Sudan
Chad welcomes cautiously Sudan decision to restore ties (19.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) Chad has cautiously welcomed the Sudanese decision to restore bilateral relations saying it will adopt a wait and see position for the time being. Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade announced yesterday that President Omer al-Bashir had accepted to the restoration of diplomatic relations between Chad and Sudan in response to the solemn appeal from him.
Sudan’s Salva Kiir heads crisis committee to deal with the ICC (17.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) President Omer al-Bashir appointed today a high level committee, headed by his first deputy Salva Kiir Mayadrit to develop a road map against the accusations of genocide by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Time overdue for a new international strategy in Darfur (16.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) The window of opportunity for solving the conflict in Darfur is growing ever smaller. There are credible reports that following the May 10 attack on Khartoum, JEM rebels have reorganized and recruited thousands of new fighters and are planning a second attack on Khartoum. Therefore the newly appointed UN/AU chief mediator for Darfur, Djibril Bassole, should use the fact that he comes to the Darfur issue with no previous baggage to act swiftly and decisively.
US president threatens Sudan with more sanctions (16.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) The US president George Bush threatened the Sudanese government with more sanctions if he does not facilitate the deployment of peacekeepers and flow of aid in Darfur. “We’re trying to work with Bashir to make sure he understands that there will be continued sanctions if he doesn’t move forward” Bush told reporters at a press conference in the White House today.
President Bashir ratifies Sudan’s elections law (15.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir today evening signed election law, passed by the National Assembly on 7 July 2008, a crucial move towards the holding of general elections next year.
Britain proposes UN council condemn Darfur attack (15.07.2008)
(Quelle: New York Times) Britain is urging the U.N. Security Council to condemn as a possible war crime an ambush last week that killed or injured more than two dozen peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur region. Tuesday's proposal came ahead of scheduled council debate over the status of the beleaguered U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force, which due to fears of increasing violence has been pulling out all but its most essential civilians.
Arrest is sought of Sudan leader in genocide case (15.07.2008)
(Quelle: New York Times) The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court formally requested an arrest warrant on Monday for Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the past five years of bloodshed in the Darfur region of his country. The prosecutor’s pursuit of Mr. Bashir introduced new volatility to the already chaotic situation in Darfur.
"Wer soll dann über einen Frieden verhandeln?" (15.07.2008)
(Quelle: Süddeutsche Zeitung) Nachdem der Chefankläger des Weltstrafgerichts einen Haftbefehl wegen Völkermordes gegen den sudanesischen Präsidenten al-Bashir beantragt hatte, wurde berichtet, UN-Generalsekretär Ban Ki Moon sei gegen diesen Vorstoß. Im Gespräch mit der SZ zeigt er sich über dieses Missverständnis 'sehr besorgt' - und versucht, das Dilemma zu erklären.
Arab League envoy says indictment of Sudan's president is serious blow to peace (15.07.2008)
(Quelle: Asharq Al-Awsat) The Arab League's envoy to Sudan on Tuesday described the indictment of the country's president on genocide and other charges as a serious blow to peace efforts in Darfur.
Sudan 'will block genocide case' (15.07.2008)
(Quelle: BBC) Sudan has said it will do all it can to block the work of the International Criminal Court, which has accused the nation's leader of genocide in Darfur. President Omar al-Bashir's most senior adviser told the BBC the allegations were designed to generate hostility between tribal groups in Darfur. Ghazi Salaheddin said that if the ICC pursued the case it could jeopardise relations between Sudan and the UN.
AU urges ICC to suspend Bashir warrant (15.07.2008)
(Quelle: allAfrica) African Union (AU) chair Tanzania wants the International Criminal Court (ICC) to suspend any moves to arrest Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for genocide in Darfur, news reports indicated citing the country's foreign affairs as saying on Monday.
UN has no influence on ICC, Ban tells Sudan's President (13.07.2008)
(Quelle: UN News) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has emphasized to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir the independence of the International Criminal Court, amid reports that ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is preparing to seek an indictment against the African Head of State. During a telephone conversation yesterday with Mr. Al-Bashir, Mr. Ban stressed that the UN Secretary-General does not have any influence on the ICC Prosecutor.
China 'is fuelling war in Darfur' (13.07.2008)
(Quelle: BBC) The BBC has found the first evidence that China is currently helping Sudan's government militarily in Darfur. The Panorama TV programme tracked down Chinese army lorries in the Sudanese province that came from a batch exported from China to Sudan in 2005. The BBC was also told that China was training fighter pilots who fly Chinese A5 Fantan fighter jets in Darfur.
South Sudan army says completes Abyei withdrawal (12.07.2008)
(Quelle: Reliefweb) South Sudan's army said on Saturday it had finished pulling out of the oil-rich Abyei area where southern troops clashed with Khartoum's forces in May, but accused the northern army of foot-dragging on its own pullout.
Sudanese parties refer Abyei case formally to the arbitration court (12.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) The two signatories of 2005 peace deal formally referred their dispute over the findings of Abyei Boundary Commission to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague today. The arbitration tribunal has to determine whether or not the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC) experts exceeded their mandate 'to define and demarcate the area of the Nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms transferred from Bahr el Ghazal to Kordofan in 1905, as per the Abyei Protocol, the Appendix, ABC Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure.'
Sudan preliminary census results released: report (09.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) The preliminary results of Sudan census that started in April has been released, according to press reports. The daily Al-Hayat newspaper published in London said that the results show that the population of Sudan is approximately 38 million people.
Sudan peace partners Abyei arbitration court deal (08.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Vice-President of the Republic and Riek Machar, Vice President of the southern Sudan government today signed the Convention on the arbitration on the Abyei area. The text will be deposited within a week to the Hague International Court of Arbitration. According to the roadmap for the implementation of Abyei protocol signed on June 8, the international arbitration court is designated to settle the NCP-SPLM dispute over the finding of the Abyei Boundaries Commission.
Sudan signs crucial election law (08.07.2008)
(Quelle: BBC) Sudan's parliament has passed a new electoral law, taking a crucial step towards holding the first democratic election in more than 20 years. A government official said the law raised hopes of an end to conflict, though South Sudan's main party said free elections were not yet possible. Elections are due to take place next year under a 2005 peace accord that ended 21 years of civil war.
Top UN envoy speaks out against shooting of officers (07.07.2008)
(Quelle: UN News) The top United Nations envoy to Sudan today strongly condemned the shooting by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) of a military observer with the world body and a national monitor with the Sudanese forces. … The shooting occurred in Agok, where thousands of Sudanese displaced from Abyei have taken temporary shelter.
South Sudan seeks observer status in international and regional bodies (06.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) South Sudan’s government applied for observer status of several international bodies, including the United Nations and regional organizations, to boost trade ties.
Tensions surround Abyei withdrawal (06.07.2008)
(Quelle: Al Jazeera) Troops from northern and southern Sudan are pulling out from the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei. Tensions continue to surround the withdrawal from the area, which has suffered some of the worst fighting since a 21-year-old civil war between the north and the south ended in 2005. … The north and south are still discussing who will make up an interim administration for Abyei, but have agreed on international arbitration to settle the dispute.
Disarmament to continue for six months - South Sudan president (04.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) The President of the government of southern Sudan and Commander In Chief of the Sudan people liberation army (SPLA), Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit said he personally ordered to disarm all the south during six moths. The First Vice President of the Sudan made this statement on Wednesday while he was attending the graduation ceremony of over one hundred SPLA senior officers in Malou Infantry school on in Rumbek, Lakes state.
Sudanese parliament passes general features of the electoral law (02.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) The National Assembly passed in today’s session the draft law on general elections at the stage if general features after a recommendation by the Committee on Legislation and Justice. The most important features of the bill that it establishes a mixed electoral system (majority election system and proportional representation), secure the participation of women by 25% and the opportunity for the expatriates to participate in presidential elections and national referendum.
North, south Sudan forces fail to leave Abyei in time (02.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) Sudan’s northern and southern armies have both failed to meet an end-June deadline for withdrawal from oil-rich Abyei, where fighting in mid-May displaced thousands, southern army officials said on Tuesday.
Japan to send military mission to Sudan to help UN (01.07.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) Japan will send military personnel to Sudan to join U.N. peacekeeping operations in the country’s first military dispatch to the African nation, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Monday. Fukuda announced the move at a joint news conference with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who is visiting Japan as part of his two-week official trip to Asia.
Uganda: stay out, South Sudan tells army (01.07.2008)
(Quelle: allAfrica) The government of South Sudan yesterday ordered Ugandan troops hunting LRA rebels to leave its territory. South Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar said the decision was intended to avoid past mistakes, saying the UPDF abducted and killed a South Sudanese man during anti-LRA operations this month.
Eight southern Sudanese parties form new alliance (30.06.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) Eight southern Sudanese political parties established a new alliance aiming at expanding and deepening cooperation between the coalition and the signatories of the 2005 peace agreement over the future of southern Sudan.
Sudan’s 1956 North-South border map is non-existent – committee (29.06.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) The Chairperson of the Southern Sudan component of the North-South Border Demarcation Commission, Engineer Riek Dogoal Juer, said the committee charged with the task to demarcate the North-South borderline based on the January 1, 1956 border could not find or trace any map drawn in 1956, during which the country gained its independence from the British colony, that would indicate the border between the two regions.
Sudanese parties, UN agree to reintegrate 180.000 former combatants (27.06.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) Sudanese government, southern Sudan government and United Nations signed an agreement aiming at immobilization and reintegration of 180,000 former combatant, the UNDP said in a press statement issued yesterday. The signing ceremony took place at a donor conference held in Geneva, where donors reiterated their full support to the Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programme, requiring US$430 million over a four-year period.
Sudanese political forces agree to hold general elections in 2009 (27.06.2008)
(Quelle: Sudan Tribune) The Sudanese political parties agreed today to not delay the general elections that are expected to be held next year in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Presidential, and parliamentary elections on national and state levels will be held in Sudan before July 2009 after the end of a transitional period which began in July 2005 when the late former rebel leader John Garang had been appointed as First Vice President and the Interim Constitution adopted.