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Christian Entity Concerned about Assassination Attempt on Government Workers in Sudan

Credit: CSW

The leadership of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has expressed concern about the attempt on the lives of those who worked for the civilian government before the October 25 military coup in Sudan.

According to the organization, there has been an attempt on the lives of Boutros Badawi, adviser to the Minister of Religious Affairs, and Taha Osman, a member of the anti-corruption Committee tasked with dismantling institutions set up by the government of the country’s former President Omar al Bashir. 

“We are gravely concerned by these highly planned assassination attempts targeting former members of the civilian-led government and its committees,” Scot Bower, CSW’s CEO, says in a Wednesday, November 3 report.

Mr. Badawi was reportedly attacked on October 27 at around 8 p.m. as he was walking to his home in the country’s capital, Khartoum, according to CSW. 

In the November 3 report, CSW officials say that Mr. Badawi realized he was being trailed by two people when one of them fired his gun at him but missed. Mr. Badawi reportedly escaped his assailants by seeking refuge in a nearby house and leaving through a back route.

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This was the second attempt on Mr. Badawi’s life. Earlier, in July, he was assaulted by five armed men who threatened to kill him if he continued to speak out about the government’s failure to respond to the issue of confiscated properties belonging to churches, and issues surrounding the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church committees.

On October 28, Mr. Osman's vehicle was reportedly sprayed with several bullets by two people on motorcycles. Mr. Osman was not in the vehicle but his cousin, Mustafa Moheldeen, lost his life in the incident.

In the November 3 report, CSW’s CEO extends the “deepest condolences” of the members of the organization to the family of the late Mr. Mohideen. 

Mr. Bower also urges the Sudanese army to ensure the safety of all people in the country saying, “The military holds ultimate responsibility for the actions taking place since the announcement of a coup, and must ensure the security of all persons in the country at this time.” 

The CSW official also urges the military to restore communication networks across the Northeastern country.

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He further calls on members of the international community "to engage with efforts to ensure the release of political detainees and protection for those working with or associated with the civilian government.”

“The international community must emphasize the need for the military to respect the rights of civilians in the conflict areas of South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur and make use of all diplomatic tools at their disposal to bring this crisis to an end, including possible targeted financial sanctions against those responsible for the coup and subsequent attacks on civilians and politicians,” says Mr. Bower. 

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.