Showing posts with label James Copnall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Copnall. Show all posts

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Sudan crisis: War crimes suspect free amid chaos

Report from BBC News


By JAMES GREGORY & JAMES COPNALL


Wednesday 26 April 2023 c.11:50 am BST UK 


Sudan crisis: War crimes suspect free amid chaos

IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES

Image caption, Haroun (left) in 2010 when he was governor of the South Kordofan region


A former Sudanese politician wanted for alleged crimes against humanity has said that he and other former officials are no longer in jail - following reports of a break-out. 

Ahmed Haroun was among those being held in Kober prison in the capital Khartoum who are facing charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

A ceasefire between fighting military factions largely appears to be holding. 

But there are doubts about both sides' commitment to a lasting peace. 

The conflict - which began on 15 April - arose from a bitter power struggle between the leaders of Sudan's regular army and a rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Reports emerged this week of a prison break at Kober - where Ahmed Haroun was serving a sentence alongside Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's former president. 

On Tuesday, Haroun confirmed in a statement aired on Sudan's Tayba TV that he and other Bashir loyalists who served under him had left the jail - but said he would be ready to appear before the judiciary whenever it was functioning.

In an audio message circulating on social media, Haroun claimed the group had been aided in their escape by prison guards and the armed forces.

"We made a decision to protect ourselves due to lack of security, water, food and treatment, as well as the death of many prisoners in Kober," Haroun told al-Sudani, a daily newspaper with ties to Bashir.

Haroun was a key player in the Sudanese government's brutal response to two long-running and still unresolved civil wars - in Darfur (from 2003) and South Kordofan (from 2011).

He was indicted by the ICC in 2007 for his alleged role in the atrocities in Darfur - described as the first genocide of the 21st Century - when he was the country's interior minister. 

He faces 20 counts of crimes against humanity and 22 counts of war crimes, with charges including murder, rape, persecution and torture. He denies the charges.

Mukesh Kapila, a former UN coordinator for Sudan, described Haroun as "extremely dangerous" and "unreliable", adding he had "many followers who have been lurking for the last two decades". 

"This, plus other armed groups now coming out of the woodwork, really changes the dynamics in ways that are difficult to predict at the moment - but it's really bad news," he told the BBC World Service's Newsday programme.

Haroun was arrested in 2019, after veteran leader Bashir was ousted by the military amid mass protests. The country has experienced frequent unrest and several other coup attempts since then. 

Bashir - who is 79 - had been serving a jail sentence for corruption. He is at a military hospital in police custody - having been moved there before the latest hostilities broke out, according to Sudan's army.

He is also accused by the ICC of leading a campaign of mass killing and rape in Sudan's Darfur region, which he denies.

Sudan's interior ministry has accused the RSF of breaking into five prisons in the past few days - including Kober, which Bashir had already left. 

Police said the raid led to the killing of two prison warders, and that the RSF released all who where being held there.

The RSF has denied the allegations, claiming instead that the military "forcibly evacuated" the facility as part of a plan to restore Bashir to power. 

An army spokesman denied any army involvement, saying the military "does not have any supervision over prisons". He said the military was coordinating with police to return inmates to prisons. 

But plenty of Sudanese will believe this is just the latest example of Gen Burhan, leader of Sudan's armed forces, trying to restore Bashir's Islamist lieutenants to the forefront of Sudanese politics. 

The ceasefire in Sudan has allowed several countries to evacuate their nationals from the country. Several evacuation flights carrying UK nationals from Sudan have landed in Cyprus, while a boat evacuating more than 1,600 people from dozens of countries has now arrived in Saudi Arabia. 

Both Germany and France say all their citizens have now left the country.

IMAGE SOURCE, AFP 

Image caption, Hundreds of people evacuated from Sudan have arrived in Saudi Arabia by boat

Image caption,

Volker Perthes, who is the UN special envoy to Sudan and is currently in the country, said on Tuesday that the 72-hour pause in fighting still appeared to be holding together. 

But gunfire and explosions continued to be reported in Khartoum and the nearby city of Omdurman. 

"There is yet no unequivocal sign that either [side] is ready to seriously negotiate, suggesting that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible," said Mr Perthes. 

Mr Perthes said that many homes, hospitals and other public facilities have been damaged or destroyed in residential areas near the army headquarters and airport in the capital Khartoum.

The ceasefire, which began at midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday, is the latest attempt to bring stability to the country after fighting broke out nearly two weeks ago. 

The White House said on Wednesday the ceasefire should be extended to address the humanitarian crisis, news agency Reuters reported. 

National security spokesman John Kirby also confirmed a second American had died in Sudan on Tuesday. 

At least 459 people have died in this conflict so far, though the actual number is thought to be much higher.

Thousands more are reported to have fled Sudan and the UN has warned that this is likely to continue. Lines of buses and other vehicles are continuing to leave Khartoum despite rocketing prices of fuel and bus tickets. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it expects there to be "many more" deaths due to outbreaks and a lack of services. 

More than 60% of health facilities in Khartoum are closed, it said. 

There is also concern for those who are left behind, with an estimated 24,000 pregnant women currently in Khartoum who are expected to give birth in the coming weeks.


View original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65394913


[Ends]

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Sudan: What is the significance of Haroun's prison escape?

Report from BBC News LIVE Reporting

By JAMES COPNALL

BBC World Service


Wednesday 26 April 2023 10:45 BST UK - full copy:


What is the significance of Haroun's prison escape?


As we’ve reported Ahmed Haroun has escaped from prison.


He played a key part in the Sudanese government’s brutal response to two long-running and still unresolved civil wars, in Darfur and South Kordofan.


He was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged role in the atrocities in Darfur, which has been described as the first genocide of the 21st century.


Haroun was a member of former President Omar al Bashir’s inner circle for much of his 30 years in power - and was locked up once Bashir was overthrown in 2019.


Now Haroun says he and other Bashir loyalists are out of Kober prison.


Plenty of Sudanese people will believe this is just the latest example of Gen Burhan trying to restore Bashir’s Islamist lieutenants to the forefront of Sudanese politics.


View original here,


[Ends]

Saturday, May 01, 2010

South Sudan: April 30 attack on SPLM/A military base in Malakal, Upper Nile state

UPDATE - Thursday, May 06, 2010 - BREAKING NEWS: Malakal, Upper Nile - S. Sudan govt will not take any military actions against George Athor - GREAT NEWS just in from SRS (Sudan Radio Service) via email: Today, Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) spokesman, Paul Mayom Akech told SRS that his government will not use force against George Athor or any of his followers. High level GoSS officials are in consultation with Mr Athor in order to resolve the issue amicably and peacefully.
+ + +

FULL STORY - Tuesday, May 04, 2010 - South Sudan, Malakal, Upper Nile State: GoSS to dialogue with armed SPLM/A defector George Athor Deng
+ + +

Saturday, May 01, 2010
South Sudan: April 30 attack on SPLM/A military base in Malakal, Upper Nile state


ACCORDING to a report published today at Sudan Tribune, southern Sudan officials on Friday (30 April) confirmed that George Athor, who recently contested as independent candidate for governorship of the region’s largest state of Jonglei, was behind yesterday's attack on an army base of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) near the Upper Nile state’s capital, Malakal in semi-independent South Sudan.

In South Sudan, the ex-rebel group Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) is the ruling party and political wing of the SPLA. Collectively, they are known as known as Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) or SPLM/A. The SPLM has been criticised for alleged vote manipulation in the country's first elections in 24 years.

The attacked army base is in the town of Delab Hills (aka Doleib or Doleb) area located inside Upper Nile state, not far from Khorfulus, the home town of George Athor, where is he is currently based and situated on the other side of the border in Jonglei state. The base houses soldiers of the SPLM, some of whom are said to have taken part in the attack.

Reportedly, the attackers were trained soldiers and supporters of Mr Athor, an independent candidate who had campaigned against the reigning SPLM party to be governor of the state of Jonglei. Athor denied leading the troops but told the BBC he sympathised with them and said the polls were rigged.

The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says there have been intense negotiations for several days to avoid just this sort of problem in Southern Sudan and says it is too early to tell if this is an isolated incident, or the start of a much bigger problem.

Jonglei is one of the 26 states in the south to elect governors and legislators. George Athor ran unsuccessfully against incumbent governor Kuol Manyang Juuk.

Further details here below.

Map - El Fasher, Darfur, W. Sudan

Click here to view a map of Malakal, Upper Nile State, southern Sudan. (Thanks to ReliefWeb)

Quote of the Day
Guys, Can we stop speculating this since it is a sensistive matter and still under "suspicion". Athor is denying it and Dominic Kuol Dim has not come out to tell us what happen and who is behind it. Are we going to war or do we want to apprehend those who carry out this heinous act. The argument here is political insufficient, and I advise that we all wait before we fueled with our rhetoric. "KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AMD KEEP WATCHING EM".
- Maruon Ayiei, 1 May 2010
Source: Comment by Maruon Ayiei posted at Sudan Tribune on 1 May 2010 in response to the following article:

Defeated candidate launches destructive attack on South Sudan army in Jonglei
From Sudan Tribune, Saturday 1 May 2010:
April 30, 2010 (JUBA) – A defeated candidate and former Lt. General and Deputy Chief of General Staff for Moral Orientation in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), has launched a deadly assault on the army’s military barrack of Doleib Hills area near the Upper Nile state’s capital, Malakal.

Southern Sudan officials on Friday confirmed that General George Athor, who recently contested as independent candidate for governorship of the region’s largest state of Jonglei, was behind the attack.

The SPLA’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Colonel Malaak Ayuel Ajok, on Friday in a televised statement on Southern Sudan TV announced that the surprise attack occurred at around 1:30AM in the early morning of Friday.

Col. Malaak said many of the attackers were killed and five of them captured. He said the captured soldiers confessed that they were ordered by General George Athor to carry out the attack.

He said hundreds of soldiers loyal to General George Athor involved in the operation.

The defeated Gen. Athor denied ordering any attack. He told Reuters that soldiers in Doleib military barrack had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.

Col. Malaak said Gen. George Athor got angry after he was declared the loser in the Jonglei state’s gubernatorial elections. The independent candidate said he won the elections but the results were later on rigged in favor of Kuol Manyang Juuk, the incumbent governor and declared winner in Jonglei state’s gubernatorial election.

The first elected governor of South Sudan’s vast-populous Jonglei, the incumbent Gov. Kuol Manyang scored 165,387 votes. George Athor Deng (Independent) comes second with 67,639 votes as Joseph Duer Jakor (NCP) trails with 16,704 votes.

Senior government officials also confirmed the clashes, saying the cabinet for the semi-autonomous region was briefed on Friday by the minister of Internal Affairs, General Gier Chuang Aluong, about the developing situation.

Also, Jonglei elected Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk, held a closed door meeting with SPLA senior officers but there was no public statement.

The number of casualties was not yet confirmed as officials said more details were still emerging, but according to the security chief, among the dead SPLA soldiers included many SPLA officers in addition to a number of civilians who were caught in cross fire.

Military depots were also looted by the attacking force and among the weapons they captured included a number of anti-tanks and 12.7 artillery.

Eye witnesses in Malakal town said about six vehicles were packed with the wounded and taken to Malakal Hospital.

General George Athor, who confirmed the incidence, however told the BBC that he was not directly involved in the incidence, saying it was an internal mutiny within the SPLA forces.

He however added that it was an action against the “corrupt SPLM” system, saying he was sympathizing with the soldiers who carried out the attack.

The attacked military barrack is located inside Upper Nile state, not far from Khorfulus, the home town of General Athor, where is he is currently based and situated on the other side of the border in Jonglei state.

Officials suspected that General Athor was planning heavy attacks inside targeted locations within Jonglei state and that his initial attack on the barrack across the border in Upper Nile state was to snatch the weapons and ammunitions for use in his planned activities in Jonglei state.

Officials quoted General Gier Chuang as saying that General Athor has already coordinated his activities with other SPLA elements including in the Southern Sudan’s capital, Juba, and that he has about seven Brigadier Generals and several Colonels on his side.

General George Athor lost to the incumbent Jonglei state governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk, according to the declared results by the National Elections Commission (NEC) but earlier warned that he won the elections and the ruling SPLM party latter on rigged it in favor of Kuol Manyang.

Jonglei state is the largest state in Southern Sudan inhabited by about five different ethnic groups which population is pre-dominantly of the Nuer ethnic group. Both General George Athor and his rival, Kuol Manyang, are from the Dinka tribe, the largest ethnic group in Southern Sudan.

Officials said the government would take measures to control the situation before it gets out of control.

Col. Malaak Ayuel in his televised statement on behalf of the SPLA Chief of General Staff, Lt. General James Hoth Mai, warned General George Athor to stop attacking the SPLA forces, saying the army was capable of responding to the situation with full force. (ST)
BREAKING NEWS: discontented SPLA forces attack army barrack
From Sudan Tribune, Friday 30 April 2010:
April 30, 2010 (JUBA) – News reaching Juba have confirmed a military attack on SPLA barrack by suspected discontented army elements said to be under the command of an independent gubernatorial candidate who recently lost elections in the largest southern Sudan state.

The SPLA barrack at Doleib was attacked yesterday evening by forces that are suspected to be under the command of Major General George Athor, who recently lost against the incumbent governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk in Jonglei state.

A number of people are reported killed and wounded while four people from the attackers were captured and reportedly confessed that they were under the directive of Gen. Athor.

According to security sources, the attack occurred when the discontented forces surrounded the barrack and tried to break into arms and ammunition store in the barrack.

It was not clear why the forces wanted to take the arms, but sources were suspicious that they were planning for more attacks on other locations.

Maj. Gen. George Athor, the suspected leader behind the attacks, is currently based in his home town of Khorfulus, which is not very far from where the attacks were carried out across the border with Upper Nile state. (ST)
Sudan: Base Attacked in South
From The New York Times by REUTERS, Friday 30 April 2010 [Note from Sudan Watch Editor: The base referred to in the following report by Reuters, reprinted in the NYT, is located in Upper Nile State, not Jonglei State]:
South Sudan’s army said that armed men attacked one of its bases in Jonglei State on Friday, killing at least eight soldiers. A spokesman for the south’s army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, said it had captured five of the attackers, who said they were working under orders of Gen. George Athor, a defeated candidate for governor of Jonglei, an oil-producing region. General Athor, a senior officer in the south’s army, denied involvement in the attack, saying soldiers in the base had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.
Mutinous troops attack south Sudan army near Malakal
From BBC News at 5:16 GMT, Friday, 30 April 2010 16:16 UK - excerpt:
At least eight people have been killed when mutinous troops attacked an army base in south Sudan following this month's elections, officials say.

A southern army spokesman said the mutineers backed a former general who ran and lost in a Jonglei state poll.

George Athor denied leading the troops but told the BBC he sympathised with them and said the polls were rigged.

The ex-rebel SPLM party won a landslide victory to retain power in the south, amid widespread claims of intimidation.

The 11-15 April elections were the first in 24 years - and the first since the end of a two-decade conflict between north and south.

The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says there have been intense negotiations for several days to avoid just this sort of problem in Southern Sudan.

Several senior southern soldiers contested the elections as independents and all but one lost.

Mr Athor ran for governor of Jonglei state as an independent when he did not get the SPLM nomination.

'Weapons stolen'

The Delab Hill barracks, 12km (7 miles) south of Malakal, were attacked.

The army spokesman said weapons were stolen.

"We managed to push back the attackers, but there are seven dead and nine injured among the troops," southern army spokesman Malaak Ayuen Ajok told AFP.

"Several attackers also lost their lives."

Malakal was the scene of fierce fighting between rival militias in 2009, and in 2006, which left at least 150 people dead.

Our correspondent says it is too early to tell if this is an isolated incident, or the start of a much bigger problem.

He says the voting process itself was largely peaceful, but tensions rose, particularly in the south, as accusations of electoral fraud began to multiply.
From Earthtimes (press release) Friday, 30 Apr 2010 16:57:42 GMT
By dpa Nairobi/Juba, Sudan:
Violence in the wake of Sudanese elections earlier this month has left at least eight people dead in the southern Sudanese city of Malakal, the Sudan Tribune reported Friday.

The newspaper said that armed militants attacked the barracks of the South Sudanese Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

The attackers were trained soldiers and supporters of an independent candidate who had campaigned against the reigning SPLM party to be governor of the state of Jonglei.

The SPLM is the political wing of the SPLA and was criticized for alleged vote manipulation in the country's first elections in 24 years.

The SPLM won the bulk of the votes in semi-independent Southern Sudan, which is expected to vote to secede from Sudan in a 2011 referendum.
Soldiers Loyal to Failed Gubernatorial Candidate Attack Army Barracks in Southern Sudan
From Voice of America - Friday, 30 April 2010 c. 7pm GMT UK [Note from Sudan Watch Editor: The army barracks referred to in the following report by VOA News are located in Upper Nile State, not Jonglei State] - excerpt:
An official in South Sudan has confirmed an attack this morning on an army barracks in Jongolei State. Reports say that as many as eight people were killed in the attack, believed to have been led by supporters of Major General George Athor, an independent candidate for governor in last week’s elections.

The barracks, located in the town of Doleb, houses soldiers of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, some of whom are said to have taken part in the attack. [...]

Jongolei is one of the 26 states in the south to elect governors and legislators. General Athor ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate against incumbent governor Kuol Manyang Juuk. Mustafa Biong Majak, an official with the Government of South Sudan, said causalities were taken to the Upper Nile State’s Malakal hospital for treatment.

“Those who did it ran away,” he said, “and the security forces are running after them.” He says later today, an SPLM spokesman will make a detailed statement on the incident.

Listen to Biong Majak discuss the attack:

Sources of the Sudan Tribune say the assault was authorized by General Athor, who lives in the nearby town of Khorfulus in Upper Nile state. Reuters news agency says Athor has denied any involvement.

SPLM candidate and incumbent president of the south Salvia Kiir was re-elected with over 90 percent of the vote. His rival Lam Akol of the splinter group SPLM-DC has accused his party of harassment and intimidation. He rejects the election results and says he plans to take the matter to court for adjudication. South Sudan is gearing for a referendum early next year that will decide if they secede from the north.
South Sudan army accuses poll candidate of attack
From Reuters by Skye Wheeler Friday 30 April 2010 12:09pm EDT
(Writing by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Maria Golovnina) - excerpt:
(JUBA, Sudan) - South Sudan's army accused a defeated election candidate of ordering an attack on one of its bases that killed at least eight soldiers Friday, stoking tensions days after the contested poll.

George Athor, defeated in the race to become governor of the south's oil-producing Jonglei state, denied ordering any attack, telling Reuters soldiers in the base had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.

Any confirmed involvement in the attack by Athor, who is also a senior officer in the south's army, would be a serious escalation in violence in the region, already hit by drought and clashes between heavily armed tribal groups. [...]

Athor and other independent candidates accused the south's dominant party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), of harassing their supporters and rigging the vote.

The south's Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) said that armed men attacked the southern army base in Jonglei's Doleib Hill area, close to state capital Malakal, early Friday.

"We have full evidence the force was ordered by General George Athor," acting SPLA spokesman Malaak Ayuen told Reuters.

"He contested as a governor in Jonglei but lost," Ayuen said, adding that the intention behind the attack was unclear. "It was very surprising ... (We think) he became angry and is trying to create insecurity."

Ayuen said the army had captured five of the attackers who said they were working under Athor's orders.

Athor decided to run as an independent after failing to get the SPLM nomination. Speaking by satellite telephone from Jonglei, he denied having any forces in the area.

"They wanted to send a force to capture me but they refused to do this and now they were trying to arrest those officers who refused to go and attack me and so there was a mutiny," he said.

Athor said he did not know why they would want to arrest him. "You should ask Salva Kiir," he said, referring to the president of the semi-autonomous south. [...]
Further reading
Click on Matip, Jarch, Heilberg, labels here below to view some eye opening reports in Sudan Watch archives, including the following reports:

Sudan Watch - April 16, 2009: Ex Wall St banker Philippe Heilberg - US Jarch mulling more land leases in S. Sudan

Sudan Watch - October 19, 2009: South Sudan: UN airlifts Paulino Matip’s forces to Juba

Friday, April 02, 2010

Inaccurate BBC report on Sudan elections (Alex de Waal)

Quote of the Day
"A general rule for the current situation is that those who know most, speak least, and those who are appearing most frequently in the media, usually know less.

Finding the truth is always hard in the Sudanese political scene. At the moment it is simply impossible."
- Alex de Waal, 02 April 2010
Source: ssrc.org blog Making Sense of Sudan
On Confusion
By Alex de Waal
Friday, 02 April 2009:
A senior member of a Sudanese opposition party, was present at the meeting of the leaders of the Juba Alliance in which the issue of boycotting the elections was discussed at length. From the meeting he knew precisely where each of the parties stood: which were for contesting the elections, which were for comprehensive boycott, and which were for partial boycott or were undecided. In the circumstances, his information was as precise, accurate, and up to date as any.

On leaving the meeting he saw the BBC news which was reporting a comprehensive boycott. This threw him into confusion. Assuming that the BBC had better information than he did, he also reported the BBC’s report as fact. The BBC report was actually inaccurate.

The last 72 hours have been characterized by confusion, conflicting information and shifting positions. It has not been helped by the fact that some political leaders express different opinions to different audiences, changing their language and emphasis, sometimes by the hour. Few of the political parties have sufficient internal discipline for all their spokesmen to give the same message, so that depending on who is speaking, a different story emerges. There is a vast amount of rumour and inference.
A general rule for the current situation is that those who know most, speak least, and those who are appearing most frequently in the media, usually know less.

In these circumstances, news reports and the publications by international groups often carry unwarranted weight. The position of the U.S. has been very clear: it wants the election to proceed. But some political leaders, particularly at the second level, take reports of non-governmental organizations which are taking a principled stand against the elections, as indicative of what the international community will do.

Finding the truth is always hard in the Sudanese political scene. At the moment it is simply impossible. [End of copy]
Further reading

The BBC report mentioned above has been updated today, Friday, 02 April 2010. Here is a partial copy of the original report published on Thursday, 01 April 2010 (hat tip: http://anthonythomas.posterous.com)
BBC News: Sudan opposition parties join SPLM election boycott
Thursday, 01 April 2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8599567.stm
Sudan opposition parties join SPLM election boycott
Nearly all opposition parties in Sudan have joined the southern SPLM in boycotting this month's presidential poll over fraud and security fears.

It is a major blow to the credibility of the 11-13 April election - the first national multi-party poll for 24 years, the BBC's James Copnall says.

The announcement comes after crisis talks hosted by US envoy Scott Gration.

President Omar al-Bashir, wanted for alleged war crimes in Darfur, now faces only one major challenger.

Veteran Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi confirmed that candidates from his Popular Congress Party would contest the poll.

But the Umma party of former Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, the Democratic Unionist Party and the Communist party have all said they will no longer participate.

The opposition parties and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) - which serves in a coalition at national level with President Omar al-Bashir - all believe the electoral process has been rigged in favour of his National Congress Party.

They say the registration process has been flawed, and their access to state media and rights to hold rallies restricted.

Click here to continue reading. [End of copy]
Sudan opposition parties join SPLM election boycott‎
APA - Apr 01, 2010
Nearly all Sudanese opposition parties have joined the southern SPLM in ... The BBC’s James Copnall in Khartoum says the boycott is a major blow to the credibility of the election - the first national multi-party poll for 24 years. The announcement comes after crisis talks hosted by US envoy Scott Gration ...

Sudan: Chief Electoral Affairs Officer of UNMIS urges journalists to report objectively and responsibly during the general elections
Sudan Watch - Feb 16, 2010
“It is incredibly important for journalists to verify information. They must not spread rumors and they should try to reflect the opinion of experts as well as the diversity of opinion within Sudanese society and I think in that way we can help these elections to be peaceful." - James Ray Kennedy, Chief Electoral Affairs Officer of UNMIS, 11 Feb 2010

AFP misquoted UN chief Ban Ki Moon - How a translation error led to an international incident
Sudan Watch - Feb 06, 2010

Reuters Handbook of Journalism - The 10 Absolutes of Reuters Journalism
Sudan Watch - Jul 10, 2009:
The 10 Absolutes of Reuters Journalism
Always hold accuracy sacrosanct
Always correct an error openly
Always strive for balance and freedom from bias
Always reveal a conflict of interest to a manager
Always respect privileged information
Always protect their sources from the authorities
Always guard against putting their opinion in a news story
Never fabricate or plagiarise
Never alter a still or moving image beyond the requirements of normal image enhancement
Never pay for a story and never accept a bribe

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Sudan's al-Bashir presents nomination application to election commission

Report from China View (Xinhua) by Xiong Tong, 12 January 2010:
Sudan's al-Bashir presents nomination application to election commission
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Tuesday presented a nomination application to the Sudanese National Elections Commission (NEC) to run for the presidential elections scheduled for April this year, the official SUNA news agency reported.

The Sudanese president handed over the nomination application with the presence of Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha and a large group of al-Bashir's supporters, according to the report.

Sudan President Bashir starts re-election bid

BBC News - James Copnall - ‎1 hour ago‎
Sudan leader Omar al-Bashir has been officially nominated to stand for president in April's election by his northern National Congress Party (NCP). ...
Terror in Sudan New York Times

Thursday, January 07, 2010

UK Foreign Office Minister Glenys Kinnock to visit Sudan

Poverty and rising violence are causing tension between southern and northern Sudan. Sudan's ambassador to London, Omar Muhammad Siddiq, says communities are arming themselves and are fighting "tribal wars", mainly over the competition for scarce resources.

South Sudan 'deteriorating'

The BBC's James Copnall in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, says the country is clearly at the start of a highly charged and risky 12 months.

However, he notes that unlike at the outset of previous crises, there is a heavy international presence in the country.

The military worth of the UN peacekeeping mission has yet to be tested, but nearly 10,000 military personnel are charged with keeping the peace, he says.

Sudan's ambassador to London, Omar Muhammad Siddiq, acknowledged that the situation in South Sudan was "deteriorating".

He said communities there were arming themselves and were fighting "tribal wars", mainly over the competition for scarce resources.

"The situation is not as good as we were expecting after the signature of the comprehensive peace agreement," he said.

However, he argued that the unrest would not affect the elections, in which he said parties and voters were preparing to participate.

British Foreign Office Minister Glenys Kinnock, who is due to visit Sudan, noted that it was one of the world's poorest countries.

"They are doing disastrously, and that is reflected in the terrible poverty and relentless suffering of the people," she said.

But she added that fully-blown conflict could still be averted.

"I think we still have time to ensure that we do see a peaceful, stable Sudan being built around the framework of an election and a referendum," she said.

"What we're asking is for the leadership of both sides, of the government of the South and the government of Sudan, [is] that they ensure that they talk together, they work together with the same motivation, which is to bring peace and security to Sudan."

See full story and video of UK Foreign Office Minister Glenys Kinnock at BBC News report 01:46 GMT 07 Jan 2010: Aid groups warn of Sudan civil war risk.
- - -

FULL TEXT: Report by Caritas; Christian Aid; Cordaid; Handicap International; International Rescue Committee (IRC); Oxfam; Save the Children Alliance; Tearfund; World Vision

Click here to read 07 Jan 2010 report entitled 'Rescuing the Peace in Southern Sudan'. [Thanks to ReliefWeb plus Associated Press report at The New York Times 07 Jan 2010 entitled Aid Groups Issue Warning on Southern Sudan]

Monday, December 07, 2009

South Sudan SPLM's Pagan Amum and deputy arrested by Sudanese police

Several senior southern Sudanese politicians have been arrested during a rally held today in Khartoum, sparking widespread anger. Hundreds of opposition protesters gathered despite their rally being banned.

Within hours protesters in two towns in the south had set alight offices of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP).

Yasir Arman, a senior member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), scuffled with police outside the National Assembly and was driven away to a police station, where other demonstrators gathered, a Reuters witness said.

The SPLM released a statement saying its Secretary General Pagan Amum and Sudan's state minister for interior Abbas Juma, an SPLM member, were also arrested.

The BBC's James Copnall, in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan says the argument over electoral laws and the crackdown on protesters show a deteriorating relationship between the NCP and its detractors.

After the arrests, south Sudan's president Salva Kiir contacted president Bashir, who promised to release all prisoners, said SPLM member Anne Itto. No one was immediately available for comment from the presidency.

Itto said the news sparked anger in the south, where attackers set fire to the NCP's headquarters in Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal state. She had no reports of injuries.

Secretary General of the SPLM, Pagan Amum said immediately after his release that the SPLM will continue to demonstrate until president Omar al Bashir starts fully to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the North and the South.

Pagan Amum first refused his release requesting for clarifications. After he went out from detention he spoke angrily about the beating of the Northern SPLM-leader Yassir Arman who had to be treated in the hospital. Pagan Amum said that Arman was okay after he received treatment.

Source: See reports here below from BBC, Reuters, Radio Dabanga, Sudan Tribune.

Protest rally in Khartoum, Sudan

Photo: Sudanese opposition supporters demonstrate against the government's electoral laws in the capital Khartoum, December 7, 2009. Riot police arrested thee senior members of south Sudan's main political party and more than 100 supporters who demonstrated outside Sudan's parliament on Monday despite an official ban, witnesses and officials said. (Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin)

From BBC News at 13:48 GMT, Monday, 7 December 2009 - excerpt:
Sudan SPLM arrests spark southern unrest
Several senior southern Sudanese politicians have been arrested during a rally, sparking widespread anger.

Among those held in Khartoum was the secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum.
Within hours protesters in two towns in the south had set alight offices of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP).

The SPLM joined a power-sharing government in 2005 to end 22 years of conflict between north and south Sudan.

But tensions have been rising between the SPLM and the NCP in recent months

'We want freedom'

Next year's vote will be the first presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 24 years.

Monday is the final day for voters to register for the election, and the government declared it a public holiday in an effort to encourage a good turnout.

But the SPLM and the NCP have failed to agree on changes to the election laws.

And about 20 opposition parties called for a gathering in front of the parliament building in the capital to demand electoral reform.

Hundreds of demonstrators turned out, watched by lines of armed police.

The AFP news agency reported that demonstrators marched through Khartoum and its neighbouring city Omdurman waving placards and chanting: "We want our freedom."

As the protest grew - with some reports estimating thousands of people had joined the rally - police fired tear gas and beat the protesters with batons.

Mr Amum was arrested along with his deputy Yasir Arman and other SPLM figures - with unconfirmed reports claiming dozens of protesters were also detained.

Following the arrests, protesters in the southern towns of Rumbek and Wau set fire to NPC offices.

Deteriorating relations

After the crackdown SPLM members accused the NCP of suppressing free speech.

But interior ministry officials said the protest was outlawed because the organisers had failed to apply for permission to hold the event.

The BBC's James Copnall, in Omdurman, says the argument over electoral laws and the crackdown on protesters show a deteriorating relationship between the NCP and its detractors. [...]
- - -

From Reuters by Andrew Heavens in Khartoum, Sudan 8:29 a.m. ET Dec. 7, 2009 - excerpt:
Senior southern figures arrested as Sudan bans rally
(KHARTOUM) - Riot police arrested thee senior members of south Sudan's main political party and more than 100 supporters who demonstrated outside Sudan's parliament Monday despite an official ban, witnesses and officials said.

Yasir Arman, a senior member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), scuffled with police outside the National Assembly and was driven away to a police station, where other demonstrators gathered, a Reuters witness said.

The SPLM released a statement saying its Secretary General Pagan Amum and Sudan's state minister for interior Abbas Juma, an SPLM member, were also arrested.

The SPLM is junior partner in the national coalition government formed by a 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of civil war between Sudan's north and south.

The SPLM and opposition parties had called the rally to demand democratic reforms ahead of next year's elections in a rare public challenge to President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's dominant northern National Congress Party (NCP). Sudanese authorities announced Sunday that the rally was banned.

Police beat protesters and onlookers outside parliament with batons as Arman was driven away with other SPLM members chanting "freedom."

Hundreds more banner-waving supporters gathered in the area and other parts of Khartoum's Omdurman suburb after the arrests and were dispersed by police using tear gas through the morning.

"The situation is brutal. More than 100 SPLM members have been arrested and many more other protesters have been detained," SPLM spokeswoman Keji Roman told Reuters.

After the arrests, south Sudan's president Salva Kiir contacted president Bashir, who promised to release all prisoners, said SPLM member Anne Itto. No one was immediately available for comment from the presidency.

Itto said the news sparked anger in the south, where attackers set fire to the NCP's headquarters in Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal state. She had no reports of injuries.

Senior NCP official Ibrahim Ghandour told Reuters the protest had not been banned by his party, but by Sudan's Interior Ministry which declared it illegal because organizers had failed to apply for permission to hold the event.

"The National Congress Party is not against democratic action including protests and rallies," he said. "We hope the people will be released immediately."

An official in the opposition Umma party had said Sunday the ban showed the NCP was not serious about letting dissenting voices take part in elections, scheduled for April 2010. [...]
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From Radio Dabanga, December 7, 2009:
SPLM: ‘More demonstrations in Sudan to come’
KHARTOUM (07 Dec.) – The SPLM will continue to organize demonstrations against the ruling National Congress Party of President Omar al Bashir. Secretary General of the SPLM, Pagan Amum said immediately after his release that the SPLM will continue to demonstrate until president Omar al Bashir starts fully to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the North and the South. Pagan Amum first refused his release requesting for clarifications. After het went out from detention he spoke angrily about the beating of the Northern SPLM-leader Yassir Arman who had to be treated in the hospital. Pagan Amum said that Arman was okay after he received treatment. Asked whether Pagan Amum is going to negotiate with the government he answered angrily: ‘Which government? What do you mean with government? We have no negotiations at all. We continue to demonstrate until the NCP implements the CPA’. The NCP came into power after a military coup in 1989 while the country was ravaged by civil war.

In 2005 The NCP and SPLM signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) after almost twenty years of civil war. The agreement included sharing of wealth and power and the right of self determination for Southern Sudan to be decided in a referendum in 2012. The border issues between North and South (Abyei) is one of the most contagious disputes between the parties. The outcome of the census (population count) was highly disputed by the SPLM and also the current voter’s registration in Northern Sudan is under severe critics. The opposition is almost excluded from having any influence of the ‘electoral processes. Also the fifty percent share from oil revenues is not fully paid out to the South, according to the SPLM.
Further reading

See 100+ comments at Sudan Tribune's article published today:  Sudan arrests SPLM SG Pagan Amum and Yasir Arman

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