Resisting in Sudan

In this issue, I delve into various topics, including a tragic stampede at a charity event in Yemen, the brave actions of Sudan's civil society amidst escalating violence, and positive news from El Salvador regarding the arrest of a perpetrator of a decades-old massacre. Additionally, I provide my thoughts on the new "Queen Cleopatra" Netflix trailer, recommend a healing conversation on belonging between two Trinidadian authors, and celebrate a citizen-led fact-checking group in Indonesia, among other topics and good news from all over the world.

A stampede at a charity event killed at least 78 people in Yemen

What happened:
Witnesses and Houthi rebel officials reported that during a charity event in Yemen's capital city on Wednesday night, a crowd became panicked by gunfire and an electrical explosion, causing a stampede. The incident occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. At least 78 people died, and 77 others were hurt.

Why this matters:
The recent tragedy in Yemen was the deadliest in the country in years, but unlike many other incidents in the region, it was not connected to the ongoing war in the country.

Refresher:
Yes, ongoing, because Yemen is still at war. Its capital Sanaa has been under control by a group called the Houthis since 2014, with support from Iran. They took over the internationally recognized government, leading to a bigger conflict, as a coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in 2015 to try and restore the previous government. The situation has escalated into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, causing over 150,000 deaths, including civilians and soldiers. As a result, Yemen is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with over 21 million people in need of help and protection. The United Nations launched a conference in February to raise funds and managed to raise $1.2 billion (out of the $4.3 billion target).

Tell me more:
In an effort to control the crowd, armed Houthis fired shots into the air, accidentally hitting an electrical wire that caused an explosion. The incident happened in the Old City of Sanaa, where hundreds of people had gathered for a charity event organized by local merchants. The charity was set up to distribute $10 to each of the needy, with local businessmen providing the funding. During Ramadan, wealthy people and businessmen typically give out cash and food to help the poor. The Interior Ministry spokesperson, Brig. Abdel-Khaleq al-Aghri, attributed the crush to the "random distribution" of funds without coordinating with local authorities.

What now?
According to the Interior Ministry, two organizers have been detained, and an investigation is currently underway. The Houthis have stated that they will provide compensation of approximately $2,000 to the families who lost a relative in the tragedy, while those who were injured will receive around $400.

Interesting fact about Yemen, written by ChatGPT
"Yemen's Jewish community is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to at least the 2nd century CE. However, due to ongoing conflict and persecution, the population has significantly decreased in recent decades, with many Jews leaving for Israel and other countries." I googled (because I was flabbergasted by this fact myself) and found this interesting presentation by Joey Leskin, a British Jew of Yemeni descent, talking about his community's long history.

The armed forces are fighting each other and Sudan's civil society is stepping up

What happened:
Around 400 people have died since fighting broke out between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces last week in Khartoum, Sudan. At least 3,500 people have been injured. The fighting has left many people stranded at home without electricity, food or water, and doctors and hospitals say they are struggling to cope.

Why this matters:
Some 45 million people live in Sudan, Africa's third-largest country. Many people here have been affected by war, displacement, and poverty. The 2019 revolution -- in which tens of thousands of protesters ended the three-decade dictatorship of President Omar Hasan al-Bashir -- did not bring about a democracy as many had hoped. The country is now on the verge of a full-blown civil war.

Tell me more:
Sudan is a strategically located country and rich in natural resources. Since 2019, to many governments, Sudan has seemed like it was up for grabs and foreign powers have been picking sides, even delivering weapons, which weakened Sudan's pro-democracy forces and supported military rivals who are now fighting for power in Khartoum. The army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces overthrew the previous government together, but now both groups want control and disagree over the country's future direction, including whether civilians should rule and whether the two groups should merge.

What's it like in Khartoum now?
Really volatile. Some residents are forced to travel to the River Nile to collect water, writes Mohamed Osman for BBC. Many residents face the difficult decision of whether to stay or flee the city, with some leaving for relatively safe regions like Port Sudan or driving north to Egypt, although only children, the elderly, and women can enter Egypt without visas, writes Mat Nashed for Al Jazeera. The ambivalent security situation has made coordinating an escape a nightmare. African Arguments editor Raga Makawi wrote a first-hand account of her days of terror and flight with Kholood Khair for The Economist (soft paywall) when violence erupted last week in Khartoum. "This has been building up for decades," writes Nesrine Malik in The Guardian. Justin Lynch in Foreign Policy argues that U.S. policies are to blame here. Jacqueline Burns "partly" agrees in The New York Times. In the meantime, the U.S. and other foreign governments have evacuated their staff. Some people on Twitter are calling this 'Afghanistan 2.0.'

Any good news?
Sudan's civil society is stepping in. The country's so-called resistance committees aka neighborhood groups, which have led the pro-democracy...