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Sudan: Whether the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is active among the Jaali tribe and whether it is using women to travel freely and distribute its propaganda

The spokesperson for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in London, England, emphasized that membership in the DUP is not determined on a tribal but on an individual basis (6 July 1999). He explained that the only way a tribe may be involved in the DUP is if its leader has a large tribal following. The tendency, he explained, is for the supporters to join the party of their leader (ibid.)

He further stated that the DUP is very active in the northern and eastern parts of Sudan, although its stronghold is the central province. While the spokesperson admitted that women are actively involved in the activities of the DUP, and have a committee of their own, he reiterated that freedom of movement inside Sudan is circumscribed for all Sudanese (ibid.). This is corroborated by Country Reports 1998, which stated that in 1998, "government continued to restrict severely freedom of privacy, assembly, association, religion and movement" (1999, 393). The report also stated that movement outside the war zones was not restricted but "travellers who failed to produce an identity card at check points, risked arrest" (ibid. 400).

The spokesperson was unable to provide information on the Jaali tribe and their involvement in the DUP and vice versa. Sudan: A Country Study states that the Jaali or Jaalayin are one of "the two largest supratribal categories in the 1990s ... the Jaali encompassed the rierine sendentary peoples from Dunqualah to just north of Khartoum and members of this group who have moved elsewhere" (1992, 73). A professor of history and director of the Centre for Muslim and Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and co-author of The Sudan: Unity and Diversity in a Multicultural State, also stated that the Jaali are to be found in the riverine area; in terms of  Sudan politics, the Jaali are an important political elite (5 July 1999). He explained that the Al Madhi, an important political family,  which has been politically active since the beginning of the 19th century, comes from the Jaali tribe (ibid.). He further stated among the Jaali are some very wealthy merchants, and that Jaali women tend to be highly educated (ibid.).

This is also corroborated by an official of Human Rights Watch in Washington, DC, who elaborated that the actual location of the Jaali and stronghold of the DUP is along the Nile river to the north of Kharthoum (7 July 1999). He further stated that Khatimaya communities, the religious sect of the DUP, have been living in this riverine basin for centuries. He further stated that the Mirghani family  has been politically active for a long time. The current leader of the DUP Mohammed Osman al-Mighani is Jaali (ibid.). The official also emphasized that the Jaali are very enlightened people in terms of education and women have attained high levels of education. Although the National Islamic Front (NIF), has imposed severe restrictions on the freedom of women, it has not been able to reverse their gains. Thus, he explained, there is a constant "tug of war" between women and the government in Sudan (ibid.). 

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 1999. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), London. 6 July 1999. Telephone interview with spokesperson.

History professor and director of the Centre for Muslim and Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and co-author of The Sudan: Unity and Diversity in a Multicultural State. 5 July 1999. Telephone interview.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. January 1998 - June 1999. Vols. 38-39. Weekly

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. January-December 1998. Vol. 35. Nos. 1-12.

Amnesty International. 1998. Amnesty International Report 1999. New York: Amnesty International USA.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 1999. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Press.

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. January 1998-February 1999. Bi-monthly. Nos. 1-6.

Jane's Intelligence Review [Surrey, UK]. January -December 1998. Vol. 10. Nos. 1-12.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. January 1998-January 1999. Monthly. Vols. 44-45.

The Middle East International [London]. January 1998-June 1999. Nos. 566-601.

Political Handbook of the World 1998. 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Sudan Democratic Gazette [London]. January 1998-June 1999. Nos. 92-109.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS, World News Connection (WNC).

Topics: Freedom of religion, Freedom of movement, Freedom of assembly,