Dear friends and colleagues, As one of his final acts as President of the United States of America, Barack Obama signed an executive order easing sanctions against Sudan.

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Dear friends and colleagues, As one of his final acts as President of the United States of America, Barack Obama signed an executive order easing sanctions against Sudan.

The decision to lift the nearly twenty year old embargo was met with mixed reactions from the human rights community, drawing sharpcriticismfrom civil society organisations, while also being welcomed by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and i

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The decision to lift the nearly twenty year old embargo was met with mixed reactions from the human rights community, drawing sharpcriticismfrom civil society organisations, while also being welcomed by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and international sanctions who previously made recommendations tomitigatethe impact of the measures on Sudan's most vulnerable citizens. Welcome as this would be, the reality today is that many Sudanese continue to suffer widespread human rights violations at the hand of their government. President Omar al-Bashirremainsthe only serving Head of State indicted by the International Criminal Court, and, in thewakeof a civil disobedience campaign, human rights defenders (HRDs) have again come under attack by his repressive regime.

On 16 January, just three days after President Obama lauded the "positive steps” by Sudan, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested human rights lawyer Tasneen Ahmed Taha Alzaki at her offices in North Darfur. She is now one of at least 17 HRDs held incommunicado, locked in a prison system where the use of rape and rape threats against female detainees has been well documented.

Renowned HRD Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is among those currently held by NISS. On 22 January he went on hunger strike, protesting his continued detention without access to a lawyer after being arrested on 7 December 2016. In what seems like an attempt to force him to stop, Mr. Mudawi was severely beaten by members of NISS, and then chained to the walls of his cell.

Meanwhile, the court case against ten human rights defenders associated with the Khartoum-based TRACKS for Training and Development is still ongoing. On 19 January, capital charges against director Khalafalla Al-Afif Mukhtar and one of his colleagues were dropped and, although still facing charges in a separate case, the two men can now seek bail.

These Sudanese HRDs have been held for over nine months facing criminal charges for doing legitimate human rights work. During this time Mr. Mukhtar has been refused proper medical treatment despite suffering from a heart condition. It is extremely concerning that criminal charges carrying the death penalty against Midhat Hadman, the Director of the Zarqua Organisation for Rural Development, who was arrested while giving a training at TRACKs, were not dropped.

President Obama’s executive order contains a review period of six months, after which sanctions can be reinstated. Now that Sudan has been offered an olive branch, it’s essential that its leaders take immediate steps towards respecting the rule of law and immediately and unconditionally release individuals prosecuted on spurious charges for doing legitimate human rights work.

Like many, I have been watching the recent events in the United States with a sense of trepidation, wondering what it means for those of us who stand for human rights. This will be a test for Sudan and the United States both.

Yours in solidarity,

Hassan Shire

Executive Director

Updates from the sub-region

Burundi

On 16 January, three prominent human rights lawyers were disbarred, while a fourth had his licence suspended for a period of one year. The Burundi Court of Appeals first signalled its intent to take action against the four lawyers after they provided testimony during Burundi’s examination by the UN Committee Against Torture.

Kenya

On 6 January, the NGO Coordination Board contacted the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), threatening that it would commence an inquiry into allegations of mismanagement and other offences. The accusations were included in an "internal memorandum” issued by the Board on 4 November 2016, which recommends several government agencies to take steps against the KHRC;
On 23 January, Kenyan policedetainedSouth Sudanese human rights lawyer Dong Samuel Luak. According to reports, Luak has been denied access to legal counsel, is subject to a deportation order, and risks persecution if he returns to South Sudan. The next day, police alsoarrestedAggrey Idri, chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition’s Humanitarian Affairs committee.

Sudan

On 16 January, the NISSarrestedhuman rights lawyer Tasneen Ahmed Taha Alzaki. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies reports that 17 HRDs are currently held incommunicado, significantly enhancing their vulnerability to torture and other ill-treatment;
On 19 January, charges carrying the death penalty against TRACKS for Development and Training director Khalafalla Al-Afif Mukhtar and his colleague Midhat Afifaldeen were dropped. However, both are still facing charges in a separate case. Capital charges against Midhat Hadman, the director of the Zarqua Organisation for Rural Development, were not dropped;
On 22 January, Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, a prominent HRD and professor at Khartoum University, started a hunger strike to protest his detention without access to a lawyer since 7 December 2016. In response, he was reportedly beaten and locked in chains connected to the walls of his cell.

DefendDefenders

Provided protection grants to 23 HRDs and referred 11 other cases to partners in December 2016 and January 2017;
Conducted a security management training for Ugandan HRDs;
Travelled to Tanzania to follow-up on previous protection cases;
Conducted the second session of DOC-it in Uganda, a new program that helps civil society organisations to more effectively document information and use it in their advocacy;
Attended the board of directors meeting of the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Kenya;
Met with Burundian HRDs in exile in Brussels.

DefendDefenders' Executive Director Hassan Shire andDirector of Programs and Administration Memory Bandera with Burundian HRDs Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, Vital Nshimirimana, Anschaire Nikoyagize, and Armel Niyongere.

From our network

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of South Sudan's Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), was awarded the prestigious Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award 2017.

Jobs and other opportunities

Front Line Defenders is accepting submissions for its Annual Award, recognising HRDs who have courageously made a contribution to the promotion and protection of the human rights of others, until 3 February 2017;
The Australian High Commission in Nairobi is accepting applications for the Direct Aid Program, which provides grants for small-scale development projects. Applications for Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda will be accepted until 3 February;
Columbia University is accepting applications for the Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability fellowship, a programme that brings together HRDs and other key stakeholders for a semester in New York, until 24 February;
The African Women's Development Fund is calling for applications under the ‘Leading from the South Fund’. Grants ranging from $20,000 to $500,000 will be offered to projects advancing advocacy for women’s rights. Find the application guidelines here.