure the distribution of humanitarian aid and protect civilians across Sudan. The senior-level delegations are set to convene in Geneva, Switzerland, starting July 10th, 2024, for discussions in a “proximity format” facilitated by the United Nations. (Sudan Tribune)

Pro-democracy activists in Sudan on Thursday said around 25 people drowned in the Nile River while trying to flee fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces in the southeast. “Around 25 citizens, most of them women and children, have died in a boat sinking” while crossing the Blue Nile River in the southeastern state of Sennar, a local resistance committee said in a statement…”Entire families perished” in the accident, they said, while fleeing the RSF’s recent advance through Sennar. On Saturday, the RSF announced they had captured a military base in Sinja, the capital of Sennar state, where over half a million people had sought shelter from the war. Witnesses also reported the RSF sweeping through neighboring villages, pushing residents to flee in small wooden boats across the Nile. At least 55,000 people fled Sinja within a three-day period, the United Nations said Monday. (AFP)

Kenyan President William Ruto said on Friday that he would make changes to the government soon, after weeks of nationwide protests that started as online anger over tax hikes and culminated in the violent storming of parliament. The protests prompted Ruto to withdraw the finance bill that contained the proposed tax hikes, leaving a 346 billion shilling ($2.7 billion) hole in the budget for the fiscal year that started on July 1. Ruto said in an address to the nation on Friday that his government would cut spending by 177 billion shillings in the fiscal year that started in July, with the additional amount that needs to be raised covered by increased borrowing. (Reuters)