Security Situation in Darfur April 27 & 29 - UNAMID continues to follow developments in South Darfur

Darfur/UNAMID Daily Media Brief 2010-04-29
From United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, April 30, 2010/APO:

Security situation in Darfur
The security situation in Darfur remains relatively calm, but unpredictable. UNAMID continues to follow developments in South Darfur.

UNAMID military forces conducted 96 patrols including routine, short range, long range, night, and Humanitarian escort patrols, covering 74 villages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period.

UNAMID police advisors also conducted 134 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID DJSR Anyidoho begins farewell tour of Darfur
As he approaches the end of his tenure as UNAMID’s Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR/P), Henry Anyidoho today began his farewell tour with a visit to Nyala, South Darfur.

Upon arriving at UNAMID’s regional office in Nyala, the DJSR/P first addressed the Mission’s personnel, expressing his gratitude for their support during his term. Later, in a special ceremony, he was honored with a military guard and presented with plaques of recognition from each of the Nigerian, Chinese, Bangladeshi and Pakistani battalions stationed in the region.

Next week, the DJSR/P plans to visit UNAMID’s offices in El Geneina and Zalingei in West Darfur.

DJSR Anyidoho served with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). He was appointed to his present post in August 2007, when UNAMID was established. During his tenure, the Mission saw the deployment of its uniformed and civilian personnel reach over 85% and witnessed immense strides made in the Darfur peace process.

Before arriving in Darfur, Henry Anyidoho, a decorated retired General from the Ghanaian army, served in peacekeeping missions around the world, including Lebanon, Cambodia, Liberia and Rwanda. He also headed the UN Assistance Cell that provided strategic level advice to AMIS.

Darfur/UNAMID Daily Media Brief 2010-04-27
From United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, April 28, 2010/APO:

Security situation
The security situation in Darfur remains relatively calm, but unpredictable. UNAMID continues to follow developments in South Darfur.

UNAMID military forces conducted 99 patrols including routine, short range, long range, night, and Humanitarian escort patrols, covering 98 villages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period. UNAMID police advisors also conducted 126 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID Police Commissioner ends his tour of duty
UNAMID Police Commissioner Micheal Fryer of South Africa has ended his tour of duty after serving the Mission for two years. He was appointed by the Chairperson of the African Union, in consultation with the United Nations Secretary-General, in November 2007 to head the police component of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur.

Commissioner Fryer was responsible for implementing all aspects of the UNAMID police mandate, providing greater security and stability to the people of Darfur. He has undertaken several challenging tasks since the inception of the Mission, including building confidence for the people of Kalma internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp, organizing long range patrols from El Obeid to El Fasher, a distance of more than 700 kilometers bringing vital Mission equipment and vehicles. The Commissioner also led long distance patrols in and around villages and IDP camps throughout the region in order to build confidence with the local community, establish relations with the local police and enhance security.

Before his appointment, Mr. Fryer headed his country’s police force’s Specialized Operation Division for several years and, prior to this, served as Commander of the South African Special Task Force.

Human Rights workshop on peacekeeping operations begins in Geneva
UNAMID senior officials yesterday joined representatives from over 20 other agencies and peacekeeping operations in Geneva for the start of a three-day seminar on the integration of human rights in the work of UN police and military components in peace operations.

The workshop aims at providing a forum for the exchange of ideas on how to enhance cooperation between Human Rights and uniformed components in such areas as monitoring, advocacy, capacity building and the protection of civilians.

- - -

On Friday 23 April in S. Darfur, W. Sudan:

50 killed, 80 injured in Rizeigat-SPLA clashes

Fifty Killed in Rizeigat-SPLA Clashes
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service:

Monday, 26 April 2010 - (Al-Rizeigat) – More than 50 people were killed and over 80 others injured following clashes between the SPLA and the Rizeigat community in southern Darfur.

According to Reuters, an SPLA soldier killed 5 officials from the National Congress Party in Raja, Western Bahr al Ghazal state during the five days of voting which began on April 11.

The commissioner of Al-Rizeigat, Al-Hadi al-Mahdi, confirmed to SRS on Sunday [25 April] that there had been clashes in the area.

[Al-Hadi al-Mahdi]: “Yesterday, I went to that area myself and I have seen a number of people injured. This situation is very dangerous and it might worsen if the authorities do not intervene to stop it. We are definitely against such actions. The SPLA attacked Al-Rizeigat, particularly in the Al-Balballa area which is around 286 kilometers south of Al-Deain town. A lot of people died and others were affected in other ways following the attack. This has been going on for three days now, today being the fourth. Yesterday it was a bit calm. What we know is that from Al-Rizeigat around 58 people died and 80 others were injured. We do not know how many were killed or injured from the SPLA side.”

SRS also spoke to the SPLM secretary in Southern Darfur who confirmed the incidents.

Suleiman Eshak spoke to SRS by phone on Sunday from Nyala.

[Suleiman Eshak]: “We got information yesterday that there had been some clashes between SPLA forces and the Rizeigat. We haven’t yet found out what exactly caused the fighting but one thing for sure is the fact that both sides have lost some of their men. We have sent a delegation to the areas to investigate and come up with a report. We have not yet been able to confirm the exact number of persons killed.”

Eshak urged the communities living in the border between Darfur and southern Sudan to live together peacefully.

- - -

Ban Jadid, S. Darfur, W. Sudan:

82 killed, 25 wounded following clashes in Al Wihda

Eighty Killed in Darfur Fighting
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service:

Friday, 23 April 2010 - (Rumbek) – At least eighty people were killed and several others injured in Ban Jadid following recent clashes in Al-Wihda payam in South Darfur state.

A citizen from Ban-Jadid who spoke to SRS under conditions of anonymity said that about 82 people have been killed.

[Voice 1 Arabic]: “These clashes were tribal fights which started at a water point between a few people and then grew and became a big fight, there has been some attacks here and there. So around 82 were killed while 25 were wounded. The attacks started yesterday at around 6.30 in the morning until around 4.30 in the evening.”

The commissioner of Al-Wehda payam, Al-Nour Jabir spoke to SRS from Darfur on Wednesday. He said the situation is now under control.

[Al-Nour Jabir]: “There had been some clashes between two groups in the Ban Jadid area in which some people lost their lives while other were wounded. But two days ago, the security forces took control of the area and ever since no clashes have been reported. There was also a committee formed to investigate on the cause of the fighting. There is also another committee which will assess the amount of damage caused.”

The commissioner of Al-Wehda payam, Al-Nour Jabir was speaking to SRS on Wednesday.

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Related reports

SPLA clashes with South Darfur tribal elements in border area
From Sudan Tribune - Sunday 25 April 2010:

April 24, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Southern Sudan army and armed cattle herders from Rizeigat tribe clashed today in the border area between Western Bahr el-Ghazal and South Darfur, amid reports of human causalities. [...]

17 killed in clashes between SPLA, Rizeigat tribe in south Darfur
From Xinhua - Sunday, 25 April 2010 - via Global Times:

17 civilians were killed on Saturday and 11 others wounded in armed clashes between Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the military arm of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), and Rizeigat tribe in South Darfur State in western Sudan.

"These confrontations, which took place today, came as a result of provocations by the SPLA, which infuriated members of the Rizeigat tribe at the area and pushed them to confront elements of the SPLA", Mohamed Iyssa Elaio, Chairman of Rizeigat tribe's Shura (consultation) council, told Xinhua. [...]

Southern Sudan forces attacked near Darfur: SPLA
From AFP – 3 days ago

KHARTOUM — Southern Sudanese forces have been attacked by government troops, the spokesman for the Sudan People's Liberation Army said on Saturday, but the army denied having anything to do with the operation.

"A company of 120 SPLA soldiers was attacked on Friday night by armed men wearing uniforms of the northern (central government) army that was heavily equipped," Major General Kuol Deim Kuol of the former southern rebels said.

The incident occurred in Raja district in the southern state of Western Bahr al-Ghazal, which borders the war-torn western region of Darfur. [...]

Head of Darfur authority urges to deal seriously with tribal fighting‎
From Sudan Tribune - Friday, 23 April 2010:

April 22, 2010 (KHARTOUM) - Minni Minnawi, Sudanese Senior Presidential Assistant and head of Darfur transitional authority urged the government of South Darfur state to use the necessary means to stop tribal fighting in South Darfur.

During a meeting held in Nyala on Wednesday with the South Darfur caretaker governor Omer Abdel Jabar, the head of Darfur transitional authority asked the state government to act seriously in order stop the fighting between the local tribes.

Clashes between between Rizeigat and Al-Saada tribes in Wohda district over cattle rustling during this week resulted in the killing of more than 50 people and the burning to different villages. The state authorities were accused of not reacting swiftly to stop the tribal fighting. [...]

Clashes kill over 52 in Darfur
From AfricaNews.com Thursday, 22 April 2010 by Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya:

At least 52 people were killed in Sudan after clashes between two rival tribes in the volatile southern region. The clashes between Rizeigat and al-Sada tribes erupted on Tuesday at various areas, some 61 kilometres north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State.

Reports said that the clashes resulted in the death of 40 members of al-Sada tribe and other 12 members of Rizeigat tribe.

Fifty-five others were wounded in the volatile southern region and the fighting was going on more than five hours, Khartoum’s Al Ahdath daily reported.

Clashes between rival tribes happened repeatedly in south Sudan because of disagreements over natural resources and other crimes. [...]

Over 50 killed in renewed Darfur tribal clashes
From Xinhua - via Daily Nation - Wednesday, 21 April 2010:

PHOTO: Fighters of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Khalil Ibrahim in this picture taken in 2008. The rebel group signed a temporary ceasefire deal with Sudan breaking a standstill in the Darfur peace process. Photo/REUTERS

(KHARTOUM/DOHA, Wednesday) - Fifty-two civilians have been killed and 55 others wounded in renewed tribal clashes in Sudan’s South Darfur State, Khartoum media reported Wednesday.

“Violent clashes broke out Tuesday between Rizeigat and al-Sada tribes at various areas, some 61 kilometres north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State,” Khartoum’s Al Ahdath daily reported.

The clashes, which involved heavy weapons and lasted for more than five hours, resulted in the killing of 40 members of al-Sada tribe and 12 members of Rizeigat tribe, according to the newspaper. [...]

52 civilians killed in renewed tribal clashes in Darfur
From China Daily (Xinhua) Wednesday, 21 April 2010:

KHARTOUM - Fifty-two civilians have been killed and 55 others wounded in renewed tribal clashes in Sudan's South Darfur State, Khartoum media reported Wednesday.

"Violent clashes broke out Tuesday between Rizeigat and al-Sada tribes at various areas, some 61 kilometers north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State," Khartoum's Al Ahdath daily reported.

The clashes, which involved heavy weapons and lasted for more than five hours, resulted in the killing of 40 members of al-Sada tribe and 12 members of Rizeigat tribe, according to the newspaper.

In the meantime, Khartoum's Al Ray Al A'm daily quoted commissioner of Wohda in South Darfur State as saying that two security committees of the state and Wohda are present at the sites and that the situation has been under control. [...]

Over 50 killed after tribal clashes in South Darfur
From Sudan Tribune - Thursday, 22 April 2010:

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Over Fifty civilians have been killed and dozens wounded in renewed clashes between two nomad tribes in Sudan’s South Darfur State.

The clashes broke out over cattle rustling on Tuesday between Rizeigat and Al-Saada tribes in Al-Ban Jadid, Wohda district, some 61 kilometers north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State .

The clashes between the two Arab tribes, which involved heavy weapons and lasted for more than five hours, resulted in the killing of more than 50 people from both sides. However there are contradictory reports about the number of victims from each side.

Al-Sudani daily newspaper reported that Rizeigat armed elements used trucks equipped with heavy machine guns to attack and burn three villages near Al-Ban Jadid.

The Rizeigat who are living in northern Darfur and Chad are largely involved in the ongoing conflict in Darfur where they fight against the rebel groups. They clashed in the past against the Messeriya and the Turgum ethnic groups, both also are nomad groups, for the control of water sources and land.

In the meantime, Khartoum’s Al Ray Al A’m daily quoted commissioner of Wohda in South Darfur State as saying that two security committees of the state and Wohda are present at the sites and that the situation has been under control. [...]

Kass county commissioner issues decree on disarmament

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Wednesday, 21 April 2010:

(Kaas, Darfur) – The commissioner of Kaas county in south Darfur state on Monday issued a decree on disarmament to be carried out in the state.

Most citizens supported the move but expressed concerns over the implementation process.

[Abdallah]: “Despite the fact that this came late, we still believe it is a very good initiative. Our only concern now becomes the implementation of that order. But some questions are raised following the commissioner’s decision, such as why would he make the decision now? Could there be motives behind it that will work for his interests? For example, may be he has done that because of the elections thus he might want the citizens to see that he cares about them. So why now after the suffering that the people have undergone”

However, some citizens did not support the move saying that the exercise will not have any positive impact as some areas are excluded.

[Mohammed]: “I think they are not serious with this order, because they are suppose to disarm all the areas not only Kaas, and also they do not search the houses, so if someone is hiding a gun in the house and just walks around with it at night then do then how can that be serious? If they are planning to seriously implement this, then that is good for the citizens, but if they only expect the people not to walk with guns in the streets without planning to search the houses then who is suppose to disarm the citizens?”

Those were citizens of Kaas county, in south Darfur state speaking to SRS on Wednesday from Darfur.

Thousands in Kass in plight after attacks on Darfur villages
Radio Dabanga - via Ethiopian Review - 2nd April 2010:

Thousands of villagers have gathered in Kass amid fear of attacks and fighting in South Darfur. One observer estimated that 7000 families are in the area, but an aid worker told Radio Dabanga that the Humanitarian Aid Commission puts the number at 14,000 househoulds and 43,000 individuals in 16 locations.

An UN inter-agency team has conducted an assessment in the area but a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Khartoum could not provide details. The number is unconfirmed.

In all, some of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) came about 32 days ago but most came 8 days ago. The refugees are mainly from the Misseriya tribe but also include some from Beni Hassan, Houtia, Fur, Gimr and Taalba. They came to Kass after clashes between Misseriya and Nuwayba, a camel herding subtribe of the Rizeigat Arabs.

Misseriya IDPs described the attacks as undertaken by the government. They said that some attackers were wearing uniforms. In Bulbul, 30 kilometres from Kass, villagers fled when they heard and saw the oncoming attackers. They also witnessed attackers shoot some men and women and drive over bodies with vehicles. Minister of Defence Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein appointed an investigation committee to determine whether the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been involved in the tribal clashes between the Nuwayba and Misseriya. There are no Nuwayba IDPs in Kass.

John Ratcliffe, a spokesman for the UN OCHA, said that an UN inter-agency team and partners have conducted an assessment of the situation and were delivering some nutritional and food aid. Likewise, a local source said today that CARE-Switzerland in partnership with UNICEF provided some nutrition kits to children but there were not enough for everyone.

Tearfund is planning to distribute shelters but the Humanitarian Aid Commission will not permit them to set up shelters until a location for an IDP camp is designated.

The total IDP population of Darfur is typically estimated to be 2.7 million. (Radio Dabanga)

S. Sudan: SPLA denies killing NCP members in Raja County - 'Sloppy reporting has fueled misperceptions of election-related killings'

Noteworthy Quote - re media standards

"I urge all the news media, election observers and agents, and political parties to be responsible in their reporting of incidents. They should confirm the facts of such incidents before making allegations that cannot be substantiated or supported with credible evidence, and those failing to do so should be held accountable."
- Cde. Dr. Anne Itto, SPLM Southern Sector deputy secretary general, Thursday 15 April 2010

Source: See report here below.
- - -

Sudan Watch Editor's Note: On Thursday 15 April 2010, while scrolling through a website called i On SUDAN, I noticed a report (marked as 'unverified') relating to some news reports (listed here below) which I held back from chronicling here at Sudan Watch until the picture became more clear. Here is a copy of the report (red highlighting is mine) followed by my collection of related reports, for future reference and studying at a later date.

Copy of report published at website i On SUDAN:
Sloppy reporting has fueled misperceptions of election-related killings
Location: Juba, Sudan
Date: 15 April 2010 01:45
Report description:

SPLM Headquarters: Southern Sector Deputy Secretary General responds to inaccurate media reports of SPLM-linked election violence

JUBA (15 Apr) – On Thursday, Cde. Dr. Anne Itto, SPLM Southern Sector deputy secretary general, released the following statement after several media reports have incorrectly reported claims from opposition party leaders that their members were killed at the hands of security and/or military personnel at the direction of or in allegiance to SPLM.

"On April 15th, several news sources, including a reputable international wire service - Reuters - reported that nine (9) people were killed in W. Bahr el Ghazal state. After consulting with security officials and other prominent members of the state government, I was able to confirm that five (5) people were in fact killed in Timsah payam of Raja county. An SPLA soldier returned to his home to find his wife with another man. The soldier killed the man and relatives of the slain man, upon hearing of the incident, rushed to the scene and killed four other people including the husband of the women. This was purely a crime of passion that resulted in revenge killing. It was not politically motivated. I wish to offer my condolences to the families who lost loved ones as a result of the terrible act of violence.

“Without checking their facts, Reuters inaccurately reported a claim by NCP that among the nine dead in Raja, included the local president of NCP. I spoke to him from Wau about two hours ago and I can assure you that he is alive and well.

“A criminal investigation has been opened regarding these killings, which are not election-related. Such information has been independently verified by numerous sources to include election observers, and local police and government officials. Attempts by NCP to link SPLM to this crime of passion is irresponsible. It is also irresponsible for journalists to include such accusations in their reporting without exercising discretion over their validity.

"In another example, on April 13th Lam Akol went to the media to claim that two of his supporters in Unity State had been killed by SPLM soldiers, and implied that this was done in coordination with SPLM. This claim has since been independently investigated and it turns out that it was scuffle between some groups and we have unconfirmed reports of injuries but no deaths.

"Why did the Sudan Tribune run so fast with such an allegation without confirming whether or not what Lam Akol is saying is true or false? In fact, the unnamed journalist conveniently writes that "The report could not immediately be confirmed by independent sources." Why was this published if it could not be independently verified? This is more like tabloid journalism than news, but unfortunately it is being taken as fact by their readers.

"The media needs to do more than simply publish claims by our opponents about deaths and violence, and that such acts are linked to SPLM. They need to independently confirm these reports. Anything less is equivalent to supporting the spread of rumors and innuendos.

"This type storytelling journalism will only lead to misperception about the real situation on the ground and foment tensions and threaten stability of the South. I urge all the news media, election observers and agents, and political parties to be responsible in their reporting of incidents. They should confirm the facts of such incidents before making allegations that cannot be substantiated or supported with credible evidence, and those failing to do so should be held accountable."

"The SPLA, police service, intelligence units and other security organs of the state are controlled and directed by the state – not SPLM, the political party. Our party is a non-violent democratic movement who has fought for decades for the individual freedoms that so many Southern Sudanese are enjoying today. Furthermore, the actions of rogue security agents and/or military personnel should not reflect official government policy, let alone SPLM policy.

"To imply that the political leadership of SPLM is actively colluding with security and military officials on the ground is a claim that has not been substantiated with any proof. We do not have SPLM political agents stationed with security orchestrating a mass suppression of the opposition as has been implied by our opponents and the news media.

"We support the free and fair conduct of elections in all of Sudan and continue to fight for the marginalized people and all Sudanese through our implementation of the CPA and the leadership of a legislature and government that is comprised of not one political party, but many.

- - -

Related reports

Ref: On Thursday 15 April 2010 several news sources reported that nine (9) people were killed in W. Bahr el Ghazal state. According to Dr Itto's report above, five (5) people were in fact killed in Timsah payam of Raja county in Western Bahr-El-Ghazal state, southern Sudan

SPLA denies killing NCP members in Raja County
From Sudan Tribune by Manyang Mayom

Friday 16 April 2010:

April 15, 2010 (RUMBEK) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) official spokesman Maj-Gen. Kuol Diem Kuol has strongly denied SPLA involvement in the death of five members belonging to the National Congress Party (NCP) who were killed in Western Bahr-El-Ghazal state at Al-Timsha Payam of Raja county yesterday by an SPLA armed man who appeared in military uniform.

UN-sponsored Radio Miraya FM-101 broadcast this news item on Thursday, quoting NCP official Agnes Lukudu, chief of the party in South Sudan, who claimed that five members of her party were killed by SPLA soldiers at the polling canter in Al-Timsha payam of Raja county of Wau.

Maj –Gen. Kuol Deim Kuol denied her version of the the story saying that "this story was reported by NCP – what happened was an adultery case, it has nothing to do with election and it has nothing to do with politics. Somebody called Abdul found someone having committed adultery with is wife in his house during the midday – this is criminal issue and people should not mix crimes with politics."

"I don’t know what is happening to the people? Why everybody who has made sure to have failed in this election holds SPLA as a scapegoat? Those of who you take SPLA harassment as a solution are making a great mistake –it is a shame to take SPLA harassment for defeat in election and I want to tell them that they must be courageous toward their election – SPLA is not harassing any candidates," he noted.

The SPLA spokesman was speaking to our correspondent by phone from Juba. Along with his message the SPLM Deputy Secretary General Dr. Anne Itto on Thursday issued a strongly worded rebuke of media that had publicized this incident. She said that five rather than nine people were killed and added, “Without checking their facts, Reuters inaccurately reported a claim by NCP that among the nine dead in Raja, included the local president of NCP. I spoke to him from Wau about two hours ago and I can assure you that he is alive and well.”

“A criminal investigation has been opened regarding these killings, which are not election-related. Such information has been independently verified by numerous sources to include election observers, and local police and government officials. Attempts by NCP to link SPLM to this crime of passion is irresponsible. It is also irresponsible for journalists to include such accusations in their reporting without exercising discretion over their validity,” stated Itto.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Raja County Luwis Ramadan has confirmed that the killings were driven by personal motivation and not political. The Raja county official confirmed that the killings happened five days ago and he questioned the NCP leader’s motive for withholding the announcement until now well after the incident is over in people’s minds.

SPLM state secretary spokesman Cde James Deng Dimo affirmed that it has been confirmed that at least five men were killed in Raga County of Western Bahr-El-Ghazal State in Timsha Payam in Raja County. Deng explained that the fighting that resulted in the killings had no connection with the elections process nor even occurred near to any polling station there in Al-Timsha.

The official explained that fighting started when a solider who had spent six months away from his family returned back from where he was deployed and caught his wife with another man. And then the man who was away began stabbing with a knife the man who had taken his wife. When the news reached the relatives of the man who was killed, they began by cocking their guns and running to the place where their relative was killed.

He added that they began by firing guns at those who were there until they killed five people. "I have to repeat that the fight has no connection with the elections or something to do with political; it is between the military men over a woman."

Dimo concluded that this incident has not affected the voting in Al-Timsha.

In a separate report, SPLA spokesman Kuol Deim Kuol denied a report that he suggested was spread by a woman who is on the election staff in Northern Bhar-El-Ghazal state (NBGS). Her statement broadcast on Miraya FM had suggested that SPLA has arrested the representative of a political party in NBGS. "First of all I want to underline, SPLA did not and will not arrest any official staff and we did not arrest any party official in NBGS."

Kuol explained that "whom we have arrested are SPLA officers and NCOs plus other enlisted personnel who are being misused by the independent candidate in NBGS."

"There are officers and NCOs and men being used by an independent candidate Deng Aturjong, and Athuar Akueng plus other independent candidates in NBGS — those guy are using SPLA soldiers to campaign for them."

Maj-Gen. Kuol asserted that participation in politics is not allowed in the SPLA and so under the present circumstances the SPLA division commander in Wunyiek asked approval to arrest those soldiers involved. The SPLA general headquarters in Juba granted him approval to arrest those soldiers. (ST)

Sudan election violence kills at least 5 in south
From The Associated Press (Khartoum, Sudan)
Thursday, 15 April 2010 - excerpt:

A statement from the ruling National Congress party said southern soldiers killed five of its supporters Wednesday in the southern province of Western Bahr el-Ghazal. A party spokesman said nine were killed. The discrepancy could not immediately be reconciled.

Nine killed in south Sudan
From Agence Presse France (Khartoum, Sudan)
Thursday, 15 April 2010 - via Capital FM Kenya:

KHARTOUM, Apr 15 - Sudan's southern army said nine people were killed, including a member of President Omar al-Beshir's National Congress Party, in violence on Thursday that was unrelated to nationwide elections.

Lam Akol, a candidate for the leadership of south Sudan, had said on Tuesday that two voters had been killed after the southern army opened fire at a polling station at Riak in the southern Unity State.

But the southern army said the killings actually happened in the remote village of Temsah, according to Kuol Deim Kuol, spokesman for the former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).

The dead, who also included seven civilians and a soldier, were slain as a result of a dispute about "adultery" that had "nothing to do with politics or elections," he added.

"A member of the NCP has committed adultery with the wife of a soldier of SPLM in the home of the soldier" who killed both of them, Kuol said.

Coming on the last day of landmark presidential, legislative and local elections, the incident led to clashes in which six NCP members were killed, before the soldier who had been cheated on committed suicide, he added.

Killings, harassment mar last day of Sudan vote
From Reuters by Skye Wheeler and Opheera McDoom
Thursday, 15 April 2010 8:59am EDT:

JUBA/KHARTOUM, Sudan (Reuters) - Sudan's ruling party said on Thursday that the southern army had killed nine people, including at least five of its officials, stoking tensions during voting in the first open elections in 24 years.

Oil-producing Sudan entered the last of a five days of presidential and legislative polls that mark a key test of stability for Africa's largest country, emerging from decades of civil war and preparing for a 2011 southern referendum on independence.

Voting has been largely peaceful, despite logistical problems and reported harassment of independent and opposition candidates.

Agnes Lokudu, head of the northern-dominated National Congress Party (NCP) in semi-autonomous south Sudan said the region's separate army had targeted and murdered at least five of its party officials and four other people earlier this week.
South Sudan's army said it was an individual crime of passion by one of their soldiers who had found the local NCP chief in bed with his wife.

"At night some (southern army) soldiers came to the home of the president of the National Congress Party in Raja, and killed him and eight other people, Lokudu said.

Raja county is in Western Bahr al-Ghazal state in a remote part of south Sudan. The attack was earlier this week.

On Thursday southern Sudanese observers said security forces had removed 19 monitors from polling stations, assaulting one.

Analysts said the violence was a worrying sign of rising tensions as the polls enter the crucial stage of counting, which begins on Friday. Results are due by April 20.

"The coming days are really when things are going to potentially get heated," said Maggie Fick, an analyst from the U.S.-based Enough project.

"Maybe these are isolated incidents but the last thing we need is out of control security personnel and that could easily happen in the coming stages."

The ex-southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) head Salva Kiir, is likely to retain his title of south Sudan president, vital ahead of a January 2011 southern vote on independence which many expect to result in secession.

A wave of boycotts by political parties in much of the north left little doubt the NCP's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir would win the national presidential elections. Facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes in Darfur, he hopes a victory would legitimize his rule.

Darfur's U.N.-African Union peacekeepers (UNAMID) confirmed that four of its South African police component were abducted in the western region wracked by a seven-year uprising.

On Thursday a group purporting to be the kidnappers of the two men and two women told Reuters they wanted a ransom of around $450,000 but gave no further details.

HARASSMENT OF COMPETITION

But in both north and south Sudan, the two dominant parties have been rattled by competition from independent or opposition candidates in some of the simultaneous elections for state and national parliaments and 24 state governors.

Many opposition and independent candidates have complained of harassment by authorities in both the south and north.

"There has been intimidation against supporters who are being told if they support me they will be arrested, that after the general elections are over they will kill supporters of the independent candidates," said Adil Senderi, an independent candidate for the largely separate southern Sudan parliament.

Senderi was just one of many independent candidates, opposition groups and Sudanese election monitors decrying what they said was an attempt to alter the outcome of the vote by ruling powers in both the north and south.

The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies said "systemic mechanisms to confuse the electorate and hinder engagement, such as the switching of symbols and manipulation of the registration list, are beginning to emerge."

In Khartoum, two members of youth activism group Girifna said they were beaten by NCP officials on Wednesday.

"They were beating us and we were begging the police around the voting station for help -- but they did not intervene," Nagla Sid Ahmed told Reuters.

International observers from the Carter Center and the European Union cannot comment until after the elections, But former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has made largely positive comments about the voting process.

Sudan ruling party says nine members killed in south
From Reuters CANADA - Thursday, 15 April 2010 3:36am EDT
(Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Michael Roddy)
JUBA, Sudan - Sudan's ruling party said Thursday that the southern army had killed nine of its officials during the first open elections in 24 years...

Sudan ruling party says nine killed in south
From Reuters AlertNet - Thursday, 15 April 2010 10:54:01 GMT - full report:
(Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Robert Woodward) - Source: Reuters (Adds detail, southern army comments, clarifies casualties)

JUBA, Sudan, April 15 (Reuters) - Sudan's ruling party said on Thursday the southern army had killed at least five of its officials and four other people during the first open elections in 24 years.

Agnes Lokudu, head of the northern-dominated National Congress Party in semi-autonomous south Sudan, had earlier said all nine killed were party officials, and that the murders were politically motivated.

The south Sudanese army (SPLA) said the deaths were the result of a crime of passion by one of its soldiers.

"At night some (southern army) soldiers came to the home of the president of the National Congress Party in Raja, and killed him and eight other people," Lokudu said.

Raja county is in Western Bahr al-Ghazal state in a remote part of south Sudan.

Sudan's elections entered the last day of a five-day voting period on Thursday and have been largely free from major violence. Opposition boycotts in much of the north left little competition for incumbent President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

But tension has been high in the south between parties and independents opposing the SPLM who have complained of arrests and harassment.

Lokudu said the killings happened some days ago but that people in the area had been too scared to report them.

Because most people voted for the NCP "the (army) got very angry and they shot him (the local president)," Lokudu said.

The southern army said one SPLA soldier had caught the NCP's top official in the village of Tensah in Raja county committing adultery with his wife, so he shot them both and six other "Arabs" who tried to stop him.

"This is clearly an adultery case and nothing to do with elections and politics. The NCP is just trying to politicise it," said SPLA spokesman Kuol Diem Kuol.

The ex-rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) dominates the southern government and its leader Salva Kiir, who is also south Sudan's president, is likely to win the presidential vote in the semi-autonomous region.

Sudanese are voting in presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections supposed to transform the oil producer into a democracy, a key part of a 2005 north-south peace deal which ended more than two decades of civil war.

Under the accord, southern Sudanese will also vote in a January 2011 referendum on independence. (Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Robert Woodward)

Sudan ruling party says nine members killed in south
From Reuters UK - Thursday, 15 April 2010 8:34am BST
(Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Michael Roddy):
JUBA, Sudan - Sudan's ruling party said on Thursday that the southern army had killed nine of its officials during the first open elections in 24 years...

Sudan 'poll shooting' kills nine
From Al Jazeera (Al Jazeera and Agencies)
Thursday, 15 April 2010 - excerpt:

Speaking as the five-day presidential, parliamentary and local polls came to an end on Thursday, Agnes Lokudu, the head of the National Congress Party in south Sudan, blamed the killing on the region's local military.

"Three days ago at night some southern army soldiers came to the home of the president of the National Congress Party (NCP) in Raja, and killed him and eight other members of the NCP," Lokuda said.

Lokudu said the killings in Western Bahr al-Ghazal state were motivated by anger that many people in the area had voted for the NCP.

"This was a passionate crime to do with a wife - a feud that led to a shooting between the husband and lover," Suzanne Jambo, the head of the SPLM's external relations office, said. "This is not political."



The NCP claims that nine of its members were killed by southern army soldiers in election violence [Reuters]

Report: Sudanese elections turn deadly
From United Press International (Khartoum, Sudan)
Thursday, 15 April 2010 - excerpt:

Sudanese newspapers indicate nine members of the National Congress Party were killed in south Sudan, a report disputed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

Newspapers in Khartoum Thursday quoted NCP officials as saying, "(The) killing was committed by a member of the SPLA in the wake of altercations on the polling process," China's government-run news agency, Xinhua, reported.

"Nine NCP leading members were killed on Tuesday at Tumsah administrative unit in Raja ... in south Sudan after altercations with a member of the SPLA, the military arm of Sudan People's Liberation Movement," al-Ray al-A'm newspaper reported Thursday.

Xinhua said an SPLA military official disputed the incident.

"Such incident has never taken place. It is a fabricated and baseless story," the source told Xinhua. "The fabricated killing story comes as part of political harassment and it is an extension of a series of accusations by the ruling party to distort the SPLA and SPLM."

No incidents of violence were reported Thursday, the last day of polling in Sudan's general elections.

[Note from Sudan Watch Ed: It seems UPI has deleted its report and replaced it with another entitled "Ban applauds Sudan elections"]

Electoral Violence As Sudan Polls Close
From Enough Project at www.enoughproject.org
By Amanda Hsiao, Thursday 15 April 2010 - excerpt:

As five days of intense balloting for hundreds of government seats across 16,000 polling centers came to a close today in Sudan, simmering tensions, a reminder of the tremendous potential for violence that still remains, began to emerge in the largely peaceful exercise.

Violence broke out in the westernmost corner of South Sudan, where soldiers in the South Sudanese army, or SPLA, shot and killed nine individuals, five of whom were officials of the ruling party, the NCP. The motivations for the killings are unclear—the SPLA claims it was an act of personal vengeance—but the timing of the act, as voters were going to the polling stations to vote between the two political rivals, should not be overlooked. [...]

Fighting also broke out at a polling center in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, in South Sudan. According to an undisclosed source, SPLA soldiers clashed with locals at a voting station and nine independent candidates were arrested. On the same day, an SPLM candidate reportedly interfered with the ballot boxes. [...]

- - -

Ref: On Tuesday 13 April 2010, Lam Akol went to the media to claim that two of his supporters in Unity State, southern Sudan had been killed by SPLM soldiers, and implied that this was done in coordination with SPLM

Two voters killed, one candidate wounded in South Sudan: opposition leader
From English.news.cn - Wednesday, 14 April 2010:

KHARTOUM, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Two voters were killed and a candidate was wounded in the Unity State in South Sudan on Tuesday, the third polling day in Sudan's general elections, an opposition leader said.

"Two voters were killed and a candidate was wounded when the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers opened fire on the voters at a polling station in the Unity State," Lam Akol, the chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), told Xinhua here on Tuesday.

The SPLA is the military arm of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the dominant party in South Sudan.

Akol, the only candidate contesting against SPLM Chairman Salva Kiir Mayardit for the post of South Sudan government president, went on saying that "the SPLA opened fire randomly, which resulted in the deaths of two voters and injury of one candidate."

Akol slammed at the SPLM, saying "the ministers and commissioners belonging to the SPLM and SPLA are intervening in the polling operations and threatening the citizens."

He added that commissioners of western and eastern Bahral- Ghazal states took the ballot boxes to their homes.

He called on Sudan's National Elections Commission (NEC) to take necessary measures to protect the voters and prevent the harassment made by the SPLM supporters.

No comment so far has been made by the South Sudan government or the SPLM on the incident.

The former rebel SPLM in South Sudan signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with Khartoum in 2005 to end a two-decade civil war between the north and the south, and has become a partner of the ruling National Congress Party in the current Sudanese government.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Lam Akol says two SLPM-DC members killed in Unity State
From Sudan Tribune - Wednesday, 14 April 2010 - excerpt:

April 13, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Lam Akol, a candidate for the presidency of south Sudan government and leader of SPLM Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) said on Tuesday that two voters had been killed after the southern army opened fire at a polling station in Unity State.

"I was informed by telephone that at 11 am (0800 GMT), the southern army went to a polling station in Riak in (the southern) Unity State and opened fire, killing two voters and wounding one candidate," said Lam Akol, who is challenging southern leader Salva Kiir in elections for the head of the semi-autonomous government of south Sudan.

The report could not immediately be confirmed by independent sources.

- - -

Postscript

THANKS to Ndesanjo Macha for bringing to our attention 'Sudan Sham Elections 2010 Campaign' sudansham2010.org - and its new phase in activism at http://ionsudan.net/ in his commentary at Global Voices Friday, 16 April 2010 entitled Sudan: Using the web to promote fair elections, justice and democracy.

Note, according to the About page at website 'Sudan Sham Elections 2010 Campaign':

"We are regular citizens around the 50 United States and DC, standing with the people of Sudan—the marginalized, the disenfranchised, and the brutally oppressed—in demanding truth and strength. An indicted war criminal, responsible for millions of deaths, will never be a legitimate leader. Peace, protection, and justice will come from strength in effort and conviction from our leaders.

The Sudan Sham Elections 2010 network is committing to sustained action for peace in Sudan. Our new phase in activism is i On Sudan. Please participate!

iOnSudan.net

i On Sudan connects on-the-ground reports of violence, abuses, and other events to advocacy in the United States and around the world to immediately mobilize leaders towards immediate response on behalf of innocent civilians and to promote peace, protection, and justice in all of Sudan."

Sudan's presidents Bashir & Kiir re-elected - A lot of intimidation during the elections, especially in the south

Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir Reelected
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Khartoum) - Omar Hassan al-Bashir has been re-elected as President of the Republic of the Sudan.

The NEC chairman, Abel Alier, announced the results at a press conference at the Friendship Palace in Khartoum on Monday.

[Abel Alier]: “According to the result of the general elections, the winner for the post of the President of Sudan is the National Congress Party candidate, Omar Al-Bashir. He won with 6, 901, 694 votes. This is equivalent to 68.24 percent of the total votes cast. The total number of votes cast was 10,114,310 votes.”

Abel Alier also announced that Salva Kiir Mayardit was reelected as President of the Government of Southern Sudan.

[Abel Alier]: “The winner for the post of President of the Government of Southern Sudan is Salva Kiir Mayardit; he obtained 2,616,613 votes. This amounts to 92.99 percent of votes. His counterpart, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, received 197, 217 votes, or 7 percent of the total votes.”

The results for the governorships of six southern states were announced by the head of the NEC technical department, Alhadi Mohammed Ahmed.

[Alhadi Mohammed Ahmed]: “The winner for the governorship of Jonglei state is Kuol Manyang Juuk. For Central Equatoria state, Clement Wani Kong’a. For Eastern Equatoria, Luis Lobong Lojore. For Western Equatoria, Joseph Mario Bakosoro. In Upper Nile state it is Simon Kun and in Lakes state, Chol Tong Mayay was elected.”

Alhadi Mohammed Ahmed was announcing the results in Khartoum on Monday.

- - -

Presidents Bashir and Kiir will form a coalition government

From FT.com Monday, 26 April 2010:

Mr Bashir and Mr Kiir will form a coalition government. Some senior regime officials have said the ruling National Congress party would also be willing to include other opposition groups, including those that boycotted the polls, in order to defuse tensions and build consensus in the precarious months ahead of the southern referendum.

- - -

SPLM candidate Yasir Arman came second

From Sudan Tribune Monday, 26 April 2010:

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) presidential candidate was declared winner with a 68.2% of the vote, the state electoral commission said on Monday.

The SPLM candidate Yasir Arman came second with 21.7%.

In the South SPLM chairman Salva Kiir got 93% of the votes. His challenger Lam Akol 7%.

- - -

From VOA Monday, 26 April 2010:

Yasir Arman, the northern secular Muslim slated by the southern-based Sudan People's Liberation Movement to challenge Mr Bashir, came in second with 22 percent, most of which came from the southern states.

- - -

Bashir says referendum in south Sudan will take place on schedule

From BBC 26 April 2010:

Speaking in a televised address after the poll result was announced, Mr Bashir said: "The referendum in south Sudan will take place on schedule."

He described his election win as a victory for "all Sudanese", and played down criticism of the poll, praising "the civilised and respectful conduct during these elections, which saw no clashes or friction".

- - -

South Sudan: Some election results are still expected

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Juba) – The Southern Sudan High Election Committee had confirmed the results for the governorships in the other four states in southern Sudan earlier in the day.

Speaking at a press conference in Juba on Monday, the leader of SSHEC, Anthony Ariki, made this announcement:

[Anthony Ariki]: “We have already received the results for four states governors: that is the governor of Unity State, Taban Deng Gai, the governor of Warrap State, Nyandeng Malek and the governor of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, Paul Malong Awan and the one announced yesterday, the governor of Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, Rizik Zakariah. So far, out of the ten governors of the states four results have been announced and six are still expected.”

Ariki also said the results for elections to the national assembly in two states have also been announced:

[Anthony Ariki]: “In Warrap state, six geographical constituencies for the national assembly were declared together with twenty state assembly constituencies. In Central Equatoria state, seven constituencies have been declared and more are expected.”

Ariki called on citizens to remain calm and to wait for the announcement of the final results.

Meanwhile, there is heavy deployment of policemen and security personnel all over Juba to deter any outbreak of violence following the announcement of the results.

- - -

South Sudan: Unity State - Angelina Teny v Taban Deng

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 26 April 2010:

(Khartoum) – The independent candidate for the governorship of Unity state, Angelina Teny, says she vehemently rejects the results of the elections in Unity state.

A media spokesman for Angelina Teny, Yohanis Musa Pouk, addressed a press conference in Khartoum on Saturday.

[Yohanis Musa Pouk]: “At around 4 o’clock [on Friday] Taban declared on the state’s local radio station that he was the winner. The announcement was not made through the National Elections Commission but through one of the radio announcers. He declared that Taban won the elections and said that was the announcement coming from the NEC. Following that announcement, our people went to the street collectively and spontaneously in a non-violent manner because nobody told the people of Unity state that there was going to be any announcement of the results. They went out spontaneously and found themselves together going to the radio station to inquire about the source of the news. They were surprised by soldiers from Sudan People’s Liberation Army who fired live bullets randomly at the moving crowd and instantly two people were shot dead. One is called Choul Ruai from Koch county and the other is called Gadwich. We were not able to get his second name. Four people were hospitalized and there were other people who sustained minor injuries.”

Pouk said the people of Unity state will never accept Taban Deng as a governor.

[Yohanis Musa Pouk]: “We are seeing that it is impossible as we are going towards the year 2011 that Taban will be the governor of Unity state. Nobody in Unity state has this in mind and nobody will accept it, but this issue will not end in one day. No citizen would be able to vote for Taban. Those who voted for him are those working in the government: ministers, wives of the ministers and those in the assembly who are with him, in addition to the votes that were rigged. No ordinary citizen will ever accept that Taban should continue in power. This is not the end of it; let’s not think that this is the end of everything and that the results have been announced, no. we don’t believe in these results because they are neither “free nor fair” and we are waiting for what will come from Juba - not from Bentiu.”

Pouk claimed that according to the statistics he had received from various constituencies, Angelina Teny won 68,000 votes while Taban Deng won 44,000 votes.

- - -

South Sudan: NEC says Malik Agar Eyre wins the gubernatorial seat in Blue Nile state

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Friday, 23 April 2010:

(Khartoum) – The NEC has announced Malik Agar as the winner of the gubernatorial seat in Blue Nile state.

The chairperson of the NEC technical committee, Al-Hadi Mohamed Ahmed, announced Agar’s victory in Khartoum on Thursday.

[Al-Hadi Mohamed]: “We will start announcing the results of the winners in the gubernatorial elections, in Blue Nile state, the winner is Malik Agar Eyre, the political affiliation is the SPLM. The number of votes he got is 108.119, followed by the NCP candidate Farah Ibrahim Mohamed Agar who got 99,419 votes.”

NCP had earlier announced that their candidate Farah Agar was the winner in the state.

- - -

National Election Commission Announces NCP Wining of (6) State Electoral Constituencies in North Kordofan State
From www.sudan.gov Wednesday, 21 April 2010 17:18:

The NEC has announced this afternoon 20/4/2010 in a meeting chaired by NEC, / Chairperson Mr Abel Alier in and in the presence of a number of NEC members, the results of six of State Constituencies in North Kordofan State.

General Police Mr. Al-Hadi Mohammed Ahmed-, Chairperson of the Technical Committee of Elections, said in a press conference held by the NEC today at the center of results announcement at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum in the presence of a large number of representatives of the local & international media local along with international observers , that the NEC accredited the wining of the National Congress Party’s candidates in (6) of the State constituencies as follows:-

No (1) East Al-Obeyed.
No. (5) Al-Obeyed East of railway line .
No. (5) Suburbs of Al-Obeyed.
No. (7) Abu Haraz.
No. (13) Tayba.
No. (14) The state constituency Um-Kireidim and Al-Mazroub.

General. Al-Hadi further announced the wining of the National Congress Party’s candidates in the following constituencies:-

Suleiman Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed, Constituency No (1) East Al-Obeyed.
Mr. Al-Siddiq Abdul-Gadir Ali, Constituency No. (4) Abu Haraz.
Mr. Ezeirig Mohammed Ezeirig Constituency No. (5) Al-Obeyed Eastern railway.
Ahmed Mohmed Saleh, Constituency No. (5) Al-Obeyed. Suburbs
Al-Hassan Abdullah Al-Haj Omara, Constituency No. (13) Tayba.
Abdul Shafi Habib Habiballa Othman., Constituency No. (14) Um-Kiradim and Al-Mazroub.

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 April 2010 08:55

- - -

A lot of intimidation during the elections, especially in the south

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Thursday, 22 April 2010:

(Khartoum) – The UK-based Centre for Foreign Policy Analysis or CFPA, says the domination of the two ruling parties in the north and south was an obstacle for a free and fair elections in the country.

The CFPA director, Prof. Paul Moorcraft, addressed a press conference at the Friendship Palace in Khartoum on Wednesday.

[Prof. Paul Moorcraft]: “The dominance of the two incumbent parties in the north and south presented obstacles to a “free and fair” election and they were serious impediments in the election, especially in southern Sudan. The two ruling parties’ interference in the media throughout the country was also observed. Nevertheless, the overwhelming countrywide commitment to voting, the infectious enthusiasm and the generally disciplined desire of the citizenry to participate are appreciated and applauded. After the continuous disaffection of war since 1955, the fact that a national election was held in Africa’s largest country, with few traditions of democratic contests, widespread illiteracy and poor infrastructures, especially in the south, is to be commended.”

Prof. Moorcraft disclosed that there was a lot of intimidation during the elections, especially in the south.

[Prof. Paul Moorcraft]: “We did see quite a large amount of intimidation. We have recorded intimidation by the SPLM. Lam Akol was ringing me up for example on a number of occasions saying what was happening to him. But I’m also talking about issues in the north, but mostly all of the intimidation we saw was in the south, largely by the SPLA but not exclusively. So we had a lot of evidence of that and sometimes with direct observation and obviously when politicians ring me up we go and try to check it on the ground which we tried to do. So yes, there was intimidation.”

Professor Paul Moorcraft, the head of CFPA observer mission to Sudan was addressing reporters in Khartoum.

- - -

More news from SRS:

19-Apr-2010

• AU Gives Sudan Elections Free and Fair Imprimatur
• Civil Society Groups Criticize NEC

18-Apr-2010

• NCP Reiterates Coalition Offer
• PCP Refuses to Recognize Election Results
• Arab League Satisfied With Election Process
• Yambio Compiles Results

17-Apr-2010

• EU Observers Declare Elections Did Not Meet International Standards
• NCP Rejects EU Observer Statement
• Carter Center Critical of Elections Procedures
• No Security Problems in Darfur During Voting Says HEC
• Counting Delayed in Unity State As Pay Dispute Continues
• NEC Announces Election Re-run in 17 Constituencies
• SHEC Staff in Juba Refuse to Begin Count Until Salaries Arrive
• Failure to Pay Arrears Delays Count in Unity
• Musician Attacked in Juba

Sudan's Haroun: There is no room for talking about marginalisation of South Kordofan

Haroun: There is no room for talking about marginalization of South Kordofan

From Sudan News Agency - SUNA, Al-Debeibat, January 06, 2010 (SUNA) - The Wali (governor) of Southern Kordofan State, Ahmed Mohamed Haroun, has said that as from now on there is no room for talking about marginalization of the state as it got two third of the Chinese loan extended to Sudan which amounted to 3 billion dollars

Haroun, addressing the celebration of launching Debeibat-Abuzabad Al-Foula road, expressed thanks to the People's Republic of China which extended the loan. IF/BT

- - -

Watch out for old Google Web Alerts
Note to self.  Watch out for old Google Web Alerts.  Right now it is 11:27 am, Wed 20 Jan 2010. I subscribe to Google Web Alerts for news reports on keywords, i.e. Kordofan. Lately, I have noticed a steady stream of incoming Google Web Alerts pointing to old reports, many from last year. Here is a copy of an alert received this morning:

=== Google Web Alert for: kordofan ===

Ambassador to Sudan Li Chengwen attend Dibeibate - Fu La Highway ...
January 6, 2009, the Sudanese government, held in South Kordofan State
Dibeibate - Fu La Highway Project groundbreaking ceremony. ...
http://www.sourcejuice.com/1293717/2010/01/08/Ambassador-Sudan-Chengwen-attend-Dibeibate-Highway-Project/

Making Sense of Sudan » Self-determination
Last week President Omar al Bashir and the cabinet visited South Kordofan
State in the heart of the Nuba Mountains. While the residents welcomed this
long ...
http://blogs.ssrc.org/sudan/category/sudan/self-determination/>

Today, on visiting the link to blogs.ssrc.org, I noticed that the latest blog post at 'Making Sense of Sudan - Self-determination' was by Alex de Waal, posted on Wednesday, January 06, 2010, entitled The Forgotten Case of Hofrat an Nahas and filed under Making Sense of Sudan, Self-determination.  The last comment at the blog post was posted on January 11, 2010.

So, I scrolled down the page and found the blog post that Google Web Alert had picked up on earlier today.   The blog post by Noah Kodi, entitled The Road of Self-Determination: Where Does It Lead? was posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 and filed under Kordofan, Making Sense of Sudan, Self-determination.   The last comment at the blog post was posted on June 05, 2009.

Re-read Alex's blog post re Hofrat an Nahas, and my blog post at Sudan Watch, May 30, 2006 re Interview with Dr Douglas H Johnson, expert on the Abyei Boundary Commission - Hofre Nahas area; part of Bahr El Ghazal transferred to Darfur in 1960

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.



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. [...]

- - -
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

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