By James Gatdet Dak
November 6, 2009 (JUBA) – Southern Sudan is hit by very low voters’ registration turnout as the region prepares for its first post-war general elections due in six months.

Voters’ registration for the Sudan’s April 2010 elections began on November 1 all over the country and set to end on November 30. Officials of the semi-autonomous region say some of the registration centers in Southern Sudan have remained almost empty for the last one week while others with the maximum of less than a hundred voters to register per day as the turnout has been very low.

Even in the capital, Juba, turnout has been very low with daily average of only 30 people according to registration team leaders.
David Lukudu, a team leader at Naira Secondary School registration center revealed that his team had been registering an average of 15 people per day. Other centers reveal that for the last one week they have managed to register only 200 to 300 people, respectively.
The Council of Ministers has resolved to request for 30 days extension of the registration exercise to try to mobilize and register a good number of voters, says the minister of Information and Broadcasting, Paul Mayom Akech.

“Voters’ registration is not going on as desired generally in Southern Sudan. There is practically difficulty,” said the official spokesperson.
In the Friday’s Council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the cabinet discussed the seriousness of the matter by identifying some of the main challenges and taking a number of measures to try to remedy the situation.

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The Bishop of the Anglican Catholic Diocese of Aweil, Sudan, is in the United States to attend a provincial synod of the Anglican Catholic Church in Richmond Virginia. Bishop Wilson Garang who oversees more than 180 churches in Southern Sudan is also here to raise awareness about the plight of the people in Southern Sudan.

Garang was a refugee and part of the “Lost Boys,” a group of thousands of Sudanese children orphaned by the country’s civil war in the 1980s. He ended up living in refugee camps in Ethiopia where he was converted, and became a Christian.

He told VOA from Athens, Georgia that he will use his stay in the USA to talk about the plight and conditions of the people in Southern Sudan. Southern Sudan is not in the news, he said, “it is only Darfur that people are talking about but the war in the south [of Sudan] lasted a long time.”

Bishop Garang said there is a good relationship between the church and the government of Southern Sudan. “There is freedom of worship.”

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By Frank Mugabi

A family in Kawempe was relieved after a dramatic recovery of their one-month-old baby from Southern Sudan. Peter Drapi, the father of the child, said his lastborn disappeared on July 20 with a Congolese businesswoman, Museka Amori, who was a “family friend”. ??He said they had often accommodated Amori during her business trips between Kampala and Sudan. On the fateful day, Drapi left for work at the Bujagali Dam construction site in Jinja but was later called back with information that his child had gone missing. ??The case was reported to Police although no headway was made. As the search went on, Drapi and his wife, Kadimala Dawa, received information that one of Amori’s associates, Adomati, had been sighted in Juba.

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By Moyiga Nduru
Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Southern Sudan’s ruling party welcomed the Obama administration’s new policy on Sudan that calls for the implementation of a peace accord between the north and south of the country.

“The policy is in line with the SPLM position,” Anne Itto, deputy secretary-general of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, said in a phone interview yesterday from Juba, the capital of the semi-autonomous region of Southern Sudan.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and U.S. envoy Scott Gration yesterday announced a new policy on Sudan after months of deliberations.

The administration held out the prospect of dropping sanctions on Sudan if the oil-producing North African nation eases the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, implements the north- south peace accord brokered by the U.S. in 2005, and refuses to harbor terrorists. The Bush administration sought to influence the Sudanese government in a similar way.

Tensions have risen between northern and the southern Sudan in recent months as the south prepares to hold a referendum in 2011 on whether to form an independent state.

The 2005 agreement, which called for the referendum, ended a 21-year civil war between Muslim northern Sudan and the mostly animist and Christian south. Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir’s government has refused to accept borders that international experts have proposed for the oil-rich area of Abyei.

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By James Gatdet Dak

August 16, 2009 (JUBA) – The Vice President of Southern Sudan has directed the governors of the ten states in the semi-autonomous region to initiate a forum that would bring together county commissioners in their respective states.

Participants at the 7th Governors Forum in Juba, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly Hall August 15, 2009, , (Photo by James G. Dak- ST)

In his closing remarks on Saturday ending the 6-day Governors Forum in Juba, Dr. Riek Machar told the state governors to share with their various organs of government the resolutions and recommendations adopted during the forum.

He stressed the importance of replicating the type of forum at the states level where challenges could be comprehensively identified and solutions sought with county commissioners before the next forum at the level of the Government of Southern Sudan.

Resolutions and recommendations were passed at the Governors Forum during which discussions on insecurity and corruption in the region dominated the deliberations.

Participants included ministers, members of parliament, intellectuals and representatives of international development partners among others.

The Forum recommended that a comprehensive disarmament of civil population be carried out to try to significantly reduce the level of insecurity caused by possession of firearms by civilians in the region.

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By Garang Kuot Kuot

July 26, 2009 — The long awaited ruling on the contested Abyei boundaries by the Hague based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has finally come and passed thus bringing about a much needed relief. The ruling on Abyei boundaries had captured international attention while creating unprecendented anxiety among the wider Sudanese community both at home and around the world.

Days leading to the announcement of the Award, no one could tell the future of Sudan; for many, it was the beginning of another bloody and protracted military confrontation between the North and South of Sudan. Thank God both parties received and accepted the ruling with honour despite some feelings of dissatisfaction.

However, the nature upon which the ruling was done left more confusion among Sudanese masses than clarity. After watching a televised announcement of the Award beaming in all the way from the Hague, many were left wondering how it had ended. Understandably, the ruling was quite compex for far too many people to comprehend. It will indeed take long before a lot of people understand what has really been decided in the Hague.

This confusion is quite evident in Northern Sudan. The ruling was received with somewhat exagerated euporia particularly among the Northern circles who blatantly misunderstood court’s ruling as having allocated the ownership of Panthou/Heglig oil fields to the North. This misplaced understanding of the Award clearly overlooked the mandate of the PCA. The PCA was not damarcating the boundaries between the South and the North which would esentially determine the ownership of the disputed oil field at panthou. Instead, the court was only trying to identify and deliminate the boundaries comprising of the nine chiefdoms of the Ngok Dinka which it correctly did.

In effect, the PCA was very explicit about its mandate. In its press statement on the Abyei Award, the PCA articulated its mandate as pertaining to:

"Whether or not the ABC Experts had, on the basis of the agreement of the Parties as per the CPA, exceeded their mandate which is ‘to define (i.e. delimit) and demarcate the area of the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905’ as stated in the Abyei Protocol, and reiterated in the Abyei Appendix and the ABC Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure."

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IRIN News - “We certainly are concerned that there may indeed be a food crisis in Southern Sudan this year,” David Gressly, regional coordinator for the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in Southern Sudan, said on 8 July.

“Insecurity may be one of the factors that inhibited some crop production,” he told a news conference in Khartoum. “The larger factor may simply be the weather this year. Anybody who has travelled to Southern Sudan this time of year in the past would have seen a great deal of rain. We are not seeing the kind of rain so far in Southern Sudan as is typical.”

Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, Jonglei and Upper Nile States are at greatest risk. At least three million people live in these states, according to the 2008 census results. Also likely to be affected is Eastern Equatoria.

“Those four states are of concern and we are hoping in two or three weeks we would come up with an accurate assessment of how severe that might be,” Gressly added. “But, certainly at an anecdotal level, it does seem to be an indication of a crisis.”

Poor infrastructure across the region has left some areas isolated, especially during the rainy season, while insecurity has impeded delivery of aid to some places such as Akobo in Jonglei State. Local climate conditions in states such as Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal have also been harsh.

Akobo, which hosts about 19,000 displaced civilians, was cut off from aid supplies by a 12 June attack on boats carrying food, near Nassir in Upper Nile State. Since then UNMIS has airlifted nearly 150MT just to provide basic food supplies to the area.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), poor rains had prolonged a severe dry spell across most of Southern Sudan – although recent rains may ameliorate conditions.

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By Richard Ruati

June 9, 2009 (YAMBIO) — The proposed budget for the fifth celebration of the Comprehensive peace Agreement next year in Western Equatoria State was approved by the southern Sudan cabinet last week, said Governor Jemma Nunu Kumba after her arrival to Yambio last Tuesday.

Governor of Western Equatoria State Jemma Nunu Kumba ( www.guide2womenleaders.com) Briefing the regional government at the State Secretariat Main Hall, Kumba said that, "the estimated budget was SDG85 millions; but was reduced to 66 million SDG." The allocated money will be used to build presidential villa, stadium, guest houses, and access to roads, water, and completing the establishment of the electricity power, and renovation of the administrative offices respectively, she further said.

Kumba added that the President of Southern Sudan Government, Salva Kiir Mayadrit approved the budget. She pointed out that, "It is up to the Government of Southern Sudan, the Minister of Finance to release the funds on a timely manner."

She said the Technical Committees are seriously following up approved money and works will start immediately after its reception.

CPA celebration is organized annually in a rotation plan all over the ten states, since its inception the first one had been marked in Nairobi, second one in Juba (Central Equatoria State), Wau West Bahr El Ghazal State), Malakal (Upper Nile State), and the fifth is expected to take place in Yambio.

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By Mark Coddington
mark.coddington@theindependent.com
Published: Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:54 PM CDT

The equipment used by the Dinka Malual dance group at the Grand Island Ethnic Festival on Sunday afternoon was quite simple -- wooden sticks, rags, pom-poms and rings of crushed pop cans around the ankles.

But amid the stomps, singing and the cans' ringing, the group's performance was also communicating a profound message.

As Garang Deng of Grand Island sang, he told stories in his native Dinka language about the tribe's history and homeland in southern Sudan -- many of which recounted the persecution and violence the tribe has seen, sometimes in graphic detail.

Still, the songs were sung to a relentlessly celebratory beat, as the dancers reminded themselves and each other of the freedom they now share.

We feel some kind of pain in it," Deng said of the songs and dances. "But it's exciting, because we did it -- we came out of it. What it means is we need to go ahead and do more for the protection of our community, to improve our country, to make our people feel more at home."

Sunday's performances were the first in town for the group made up of people from Grand Island and Omaha.

The group's members are from the Malual tribe of the Dinka ethnic group in southern Sudan, an area that has been racked by slavery and war for decades.

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VOA News examines malaria in southern Sudan. In the region, malaria is "widespread" and accounts for "up to 30 percent of all diseases treated by health facilities." It is the "number one killer of children in southern Sudan," though there are "no reliable statistics on the number in southern Sudan who suffer, or die from, malaria," VOA News reports.

After more than two decades of war, "southern Sudan was granted semi-autonomous status for a six-year period" - beginning in 2005 - "until a more permanent solution can be worked out," writes VOA News. The post-war administration is "grappling" with how to develop good health care services in a "vast, resource-poor area that is only now beginning to be developed," according to the news service.

People who have been diagnosed with malaria sometimes have to walk to the market to buy malaria drugs because drugs and other vital supplies sometimes do not reach the clinic during the rainy season, said Paulino Pitia, acting county medical officer.

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A major showdown looms in parts of Southern Sudan between government forces and civilians following President Salva Kiir’s order for disarmament of people who resist to hand over their arms.

President Kiir has lamented that almost all corners of Southern Sudan were experiencing insecurity, mostly caused by rival armed civilians.

His directive comes against a backdrop of insecurity in the region, which has threatened to derail the full implementation of the Nairobi-brokered Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the North and South.

In statement sent from the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi, Mr Kiir ordered the command of the organised forces to launch the disarmament this week in some states.

Last week, at least 40 South Sudanese soldiers and civilians were killed when tribal fighters from Jikany Nuer group ambushed boats carrying UN food aid.

On Monday, Mr Kiir said those who illegally hold guns should either hand them over now, or be disarmed by force in all the 10 Southern Sudan states.

He was speaking during the opening of the 24th session of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) in Juba.

“Any one illegally owning a gun and refusing to hand it over to the authorities would be disarmed by force,” he said.

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By James Gatdet Dak

June 21, 2009 (JUBA) — Sudan’s federal capital, Khartoum, is agreed by the two parties to the 2005’s peace deal to be the seat of the would-be established commission for Southern Sudan referendum.

Soldiers stand to attention behind a SPLM flag The Joint High Executive Political Committee between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has been discussing, in Khartoum, the draft law which shall regulate the conduct of referendum in Southern Sudan due to take place in 2011.

The main issues being discussed include the seat of the Referendum Commission, its chairmanship, composition of the Commission, voter definition and qualification and voting centers.

The Acting Spokesperson and Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Madut Biar, said the Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, was briefed on the referendum law debates on Friday by the Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, who chairs the component of the SPLM Joint Committee.

Machar co-chairs the Joint Committee with Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Vice President of the Republic of Sudan.

Biar said the Vice President briefed the cabinet on the status of discussions on referenda bills for Southern Sudan and Abyei as well as popular consultations bills for Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile.

Biar further added that the SPLM committee also discussed the North-South border demarcation process and the need to implement the two-window system of the Bank of Sudan - Islamic and Conventional windows for North and South, respectively.

On the Southern Sudan referendum bill the two parties had reached an agreement or re-affirmed that the Commission should be based in Khartoum.

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By Derek Kilner
Nairobi

A prominent politician from southern Sudan has announced he is creating a new party to challenge the dominant Sudan People's Liberation Movement in upcoming elections.  SPLM officials are downplaying the significance of the move.

Former foreign minister Lam Akol says he is creating the new party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - Democratic Change, because the government of southern Sudan, dominated by the original SPLM, has failed to be effective since a 2005 peace agreement established the semi-autonomous region.

Akol criticized SPLM chairman Salva Kiir, who serves as president of southern Sudan and vice president in the national government, calling his leadership "bankrupt" and "undemocratic." 

SPLM officials have played down the importance of Akol's announcement.  SPLM spokesman Yien Matthew said anyone is welcome to form a political party, but that it should not use the SPLM name.

"Lam can make a party, but it would be better if he gives the party a different name, and not the SPLM, because Lam was not even a pioneer, he was not there when the SPLM was established and so he cannot take the name and the history of the SPLM as if there is a split in the SPLM," said Matthew.  "This is not a split."

Matthew says Akol was removed from the party three weeks ago, and the SPLM is taking legal action to prevent him from using the name in the new party.

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By KITSEPILE NYATHI NATION Correspondent

African leaders on Monday backed Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, who is accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court and called for his warrant of arrest to be suspended.

In a communiqué read at the end of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) heads of state and government summit, the leaders also called for Sudan and Chad to exercise restraint in their border dispute.

Mr Bashir was in Zimbabwe in defiance of the ICC warrant issued in March for his alleged role in the atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region.

He had earlier told the summit that the warrant was part of a futile plot to isolate and fragment his country.

"It (the ICC warrant) is an action aimed at isolating Sudan and eventually fragmenting and dividing our country," he said.

"But through our own efforts and resources we are going to overcome such designs," he said in a speech delivered in Arabic and translated into English by an official.

The visit was his first to southern Africa after he travelled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Libya, which are all not members of the ICC.

COMESA leaders called on the United Nations to press for the cancellation of the indictment and encourage a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Sudan.

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By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
27 May 2009

The government of Southern Sudan is planning an ambitious campaign to disarm hundreds of civilians in the semi-autonomous region. Tribal clashes in parts of southern Sudan have killed as many as 1,000 people this year, a development that could threaten the fragile peace with the north. 

Southern Sudan has long suffered from clashes between tribal groups over cattle and land. But according to the president of the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, the violence this year has been abnormally high. As many as 1,000 people have been killed since the start of the year in clashes between members of various tribes.

At an event marking the anniversary of the creation of the Sudan People's Liberation Army - the rebel group whose members now run the southern government - Mr. Kiir said the violence threatens the fragile 2005 peace agreement between north and south Sudan and he announced a campaign to disarm civilians throughout the southern region.

Such a campaign would need to target hundreds of thousands of people. Southern Sudanese officials have estimated that there are about two million small arms in the region. Previous disarmament efforts have seen clashes between soldiers and tribal groups reluctant to give up their weapons.

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By Isaac Vuni

May 19, 2009 (JUBA) – Minister of Regional Cooperation Barnaba Marial Benjamin, speaking on behalf of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to a visiting team from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), hailed cross-border cooperation on trade and security.

The ICGLR program was signed by 11 member states in December 2006 in Nairobi comprising Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, DR Congo, Central African republic, Angola and Zambia, nine of which ratified.

Benjamin assured participants of the regional government’s political and financial commitment toward disarmament of armed nomadic pastoralists.

The minister said GOSS is working very hard to control the death toll arising from cattle rustling in southern Sudan adding that there should be development plans for nomadic pastoralists as a solution to effective development.

State Minister of Kenya Isaac Musuba said the issue of cattle rusting has become a major concern within communities spanning three countries. He emphasized that disarmament of armed nomadic pastoralists in Uganda, Kenya and Sudan as well as Ethiopia should be carried out concurrently in a coordinated and harmonized manner.

He added that Southern Sudan’s government has a special role to play in disarmament that ought to be coordinated carry to ensure security and development environments.

Hon. Agnes Lasube, head of regional and international cooperation in the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA), said cattle rustling has affected the whole of southern Sudan today while Hon. David Mayo who led the government delegation to attend a meeting held in Kampala, Uganda revealed that they had had a confrontation with Sudanese embassy that claimed to be the only official representative at the international forum.

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Jane Beesley visits a community in Western Equatoria revitalised by a fresh water supply.

Despite travelling non-stop for several days, despite sitting in a crowded car, despite this being on the other side of the road to where I’m sitting, I still notice a signpost on the side of the road.  It looks more like something from rural England than southern Sudan - names of places and distances clearly marked.  “Now that’s unusual”, I thought…The car sped by arriving several hours later at the Oxfam office in East Mundri.

Two days later, we are back at the signpost and turning right down a virtually hidden path. Seven miles of bumpy track over red earth and through bush brings us suddenly into a clearing - Koromba, where Oxfam recently constructed a borehole.

Under the shade of a tree a group of people are waiting for us. Greetings are warm. We’re the first foreigners to visit. Everyone gathers in a sheltered meeting area, which the community built so there was somewhere to teach the children. There are no schools anywhere nearby.

Our programme here is simple - water and sanitation. But after years of conflict and isolation I’m reminded, and humbled, once again about the incredible impact that having a borehole providing regular, safe water can have on people’s lives. People talk about the time it used to take to collect water, and the consequential cost of that time to their families and livelihoods, the risks and sicknesses…and the shame they felt for being dirty, for smelling.

But Oxfam didn’t just come and drill this borehole. The community first had to clear a track to the main road. The seven miles were cleared in less than two weeks. But it’s that combination of borehole and road that is offering the community new hope.

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By Andrew Heavens

KHARTOUM, May 17 (Reuters) - Darfur's rebel Justice and Equality Movement said on Sunday it attacked Sudanese government troops in north Darfur, forcing them out of a strategic base in the latest of a series of clashes in the area.

U.N. sources confirmed Sudanese government soldiers were attacked on Saturday afternoon in the town of Kornoi, which is on a key road, but no one was immediately available to comment from the Sudanese army.

The reports will stoke growing tensions in the volatile area which borders Chad. Sudan accused Chad of launching three airstrikes in north Darfur on Friday and Saturday.

Diplomatic sources in Khartoum have said JEM may be planning a major offensive in Darfur, partly in retaliation for an incursion by Chadian insurgents into Chad earlier this month.

Sudan's government says JEM is backed by Chad, while Chad accuses Khartoum of supporting insurgents in its territory.

"JEM has taken Kornoi. We attacked a garrison there. We want to clear them out of the area," JEM leader Khaili Ibrahim told Reuters by satellite telephone, saying the two-hour battle had taken place late afternoon on Saturday.

"We now control a very large area. JEM will proceed to control the whole area - the whole of Darfur, including the capitals (El Fasher, El Geneina and Nyala, the capitals of the states of north, west and south Darfur)."

Ibrahim said there had been casualties on both sides, but it was too early to release statistics.

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UN Urges End To Inter-Ethnic Clashes In Southern Sudan

New York, May 13 2009 1:10PM The recent surge in deadly ethnic violence in southern Sudan, killing at least 66 people, is cause for serious concern, a United Nations official in the region warned today, calling for an immediate and peaceful resolution to the clashes.

Clashes on 8 May between the rival Lou Nuer and Jikany ethnic groups in the village of Torkech reportedly wounded 57 people, the majority of them children with some in critical condition, and forced at least 1,550 from their homes. 

“The UN is seriously concerned about the increasing violence in the area and the continuing loss of innocent lives of women, men and children,” stressed UN Deputy Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Southern Sudan Lise Grande.

Ms. Grande called on “community leaders, and all relevant authorities to intervene and resolve the conflict through peaceful means and reconciliation.”

The UN has sent an assessment mission to the area, and the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) is mobilizing food assistance to be distributed to the displaced people.

Security in Nasir town, where many of the displaced have taken up camp, is calm but there is fear of retaliatory attacks in the neighbouring Ulang County, part of which is composed of the same ethnic groups fighting in Torkech.

In a related development, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has dispatched some 120 civilian, military and police personnel to Jonglei State, where thousands are taking shelter after fleeing recent tribal confrontations.

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By James Gatdet Dak

May 5, 2009 (JUBA) – The governors of Sudanese states agreed on the need to focus efforts on the agriculture to increase the national revenue.

A two-day conference discussing the future of Sudan, and involving governors of all the 25 states of the whole country, concluded on Tuesday in Wau town, capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal state in Southern Sudan.

Top on the agenda included the current economic crisis and need for national reconciliation and integration before the upcoming general elections next year and referendum for the people of Southern Sudan in 2011.

Besides governors from all the states in the country, ministers from both the Government of National Unity (GoNU), led by the Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha and the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), led by the Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny participated in the conference.

The Forum was briefly opened by the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit who, in his opening remarks, stressed the need for national reconciliation in the country.

In a statement to the press shortly after his arrival at Juba International Airport from Western Bahr el Ghazal state, Vice President Dr. Riek Machar explained that the conference discussed the main causes of the current economic crisis in the country including the fall in oil prices and what to be done in order to move out of it.

The meeting, he said, resolved to diversify the economic bases from relying only on oil revenue to seriously engaging in agricultural production.

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The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today that it is deeply concerned at the impact on children of continuing violence in a number of states of Southern Sudan, and urged that all parties ensure the protection of young people.

The agency calls on groups involved in fighting in Southern Sudan to show "immediate restraint and ensure the full protection of children, those who care for them, and the services on which they depend for their survival and development," UNICEF's Veronique Taveau told a news conference in Geneva, recalling that Sudan is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Ms. Taveau said that since the start of this year, thousands of children are estimated to have been displaced from their homes due to attacks by the Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central and Western Equatoria, while repeated clashes between tribal groups in Jonglei, Lakes and Warrap States were believed to have resulted in the death and abduction of children.

In Pibor Country of Jonglei State, more than 140 children had been reportedly abducted, while children were feared to be among the 450 people believed killed in Pibor and the 170 people killed in Akobo County.

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) had, almost two weeks ago, expressed its deep concern over renewed tribal clashes in the country's southern Jonglei State. It had appealed to local authorities to take steps to restore stability in the affected areas and also to the Government of Southern Sudan to do all it can to ensure civilians' safety and to find a way to end the hostilities.

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By Isaac Vuni

April 25, 2009 (JUBA) — The second national convention of South Sudan Democratic Forum (SSDF) kicked off today in Juba, the capital of southern Sudan, drawing 50 delegates from each of the ten states of southern Sudan and Khartoum representing northern states.

The theme was: “To be a nation we must be united, to be united we must espouse equality and freedom to all our people regardless of their clan, gender, region, religion or political affiliation.”

Highly delighted, party president Martin Elias Lomuro, who is also minister of parliamentary affairs, said they are for better democratic change in Sudan as stipulated in their convention.

He called for unity of Sudanese particularly southerners who had suffered 50 years underdevelopment at all levels while north developed at southern expense, then he declared the convention opened at 11.25 a.m.

Speaking on behalf of the southern government and SPLM party, Dr. Luka Monoja explained that SPLM has signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the Government of Sudan, not with the country’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

He reiterated that SPLM is committed to implementing the CPA in letter and spririt, paving the way for southerners and Abyei’s people to decide either for unity or separation from the north, as the ruling government in Khartoum bids to “make unity attractive” by sharing wealth with the south.

Hon. James Surur, speaking on behalf of Union of Sudan African Parties (USAP), reiterated the objective of establishing USAP at a time when northerners were not willing to listen to southerners concerning a call for unity of Sudan, then told delegates that it was now appropriate to live as good neighbors with northerners.

He added that southerners are no longer slaves and will never be cheated again by northern Sudanese. Surur appealed for unity of southern political parties to enable southerners to “reach the Promised Land” in the coming referendum on January 9, 2011, in which they can vote for self-determination.

Similarly, a representative of SSDF, Hon. James Anderia, elucidated that suffering of southerners started since 1820 under the Anglo-Egyptian colonial administration. In 1898 the Mahdiya revolution collected southerners as slaves to extend Khartoum into one of the biggest slaves centers in Africa, he said.

DAKAR, Senegal — Ethnic fighting in southern Sudan over the weekend left more than 100 people dead in a remote, swampy region of the war-ravaged country, United Nations and local officials reported this week.

The fighting, in which women and children of the Lou Nuer tribe were killed, may have been in retaliation for an attack in March on a rival ethnic group, the Murle, in which more than 400 died, officials said. The fear now is that back-and-forth violence in Jonglei State could escalate unless there is decisive intervention. Only one company of United Nations peacekeepers is currently on the ground.

The killings are rooted in old rivalries and are tied to cattle rustling — thousands of Lou Nuer cattle were said to have been stolen in January — but the violence has been fueled by weapons left over from Sudan’s civil war, which lasted decades and was ended only by a fragile peace agreement reached in 2005. About two million people were killed and four million displaced in that conflict, involving the Muslim north and the mostly Christian and animist south.

The latest fighting in the south, with its basis in a separate, age-old pattern of antagonism and conflict, has been amplified by the war’s backwash.

“The problem with the war is, it brought in large quantities of weapons, so it is much more lethal,” said David Gressly, the United Nations regional coordinator for southern Sudan. 

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By Isaac Vuni

April 12, 2009 (JUBA) – The President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, said there is serious tribal conflict among southerners today being perpetrated by some politicians who are obstructing peaceful living, despite having avoided tribal fighting during the civil war that lasted for 22 years.

Salva Kiir (left) with a church leader at Kator Cathedral in Juba, some days before Easter. "There was no tribal conflict when we were fighting in the bush," said Kiir during an Easter feast at St. Theresa Cathedral Kator.

Without mentioning names, the president emphasized that some politicians for their own benefit are out to instigate innocent southerners to fight each other, adding that there had been serious tribal fighting in Upper Nile, Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria, Warrap and Lakes states.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army, the insurgency that brought Kiir to power, presents itself as a pan-tribal movement that represents all “marginalized” peoples of the Sudan, and it makes “tribalism” a key target of party invective.

After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), many southern communities rose against each other. Thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan villages yearly despite this accord reached in Kenya on January 9, 2005.

Inter-tribal or community-level violence has been touched off by cattle raiding and resource competition, the uneven advance of civilian disarmament campaigns, competition over stakes in the different layers of the newly established government, and land and grazing rights — matters complicated by massive refugee returns.

President Kiir’s remarks today follow a recent meeting of southern opposition leaders in Kenana of White Nile State in northern Sudan, who slammed the South’s ruling party for “the continuously deteriorating administrative, security and political situation in Southern Sudan.”

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Khartoum – Muawad Mustafa Rashid

United Democratic Salvation Front (UDSF) Chairman Joseph Malwal Dong stated that SPLM has failed to communicate and establish relations with the grass roots in the South. The Movement is now seeking to dismantle Southern Sudanese political forces, including his party the UDSF by approaching some political figures within other parties to persuade them to quit their parties in exchange for financial support and constituencies.

Dong painted the recent convention held in Juba by some UDSF members supported by SPLM as void and illegal, arguing that only himself, in his capacity as the Chairman of the party, is authorized to call for such a conventions.

Since mid March, the UDSF has been working for  holding a convention that will take place during the period 12 – 15th May 2009 after all basic conferences has been finalized.

In an interview with Sudan Vision, UDSF chairman refuted that Kenana meetings had anything to do with the SPLM's move in breakthrough in his party, adding such a move began earlier when SPLM waived their seat to others.

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By Isaac Vuni

April 6, 2009 (JUBA) – The Government of Sudan has declined to fully meet one million dollars of expenses incurred by SPLM for the arbitration tribunal at The Hague, disclosed Hon. Arop Madut Arop, who hails from Abyei in Warrap State of Southern Sudan.

SPLM and the Government of Sudan are engaged in what is supposed to be the final round of a legal dispute over the Abyei region, following the government’s rejection of the boundary limits set by a panel of experts who had taken their mandate from Sudan’s 2005 peace deal.

Together the Sudanese government and SPLM have agreed to submit their dispute to the judgment of the Abyei Arbitration Tribunal, a five-member body formed under the mandate of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

According to Article 11 of the arbitration agreement signed in Khartoum on July 7, 2008 by Vice President Ali Osman Taha and SPLM Deputy Chairman Riek Machar Teny, the Presidency of the Republic of Sudan is to required to order payment of the cost of arbitration from the federal budget.

Hon. Arop claimed that on December 18, 2008 the government paid only 500,000 dollars advance to enable the arbitration process to begin but when the government realized they are going to lose the case, they started tricks of buying time by only paying 200,000 USD while from the backdoor seeking to persuade the SPLM delegation to settle the dispute outside of the international court.

The lawmaker noted that an SPLM member from Warrap constituency is a member of the SPLM delegations to the Abyei Arbitration Tribunal.

The August House has several times taken the position that the people of Abyei are legitimately part of Warrap state, who could not whatsoever be surrendered to northern Sudan.

The Hague-based tribunal must issue its final decision no later than the end of July of this year.

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Sitting in the sands of Northern Darfur last month, there seemed little to suggest that the UN ban on offensive military flights over Darfur was being taken too by the Khartoum Government. Flying at high altitude above us two Antonov aircraft took it in turns to roll barrel bombs off their cargo ramps on to the sub-Saharan desert.

I suppose they were targeting the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels with whom we shared the only cover - a thorn bush in a dried wadi. A few bombs fell quite close, a few hundred metres away, sending chunks of the wilderness skyward in grey, rolling banks of smoke. But a lot more exploded miles from the rebel position, suggesting that they were being used more as weapons of indiscriminate terror than specifically to target insurgents who are fighting attempts to force out ethnic black Africans in the region in favour of government-backed Arabs.

If the UN is taken as rather a joke by Sudan it only has itself to blame. Sudan has flouted just about every UN resolution on Darfur with total impunity. Little surprise then that President al-Bashir is not taking the International Criminal Court (ICC) very seriously either. Since it issued an arrest warrant against him last month for crimes against humanity and war crimes, the Sudanese leader has been on a regional cock-a-snook tour, sticking two fingers at international justice at every opportunity.

In this endeavour, his neighbours have served him well. Five Arab and African countries have greeted the indicted head of state in the past four weeks. The Arab League, which invited Mr al-Bashir to its summit in Qatar ten days ago, issued a statement of support for “his Excellency” the Sudanese President. Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, attended and was in the same room as Mr al-Bashir. He did not speak to him, but did not mention Darfur either.

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The Government of Southern Sudan is pushing to have Khartoum allow its two telecom operators — Gemtel and Vivacell — to operate beyond its 1956 border.

According to GoSS Minister for Telecoms and Postal Services, Maj-Gen Gier Chuang, Juba wants the government in Khartoum to allow Gemtel and Vivacell to operate in the North as well.

The border that separates North Sudan from the South has great bearing on the implementation of most protocols, including the share of oil revenue from the South and the establishment of political constituencies along the border line.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation Africa e-Gov Forum 2009 in Kigali, Rwanda, Maj-Gen Chuang said the biggest challenge of the two telecoms operating in isolation was that the South has not yet acquired its own international gateway for the telecoms.

“These two operators were already functional even before the peace agreement. They were not recognised since we were being referred to as rebels. Even after we signed the establishment of GoSS, the regulator does not allow them to operate in the North,” he said.

Sudan has four national telecom operators — Kuwait-based Zain, the South African subsidiary MTN, Sudatel and Carna Telecom. It also has two others which are exclusively for the South — Gemtel Mobile Network and the Lebanese-owned Vivacell.

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By Luke Kuth Dak

March 25, 2009 — It’s quite clear that after almost four years in full control of everything and anything in South Sudan, that the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement and it’s executive branch, the government of South Sudan (GOSS) and the South Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) have not lived up to the great expectations of the citizens of the South. Instead, they offered them great disappointments one after another, in a manner that suggests some serious lack of leadership and co-ordination, at best.

Four years in power are too long a time for any government not accomplishes its agenda. It’s also quite a grace period to realize where things have gone wrong, and what could have been done to amend what needed to be amended. Today, President Barrack Obama, of the United States of America, would only dream to have had such an extended grace period, to implement his agenda. But, only a month in the Oval Office, he has already been grilled for what his critics called “ His failure to fulfill the campaign promises.” So what excuse do the three branches of government in South Sudan have, in not delivering what they have promised the Southern Sudanese with when they took over power, almost four long years ago?

That lamentable situation can’t and shouldn’t continue any longer, if this government ought to be taken seriously. It’s that time to veer away from empty promises and begins governing and addressing the dire security situation, corruption, poverty and more that are engulfing the region. No government should have the legitimacy of existence if it fails to meet the needs- not wants- of the citizens that it claims to have fought for. Certainly, the peoples’ patience and confidence in the government’s ability to lift them up, are thinning by the day, and rightfully so.

Meanwhile, under the watchful eyes of (SPLM) and with the help of some of Southern wickets, the so-called Islamic National Front, the party of embattled indicted President Omar al-Bashir, continues to play the divide, rule and conquer policies, all across the South. They are putting arms and weaponry in the hands of some tribes, not to mention the Ugandan rebels, the Lord Resistance Army (LRA), in order not only to destabilize the region, but also to show the entire world, by example, that, Southern Sudanese can’t possibly govern themselves! Unfortunately, all that is taking place while the (SPLM), (GOSS) and the (SSLA) are busy trying to defend and shield the war criminal Omar al-Bashir from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

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March 22, 2009 (PARIS) — The joint chief mediator for Darfur peace talks expressed his regret for the expulsion of foreign aid workers from Sudan and urged the Sudanese government to repatriate the internally displaced persons to their villages and homelands.

"The Sudanese government decision to expel more than 13 non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian assistance to the IDPs would make difficult the current situation there, and we regret that" Djibril Bassolé told Sudan Tribune.

In a gesture of defiance, the Sudanese government hours after an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 4, ordered out some 16 aid groups aiding some 2.7 million people in strife-torn Darfur.

Khartoum since rejected all the appeals to reverse its decision accusing the NGOs of cooperating with the ICC. Further, the Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir spoke last week about the sudanization of the humanitarian activities and the departure of all foreign groups by the end of the year.

Most UN Security Council (UNSC) members criticized the move by Sudan during a briefing by Rashid Kalikow, Director of the New York section of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in which he called on Khartoum to honor its agreements and its own laws.

The rebel Justice and Equality Movement which signed a goodwill agreement with Khartoum, suspended its participation in a peace process launched last February by the Joint mediator and the Qatari government in Doha.

The chief mediator who was on his way to New York to brief the UN Security Council next week on the peace process told Sudan Tribune in Paris that "maintaining the displaced population in the camps under these conditions it not the best solution."

Bassolé further appealed to the Sudanese government to work swiftly for the return of the IDPs in their homeland and pay individual compensation for them. He underscored that all the parties of the conflict agree on this point.

"We have to go very fast in this matter because all the stakeholders agree on this humanitarian issue. The government has to pay the individual compensations for the IDPs and encourage their return in the honor and in good conditions," he said.

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By early afternoon, the scorching African sun is at its hottest, making the ill-equipped health clinic in the rural village of Gordhim in southern Sudan even more uncomfortable. There have been marginal developments in the area since the civil war between the north and south ended in 2005, though health care remains largely inadequate.

Waiting patiently outside the doctor's office, roughly 40 people sit in the shade produced by the building; many had walked hours just to be there. Inside the clinic, Wanda Laszczyk -- the community's only doctor -- asks a young mother what is wrong with her baby. Her question is then translated into Dinka, the native tongue in Sudan's south.

Laszczyk is from Poland, but works with a German agency.

After examining the young child, Wanda turns and says, "The diagnosis is malaria and bronchitis," seemingly two of the most common illnesses in this area. I write the diagnosis and prescription in the patient's personal medical book. The mother is then instructed on how many times per day she is to medicate the child.

Prior to our three-week journey, the non-government organization we are traveling with, Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan (CASS), coordinated its efforts with Health Partners International Canada (HPIC) to personally carry in more $50,000 worth of medicine and essential supplies specifically targeted to the region. I am told that

HPIC will not ship supplies as unattended regular cargo because of the strong likelihood it will go missing along the way.

Just as we were finishing up with one patient, a woman and a soldier suddenly burst into the doctor's office. The woman looks to be in excruciating pain and the soldier's sweat-and dirt-covered face is clearly distraught. She is pregnant and is in the early stages of labour. The mood in the office quickly shifts as Wanda is forced to tell them the bad news.

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March 15, 2009 (BOR) – Heavy clashes reported last week between Lou Nuer and Murle communities in rural Jonglei state have resulted in hundreds of casualties but local authorities in Bor Town have declined to comment.

According to Reuters news agency, the commissioner of Pibor County, Akot M. Adikiu, believes that about 453 people have been killed, based on the 200 bodies he had seen and information from chiefs and members from villages. "Many of the deaths are women and children."

Dinka Bor, Nuer, Jieng, Anyuak, Kachipo and Murle communities in Jonglei State are pastoralists. The communities, many of which are heavily armed, raid each other for cattle, which form an important part of the region’s society and economy. Thousands have been killed in South Sudanese villages yearly despite the country’s north-south peace accord reached in Kenya on January 9, 2005.

But the recent clashes between Lou Nuer and Murle are heavier than usual. Authorities of Jonglei State reported the clashes last Tuesday. That day, Jonglei Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk briefed the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit on the clashes.

But Adikiu said that attacks began March 5, struck at least 17 villages controlled by the Murle tribe, and lasted until March 13.

The governor said the attack by the Lou-Nuer clan against the Murle tribe was in retaliation to previous attacks against the community by the heavily armed Murle community since January this year. He related that Lou-Nuer fighters had captured the Murle town of Kwangala — the second largest of the Murle community’s administrative headquarters after Pibor town.

Thousands are said to be fleeing the attacks.

KAMPALA, March 12 (Reuters) - South Sudan's and Uganda's leaders said on Thursday any deferral of the arrest warrant for Sudan's leader should depend on whether Khartoum implements shaky peace deals.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an indictment this month against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes in the Darfur region where, experts say, fighting has killed at least 200,000 people since 2003.

Some analysts fear the indictment could further undermine fragile peace deals in the country's north-south conflict, and further escalate violence in Darfur in the west.

On Tuesday, Sudan said it was looking at how to get the arrest warrant suspended or quashed. [nLA931822]

"(Deferment) would have to be tied to the performance of the peace processes in southern Sudan, in Darfur and (in other parts of Sudan)," Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told reporters.

When asked to comment on Museveni's statement, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir said: "I don't see any better option."

South Sudanese forces have in the past accused Khartoum of failing to implement parts of a 2005 truce that ended two decades of civil war between the north and south of Africa's biggest country.

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By HENRY OWUOR in KHARTOUM, Sunday

Posted Sunday, March 8 2009 at 18:11

Southern Sudan parties on Sunday staged a rally in Khartoum in support of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir following a warrant issued for his arrest by the Hague-based International Criminal Court.

Sunday’s rally was the second public appearance by President Bashir since the ruling by the court on Wednesday.

This time, it was a new ball game as the President was first  presented with Southern Sudan regalia among them a special monkey skin cap, leopard skin jacket and a spear before the Southerners, among them Dr Lam Akol, a former Foreign minister presented their case why they oppose the court’s plea.

Speaking in Arabic, Dr Akol said the ICC is a voluntary court and is not one of the organs of the UN and many nations, among them the US, Russia and Israel, are not members.

He said: “If the ICC is really a court of law, then all should be treated equally before it. It is just a political tool by those who would like to effect a political change in Sudan and we, as SPLM, since we are part of the government of national unity, why would we want a regime change?’’

Dr Akol, who is member of the Sudan’s national Parliament, said chances President Bashir would be arrested were nil as the court has no powers to arrest anyone.

But for the second time, the President of the Southern Sudan government, Mr Salva Kiir, who is also First Vice-President in the national government, was missing at a rally on the warrant.

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March 2, 2009 (JUBA) — The SPLA issued a statement dismissing the army’s implicit claim that recent fighting in Malakal had been between Dinka and Nuer ethnicities, saying that the Sudan Armed Forces’ (SAF) denial of involvement was “blatantly misleading and untrue.” In order to avoid more clashes, the SPLA recommended withdrawing the current forces composing the Joint Integrated Unites and replacing them with fresh components.

The clashes occurred last Tuesday between the SPLA and forces of a former militia leader and current army commander, colloquially known as Gabriel Tang-Ginye (also Tangingyang; his real name is Gatwich Chan). According to SPLA, the fighting resulted into the death of 57 people, more than 90 others seriously injured. SAF lost 16 soldiers while 33 others sustained injuries, the SPLA lost 15 and 40 were wounded, while the number of civilian casualties was reported to be 26 dead and 21 others injured.

Written on Saturday from the SPLA General Headquarters by Col. Malaak Ayuen Ajok, the Director of Information and Civil-Military Relations, the statement dismissed Tang’s explanation made at a press conference in Khartoum: “the allusion that what happened on February 23rd in Malakal was a mere feud between the Nuer and Dinka carries no merit. The SPLA forces that fought Tanginyang and SAF are drawn from all ethnicities of Southern Sudan. In fact the top SPLA commanding officers during the crossfire were Major-General Peter Gatdet, Major-General Yuanis Yual, Major-General Both Teny and Col. James Kuac, all of who are Nuer by tribe.”

Moreover, the spokesperson argued that a small tribal group could not have been in possession of artilleries and tanks, which were used during the fighting last week. “Therefore, SAF aided this criminal with manpower and supplied him with weapons and ammunitions,” he concluded.

The statement went on to recommend several concrete measures for defusing tensions. The four measures are:

First, “the Joint Defense Board and the Presidency must expeditiously resolve the complete integration of JIU as stipulated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”

Second, “Fugitive Gabriel Tanginyang must be arrested and handed over to the Government of Southern Sudan to face justice and account for his involvement in the two incidences that occurred in 2006 and 2009.”

Third, “The JIU forces from both sides must be transferred from Malakal and replaced with fresh components in order to create a conducive working atmosphere.”

Fourth, “Although the SPLA has lost faith in investigations, since the recommendations of the first investigation of the first Malakal incident were not implemented, fresh investigations into the incident must be launched provided that the parties commit themselves to respect and implement the recommendations that will be drawn by the investigation committee.”

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MEROWE, Sudan (AFP) — Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir said on Tuesday he regarded any decision by the International Criminal Court on whether to seek his arrest for alleged Darfur war crimes would be worthless.

"Any decision by the International Criminal Court has no value for us," Beshir said ahead of a decision expected by the ICC on Wednesday on whether to issue an arrest warrant against him.

"It will not be worth the ink it is written on," Beshir said at the inauguration of a massive Chinese-engineered dam on the Nile north of Khartoum.

ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in July called for his arrest on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur, scene of a six-year conflict that has cost several hundred thousand lives.

"The Western world is targeting Sudan in order to stop... its development projects but we don't absolutely care," Beshir said. "We will respond to all these decision with new development projects."

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By Philip Thon Aleu

February 24, 2009 (BOR TOWN) — A veterinary clinic built by India battalion, Sector three of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has been inaugurated in Bor County on Tuesday February 24.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Jonglei Minister for Agriculture Biar Deng Biar hailed the UNMIS for the provided assistance which could be an encouragement to the ministry as well.

"This is a very big occasion and it will encourage the ministry of animals’ resource to do more," the minister further said.

UNMIS veterinary head Doctor Ajah Kumar of Sector three, under Col. Sameer Bhaduria based in Malakal, told reporters after the ceremony that India herbs-made drugs have been availed to deal with common diseases his team couldn’t managed perfectly last year.

"We could not control East Cost Fever 100% last time because we had no specific drugs," he said adding that curative medicines are now in stock to halt the tick caused animals’ illness.

In December 2008, India veterinary doctors carried a four-day animal treatment in Bor Town where up to 4,000 cattle were either vaccinated or sprayed. Cattle are core of Jonglei communities’ economy including exchange for dowry alongside being highly consumed by children.

The animals also play a vital role in sparking inter-tribal clashes as young men struggle to claim wealth sovereignty in tribal linearity. Bor County leader Mabior, whose locals are prime beneficiaries appreciated the UNMIS efforts and pledged for excellent relationship saying "we shall continue with you in a better manner."

The single roomed clinic will ease India veterinary officer Nayan Jyoti’s team in Bor work including continuous treatment, Ajay Kumar says. A six days campaign for cattle treatment is scheduled for next Monday, the UNMIS officers also revealed today.

Over 15,000 people have sought safety in the Zam Zam camp in North Darfur after fleeing the latest outburst of violence in the South Darfur region of Sudan, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today.

OCHA is concerned that with more people arriving each day, the large influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is putting a strain on the provision of water to camp residents.

The fighting which broke out last month around Muhajeria and Shearia in South Darfur between Government troops and other armed groups against the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) exposed tens of thousands of civilians to violence.

Earlier this month, the two sides signed an agreement of "goodwill and confidence-building," which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed as a "constructive step" in the ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful conclusion to their conflict.

Meanwhile, the joint African Union-UN peacekeeping mission to Darfur, known as UNAMID, reported that an additional 150 Senegalese peacekeepers arrived today in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur and the mission's headquarters, bringing the total to 834 in the Senegalese infantry battalion.

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by Faisal Baatout Faisal Baatout – Mon Feb 16, 4:06 pm ET

DOHA (AFP) – Sudan and Darfur's most active rebel group the Justice and Equality Movement have agreed to sign a declaration of good intentions on Tuesday, mediator Qatar said on Monday.

The announcement by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani came after the Khartoum government and the JEM group agreed on an exchange of prisoners.

"There has been great progress... and we now have an agreement that may be signed," Sheikh Hamad told reporters. Qatar has been mediating peace talks between the Sudanese government and the JEM since last Tuesday.

"The content of the agreement, which will be signed tomorrow (Tuesday), has the agreement of all parties," the premier added in reference to all sponsors of the Doha talks.

Qatar, the United Nations, African Union and Arab League have all sponsored the negotiations, stressing that the Doha talks are preliminary and intended to pave the way for a broader peace conference on Darfur.

The most heavily armed of the Darfur rebel groups, the JEM boycotted a largely abortive peace deal signed by one other faction in 2006. In May last year, it launched an unprecedented assault on the Sudanese capital.

"We hope to launch negotiations in two weeks on, among other things, a ceasefire and issues related to the exchange of prisoners," said Sheikh Hamad, who is also Qatar's foreign minister.

Sudanese officials and the rebels said earlier on Monday they had agreed on the prisoner swap.

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By Philip Thon Aleu

February 16, 2009 (BOR TOWN) – In what appears as a mutual benefit, traders in Jonglei capital fear that re-stocking shops in the next few days will be impossible since government staffs are not paid January, 2009 salary.

A section of traders who co-operate with the Sudan Tribune to analyze the likely effects of delayed payment of salaries to government staffs says daily profits have been significantly lowered and importing items is becoming a threat. Others however, say the salary delay affect traders dependently on items sold.

Government employees in Jonglei State have not received January, 2009 salary as the semi-autonomous South Sudan, which depends on oil revenue struggles amid declining oil prices. However, it is not clearly or officially announced whether delay to pay salary is attached to diminishing international oil price.

Alier Makuei, a trader dealing in soft drinks at Marol market told the Sudan Tribune on Monday that government staffs own him up to 2000 Sudanese Pounds (SDG) but market is not flowing as usual for him to cater for his supplier’s minimum requirements.

"I never had any customer since morning. The situation is not good," Alier said. He observed that opportunity cost is taking greater effects. Traders dealing in food items including flour, bean, vegetables and others are less likely sufferers of delayed payment. "If an employee has 100SDG, he prefers buying food items for his family but not soda, or milk," Makuei noted. Traders owning bars say

Emma Ssegrewa, a Ugandan dealing in vegetables says his business is running smoothly. He attributes his unaltered profits in government employees’ hard times to the strategic location of his canteen and what he calls "basic goods" he is selling.

In a strange revelation, Hussein Ibrahims, a Kenyan, says his cement; flour and bean bags are being brought as normal. "To me, nothing has changed since January. My profit is the same," he said.

Government employees who spoke to the Sudan Tribune say the situation is not good for their families.

By John Agou Wuoi

February 11, 2009 (JUBA) — The Under Secretary at the GOSS Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has called on the Government of Southern Sudan to enhance good relationship between the media and the government to ensure free and fair general elections scheduled to take place this year all over Sudan.

Speaking at a 5-day voter education training workshop in Juba on Wednesday, Dr. Julia Duany said the media still faces many restrictions and censorship especially in northern Sudan that may prevent the media from properly monitoring elections in Sudan.

Dr. Duany also cited incidences where the Government of Southern Sudan has arrested journalists but was quick to add the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is working on a media bill that will guarantee the freedom of the media in Southern Sudan.

She added the GOSS Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has formed Election Monitoring Task Force that is charged with providing what she called “accurate and credible” information to the public about the upcoming elections.

Dr. Duany said GOSS is “considering funding other political parties in Southern Sudan”, but said that it is not clear how and when such funding will be done. She also urged Sudanese to vote for political leaders and parties that will properly manage resources for development in Sudan.

“Do not allow yourself to be influenced. The politicians will promise you heavy on earth but most of them will not deliver. Remember that your vote is your future, it is your money, so vote wisely”, she said.

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by Faisal Baatout Faisal Baatout – Wed Feb 11, 4:56 pm ET

DOHA (AFP) – The chief of a Darfur rebel group and a senior Sudanese government official held "positive" talks in the Qatari capital on Wednesday, representatives of both camps said.

Leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Khalil Ibrahim and the head of the government delegation, presidential aide Nafie Ali Nafie, had their first direct talks in Doha, the representatives said.

"The atmosphere during the meeting was positive and promising," said JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam at the end of the talks, which focused on a study of a document prepared by mediators.

"Khalil Ibrahim confirmed the willingness of the movement to reach a political solution based on the principle of a united Sudan as well as structural changes to find a solution to the roots of the conflict," Adam said.

The discussions will continue on Thursday when the JEM will present its "visions and comments" on the document, he added.

A member of the government delegation, Yasser Arman, said they had emerged "optimistic" from Wednesday's "positive" discussions.

The meeting follows initial contacts between lower-level delegates in Doha on Tuesday which marked the first peace contacts between the two sides since 2007.

JEM representative Jibril Ibrahim -- Khalil's brother -- had on Tuesday warned the new contacts could only pave the way for substantive peace negotiations if the government was prepared to accept the winding up of allied Arab militias in Darfur and allow high-level rebel representation in the central government.

He said confidence-building measures should include the release of JEM prisoners and the expansion of aid deliveries to rebel-held areas.

The rebel group, he added, expected to "retain its fighters during a transition period ahead of a final peace deal which would provide for their integration in the regular army."

Earlier Wednesday, the JEM accused Sudan of lacking seriousness in the peace talks, citing what it said were troop movements towards its positions.

"We were told this morning by mediators about Sudanese troop movements no more than three kilometres (less than two miles) from our positions," spokesman Adam told AFP.

"This is yet more proof of the government's lack of seriousness and the fact that it does not feel engaged by the peace process."

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February 7, 2009 (CAIRO) — The Egyptian government announced today that it will dispatch its foreign minister and intelligence director for talks with Sudanese officials.

File photo showing Israeli former Meretz chairman Yossi Beilin, right, listens to Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Soliman, left, and Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Abu el-Gheit, center (AP)

The announcement came as International Criminal Court (ICC) judges are expected to release a decision as early as next week in which they agree to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency (MENA) quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Hussam Zaki as saying that foreign minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and intelligence Chief Omer Suleiman will arrive in Sudan in the coming days.

“The visit comes is in the framework of continuous consultations between Egypt and Sudan on different levels in light of the general situation in the Arab world as well as developments in Sudan” Zaki said.

Relations between Cairo and Khartoum have been strained after Al-Bashir attended an emergency Arab summit hosted by Qatar to discuss the Israeli assault on Gaza strip.

The summit was boycotted Arab heavyweights including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority headed by Mahmoud Abbas.

Egypt views the summit as a gathering of more radical voices working counter to its efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas movement which is in control of the Gaza strip.

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February 8, 2009 (JUBA) – During a meeting of the Tripartite Commission on repatriation and reintegration of Sudanese refugees from Kenya, UNHCR marked the 300,000th homecoming to South Sudan.

The 300,000th returnee entered Sudan from Uganda through Nimule in Central Equatoria on February 7, stated Kazuhiko Shimizu, an UNHCR official based in Juba.

UNHCR has had a role in helping roughly half of the 300,000 registered refugees who have returned to Southern Sudan and Blue Nile State. In 2008 UNHCR assisted over 60,000 Sudanese refugees to return home. The planning figure for repatriation from all countries of asylum in 2009 has been set at 54,000.

Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) on January 9, 2005, marking the end of more than two decades of civil war, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees returned home.

The landmark figure was announced during a meeting in Juba of the Tripartite Commission for Sudanese refugees in Kenya, which was established by an agreement signed by Sudan, UNHCR and Kenya in January 2006. This commission is is charged with coordinating and planning the repatriation and reintegration activities and giving guidance on refugee returns.

The meeting was attended by the delegation of the Government of Sudan headed by Mohammed Al-Aghbash, the delegation of the Government of Kenya headed by Peter Kusimba, and the delegation of UNHCR headed by Noriko Yoshida.

Participants issued a joint communiqué lauding the government and people of Kenya for providing asylum to more than 80,000 Sudanese refugees over the past 18 years. An estimated 23,000 Sudanese refugees remain in Kenya, mostly in Kakuma camp.

Reviewing the current situation, the commission agreed to set the target return figure from Kenya for 2009 at 5,000.

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KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Mediators tried on Monday to avert a Sudanese attack on a rebel-held town in Darfur after the army asked peacekeepers to leave ahead of an assault, the international force said.

A spokesman for the U.N./African Union force said the peacekeepers were still in Muhajiriya and were concerned about the 30,000 civilians there.

U.N. officials said it was the first time Sudan had asked peacekeepers to withdraw from a town in Darfur.

The UNAMID mission is undermanned and under equipped while tension is escalating in Darfur ahead of an expected decision by International Criminal Court judges on whether to indict Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes.

UNAMID spokesman Nourredine Mezni said the U.N./AU representative in Darfur, Rodolphe Adada, planned to meet officials in Khartoum on Monday to try to negotiate an end to the crisis over the south Darfur town.

U.N.-AU mediator Djbril Bassole planned to fly to neighbouring Chad to meet leaders of the Justice and Equality Movement rebels, he said.

In Ethiopia for an African Union summit, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Sudan and rebel groups to stop all violence that threaten the peace process and civilians.

"I have called on the authorities of Sudan to use maximum restraint in this regard," he said.

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February 1, 2009 (NYALA) — Sudan today ordered UNAMID peacekeepers out of a town in South Darfur as mechanized forces advanced on the town from three directions, rebels and activists said.

Fighters from the JEM ride in the back of a vehicle through the bush (file Photo Reuters) Sudan’s forces intend to take the town, Muhageriya, from the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), which seized the area on January 15 from a group allied to the government, led by Minni Minawi. The town and the immediate vicinity have an estimated population of 30,000 to 40,000.

Muhageriya had been since 2005 under the control of Minni Minawi’s troops but the Sudanese army is keen to take it from JEM due to the strategic position of the town, which is at the juncture of the road to the oil installation in Southern Kordofan and the capitals of three Darfur states.

"The Sudanese army is moving tanks to Muhageriya; this move indicates that they are intending to bomb the town. This intention is confirmed by the demand of UNAMID pullout," said a rebel spokesman, JEM Legislative Council Speaker Tahir Al-Faki.

UNAMID, the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission, bases some 190 personnel in Muhageriya. The peacekeepers said that thousands of civilians gathered around their base after warplanes attacked the town last week and government soldiers and allied Janjaweed militia made a failed attack Thursday.

PEACEKEEPERS WITHDRAWING

Sudan today demanded that UNAMID forces withdraw from Muhageriya, according to multiple sources.

Reports indicate that the peacekeepers intend to comply, but spokeswoman Josephine Guerrero told AFP, "This decision is not final because there are still discussions underway." On the contrary, a rebel statement noted, "Khartoum’s contemptuous ultimatum to UNAMID seems to be final and not subject to negotiation. Government forces are already advancing towards Muhajaria from three fronts, giving little time to UNAMID to react."

The anti-genocide organization Aegis Trust, citing anonymous sources in Muhageria, reported that the UN-African Union troops "have agreed to leave and are now attempting to proceed with their evacuation, although they are hampered by a shortage of vehicles and by Government bombing in the area. A major Government attack on the town is expected soon.”

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GENEVA (AP) â?? Sudanese government forces arbitrarily shot into a crowd of Darfur civilians last year, killing dozens, the U.N. human rights office said Friday.

Some 33 people died and 108 were wounded in the Aug. 25 incident when members of the police, army and other security forces opened fire inside the Kalma camp in south Darfur.

"Security forces failed to abide by international law principles of proportionality and of necessity," the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a 12-page report.

"Witness testimonies confirmed that security forces shot arbitrarily at a large crowd of IDPs (internally displaced persons) including women and children," it added.

Ali Sadiq, a Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman, dismissed the U.N. report, saying government forces were met with fire when they stormed the camp in an attempt to execute a search warrant.

"Kalma was hosting anti-government rebels and is a place for the accumulation of weapons, robbers, and outlaws," he said.

U.N. investigators determined that although some inhabitants of the camp tried to prevent the security forces from entering, there was no evidence to support the government's claim that gunmen inside the camp shot at security forces.

"It did not appear that the crowd posed any imminent threat to the security forces before they opened fire on the crowd," the report said.

Among those killed were nine children and a 75-year-old woman who drowned in a pool of water as she attempted to flee, the report said.

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By Daniel Van Oudenaren

January 22, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – Activist groups in the United States are lobbying to get President Obama to increase pressure on the Sudanese government, which they say is responsible for committing genocide in Sudan’s westernmost region of Darfur.

Internally displaced women carry firewood to Kalma Camp, near Nyala in Darfur in this handout photograph released by MSF, April 3, 2008 (Reuters) Three leaders of the activist movement sent a joint letter to the president Thursday, pressing him to use force to ban offensive military flights in Darfur, facilitate deployment of the UNAMID peacekeeping operation, expand the arms embargo against Sudan, enhance “multilateral, non-military coercion” and continue supporting the International Criminal Court investigation.

The letter was sponsored by ENOUGH, Genocide Intervention Network and Save Darfur. In an attempted demonstration of grassroots strength, ENOUGH delivered a petition Wednesday to Obama containing 39,900 signatures asking for immediate action to halt widespread sexual violence against women and girls in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. ENOUGH focuses on conflict zones in Sudan, eastern DR Congo, Chad, northern Uganda, Somalia and Zimbabwe.

In their letter on Sudan, one of a series, the activists urged Obama to be alert to what the Sudanese regime could do in response to the anticipated International Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir, which some have said could bring added chaos or reprisals in the Sudan. “President Obama’s response must be firm in addressing this immediate threat, but should not lose sight of the larger strategic goals that ought to be at the center of a new administration’s policy: an unyielding focus on brokering a peace deal for Darfur and the implementation of the existing Comprehensive Peace Agreement, or CPA, the 2005 agreement to end the 22-year war between northern and southern Sudan,” said authors John Prendergast, John Norris, and Jerry Fowler, who are leaders in the activist groups.

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January 18, 2008 — It is high time that the United States of America (U.S.A) together with other interested international partners should take tough steps for drafting a resolution at U.N to impose a no-fly zone and target the Sudanese military Air Force that continues to defy United Nations ban on offensive military actions in Darfur. Given the relatively high oil revenue in Sudan, it is equally important for the international community to consider forcing the Government of Sudan to shoulder cost of feeding Darfur IDPs and Refugees within a programme of an internationally monitored oil for food programme.

On Independence Day, 1st January 09, twelve newly purchased MIG-29, 4 Sukhoi Su-25s (known as Frog-foot) fighter planes were unveiled in a public parade in Khartoum. The planes were later seen in action bombing civilians in all three States in Darfur. At the Independence day celebrations, the fighter planes were displayed together with scores of tanks, anti-aircraft guns, Iranian multi-barrelled rocket launchers and armoured personnel carriers, apparently to remind ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo of what Al-Bashir could do if the arrest warrant against him is issued. And in a rare show of defiance, the regime in Khartoum blatantly announced, on 14th Jan 2009, that it carried out offensive attacks in Southern Darfur against the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

According to U.S based ‘Human Rights First’ campaign group, Iran and Russia have joined China and Pakistan and nine other countries to become direct weapon suppliers to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Their action is in direct defiance of U.N resolutions and arms embargo, imposed in 2004.

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By James Gatdet Dak

January 19, 2009 (JUBA) - Demolition of squatters targeting a number of residential areas in the Southern Sudan’s capital, Juba, will begin before the end of this month, a senior official said today.

The Central Equatoria state governor, Maj. Gen. Clement Wani Konga has announced that the demolition exercise was aimed at immediate recovery of grabbed land by unauthorized squatters, saying it was in accordance with the town’s Master Plan.

This phase of demolition exercise will target the residential areas of ‘Juba Na-Bari’, which is popularly known as ‘Tongpiny’ located north of the town, ‘Mere Lotor’, also popularly known as ‘Jebel Dinka’, west of the town and squatters surrounding the Mouseleum of late Dr. John Garang as well as some petrol stations placed in residential areas.

The supervision of the bulldozing exercise will involve the Survey Department and several organized forces that will include Joint Integrated Units (JIUs), Military Police and some Legal Advisors.

The demolition of the squatters in Juba, which also serves as the capital of Central Equatoria state government, is expected to affect thousands of people in the town.

It is not clear how the affected residents will cope up with the situation or whether the government has a plan to relocate them to other new residential areas.

The areas targeted are predominantly occupied by citizens from other states who put up illegally in those areas and could not legally obtain plots because of unsettled misunderstandings over the issues of jurisdictions and land ownership among different levels of government and local communities in Juba.

By Moyiga Nduru

Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- At least 42 people have been killed in Southern Sudan’s Western Equatoria state by rebel Lord’s Resistance Army fighters since Dec. 24, Jemma Nunu Kumba, the state governor, said.

In the latest attack on civilians in the region, two people died in Mundri country, about 175 kilometers (109 miles) west of the Southern Sudanese capital of Juba, Kumba said in an interview yesterday. Eleven people were abducted to be used as porters, she said. The LRA has split into smaller groups since troops from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Southern Sudan began an offensive against the group on Dec. 14.

“The rebels are not targeting the military, they are targeting civilians in Western Equatoria,” Kumba said.

The regional offensive against the LRA began after Joseph Kony, the rebel group’s leader, in November refused to sign a peace agreement with Uganda’s government. The LRA, operating out of bases in southern Sudan, has staged a two-decade insurgency in northern Uganda and Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes. 

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January 11, 2009 (JUBA) – The number of people killed during the tribal clashes in Malkal, southern Sudan, has reached 12 people. Further, several reports warn against the escalation of the fighting.

The fighting between Dinka and Shilluk sparked on the sidelines of the fourth anniversary of Comprehensive Peace Agreement celebration in the capital of Upper Nile state, Malakal on Friday 9 January.

The secretary general of the Fashouda organization that works in the region Carlo James Chol told the Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) that clashes in the Upper Nile city of Malakal are still ongoing.

Chol expressed fear that of a wide scale military confrontation between the two tribes and urged the government to intervene.

The fighting led to the death of twelve people and injured eight others he said but warned the toll figures are likely to be higher due to the fact that hundreds have fled away from the conflict zone besides the missing ones.

In November 2006 clashes occurred between the pro-Khartoum militia and the SPLA killing in Malakal hundreds and injuring many more.

Chol told KUNA that a number of people from the Dinka tribe attempted to take over areas that historically belonging to the Shilluk on the banks of the Nile and Sobat River.

SPLA Spokesman Peter Parnyang told Reuters that traditional dancers from the tribes quarreled on Friday during celebrations to mark the fourth anniversary of Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) — a deal that ended two decades of north-south civil war.

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January 5, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – Sudanese-born musician Eliz Chol Lam reached the White House with a song of thanks when visiting Southern Sudanese dignitaries presented her latest CD album as a gift to outgoing President George W. Bush.

Eliz Chol Lam Lam’s music, sung in her native Nuer language with an upbeat and modern feel, expresses joy and gratitude to the Bush administration for its role in brokering a peace agreement for Sudan in 2005, ending a 22-year civil war.

"Thank you leaders, thank you George Bush, thank you for what you have done for the south Sudanese people," sings Lam in one track. "Now that our flag has arisen, there is really now a government" for South Sudan.

Bush received the CD during the visit of Salva Kiir Mayardit, the president of the autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), who came to thank Bush on the fourth anniversary of the peace agreement and meet with aides of President-elect Barack Obama.

Born in the Upper Nile region on Sudan’s southeastern borderlands, Lam came from a family of singers and trained her young voice in her church choir. But the period of her upbringing was a harsh time for her people, she recalled in an interview. "I did not grow up in Sudan," she said, "because of war my father could find no food, no this, no that, so we moved to Ethiopia for the better conditions."

Her experiences strike a familiar chord with fellow southerners, some four million of whom were displaced during the war. "God help us, we are sick of wandering in the bush," she sings on the track We Thank You, from her 2007 album. "God help give us our country, we are sick of wandering everywhere, there is no place that we have not seen, because we don’t have a government."

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By Philip Thon Aleu

January 5, 2009 (BOR TOWN) — Southern Sudanese living in the United States of America – popularly known as the Lost Boys of the Sudan, honored the Governor of Jonglei State, Kuol Manyang Juuk, for his decision to send them to schools in 1980s.

Governor of Jonglei State, Kuol Manyang Juuk (Photo Ph. T. Aleu) Gov. Kuol Manyang hailed the group too for completing the mission and honoring him. "I am proud and thankful to our young people who are in America," he told reporters witnessing the ceremony at his office here on Monday.

The certificate of achievements was handed over by Wel Mayom Jok – a lost boy on family’s visit from North Carolina (NC). Jok said the decision to honor Manyang is expression of gratitude and change in behaviors. "Those days, people use not to say ’thank you’ but this is the only thing we can do to this man (Gov. Kuol)," he said.

Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk, a native of Bor, used his authority and influence in Bor community in 1987 to send thousands of children to Ethiopia to attain basic education. The children doubled as soldiers known as ’Jec Amer (Red Army)’ and school pupils in Panyuduk before being displaced back to Southern Sudan and further to Kenya following the overthrow of Mengistu’s regime in Ethiopia early in 1990s. While in Kakuma refugee camp, the young men – now relieved from burden of serving as child soldiers, remained in groups known as ’minors.’

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December 14, 2008 (JUBA) — The Ministry of Regional Cooperation of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) refuted a corruption allegation stemming from a purported news outlet called IRS and circulating over the internet.

According to a message from IRS received by Sudan Tribune, dated December 5, Stephen Madut Baak, identified as an advisor to President of GOSS Salva Kiir Mayardit, entered London’s Heathrow airport with $3 million in undeclared cash and was subsequently questioned by police.

The article implied that Baak had stolen the money from his country.

But the Ministry of Regional Cooperation explained Friday that Baak was indeed carrying money into the United Kingdom, though considerably less than $3 million.

GOSS indicated that Baak was advanced the amount of $137,000 for him and his three staff in order to establish a GOSS office and purchase a vehicle in London.

"Comrade Stephen Madut Baak was also given assistance by GOSS and took loans against his monthly pay LS 200,000.00 (two hundred thousand sterling pounds only) to settle his family and resolve some of his personal problems," said the GOSS ministry, alluding also to his health problems.

As it was pointed out by some commentators, the IRS article plagiarized phrasing directly from unrelated articles written years ago at The Independent and other news outlets. There likely is no news organization called IRS.

These facts indicate that someone with specific information about Stephen Madut Bak’s activities fabricated the news article by mixing general truths with misinformation.

"It is a living historical fact that Comrade Baak is a very senior person in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), who served the movement in various capacities with dedication and diligence," said the GOSS statement from Juba.

The statement also acknowledged, "Given his health problems, he will serve from the GOSS Liaison office in London due for official opening in the early FY 2009."

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December 14, 2008 (KAMPALA) — Troops from Southern Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, launched a joint military operation Sunday morning against the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army base (LRA) in eastern DR Congo, a joint statement said.

LRA soldiers keep guard at the assembly point in Ri-Kwangba on the Sudan-Congo border, Western Equatoria, April 10, 2008. (Reuters) The statement was signed by the three chiefs of military intelligence; Brig. James Mugira (UPDF), Brig. Mutual Majok (SPLA) and Brig. Deodenne Kitenge (FARDC).

The Ugandan President urged military action against the rebel leader Joseph Kony after the later rejection to a two year negotiated peace agreement that southern Sudan government had mediated. But last week he pledged to not attack the LRA after a meeting with the top negotiator of the rebel group.

The three armies launched an attack on the LRA camp in Garamba forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The joint force "successfully attacked the main body and destroyed the main camp of Kony code-named camp Swahili, setting it on fire," the statement said.

There no further details about the attack or the fate of Joseph Kony who refused three times since last April to sign the final peace agreement with the Ugandan government.

The elusive rebel leader asked to defer an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court despite the reassurances by Kampala that if he signs they would not hand him over to The Hague and they would seek a UN resolution to block the ICC jurisdiction.

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By Jack Kimball

KAMPALA - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has urged fugitive rebel Joseph Kony to sign a final peace deal, saying the Lord's Resistance Army boss has been told all about plans to lift an international arrest warrant against him.

Kony has demanded International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments for him and his top deputies be scrapped before they quit forest hideouts in northeastern Congo and end two decades of conflict that have destabilised a swathe of central Africa.

"President Yoweri Museveni has urged ... Kony to come out and sign the peace accord," Museveni's office said in a statement late on Monday.

"The President noted that Kony has had enough time and brief on the ICC process as displayed in the draft peace agreement."

Uganda's government has pledged to ask the U.N. Security Council to suspend the ICC warrants after Kony lays down his arms. But the self-proclaimed prophet remains suspicious.

He is wanted by prosecutors in The Hague for his role in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people, driven two million more from their homes and destabilised neighbouring parts of volatile eastern Congo and oil-producing south Sudan.

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By Isaac Vuni

December 8, 2008 (JUBA) — As southern Sudanese celebrates Eid al Adha, feast of sacrifices and Catholic diocese of Eastern Equatoria marks silver jubilee of its existence today, the Council of ministers approved for salary reduction of ten per cent on constitutional post holders starting from January 2009, official spokesman Gabriel Changson Chang has said.

Southern Sudan prresident Salva Kiir is chairing GOSS council of ministers meeting (Photo file, by T. Kennedy) Minister Chang said the decision was taken on order to remedy GOSS from Global Economic crisis where oil price felt to $50 per barrel. Adding that those affected ranges from South Sudan, states, independent commissions, commissioners, speakers, deputy speakers, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons respectively.

Addressing journalists, Minister Gabriel Changson says the precautionary measures are taken in order to avoid the current short fall in oil prices likely to affect coming South Sudan government budget of 2009.

The cabinet also directed minister of finance and Economic planning to prepare 2009 budget based on current oil price so that it does not affect socio-economic development and to compelled ministries, governors and commissioners accountable during implementation faces.

The meeting also resolved to reduce traveling for short courses abroad and directed that government officials living in hotels at expenses of government must stop immediately.

The council further directed ministries of Agriculture and Animal resources to give priority to food security by introducing large scale mechanization faming to boost agricultural production and reduce market prices.

The council also resolved that ministries and commissions are to merging or amalgamated to pave way for a lean size cabinet. While state governors are required to render full report on their developmental activities to council of minister and the extraordinary eight hours meeting was chaired by Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit who also wish every Sudanese a happy Eid al Adha.

By Manyang Mayom

December 1, 2008 (RUMBEK) - Thousands of Lakes state citizens turned out in Rumbek’s Freedom Square to celebrate the World HIV/AIDS day. This is the second year since the establishment of the state AIDS Commission to celebrate the event in Rumbek, although it was already celebrated under the umbrella of the United Nations during the years of peace negotiations.

Gol Meen women group celebrate World AIDs Day in Rumbek Photo by Manyang Mayom (ST) The ceremony was shared by Lakes state Political Affairs Advisor Apollo Madok Chol and Lakes state MPs, as well as folklore teams representing eight counties of Lakes state, members of organized forces and heads of different UN agencies in Rumbek.

According to the director of the HIV/AIDS Commission in Lakes state, Paul Thok Ayok, Lakes state joins in crowning 2008 the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

World AIDs Day began in 1988 when health ministers from around the world met and agreed on the concept of the day as an opportunity for all of us to come together to demonstrate the importance of AIDS and show solidarity for the cause. In 2008, this underlining principle of solidarity and awareness remains the same. Since 1988, the face and response to AIDS has greatly changed, often for the better, but this anniversary offered an opportunity to highlight how much more still needs to be done.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) representative read out the messages of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, saying that "on this world day, let us all pledge to be hope-givers who offer encouragement and take action to create a future without AIDS."

Ban’s message continued, "Recently I read about a Congolese woman living with HIV who received medicine through the United Nations. She is now part of a group called the ’Hope-givers’ team, which helps other families dealing with HIV."

"We have to end the stigma and discrimination that still stop so many people from learning how to prevent HIV and get treatment. And we need resources – enough to provide services that will have a real impact in communities and on entire nations," said Ban’s letter.

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November 23, 2008 (NGERJEBI) — It is hard work coming home when your country was at war for two decades.

Refugees arrive in Juba, in southern Sudan, at a transit facility supported by UN and NGO agencies, December 1, 2005. Homes must be built from scratch, fields for crops cut where the wild and tough bush has grown, and warning signs erected in areas with landmines.

"Lack of food is the biggest problem," said Josephine Mayo, a farmer who returned in January to the southern Sudan village she abandoned in 1998 when two of her children were killed in fighting and the settlement burnt.

Ngerjebi, a small farming community in lush countryside some 30 miles (50 kilometres) from Juba, the capital of semi-autonomous southern Sudan, is typical of many villages across this grossly under-developed region.

Four million people were displaced from or within south Sudan, according to assessments made after the 2005 peace that ended 21 years of civil war by joining the southern rebel leadership with the Arab-led north in government.

The displaced are now coming home.

Around 1.7 million have returned, according to an October report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and life is far from easy.

Many complain of insecurity in a region awash with guns and militia remnants and — three years after the peace deal was signed — an exhausting lack of services despite the south’s sizeable oil revenue.

It’s a situation worrying some deeply.

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November 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM)— Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir should meet with the Chadian president Idriss Deby Itno on the sideline of a UN sponsored summit to be held in Doha, Qatar on November 29.

Chad President Idriss Deby and Sudan’s President Omer al-Beshir shake hands after signing a non-aggression pact in the Senegalese capital on March 14, 2008 in Dakar. (AFP) This meeting would be the first since the two neighbouring countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations and the exchange of ambassadors earlier this month. The two head of states met for the last time on the margins of the Islamic Conference Organisation in Dakar March 2008.

Al-Bashir who is charged of genocide and war crimes in Darfur, will lead Sudanese delegation to the second United Nations Summit on Financing for Development (FfD), and Deby also will head the Chadian delegation.

Mustafa Osman Ismail, a close adviser to the Sudanese president was in Ndjamena on November 11 to discuss normalisation of bilateral ties. Al-Bashir expressed his sincere intention to return bilateral relations to their normal, said Ismail. He further added that Al-Bshir’s message dealt with required steps to achieve normalization.

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November 17, 2008 (MOSCOW) — Sudan is ready to offer Russian companies working in the oil sector and railway construction in Sudan benefits to develop bilateral economic cooperation, a Sudanese official said on Monday.

"Sudan must become the gate for Russia into Africa as a country, which borders nine countries, has a varied climate and ample natural resources," Osman Mudawi, chairman of foreign affairs committee of the Sudanese parliament, said at a meeting with his counterpart Mikhail Margelov in Moscow.

Russia delayed somewhat in the resumption of its presence in Africa and the Middle East, the Sudanese official further said according to the RIA Novosti.

Mudawi further said that Sudan does not see Russia’s economic partner only and, but an ally to security. He pointed out that there are some areas on the African continent in which Russian soldiers take part in peacekeeping operations, including Darfur.

The Russian official, Margelov, stressed that Russia sees that all the problems in Sudan and African countries that suffering from internal conflicts should be solved with the help of the international community but without direct intervention.

November 17, 2008 (JUBA) — A delegation of European diplomats arrived in southern Sudan on Monday, seeking Sudan’s support for a European Union call for a moratorium on the death penalty.

"There is a particular concern which is important for the European Union... which is the issue of the death penalty and the call by the EU on the moratorium on the execution of the death penalty," said French ambassador to Sudan, Christine Robichon.

Robichon spoke on behalf of a nine-member delegation of EU diplomats, including ambassadors from Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and representatives of the 27-nation bloc.

The interim constitution of semi-autonomous southern Sudan upholds the death sentence for those who commit the most serious crimes, and who are aged between 18 and 70, with pregnant women exempt.

In the north, dozens of people were this year sentenced to death by special courts, for alleged involvement in a Darfur rebel attack on Khartoum. Amnesty International says Sudan is one of the leading nations that sentences minors to death.

The three days of scheduled talks mark the first time that such a large group of EU diplomats are holding dialogue in southern Sudan.

"We will discuss different issues, of course, the CPA which is a strongly supported by the EU and all issues related to democratic transformation, human rights, and good governance," Robichon said.

The French ambassador noted a "political will" in the south to create a democratic environment where civilians are protected, freedom of press upheld, and where accountability and transparency prevail.

"So we really have sessions on these issues, on human rights," she said.

By Philip Thon Aleu

November 14, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Facing challenges of increasing water level in the State capital, Jonglei government asks United Nations agencies “to join-up” for common goals, state minister of information and communication says Thursday.

Photo showing flood affected area in Bor town (Photo Ph Thon, ST) Speaking to Sudan tribune at his office in Bor and hours before a meeting scheduled with UN agencies, Taban Jouch describe the flood as a calamity that has sent hundred homeless. “This is a disaster. It has dislodged many people from their residential areas,” the minister stressed.

The flood followed river Nile overflow Sunday night that submerged the most populated town suburbs in Bor Town. Pan de Machuor, Pan-jak and Lek-yak have been critically hit. By Thursday, two lodges — Safari and part of Liberty — and the main park are taken up by water. Many households in Pan-jak have been evacuated.

The level kept increasing in the last three days; downing many huts and clearing hand-made dykes off it route. Analysts say the level could decrease shortly; dismising claims that more people will be displaced. The latest flood in Jonglei capital took many residents and government by surprise.

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By James Gatdet Dak

November 13, 2008 (JUBA) – The semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has formed a Juba-based Board of Directors for the Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nile-pet).

Nile-pet is a newly established oil company owned by the Government of Southern Sudan.

The appointment of the Board of Directors was decreed on Wednesday by the First Vice President of Sudan and GoSS President, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, with effect from November 4, 2008.

“This decree dissolves any existing Board of Directors and nullifies any previous appointments made in relation to the management of the Nile Petroleum Corporation,” the Decree reads.

The Board is mandated to properly manage the oil sector body “so that it can achieve maximum economic benefits for the people of Southern Sudan in the oil Sector.”

The Decree appoints the Minister of Energy and Mining, John Luk Jok, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, with membership of Kuol Athian Mawien, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Anthony Lino Makana, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development, Elijah Malok Aluong, Governor of the Bank of Southern Sudan, Dr. David Nailo Mayo, Chairman of Southern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund, Emmanuel Bol, Secretary General of Southern Sudan Investment Authority, Kuong Daniel Gatluak, Office of GoSS President, and Bol Wek Agoth, Office of GoSS President.

The Decree also states that each of the Oil Producing States in Southern Sudan shall have one representative in the Board. Any other person may also be co-opted by the Board.

Southern Sudan produces most of the Sudan’s oil which pumps half a million barrels per day.

Ninety seven per cent (97%) of its annual budget comes from its 50% share of oil revenue distributed in Khartoum by the Government of National Unity (GoNU) per the provisions of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the 21 years of war in January 2005.

The semi-autonomous region will decide in 2011 referendum vote to either confirm the present unity of Sudan as a country or opt to create an independent nation in its territory.

Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who faces indictment for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), called a unilateral ceasefire in Darfur today.

The decision followed recommendations made by a state-sponsored peace forum that was established by Bashir after the ICC prosecutor called for his arrest in July. But the Justice and Equality Movement, one of the main Darfur rebel groups, immediately dismissed the announcement as a "PR ceasefire".

In a speech in Khartoum today Bashir said that he was launching a campaign to disarm militias and restrict the use of weapons in Darfur - an apparent reference to the notorious Janjaweed and other government-aligned forces.

"I hereby announce our immediate unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and the warring factions, provided that an effective monitoring mechanism is put into action and observed by all involved parties," Bashir said.

Analysts were cautious about the declaration, noting that numerous ceasefire agreements and promises to disarm militias since the start of the conflict in 2003 have failed.

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By Philip Thon Aleu

November 10, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – To serve your Country with commitment and patriotism, keep-off tribal differences and "let’s say: Down tribalism. Down tribalism," Jonglei governor Kuol Manyang argues graduating prison officials on Monday.

Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk, speaking to 198 prison officers and about three (3) thousands spectators at Freedom Square in Jonglei capital Bor, empathizes the need to graduate oriented officers. Director of Prison John Diing Deng says his men will answer the slogan in services.

After months of intensive training at Malou, three miles north of Bor town, the 198 officers including 41 women, took oaths in a colourful ceremony attended by chiefs of various departments and head of organized armed forces. Standing in sun heat for hours, on the other hand, swing the ceremony unpleasantly for six officers who collapsed.

One woman was among those who lost conscious, knocking ground with front head as expected of train-experienced armed forces. They were rushed to a shade for first aid. All were in better conditions by press time and pledged competence — in their filed —unanimously.

Another six prisons won prizes for excellent performances during the training. A discipline ward went to a young man though 25% woman representation took one. Deputy Governor Hussein Mar Nyuot announced two bulls offer as State award to the law enforcing organ.

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November 9, 2008 — Last week election in the United States of American in which Mr. Barrack Obama emerged as the winner after a bruising political competition with his rival from the Republican Party John McCain- that took him exactly 18 months to materialize- brought a momentarily excitement and joy to many Southern Sudanese. The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) party in the Sudan has been quoted as planning to stage a party in celebration for an American elect President Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama. The leaders are making final touches for the occasion that is scheduled to be launched this month in Khartoum. In Juba the leaders whether in parliament or in the executive were seen and heard sending congratulatory messages to the United States of American (USA) President elect and his team for the successful victory against their Republican rival Senator John McCain. The mood looks the same across Africa, especially in East Africa where the Obama senior came from.

There are several factors as to this mood and this is normal. People hug, shed tears and dance spontaneously especially in Kenya. Change though is an abstract in its real term, so many people didn’t buy it but the fact that the unthinkable reality if not notion of black man occupying the Oval House resounds strongly in the minds and understanding of many Black Americans and majority of Africans. Everything there is in place and no one denies those feelings from that democracy in that great part of the world (United States of America). People start to think twice about themselves and the world around them as far as individual achievements are concerned. Everyone hails US stable democracy and its power and system.

Everyone at least I know on the morning of Wednesday was wearing a radiant face of happiness but I kept no secret of my unreserved support for John McCain. The reasons? Senator John had what I need to pull me out of my political quagmire with the North. Does that sound selfish? Not really, the author is after his interest as Southern Sudanese. Senator (then) Obama am afraid is another Clinton in extension. Clever and articulate but calculative and risk shyer. May be am alone; but talking sense alone or lip service doesn’t make sense to me at all. I believe in action; perhaps a leader who would look at my enemy in the eyes could have brought that difference! Under Republicans President then the North started to talk the talk. The North has started to croak defiance now even before President Bush leaves office- read President Al Bashir rally last week in Eastern Sudan.

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November 9, 2008 (JUBA) — The Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Salva Kiir Mayadrit appealed the southern Sudanese political parties to unite and to work together for the interests of southern Sudan.

The Vice president of the republic and the head of southern Sudan government was speaking at the opening session of South-South Forum that would be held in Juba for 4 days.

Kiir urged the eight political parties from southern Sudan to work together and build a government that would serves the interests of the people of the semi-autonomous region

He said the next year general elections should be conducted in a reasonable and honourable manner.

The SPLM leader told eight southern Sudanese parties, that it is important seal a deal with all the political forces in the country on the right of self determination in the south.

The meeting was initially scheduled for 20 October. It will get together during 4 days besides the SPLM all the member of the Alliance of South Sudan Political Parties (ASSPP) which was founded last June in Juba.

November 4, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese official disclosed today that his country is contemplating developing a nuclear power programme for scientific research.

Electricity pylons stand in front of Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant on July 9, 2008 in Grafenrheinfeld near Wuerzburg, Germany (Getty) The Sudanese minister for Science and Technology Ibrahim Ahmed Omer told the official news agency (SUNA) that his government received approval for its plans from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Omer said that IAEA will fund the programme jointly with the Sudanese government. However he did not say if a formal agreement has been signed.

The Sudanese official noted that the world is moving towards using peaceful use of nuclear energy to produce electricity.

He further said that despite Sudan’s diverse energy sources its devising plans for any future needs to make use of the available technology in different aspects.

Sudan is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows countries to build nuclear power stations under international supervision. Its northern neighbor Egypt is already working on constructing a nuclear power station that is expected to be completed within the next 10 years.

Omer said he toured Japan, Austria and Mozambique to brief officials there on the needs of Sudan and opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

November 4, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Over 150 Sudanese journalists launched today a 24-hour hunger strike and three newspapers will shut down for three days in a protest against media censorship.

A Sudanese journalist protests against censorship in Khartoum November 4, 2008. (Reuters) After 16 years of full control on the media, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the interim constitution upholds freedom of the press and expression since 2005. But laws guaranteeing press freedom have yet to be passed, and security officials inspect the editions of every newspaper nightly.

Sudanese journalists began a 24-hour hunger strike and the Ajras Al-Hurriya, Al-Maidan and Rayal Al-Shab newspapers halted production for three days, saying they could no longer accept government restrictions over editorial content.

"We are being censored every day," said Ajras al-Huriya newspaper’s general manager Saleh Ahmed Mohammed Elhag at the protest launch.

Journalists say news articles and editorials are banned, particularly on subjects deemed sensitive such as the conflict in Darfur, International Criminal Court, corruption and human rights.

Reporters and human rights activists also say the current crackdown started in February after newspapers published reports accusing the government of backing Chadian rebels in a failed coup attempt.

Elhag said he had been ordered to remove so many articles that he had been forced to pull entire editions more than 20 times since the paper’s launch in April.

Ajras al-Huriya whose name means Freedom Bells in English, had failed to appear more than 20 times since its April 7 launch owing to censors. The daily is closely linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the main partner of the National Congress Party and the ruling party in southern Sudan.

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October 21, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan is considering new fiscal measures in lights of the continued drop in oil prices, a newspaper reported today.

The independent Al-Sudani newspaper quoting sources at the finance ministry said that Khartoum established a committee to evaluate the economic situation and come up with recommendations to prevent a possible crisis.

The committee is contemplating an “exceptional budget” for 2009 that will likely cut down on expenditure and focuses on new revenue opportunities besides petroleum industry.

Furthermore the government will scrutinize adherence to the budget for the remaining months of 2008.

The Sudanese finance and national economy minister Awad Al-Jaz has reportedly met with heads of government owned companies to discuss ways of boosting revenue and make up for shortfall in oil prices.

Oil is the main source of revenue for Sudan and helped fuel its unprecedented economic growth despite US economic sanctions.

Many Sudanese economists have warned that government spending is getting out of control leading to a rise in inflation rates.

However the global financial crisis has led investors to believe that oil demand will be severely curtailed in developed nations and possible China and India. Crude oil is down 52 percent from its all-time peak of $147.27 reached July 11.

By Philip Thon Aleu

October 21, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Kuwaiti Zain telecommunication network, the second in the state, launched mobile services provision in Jonglei capital on Sunday as communication improves.

Residents of Bor Town can now dial Sudan’s code; ( +249), relieving Southern Sudan’s vast State from Ugandan’s code (+256) provided by Gemtel.

Zain sells fully connected mobile phone at 100 Sudanese Pound (SDG), sim card at 15 SDG and pledged low charges for local calls. It is still unclear whether international calls, previously difficult to access with other network, could enter with a lot of ease.

But to complete connection to Zain is digging on hill! National identification card or passport is required of one to be a customer; a long registration process and restrictive, traders contacted claim.

“This is a business and I don’t see a reason of requesting national IDs,” Jacob Mading, a shop attendant at Marol Market reacted at the congested shop where Zain registration is done.

However, it is not clear why connection has very hard with Zain till Tuesday. Most subscribers complain that their phones might be having a lot of fault or connection is not completed though purchasing is done.

“The business polite language is ‘cash of delivery. When shall we have clear voices over the phones?” a town resident who prefers anonymity questioned.

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By James Gatdet Dak

October 19, 2008 (JUBA) – The year 2009’s budget ceiling for the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) would be based on US dollars $65 per barrel in its oil revenue forecast amid uncertainty in oil prices.

Oil platforms constructed near Kotch in southern Sudan (AP)

This was resolved in the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, chaired by the Vice President, Riek Machar, in the light of the current crisis in global economy, particularly the falling oil prices.

Oil prices have already fallen by over $50/barrel from the peak of $140/barrel experienced in July this year.

Officials blame uncertainty in US elections scheduled for November as one of the factors causing the fall in oil prices.

The benchmark price of $65 per barrel constitutes what can be used for the resource forecast, given that the current oil prices are in the region of $90 per barrel, and still falling.

If the prices are maintained above $65 per barrel during the year, the Government would either build up reserve money and/or supplement its 2009 budget ceiling using the surplus.

Leading oil producing countries, particularly the OPEC member states, are expected to respond to the declining oil prices and may decide to cut down their respective oil productions in order to maintain high prices and prevent further downfall.

The Juba-based semi-autonomous Government receives 50% of oil revenues produced in the South from the Khartoum-based Government of National Unity (GoNU) per the wealth sharing provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The oil revenues account for ninety-seven (97%) of the overall budget in the region which produces about half a million barrels of oil per day.

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July 9, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Three students detained last month for inciting tribal hatred, over internet, have been released on Tuesday.

The students hail security unit of professionalism and Jonglei government of been very transparent and fast in investigating their case. They are, orally, bounded to Jonglei, ready to be called anytime should need arise and banned from posing commends on internet again.

The students, from Dr John Garang de Mabior Institute of Science and Technology, Bor, were arrested on June 28 by security intelligent - a day after the Institute administration gave two weeks suspension for breaching Institute rules limiting correspondence.

A third student was arrested on Monday July 1. All were charged for posing hostile messages in Sudan Tribune commentary forum – they (students) accept and admitting wrongdoings, investigating officer says.

While briefing the students on Monday July 1 at the Institute, Jonglei governor Kuol Manyang condemns the students’ behaviors and cautioned them against using offensive adjectives.

“If somebody says or does something bad, just say ‘not good’ or ‘good’ if it is good. Do not insult yourself. Don’t insult tribes.” He said.

According to students, the security unit found them guilty for insulting themselves but not politically motivated. State Attorney General suspended the charges and allowed them to go back to school had it not been the two weeks suspension that ends on Friday July 11, the students told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday. Institute confirmed the release and maintains the suspension.

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(RTTNews) - Sudan's government on Thursday condemned the attack on UN-AU peacekeeping mission in the country's troubled Darfur region on Wednesday, which resulted in the death of seven peacekeepers.

The government blamed the SLM-Unity rebel faction for the attack and said in a statement released Thursday that the attack was intended to "destabilize the region and prove it is not safe." It also urged the UN and western countries to take sterner actions against the rebels.

Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday killed seven members of the joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission and injured 22 others in a well-coordinated attack in northern Darfur.

Despite the Sudanese government's claims, the UNAMID suspects government-backed Janjaweed militia of being responsible for Wednesday's attack, for which no one has yet claimed responsibility.

The UNAMID or the joint AU-UN mission took over peacekeeping duties in the troubled Darfur region in January from the AU peacekeeping force. Though it is authorized to have 26,000 members, it has only about 9,000 troops under its disposal now.

UN estimates that about 300,000 people have been killed and some 2.5 million displaced after ethnic Africans of the region took up arms against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum in 2003 to fight discrimination.

June 30, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir issued a decree today relieving the chief of the civil aviation authority Gen. Abu-Bakr Gaa’far.

Ibrahim Abdullah Abd Al-Karim was named as the new civil aviation authority chief.

Sudan official news agency (SUNA) also reported that Al-Bashir banned all Russian made planes from operation.

The decision by the Sudanese president comes in the aftermath of a cargo plane crash today near Khartoum airport shortly after takeoff killing four Russian crew members.

A plane (Ilyushin 76) chartered by a private company called Ababiel crashed near the airport in an empty area.

The plane crashed and the fire had already started while it was in the air, a witness said. While taking off the plane collided with an electricity pillar and crashed, he added.

The plane was flying from Khartoum to Juba.

Earlier this month a Sudan airways passenger plane veered off the runway and burst into flames minutes after it landed killing 28 people.

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June 30, 2008 (JUBA) — Vice President of southern Sudan government has pointed figures at the Ugandan army saying they are responsible of recent attacks in the border areas with Uganda. He further ordered the Ugandan troops who hunting the LRA rebels to leave the country.

A Ugandan soldier in May 2007. Riek Machar who is also the chief mediator of the Ugandan peace talks had last March innocented the Ugandan rebels from accusations of committing attacks against civilians in different part of the greater equatorial.

Speaking to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, Machar said that according to the findings of a committee sent to investigate the attacks, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is to blame on recent attacks in Western Equatoria State.

"I sent the committee to go and investigate it. The rest of the evidence is there. Indeed, it didn’t turn out to be the LRA, but they were UPDF," Machar told parliament in Juba.

According to documents presented to parliament, the ceasefire monitoring team attached to the Ugandan peace talks investigated an alleged LRA attack close to the Sudanese-Ugandan border in which a 31-year-old man was abducted.

They reported that about 30 gunmen raided a homestead at Nyongwa village on June 19, looted food and household goods and abducted Jino Moga Mandara.

The abductee was found dead three days later, apparently with a head injury and stab wound seemingly from a bayonet, three kilometres (two miles) away from the homestead on the route down which the attacker beat a retreat.

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June 24, 2008 (DAKAR) – Military experts from feuding neighbours Chad and Sudan met on Tuesday to discuss how to patrol their 1500 km long common border zone.

According to a non-aggression pact signed in the Senegalese capital, on the sidelined of the Islamic Conference summit on March 13, the two countries agreed to deploy a monitoring force to ensure stability on the joint border and to establish a contact group composed of Congo, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya and Senegal.

General David Ngomine Beadimadji led a team of Chadian military experts, while Sudanese General Ibrahim Ezzedin led his country’s delegation. Negotiations began on Tuesday, a day late due to the late arrival of the Sudanese.

"Chad will supply its own soldiers to patrol its own border, Sudan will supply its own soldiers to patrol its own border, and the peace and security force will become a mechanism for observing the two countries," Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio told reporters at an opening ceremony on Monday.

Senegal and Libya, both members of a "contact group" following implementation of the Dakar peace deal, had identified 10 sites suitable for border surveillance posts, he said.

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JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) - South Sudanese authorities have begun to collect thousands of guns amassed by civilians during decades of war to try to end tribal conflicts which claim dozens of lives each year, officials said.

Since a 2005 north-south peace deal ended Africa's longest civil war, efforts by the semi-autonomous southern government to disarm civilians have claimed an estimated 1,500 lives because they took weapons from some tribes leaving them vulnerable to neighbouring communities who were still armed.

Southern Internal Affairs Minister Paul Mayom said on Thursday few had given up their guns voluntarily and a new army- backed campaign was needed. He said they would simultaneously disarm communities nearby to avoid bloodshed.

"(This) new approach is comprehensive disarmament, by removing all the illegal guns," Mayom said. "If you don't do it we'll take it by force."

During Sudan's north-south civil war which has raged on and off since 1955, tribal communities were given or bought weapons to protect their lands and cattle. But with peace, gun law has remained paramount in many parts of the south.

The new campaign will differ from earlier attempts that targeted specific communities.

In 2006 the Swiss-based independent research group Small Arms Survey estimated some 1,200 civilians and 400 soldiers were killed in a campaign to disarm the Lou Nuer tribe as their neighbours retained weapons.

But this year the civil authorities will give communities warning and then record, collect and store the guns in a more organised fashion to avoid similar bloodshed.

At least 911 rifles have already been collected in one area, one official said. But others warn that any army involvement could backfire. "There could be violence," John Baloch, a member of one of the still-armed tribal communities said.

Cattle raiding and revenge attacks have sparked cycles of violence in the largely pastoralist south with deep tribe and clan divides. At least 20 people were killed in one incident in May but numbers are often higher.

"Without disarmament there can be no peace," said William Chan Acuil, deputy of the southern government's humanitarian wing.

The north-south war, complicated by issues of religion, oil, ideology and ethnicity, claimed 2 million lives and forced more than 4 million to flee their homes.

June 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Senior Presidential Assistant, Minni Arcua Minawi denied reports about his defection to Chad and affirmed he will soon return to Khartoum from Darfur were he visited Refugee camps.

Minni Minawi Informed source told Sudan Tribune from Ndjamena that he met with Minawi who was expressed anger “in very harsh language” at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) for not implementing the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Minawi managed to slip into Chad despite refusal by Khartoum to let him visit” the source said.

However, the Sudanese official denied in a statement to Al-Ray Al-Aam his travel to Chad affirming that he was in Kamoa near Karnoyi after visiting displaced camps in remote areas of North Darfur.

He further said he was in the border area for sorting out some problems. "I will return in a few days to conduct my duties in Khartoum soon." Minawi said.

The former rebel warned of attempts made to create a crisis between him and the government and added:

Minawi who is the only former rebel leader to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) with the Sudanese government in Abuja on 5 May 2006, expressed repeatedly frustrations and criticized Khartoum for not implementing the peace agreement.

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By Tesfa-alem Tekle

June 22, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The joint meeting of ministers of Water Resources of Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan held in London to discuss projects that would be executed on Nile River was successfully concluded, according to Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR).

Minister of Water Resources Asfaw Dingamo told Walta information center that the projects studied by the British and French companies EDF and Scott Wilson could benefit the three nations if implemented.

The companies have forwarded detailed studies of projects to be undertaken in the Nile Basin,he said, adding that the three countries have reached consensus on the hydropower opportunities available in the basin.

The studies would help expand large-scale irrigation development works in Ethiopia, Asfaw stated, further noting that they have also proved that hydropower projects to be developed in the Nile Basin could only be materialized in Ethiopia.

The studies are of paramount importance to avert the evaporation problem witnessed in the Sudan and Egypt as well as the erosion in Ethiopia, the minister added.

The studies also revealed that projects carried out around the Nile basin could be of immense economic benefits if carried on the highlands of Ethiopia. Sudan has supported the idea, he said.

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June 10, 2008 (BEIJING) — Sudan and China today signed eight agreements covering such fields as economic and technological cooperation, finance, agriculture and public health; in presence of Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Vice-President and Xi Jinping Chinese Vice-President.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha at a welcome ceremony in Beijing, on June10, 2008 (Xinhua) Taha arrived in Beijing on Monday to start his third China trip. He visited China in March 1996 and March 2001.

According to the signed agreements China will extend two grants of financial assistance to the Sudanese Government in addition to a interest-free loan, the establishment of an agricultural centre in state of Gedaref, eastern Sudan and to send Chinese agricultural experts to Sudan

The parties agreed to establish a hospital in al-Damazin, Blue Nile state funded by the Chinese side, besides the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the migrations procedures of Chinese workers in Sudan

The agreements were signed by Awad Ahmed al-Jaz the Sudanese minister of finance and national economy and Chinese Minister of Trade Shi Quangsheng.

While the protocol of agricultural cooperation between Sudan and China was signed by al-Zubair Bashir Taha, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Chinese Minister of Agriculture Sun Zhengcai.

The Vice President Taha invited Chinese businessmen to invest in his country saying that Sudan enjoys broad possibilities for investment and agriculture besides the oil projects and infrastructure like dams, roads, bridges, electricity, industrial and various commercial activities especially in Communications and engineering sectors.

JUBA, Sudan, June 11 (Reuters) - Cholera has infected almost 6,000 south Sudanese and killed at least 44 this year, with more than half dying within the past four weeks, officials from the South Sudanese Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

"From previous experience it always starts (in the south) and goes north," South Sudan's director for preventable medicine John Rumunu said. The epidemic has now reached Bor town, in the centre of South Sudan, he said.

A 2005 peace deal ended more than two decades of north-south civil war and established a semi-autonomous southern government, but the conflict left the region's health infrastructure desperately undeveloped.

Some 700 people died from the waterborne disease in 2006 and around 25,000 were affected. Cholera causes vomiting and acute diarrohea and can rapidly lead to death from dehydration if not treated.

This year outbreaks have occurred in several southern towns, Rumunu said, including the southern capital Juba where cases in nearby army barracks first raised the alarm in May.

Government authorities and United Nations agencies have been trying to force private water truckers to chlorinate their water before selling it to Juba households, most of which do not have running water.

Sahr Kemoh, a water and sanitation expert with the United Nations Fund for Children, said in 2007 an estimated 9,800 cases were recorded in total, but said year's rains were not over.

Sudan's north-south conflict killed 2 million people. Fought over religious, ethnic and ideological differences it was fuelled by the discovery of large oil reserves. It is separate from the Darfur conflict.

By Wasil Ali

June 3, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – The Darfur advocacy groups in the US have expressed little surprise over the abrupt suspension of normalization talks between Washington and Khartoum.

Demonstrators listen to a speaker after a march sponsored by The Save Darfur Coalition to mark International Human Rights Day with a Dream for Darfur Torch Relay through the streets of Washington, DC to China’s embassy, 10 December 2007 (AFP) John Prendergast, a former Clinton administration official and Co-Chair of the ENOUGH Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity, told Sudan Tribune that the talks “were ill-fated because the U.S. approached them without any leverage”.

“U.S. Defense Secretary Gates himself has said that it make sense to pursue negotiations only when you have built some leverage” he added.

Professor Eric Reeves, Smith College English professor and Sudan expert, echoed the same call saying “it is hardly surprising that he [Williamson] found it impossible to make progress in normalizing relations with Khartoum’s genocidaires”.

The US special envoy told reporters in Khartoum today that dialogue with the Sudanese government on bilateral ties will be halted after failing to broker an agreement between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) over the oil rich region of Abyei.

"Until they want a meaningful peace, there is nothing the United States or others can do. I’ve tried my best and I leave sad and disappointed," he said following days of talks on how to resolve a crisis in Sudan’s Abyei district.

"Right now our talks are suspended," he added.

Professor Reeves accused the Sudanese government of “deliberately and systematically” escalating military tensions in the area.

“Khartoum continues to renege on key terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), including accepting the binding arbitration of the Abyei issue reflected in the July 2005 report of the distinguished Abyei Boundary Commission (ABC)” he said.

The ‘Save Darfur’ coalition issued a statement attributed to its president Jerry Fowler, saying that the decision by the US to suspend the talks “must not be an end to robust U.S. engagement to resolve the crises in Abyei and Darfur – neither of which can be solved in isolation from the other”

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JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) - South Sudan's leader accused the northern government on Tuesday of reinforcing troops in the disputed oil town of Abyei, raising tensions as U.N. Security Council envoys flew in to shore up a north-south peace deal.

Clashes in Abyei last month increased fears of a return to all out war between the northern government and the south, which signed a peace agreement in 2005 to end two decades of civil war. The Security Council envoys, who flew into the southern capital Juba on a tour of African hotspots, discussed Abyei with South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir and will also hold talks with President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's government in Khartoum.

At stake in Abyei is control of lucrative oilfields and a pipeline supplying about half Sudan's daily 500,000 barrel output. Three years after the peace accord, the sides have failed to agree on the borders or administration for the area. South Sudan's leader told reporters: "The troops are coming down from Khartoum to Abyei ... I have already called him (Bashir) to order his military leaders to pull out their forces from the Abyei area. We are not going to fight them."

Kiir, who is president of semi-autonomous south Sudan as well as first vice-president of the country as a whole, said there was no danger of a return to war "as long as there was a will for peace". Deng Arop, a senior official of the parliament in the south, told Reuters 38 trucks full of northern soldiers had arrived in el-Muglad, a town about 120 km (75 miles) north of Abyei, over the weekend.

"They are converging on Abyei, they expect a big fight," he said. "There are three battalions -- one brigade."

He estimated that would mean 2,100 soldiers and not less than 1,500, equipped with heavy weapons.

No on was immediately available for comment from Sudan's government or armed forces. But officials have denied southern accusations of troop buildups in the past.

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By Philip Thon Aleu

May 19, 2008 (BOR TOWN, Jonglei) – Cattle primitive business, the barter trade, resulted to lost of over three dozens lives between Nuer Lou and Duk Padiet communities of Jonglei state at Pakam Amiel in Duk County (about 150 miles) northern Bor Town Saturday on May 17, Sudan Tribune has learnt.

Jonglei government says no official number of causalities is available.

"I can’t tell you exactly what happens because we do not have the report in written form," the Acting Government of Jonglei state and the State Minister for Land and Physical Infrastructures Eng. John Amuor Kuol told Sudan Tribune when contacted Sunday at Dr. Garang Institute cultural day, Bor Town.

The minister, however, acknowledged that the two communities were engaged in exchange of fire on Saturday.

"You will complete the rest of the function because I’m going to attend a meeting in the town where we shall discuss the current insecurity reports," he told parents and students at Dr. Garang Institute Sunday, referring to the fight between Duk and Wutror Counties communities of Jonglei.

Bor town residents belonging to the two communities denounce the clashes and call upon the state government to act.

All top Jonglei officials, including commissioner of Duk County are attending SPLM National Convention in southern Sudan capital Juba and thus inaccessible. Minister Amuor represents the state government.

The Oil Company; ASCOM Co. Ltd staff operating at Aker-Ker — location between the two communities — are said to be safe.

Nuer Lou cattle keepers, while returning from Duk’s Toch — area between rivers used to graze cattle in dry seasons — in Duk County territory, fell apart when a two men exchange of a bull and a heifer failed Saturday.

A Nuer Lou is said to have demanded exchanging his heifer for colored-bull — a sign of riches and of great reputation in cattle keeping communities — belonging a Duk Padiet who refused. He was instantly shot dead for denying the barter business, relatives in Bor town claimed.

Exchanges of fire erupted in revenge and defend lasting for six (6) hours (9:00am – 2:00Pm) between the two neighbors. Unconfirmed source puts dead to over thirty and many more wounded. Duk County is said to have lost a half herd of cattle on May 17.

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KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) -- The leader of Sudan's main opposition party said Saturday that a recent attack on the capital by Darfur rebels may encourage other disgruntled Sudanese to rise up against the government.

Hassan Turabi, the country's leading Islamist ideologue and an ally-turned-adversary of President Omar al-Bashir, lambasted the government over its handling of the Darfur conflict, in which as many as 300,000 people have died since 2003. He also said the U.N. is not doing enough to protect Darfur.

Hundreds of fighters from the Justice and Equality Movement, which has emerged as the most effective Darfur rebel group, staged the bold attack on Khartoum's twin city, Omdurman. It was the first time in decades the rebels had approached the capital.

"There is so much misery in Darfur, genocidal measures actually," Turabi, 75, told reporters in an interview at his home in the capital, Khartoum. "They thought they have to remind this country right here in the center that there is a tragedy called Darfur."

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May 15, 2008 (NAIROBI) — The UN World Food Program (WEP) said today that its Humanitarian Air Service (WFP-HAS) in Sudan can continue operations until mid-June, adding that there is still a risks of closure.

WFP-HAS, which flies about 14,000 humanitarian workers around Sudan each month, has faced a funding crisis this year. On its US$77 million budget for 2008, the air service still needs US$51 million to fly from mid-June onwards.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Nairobi, the WFP said a 2 million U.S. dollar contribution from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund(CERF) and accumulated private donations from Japan totaling just fewer than 500,000 dollars will allow the air operation to continue.

Last March the WFP-Humanitarian Air Service was extended its flights ntil 30 April, thanks to four donors who responded quickly to an announcement that the air operation would be grounded by 31 March due to lack of funds.

The air service is more important than ever because insecurity in recent months throughout Darfur has made road travel extremely dangerous. This year, 64 WFP contract trucks have been hijacked, with 41 still missing and 28 drivers are unaccounted for. Two WFP contract drivers have been killed in Darfur this year. Three other drivers and one assistant were killed in two separate incidents in southern Sudan.

KHARTOUM, May 14 (Reuters) - Sudan on Wednesday urged the international community to list the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) as a terrorist group, after its lightning weekend assault on the capital.

Sudan says more than 200 people died in Saturday's attack, in which more than 300 heavily armed rebel vehicles sped across 400 miles (around 640 km) of desert to the western Khartoum suburb of Omdurman.

The assault was only halted at the bridge leading to central Khartoum, army headquarters and the presidential palace. It was the first time in decades of civil war that rebels from Sudan's peripheries had brought the conflict to Khartoum's doorstep.

"We think that it is beyond doubt that JEM is a terrorist organisation and through diplomatic means we are going to ask them to hand over all the JEM leaders in other countries," said senior foreign ministry official Mutrif Siddig.

He said the foreign ministry briefed foreign diplomats on Tuesday, asking them to add JEM to the international list of terrorist organisations.

"We told them that through bilateral and multilateral institutions we are going to issue an arrest warrant for JEM leaders wherever they are."

Rights groups have expressed concern at reports of mass arrests, torture and two public executions of Darfuris and others caught up in a wave of arrests following the assault.

State media said on Sunday that 300 people had been arrested, but many more have been detained since.

JEM said on Wednesday authorities detained JEM rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim's wife in Khartoum for a day.

"Zinad Ali Yousif has never been engaged in politics and has never occupied any position in JEM," JEM said in a statement. "Her arrest shows how low (President Omar Hassan) al-Bashir's government can sink."

Sudan doubled the price on Ibrahim's head to $250,000 on Sunday and cut diplomatic relations with Chad, accusing it of backing the rebel attack.

Chad denies any involvement but analysts say it was likely revenge for an attack this year on Chad's capital N'Djamena by rebels Chad's President Idriss Deby says were armed by Khartoum.

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By Wasil Ali

May 12, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — A leading Islamist opposition party leader arrested briefly by Sudanese authorities denied any links with a Darfur rebel group that launched an attack on the capital over the weekend.

Hassan al-Turabi “The Justice and Equality Movement [Darfur rebel group] have no relation with the Popular Congress Party (PCP). It is true that many of JEM members used to be part of us back in the days, but they broke with us to create their own party” Hassan al-Turabi told Sudan Tribune today by phone following his release from prison.

The powerful Islamic leader was arrested in the early morning hours of Monday, and four members of his party, by Sudanese security agents as he was returning from a PCP gathering in Sennar town on the banks of the Blue Nile in southeastern Sudan.

Al-Turabi said he expected his arrest by the government so he was not surprised.

“I was telling people who accompanied me on my way back to Khartoum that I have a feeling that I am going to be detained by Sudanese security” Al-Turabi said.

Sudanese authorities said that they have obtained documents and testimony from rebel captives that could implicate Al-Turabi in the failed attempt by JEM to take over Khartoum.

Darfurian rebels staged a bold attack and fought fierce battles with the Sudanese army on the outskirts of the capital. However the Sudanese government said it repulsed the attack and accused Chad of backing the assault.

Al-Bashir said in a televised statement that he holds Chad responsible of the foiled attack by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) troops against the Sudanese capital. He also announced that diplomatic relations with Chad have been broken.

The Sudanese presidential adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail speaking to Al-Jazeera Arabic TV earlier today denied that Al-Turabi was arrested saying he was “summoned” for questioning.

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Juba, May 13, (Bloomberg) - Southern Sudan will use African pouched rats to hunt for landmines planted in the country during its two-decade civil war, the head of the anti-landmine group said.

The rats, which are prized for their acute sense of smell, are being trained in Tanzania to search for the weapons, said Sam Apiliga, chairman of the Southern Sudan Anti-Landmine Organization.

"A rat can de-mine 100 square meters in 20 minutes," Apiliga said. "A landmine expert can do the same work in two days."

Southern Sudan was recognized as a semiautonomous state in 2005 following a peace agreement that ended 20 years of civil war in which at least 2 million people died.

The system of using rats to search for landmines was developed by Apopo, an Antwerp, Belgium-based organization.

"We train the rats to detect landmines," Anne Geni, an official from Apopo, said in an interview today. "They are not used to detonate the devices."

The technique has been used successfully in Mozambique, where mines were laid during that nation's 1975 to 1992 civil war.

African pouched rats, so called because of their cheek pouches used to carry food, can grow up to 1 metre in length.

May 7, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese investigators have completed the gruesome task of sifting through the wreckage of the Beech 1900 that crashed last week and started preparing their technical report.

Salva Kiir Mayardit (R) and Vice-President Riek Machar (C) stands on May 6, 2008 in Juba during a burial ceremony for South Sudan’s late Defence minister Dominic Diem Deng (AFP) Due to technical failure a plane of South Sudan Air Connection came down on Friday May 2, 375 kilometers from Juba, killing everyone on broad including South Sudan army minister Dominic Dim Deng and Justin Yac Arop, GoSS presidential Adviser for Decentralization.

The deputy director of the Sudan Civil Aviation Authority and member of the technical investigation team, Mohamed Saleh al-Kenani said the investigators had visited the site of the accident, 15 km east of Rumbek, and returned to Khartoum carrying the black box, which should explain why the Beechcraft crashed.

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By James Gatdet Dak

May 7, 2008 (JUBA) – The population and housing census in Southern Sudan officially ended on Tuesday, May 6, unsuccessfully according to reports from various states in the region.

The Chairperson for the Southern Sudan Census, Statistics and Evaluation Commission, Mr. Isaiah Chol Aruai, in a press statement he issued on Tuesday, estimated that about ninety to ninety-five percent (90% to 95%) of South Sudan population has been counted.

Aruai blamed a number of challenges for not achieving a 100% headcount. He said insecurity in the South coupled with heavy rainfalls in some states were among the obstacles to the success of the census. The Census Chairperson however concluded that the exercise went on well.

Sample reports from various states such as Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Eastern Equatoria, Upper Nile and Lakes states dispute the census results, saying many more areas have not been reached and counted in the region.

For instance, Census Field Coordinators in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, reported that several villages near to the North-South border have been counted to the northern population by enumerators from Southern Kordufan while dozens of villages more were not mapped in the census mapping and therefore could not be located for the count.

A similar report came out of Rumbek where about twenty-eight villages and many more cattle camps were not counted because they were not included in the census mapping. Some villages, although mapped, could not be accessed because of insecurity in the area, the report added.

Census Field Coordinators also complain about lack of transport, saying in some situations two Counties had to share only one vehicle for the enumeration exercise and without means to communicate.

There is also a wide range of complaints by enumerators that promises by respective state census offices to make them sign contracts in order to get paid after the exercise have not materialized, leaving enumerators confused and worried whether they would get paid or not.

The Sudan Population and Housing count is the most important mechanism in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) meant to determine how power and wealth should be shared between North and South in accordance with the census results.

The results of the Census will also be used for determining political constituencies prior to the conduct of the country’s general elections in 2009.

This will also be used by the government in planning for distribution of basic services across this vast country.

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By James Gatdet Dak

May 4, 2008 (BENTIU) – Governor of Unity State, Taban Deng Gai has lost the SPLM state election for chairperson to his rival Dr. Joseph Minytuil Wiejang who overwhelmingly won the votes as the results were officially announced yesterday.

Dr. Wiejang is currently the Minister of Health in the Government of Southern Sudan. The position for deputy-chairperson was won by Mr. Samuel Lony Geng while the position for Secretary is yet to be announced later today. The elections were conducted under direct supervision of Dr. Theophillus Ochang Lotti, an Advisor to the President of the Government of Southern Sudan.

Present during the state congress formation were GOSS and SPLA senior officials and officers that hail from Unity state. These included Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Madam Angelina Teny, State Minister of Energy and Mining in the Government of National Unity, Lt. General Paulino Matip Nhial, SPLA Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Major General Peter Gatdet Yaka and a number Parliamentarians.

In another news development, Lt. Gen. Paulino Matip Nhial urged the Government of Southern Sudan leadership to remain calm and courageous following the tragic plane crash on Friday near Rumbek town that claimed the lives of Dr. Justin Yaac Arop, Presidential Advisor on Decentralization and Lt. Gen. Dominic Dim Deng, Minister for SPLA Affairs and 19 others.

Gen. Matip said the incident is a great lost and sadly reminds the people of Southern Sudan about the tragic plane crash that claimed the live of our late leader, Dr. John Garang de Mabior.

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The Security Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to extend the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Sudan and called for demarcation of the contested oil-rich border region between the north and south.

Some 10,000 U.N. peacekeepers are enforcing a 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of civil war between the ethnic African south and Sudan's Arab-dominated government in the capital Khartoum -- but peace remains fragile.

The disputed region in southern Kordofan province, where four days of fighting between south Sudanese troops and Arab tribesman ended Tuesday, is claimed by north and south, like the nearby oil rich region of Abyei. Both have become potential flashpoints that could wreck the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

In a report to the Security Council earlier this month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said recent clashes and tensions in
the Abyei area "represent a potential threat to the agreement" and to the national unity government in Khartoum that now includes members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement which led the war in the south.

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By James Gatdet Dak

April 30, 2008 (BENTIU) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) State Congress formations began yesterday throughout the ten states of Southern Sudan.

Riek Machar Participants are drawn from all Payams of each state to form the party’s state congresses and elect their respective leaderships.

Speaking to the press yesterday in Bentiu town, the capital of Unity state, the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan and Deputy Chairman of the SPLM, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, urged all the SPLM members who are constitutional post holders in Southern Sudan to actively participate in the SPLM Congress formations in the ten states.

Dr. Machar said the current exercise of the SPLM State Congress formations is the first of its kind in the Movement and the beginning of the real democratic transformation of the SPLM into a political party.

He added that the exercise will strengthen democratic institutionalization of the Party structures.

Unity state kicked off its SPLM Congress formation on Tuesday, April 29, at Rubkona County, the SPLM state headquarters, in which the current state Governor Brig. Taban Deng Gai will contest for the Party’s state chairmanship in the election against his challenger, Dr. Joseph Minytuil Wiejang, the current Minister of Health in the Government of Southern Sudan.

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By Philip Thon Aleu

April 30, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) – Child abduction, that resumed in Bor county last month, is not by Murle tribesmen or if any; then there is no official reports, commissioner of Pibor County has said here Tuesday April 29. The commissioner however says he can not rule out an element of trust in the claims. Bor dismissed the denial.

“I can not deny the fact that child abduction might have started, but I do not have that information,” Commissioner Akot Maze Adikir told reporters at Diam-Diam hotel, (Bor town) when summoned to explain circumstances surrounding Murle tribesmen’s brutal behaviors in Jonglei state. Two trips of two children were drove out

Adikir however, says last year’s atrocities may resume should the Luo Nuer, who he said attempted cattle raiding there last month, fail to desist. “I do not rule out any resumption of atrocities this year, but my people will not start,” he said adding that Murle may respond in revenge if continuously attacked as Luo Nuer tried in March 2008.

Communities in Jonglei have been engaged in tribal conflicts since peace deal – commonly known as the compressive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended South-North civil war was reached three years ago. But all neighbors of Murle community jointly said they (Murle) are responsibly for the insecurity. SPLM Jonglei state leaders, who converged here Tuesday failed to accuse one tribe as being in charge of the suffering as well as admitting the arms littering at the hands of cattle keepers as the cause.

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By Isaac Vuni

April 27, 2008 (JUBA) — More than six hundreds Christians from Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS), led by Rt. Rev. Nataniel Garang Anyieth, Provincial Dean of ECS and Bishop of Bor Diocese, last Friday held prayer for peace and unity within SPLA officers in the military headquarters in Juba.

Section of congregation of ECS mobile prayer group in SSLA premisses in Juba on 25 April 2008. (By I. Vuni - ST) Rev. Anyieth made these comments during a prayer service at SSLA premises organized by mobile ECS revival groups currently visiting Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan.

The Bishop noted that southern Sudanese people are participating and managing for the first time Sudan national population and housing census, since creation of the Sudan. Therefore it’s important to commit their services to God the almighty for better result and future planning for the development of war ravaged southern Sudan.

The Rt. Rev. Anyieth emphasized that it’s the responsibility of SPLA forces to guarantee and protect the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that has ushered the right to be counted by sons and daughters from Southern Sudan, and to the election and referendum in 2011.

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KHARTOUM (AFP) — Around 95 people have been killed in ethnic clashes in south Sudan that have also targeted equipment and facilities used in a historic nationwide census, local press reports said on Friday.

Clashes broke out on Tuesday in the southern Lakes State between two rival branches of the Dinka tribe after a dispute over cattle, the daily Al-Sahafa reported, adding that dozens were left dead in the streets.

Tribal clashes, often provoked by cattle theft, are frequent in southern Sudan but rarely reach such deadly intensity in the semi-autonomous part of Africa's largest country.

Martin Manil Wol, who is supervising the nationwide census, said the attackers torched all of the census facilities, including 12 boxes of questionnaire forms.

Sudan on Tuesday began its first census in 15 years, a milestone in the peace deal that ended Africa's longest civil war, but it has been overshadowed by disputes.

The two-week census is crucial to prepare constituencies for national elections and confirm or adjust the wealth- and power-sharing ratios in central government.

Sudan's undeveloped south has refused to be bound by the results and Darfur rebels have boycotted the count, as both accuse the Arab north of manipulating the census to maximise its control and marginalise the African majority.