Darfur Sudan: The media keeps missing the importance of the Doha consultations and Declaration

People are asking why the media keeps missing the importance of the Doha consultations and Declaration.

From Alex de Waal's blog Making Sense of Darfur
Friday, December 4, 2009
Civil Society and Doha: Where Next?
By Julie Flint

It is disappointing how little attention there has been, including on this blog, to the civil society conference in Doha in mid-November, the first such meeting held under the auspices of the succeeding Mediations. Two weeks on, the only version of the final Doha Declaration I have seen comes (predictably) not from the mediators, who are no better at informing Darfurians of their work than their predecessors in Abuja were, but from one of those present, Ali B. Ali-Dinar, who posted it on the Sudan Tribune.

In just three days, representatives of the three states of Darfur, including from Khartoum and the diaspora, succeeding in doing what the armed movements continue to fail to do—agree on a single, unified position paper. What is striking about the conference is how intensively ‘ordinary’ Darfurians had prepared for it and how, once in Doha, they re-worked the plan presented to them by the Mediation (see Ali’s account on Sudan Tribune for this). The four topics tabled for discussion (land, power-sharing, civil society, general issues) immediately became seven, with the inclusion of security arrangements and disarmament, wealth sharing and economic and social development, and justice, reconciliation and return. The land chapter was expanded to make specific mention of ‘nomadic routes’.

What is missing from the Declaration is as interesting as what is included. There is no reference to the International Criminal Court, rather an emphasis on ‘transitional justice’ in all its many forms—and at all levels, from local to international—in order to ‘cure the soul and mend the social fabric’ and ensure there is no impunity for any of the crimes committed in Darfur (2.4.1). There is no mention of genocide, ‘ongoing’ or past, only to ‘illegal stop and search[es]’ of IDPs’ and unspecified impediments to security in the IDP camps (2.1.1 C ). (This raises the question: was enough effort exerted to bring to Doha war-affected Darfurians not in camps?) There is no call for the armed movements to have a role in getting the displaced back to their villages, as demanded by the movements. This should be organized by the Native Administration ‘with the help of the unified police, UNAMID forces in addition to the army if necessary’ (2.1.2.D). There is no demand for a single Darfur region, a subject participants said requires more ‘research and consultation’ (2.3.11). There is no finger-pointing: the words ‘militias’ and ‘movements’ do not appear in the text, which recommends ‘the simultaneous collection of weapons from all parties except the regular forces’ (2.1.2 B).

Civil society is looking forward, not back, demanding the re-establishment of boarding schools (especially important for pastoralists), ‘major development projects of national character [to] foster a sense of nationhood and [remove] a sense of marginalization’ (2.2.1), job creation (2.2.5).

The Doha Declaration requests the parties to observe an immediate ceasefire. The parties claim to represent the people. It’s a pity that the Mediation isn’t exerting greater efforts to get the people’s voice to the parties (and to the media and lobbies that support the parties) to exercise pressure on them to put aside their individual agendas in the interests of the whole.

Many questions remain. Among them:
• Did the Sudan Government in any way impede the meeting or the ability of delegates to travel to Doha? Only five months ago, organizers of Mo Ibrahim’s Mandate Darfur were told that anyone attempting to go to Addis Abada for that civil society meeting would be arrested and put on trial for treason.
• Were pastoralists satisfied with their representation and input?
• How was the Declaration agreed on? By state or delegate? By unanimity or majority?
• Were the movements present as observers? (I believe this was the plan initially) If so, what was their reaction away from the media spotlight?
• What now?
Were any of the readers of this blog present in Doha? If so, can they do what the Mediation hasn’t—supply a detailed account of the meeting (and its corridors)? JEM has (predictably) said ‘most of the civil society representatives (in Doha) are supporters of the ruling National Congress Party’. The conference facilitator, Siddig Umbadda, refutes this. He says ‘quite a few government people declined to come because they thought the opposite’.

One final point: civil society sees a role for itself in ‘documenting’ any future negotiations (2.6.3 F). Had this been done in Abuja, we might not have seen such an immediate, violent reaction against the DPA. The failure of the AU to keep the people of Darfur informed of the progress, and content, of the negotiations was surely one of the main reasons for the uncompromising rejection of the DPA it its entirety.

4 Responses to “Civil Society and Doha: Where Next?”
Ahmed Hassan:
December 4th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Dear Julie Flint,
Many thanks for bringing this issue to discussion. Actually, ever since the meeting ended I was trying very hard to locate this famous Doha Declaration which was only briefly mentioned in the press release of the Qatari government.
I join my voice to you in raising these questions, and hope that someone can shed the light on the details of the meeting.
Moreover, I am also interested to know how representative to the civil society the participants were. A comment that I read in one article claims that the delegations were dominantly supporters of the government and that explains why the issue of the ICC was avoided. I do not claim that this is true, but I would like to know more about the selection and the composition and background of the delegates in addition to answers for the important questions that you raised in this article.
Many thanks again.
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Sean Brooks:
December 4th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Good post Julie…I too have been asking why the media keeps missing the importance of the Doha consultations and Declaration, see: http://blogfordarfur.org/archives/2102.
I have not heard of the NCP impeding the travel of any delegates, which is something that was of great concern given what happened before Mandate Darfur. As for the the content of the Declaration, I addressed this in a recent post as well http://blogfordarfur.org/archives/2214: “And it seems apparent from the “Doha Declaration” itself that NCP representatives had limited influence on the outcome. In addition to a call for a ceasefire and negotiations, the civil society representatives also made strong demands about carrying out justice, ending impunity, and resolving land issues in Darfur. In fact, the document specifically calls for the return of all land of displaced persons and refugees to their original owners and the evacuation of those who have lived on the land during their absence. It also calls for the disarmament of all armed forces in Darfur, except for the constitutionally authorized regular forces, and the establishment of the necessary security mechanisms by UNAMID to allow displaced persons and refugees to return to their villages.”
As for how the declaration was agreed upon, Ali Dinar mentions that the delegates agreed to merge the recommendations brought to the consultations by the South/West Darfur and North Darfur delegations. Its my understanding that once the recommendations were merged together they were agreed upon unanimously.
I hope other attendees of Doha might answer your other important questions.
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Khalid Al Nur:
December 4th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Ever since the failure of Abuja, a whole range of Darfurian groups including CSOs have been knocking at the door of the negotiations and asking to be represented. The mediators have always responded that to allow them into the hall would “complicate the process” and might lead to the armed movements (JEM and SLA-Abdul Wahid) pulling out. What this conference shows is that their presence doesn’t complicate the process at all, in fact it moves it forward. And, if there is a deal that brings in all Darfurians including the IDPs, the Arabs, civil society and the native administration, but is boycotted by JEM and Abdul Wahid — what does that mean? My prediction is that Khalil and Abdul Wahid might fulminate but they would have no option but to say, “those are my people, I’m their leader — let me follow them!”
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Ali B. Ali-Dinar:
December 6th, 2009 at 11:08 am
This is in response to Julie Flint’s questions:

(1) Did the Sudan Government in any way impede the meeting or the ability of delegates to travel to Doha?
For the Doha meeting, the wish of the government of Sudan (GoS) for the conference is to issue a statement that is critical of the armed movements and with fewer demands from the GoS. I believe the arrival to the meeting of individuals such General Adam Hamid, the Ex Governor of South Darfur, and General Hussein Abdallah Gibril, the Ex-Governor of North Darfur, whose names are floating around in the unofficial list of Darfur war criminals is a testimony to the government’s intention to derail the meeting/declaration but such attempt has failed. It failed mainly because the delegates from the three states did their homework before arriving to Doha. For Mo Ibrahim’s planned meeting the Government had tried to advance and bar specific individuals and the organizers reacted by canceling the conference. For Doha, the Government has its way in sending it’s people, but they failed in influencing the outcome. For more details about the process through which the Declaration was reached please read my statement: http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article33323

(2) Were pastoralists satisfied with their representation and input?
The agreed Declaration was endorsed by delegates representing women, youth, IDPs, native administration, local NGOs, and NCP-ers. This is their vision for peace and justice in Darfur and for the benefit of all Darfurians regardless of their livelihood.

(3) Were the movements present as observers?
Some of the movements were already in Doha and in the same hotel (Sheraton) where the conference took place in negotiation with GoS and the team of mediation. The civil society delegates were accommodated in a different hotel (Retaj Al-Rayan). There was no presence from the armed movements in the civil society’s conference neither as delegates or observers because they were not invited. JEM’s response to the Declaration is announce here: http://www.sudanjem.com/2009/archives/21725/en/

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See photo of Julie Flint in report at The Washington Post dated May 28, 2004: Julie Flint travelled for 25 days on foot and horseback in the Darfur region of Sudan to collect evidence of attacks by government-backed militiamen.

Southern Sudan is awash in arms - The 2008 South Sudan Civilian Disarmament Campaign

From John Prendergast's Enough Project.org
This Is What "Awash In Arms" Looks Like
By Maggie Fick, December 4, 2009:

Photo:  Boy greets us on the road in Panyagor. (Enough/Maggie Fick)

(BOR, Southern Sudan) – This is my first time working and living in a “post-conflict setting,” but sadly, southern Sudan also has the feeling of being in a period of potential “pre-conflict,” threatening to return to widespread violence.

As an Enough researcher in Washington for the past year, I regularly read reports about civilian disarmament, small arms flows in southern Sudan, or about proxy militias moving into and out of the southern Sudanese army as alliances shift. These reports are intellectually engaging and the analysis is useful, but now that I’m here in southern Sudan, I am personally tempted not to join the chorus of analysis on complex issues such as disarmament, but to try to make the simple point that is still glossed over: “Southern Sudan is awash in arms.” You may have heard this sound bite before, but what it means practically is that most people I encountered while traveling by road in Jonglei state for roughly 400 kilometers, from the capital Bor to the town of Duk Padiet, are carrying weapons. Some of these people were wearing SPLA military uniforms, others were wearing deconstructed camouflage shirts, a mainstay of the clothes found in the markets I have visited thus far in the South, but many of these people were ordinary civilians—teenage boys riding bicycles, men walking with their wives, young Dinka cattle keepers taking their herd of cattle to water on the Nile river. To be honest, at first I wasn’t sure how to interact with the many well-armed people I encountered on a walk around Panyagor, a town along the road up to Duk Padiet. But then I realized that people just wanted to say hello, regardless of what kind of weapon they had slung over their shoulder.

It is hard to comprehend what “civilian disarmament” means in a place like Jonglei state, where weapons are simply a part of everyday life. The challenge of this process was evident in two disastrous attempts at disarmament conducted by the Government of Southern Sudan and the SPLA in 2006 and 2008—see these two reports, here [Anatomy of Civilian Disarmament in Jonglei State] and here [Shots in the Dark: The 2008 South Sudan Civilian Disarmament Campaign], by the Small Arms Survey for more information. With another state-by-state civilian disarmament campaign on the horizon, an urgent assessment is needed of how and whether these efforts will yield improve peace and security for the people of southern Sudan.

Peace message reminder from former southern Sudan child soldier Emmanuel Jal

Hat tip: A Journey To The Door - A Life with Cancer

Click on Jal label here below to view further reports.

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. [...]

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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

Sudan police detain opposition leaders over rally

AFP - ‎2 hours ago‎

KHARTOUM — Southern protesters torched offices of Sudan's ruling party after Khartoum police arrested three southern leaders and dozens of protesters on ...

Sudan SPLM arrests spark southern unrest BBC News

Sudan: Govt Arrests Leading Southern Politicians AllAfrica.com

Sudan Bans Opposition Rally, Warns Protesters New York Times

Sudan Tribune - Afrik.comall 92 news articles »

Darfur, Sudan: ICC Prosecutor Ocampo says 'denial of a crime and its cover-up could constitute crimes in themselves'

Journalists asked whether Mr. Moreno-Ocampo thought Abu Garda, accused of being involved in the attack on peacekeepers at Haskanita, would actually take part in a proper trial, receiving the response: it would be a "good test of his leadership".

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said his mandate was scheduled to end in 2012, but he hinted at a reform that would allow the mandate to be expanded. Japan was one of the Court's biggest contributors, which one journalist noted had announced plans to introduce changes to the Prosecutor's terms of office.

Source: United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) report (via ReliefWeb) 
'Press conference by Luis Moreno-Ocampo, International Criminal Court Prosecutor'
Friday, December 4, 2009.  Copy in full:

Denial of a crime and its cover-up could constitute crimes in themselves, said Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, alluding to the case he was building against Sudanese officials for atrocities committed in Darfur.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo spoke to journalists at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon after briefing the Security Council on situations involving Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and two other high-ranking individuals, for whom arrest warrants had been issued.

"We have arrest warrants issued by the judges, saying that the policy was to commit attacks in these villages, and to commit crimes in the camps. Whoever is making a voluntary contribution to these crimes could be prosecuted", he said, confirming that Heads of State received no immunity.

Similarly, there was no immunity for those claiming to have followed orders, or for those who had participated in a cover-up, he added.

He had earlier told members of the Security Council that his Office was considering the criminal responsibility of Sudanese officials who actively denied and dissimulated their crimes. However, when asked by a journalist to explain what he meant by "denial", Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said he would reserve his exact argument for the judges.

The same journalist had questioned whether the argument was too broad, and whether it would constitute an abuse of power by the Court. It was common, after all, for visiting officials at United Nations Headquarters to appear before the media to deny wrongdoing, as Sri Lankan officials had done at the end of their Government's war with the Tamil Tigers, the correspondent said.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo countered: "Abuse of power was when a President of a country killed citizens."

On guilt by speech, he alluded to the case of Radio Mille Collines in Rwanda, where radio hate speech was used to argue the station manager's guilt for genocide. By extension, he said that President Bashir managed an entire State, using other people to attack civilians and finance such crimes, and also used people to cover up those crimes. Those who participated voluntarily in such activities could, potentially, be held criminally responsible.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo stressed the primacy of national authorities to bring perpetrators to justice, saying that former President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa -- who had worked on behalf of the African Union to prepare a panel report on the Court's cases relating to the Sudan -- had emphasized the Court's limited capacity to prosecute people.

But, he said President Mbeki had also been clear on the need for accountability. He had been clear, as well, on the need for greater protection of witnesses. Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said that, if witnesses were to be used in the Sudanese cases, they would most certainly be attacked.

Of the individuals charged by the Court, two were currently evading arrest and only one, Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, had appeared before the Court to hear his charges. Journalists asked whether Mr. Moreno-Ocampo thought Abu Garda, accused of being involved in the attack on peacekeepers at Haskanita, would actually take part in a proper trial, receiving the response: it would be a "good test of his leadership".

The Prosecutor also fielded questions about allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Israel. When asked, he offered no confirmation of reports that he had been invited by Hamas to advise on the legality of a Hamas-led investigation into attacks in Gaza this January. But, he admitted to working closely with the Arab League on the matter, which had helped finance the fact-finding Goldstone mission.

He also told correspondents that the Court had recently received the approval of the Palestinian Minister of Justice to engage on the Gaza issue, but explained that it was still unclear whether the Court had any jurisdiction over any cases that might arise. In normal criminal cases within the Palestinian Territory, arrested Israelis must be handed over to Israeli authorities.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo noted that it was his duty to promote national investigations, adding that the Goldstone Report had also emphasized the need for national judiciaries to act when needed.

"Leaders had responsibilities, not privileges", he said. "I believe Hamas leaders calling for an investigation themselves was an important step."

Along those lines, he said it was a mistake for President Bashir and Ahmad Harun, former Minister of the Interior and the third individual wanted by the International Criminal Court, to refuse cooperation with the Court.

He explained that by agreeing to the Rome Statute, States were establishing a model in which they and the Court could act together. For instance, in becoming State parties to the Statute, countries such as Afghanistan, Kenya, Colombia and the Congo were providing the Court with jurisdiction. But he could not investigate cases in Iraq, which was not a State party.

Part of his work was to determine which situations merited investigation, he said, which he did by analysing information received from everyday civilians, non-governmental organizations and the media. He admitted to receiving serious reports of crimes committed in Afghanistan, and, although he did not specify what they were, explained that the Court was "trying to get more information about Taliban crimes".

He added that the Court was following the situation of violence in Guinea, and had received information on it. Guinea was a State party to the Rome Statute.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said his mandate was scheduled to end in 2012, but he hinted at a reform that would allow the mandate to be expanded. Japan was one of the Court's biggest contributors, which one journalist noted had announced plans to introduce changes to the Prosecutor's terms of office.

For information media • not an official record [end of copy]

UNAMID: 2 Rwandan peacekeepers killed, 3 wounded in Saraf Umra, North Darfur, western Sudan

Two Rwandan peacekeepers have been killed and three seriously wounded in Sudan's Darfur region, the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force says.

A spokesman for Unamid said gunmen had fired on 20 peacekeepers escorting a water tanker near houses and a market.

Unamid spokesman Kemal Saiki told reporters the group of Rwandan peacekeepers had been ambushed by unknown armed men.

The peacekeepers had returned fire on their attackers as they fled but had been careful to avoid civilian casualties, he said.

The attack took place about 2km (1.24 miles) from a Unamid base in the village of Saraf Omra, near a Sudanese government checkpoint.

As of late October, Unamid had just over 19,000 uniformed personnel on the ground in Darfur.

Full story: BBC at 21:04 GMT, Friday, 4 December 2009.

Two Rwandan Peacekeepers Killed In Darfur Ambush

New York Times - Andrew Heavens, Patrick Worsnip - ‎3 minutes ago‎

Two UN peacekeepers killed in attack in Sudan's Darfur region UN News Centre

Two Rwandan peacekeepers killed in Darfur-UN Reuters AlertNet

AFP

all 12 news articles »

YouTube of US Senator Sam Brownback browbeating Sudan envoy Scott Gration

Excerpt from UN Dispatch blog post December 4, 2009:

Activist groups none-too-pleased with Darfur envoy Scott Gration

For more evidence of policy incoherence, watch this painful exchange between Gration and Senator Sam Brownback. (h/t Enough)

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Sudan Watch Ed:  YouTube (above) uploaded by John Prendergast's ENOUGH Project on December 03, 2009 (350 views, so far) with the following info:

"In a subcommittee of the House Foreign Relations hearing on Sudan, Special Envoy Scott Gration reverses his previous stance and admits that genocide is still occurring in Darfur."

Also, note this excerpt from Wikipedia on Sam Brownback:

"...Brownback visited refugee camps in Sudan in 2004 and returned to write a resolution labeling the Darfur conflict as genocide, and has been active on attempting to increase U.S. efforts to resolve the situation short of military intervention.[36] He is an endorser of the Genocide Intervention Network, which called him a "champion of Darfur" in its Darfur scorecard, primarily for his early advocacy of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act.[37] ..."

Sudan's national opposition parties calling for mass demo in Khartoum on Monday

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service December 4, 2009:

(Khartoum, Sudan) – The coalition of national opposition parties is calling for a mass demonstration in Khartoum in front of parliament buildings on Monday.

The coalition says that the move is a protest against the NCP’s delay in passing key security and referendum legislation.

The coalition’s spokesman, Farouk Abu Issa, spoke to SRS from Khartoum on Friday.

[Farouk Abu Issa]:”The brothers and sisters in the coalition of national opposition parties, thought that it was important to take this action, because of the NCP’s reluctance to abolish laws that restrict our freedom, violate the constitution and are contrary to the principles of international human rights. We have decided to organize a mass gathering to express our opposition to this policy which is destroying democracy and the country itself. We have agreed on the time, it will be at 9.30 or 9.00 on Monday morning, and that is the day when the parliament will start its sessions.”

The National Congress Party has described the move as “sign of weakness of the opposition parties”.

A senior NCP member, Dr. Mandor El-Mahdi, speaking to SRS on Monday, described the action as a sign of weakness.

[Dr. Mandor El-Mahdi]: “Thinking of organizing this demonstration is a thinking that shows the weakness and incapability of the opposition parties in Sudan. People know that we have started the elections process and the voter registration exercise is about to come to an end. These parties should be mobilizing people and urging them to join the registration process, and to be prepared for the next step which is the elections stage. But these parties want to create this chaos and disturbance in order to justify why they are intending to boycott the elections.”

GONU has condemned the opposition parties’ plan to organize the demonstration.

The adviser to the GONU Minister of Information, Dr. Rabie Abdullaati, spoke to SRS from Khartoum.

[Dr. Rabie Abdullaati]: “The weird thing is that Farouk Abu Issa is a member of the parliament and many of the people who joined the Juba coalition are MPs. I wonder, these people are members of parliament and it is their responsibility to debate the issue of why the laws are not before parliament, and they are demanding the parliament to intact these laws. So who is demanding what from whom?!”

Dr. Rabie Abdullaati was speaking to SRS from Khartoum on Friday.

SPLM and NCP in deadlock over CPA implementation

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service December 4, 2009:

(Khartoum, Sudan) - The SPLM is asking for a mediator to break the deadlock between them and the NCP over the issue of CPA implementation.

The NCP rejected a proposal from the SPLM to involve regional bodies like IGAD, (the Inter-governmental Agency for Development), to help them reach a solution before the 2010 election.

SPLM secretary-general Pagan Amum told SRS on Thursday that time has run out for them to settle the issue of the referendum laws and the democratic transformation laws which have not yet been presented to parliament.

[Pagan Amum]: “There is a deadlock between the two parties. The NCP is blocking the implementation of the CPA, despite its previous commitment. We were supposed to adopt the referendum laws on southern Sudan’ self-determination one-and-half years ago, but, up to today we could not because the NCP is refusing to submit the legislation to the parliament. The NCP is also violating the constitution and the CPA by insisting on the national security laws that gives powers of impunity to the security forces to arrest Sudanese citizens without an arrest warrant from the courts. So the next move is to call on IGAD, the international community and the UN Security Council to intervene to prevent the collapse of the peace agreement and to avoid a return to war.”

However, the NCP has rejected the SPLM’s proposition, saying that the CPA stipulates that it is the duty of both partners to discuss and agree on issues regarding its implementations.

Dr. Rabbie Abdullaatti is an NCP member and the advisor to the Minister of information in the Government of National Unity.

[Dr. Rabbie Abdullaatti]: “I don’t think that there is any need for IGAD or any regional organization to be involved in the implementation of the CPA since we know that only a few issues are under discussion between the two parties. A joint committee has been formed by the SPLM and the NCP to resolve and find a compromise regarding the referendum act and the national security laws. So our suggestion is that the SPLM should stop boycotting the parliamentary sessions. They should come forward and give their views in the assembly. This statement by the secretary-general of the SPLM is just a political message to the African Union and IGAD.”

The SPLM and other opposition parties are boycotting parliamentary sessions and they threaten to boycott the elections if the NCP doesn’t reform laws that they say impede democratic transformation in Sudan.

South Sudan: Unity State's voter registrars unable to reach people in remote areas

We have problems with people who are refusing to be registered, like the people in the cattle camps. They keep asking us why they should register. Some are saying that they won’t register unless we register their bull...

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service December 4, 2009:

(Bentiu, S. Sudan) - The voter registration committee in Unity state said they are not able to reach people in remote areas because of the conditions of the roads.

A registrar in Biey payam, Michael Nhial Kach, told SRS on Thursday that it is hard for them to reach the cattle camps where most people have taken their cattle for pasture. Another challenge they are facing is that people have not understood the significance of registering to vote.

[Michael Nhial Kach]: “Our problem is that there are no roads and we are always going to places which take us two or three days to get to on foot. But the security situation is good because the police are escorting us. Secondly, we have problems with people who are refusing to be registered, like the people in the cattle camps. They keep asking us why they should register. Some are saying that they won’t register unless we register their bull. It always takes time for us to explain and convince them.”

Nhial added that despite the challenges they are working hard to get all the people in the area to register before the registration process ends on December 7.

South Sudan: Traffic police in Payinjiar, Mayiandit and Leer counties in Unity state accused of demanding bribes from passing motorists

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service December 4, 2009:

(Bentiu, southern Sudan) –Traffic police in Payinjiar, Mayiandit and Leer counties in Unity state are being accused of demanding bribes from passing motorists.

An owner of a lorry that travels regularly on the Payinjiar - Leer road claims that local authorities are demanding a lot of money in all road blocks.

Our correspondent in Unity state, Mabor Puot, sent this the report…

[Mabor Puot]: “There is only one lorry that operates between Payinjiar and Leer. The owner of that lorry threatened to stop operating between those two counties because he has to pay too many bribes. There are four main road-blocks in Mayom payam in Payinjiar county. He pays 20 SDG to the traffic police every day. He is also paying some money to local authorities. The same thing also happens at county headquarters where he has to pay more money. There are complaints coming from travelers about the bus fares. When you are going from Leer to Panyjiar you pay 30 Sudanese pounds. And this is a lot but the owners say they are charging people that much because they are being bribed. When I asked Thak Keel, the police officer in Panyjiar headquarters about the accusations, he told me that it was the government’s business and none of my business.”

That was our correspondent Mabor Puot, in Bentiu.

US Embassy in Khartoum has organised an HIV/AIDS awareness workshop for 700 IDP students in Khartoum

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service December 4, 2009:

(Khartoum, Sudan) – The US Embassy in Khartoum has organized an HIV/AIDS awareness workshop for 700 IDP students in Khartoum.

Speaking to SRS during the workshop in Khartoum on Friday, the regional medical officer from embassy, Dr. Behzad Shahbazian, explained why the workshop was being organized for the students.

[Dr. Behzad Shahbazian]: “The goal of the programme was to reach out and educate the students in Khartoum about H-I-V and AIDS. Specifically what the disease is, how you can get it, how it is transmitted, ways to prevent it, the transmission of the disease and how you can protect yourself. Also to educate everyone about the available testing facilities here in Khartoum and in all of Sudan and also to let the students know that there is treatment available. HIV/AIDS is a problem, it is a big problem in Sub-Saharan Africa and the best way for someone to protect themselves from HIV/ AIDS is to educate themselves about it and to know the facts. To know what is right and what is wrong and to get tested if they feel they are at risk. I think that is the big message.”

Doctor Behzad Shahbazian was talking to Sudan Radio Service in Khartoum on Friday.

New Governor of Upper Nile arrived in Malakal Thursday

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service December 4, 2009:

(Malakal, S. Sudan) - The newly-appointed Governor of Upper Nile state, Dr. William Othwonh, arrived in Malakal on Thursday.

Othwonh said upon his arrival in Malakal airport that he was coming to fulfill the aspiration of the people of Upper Nile state.

[William Othwonh]: “Really, I am unable to express myself dear brothers, citizens and colleagues because I am so excited. But I ask the almighty God to give me grace to be honest and serve people honestly with justice and equality. Each one should have his freedom so that he feels he is a citizen of the state and should be secure walking in the streets, sleeping in his home, without fear of insecurity. I urge all brothers and sisters, irrespective of positions whether executive, public or political, to work together for the sake of citizens of this state”.

Dr. William Othwonh was appointed by the National Congress Party to replace Lieutenant-general Gatluak Deng Garang.

NEC has criticised a report by the Carter Center

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 3, 2009:

(Khartoum) – The National Elections Commission has criticized a report by the Carter Center which indicated that millions of Sudanese citizens may not vote in the coming general elections.

The chairman of the voter registration committee of the NEC, Lieutenant-general Mohammed Ahmed al-Mahdi, said that the report is unfairly critical of the way the registration exercise is being carried out.

[Lieutenant-general Mohammed Ahmed al-Mahdi]: "The Carter Center report is wrong. The report talks of political issues, the law and disagreements between the SPLM and the NCP. This has nothing to do with the National Elections Commission. The main question is: has NEC implemented the registration process efficiently? I would say yes. I am the one in charge of the registration in the Commission and now the statistics are available. Yesterday, we managed to go beyond 12 million voters and this has never happened in the history of Sudanese elections. So it is up to you to make the comparison. In the 1986 elections, we had 5 million voters and now we have over 12 million, not to mention the fact that we still have one week left and a total of 8000 officers in the field.

Mohammed Ahmed al-Mahdi was speaking at a press conference in Khartoum on Wednesday.

Fifty disabled people benefiting from SEM project in Wau, southern Sudan

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 3, 2009:

(Wau) – The Sudan Evangelical Mission in Western Bahr el-Ghazal state has donated twenty-one tricycles for disabled people in the state.

The SEM program coordinator, Timothy Kessang, explained to SRS who would be receiving the tricycles.

[Timothy Kessang]: “Disability being the mandate of SEM, we are planning to distribute tricycles to people with disabilities and our priority this time will be going to children who are in schools and universities. That is our major concern at the moment. We also have other mobility aids which are coming and we also wish to distribute them in Way county.

Kessang added that since they had started the project in Western Bahr el-Ghazal they have seen an improvement in the lives of the disabled in the state.

[Timothy Kessang]: “We are proud of this because since we started our program in WBG you can see a lot of changes and you go to the markets and you can find those beneficiaries that we helped doing well in their businesses. This illustrates that it doesn’t mean that a disabled person is not able.”

Fifty disabled people are benefiting from the SEM project in Wau.

South Sudan: NCP confident of winning general elections in Unity State

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 3, 2009:

(Bentiu) – The National Congress Party says they are confident of winning the general elections in Unity State.

The NCP secretary-general in Unity state, Dr. Bill Charoa, arrived in Bentiu on Thursday with five other NCP ministers, to mobilize people to register and vote for NCP candidates next year.

[Dr. Bill Charoa]: “The NCP is devising a strategy to win the elections in the state. That is our goal, and with our popularity here we are going to win the coming election in Unity state. That is our target because we know the needs of the citizens. The citizens have the right to determine who will be elected or who will not. We have done very good things in the state, especially under the coalition government. The Minister of Roads and the Minister of Communication are both NCP members and people see the commitment we have to development in the state.”

The NCP team, led by Husama Abdullah, the Minister for Hydrological Resources in the Government of National Unity, is visiting all of the states in southern Sudan.

Coalition of opposition parties will meet SPLM to appoint a joint presidential candidate

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 3, 2009:

(Juba) – There are indications that a coalition of opposition parties will meet the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement on December 12 to appoint a joint presidential candidate for elections which are scheduled for April 2010.

Asked about rumors that the coalition of opposition parties, together with the SPLM, had nominated former prime minister Sadiq Al-Mahdi as their candidate for the presidential elections, the secretary-general of the SPLM says that no decision has been reached yet.

Pagan Amum spoke to Sudan Radio Service on Thursday from Juba.

[Pagan Amum: “On December 12, this coalition is going to discuss the possibility of nominating a single candidate and we will be looking at the possibility of forming a political alliance. No names have been discussed yet, but we are going to look into a possibility of nominating a single candidate.”

The adviser to the Ministry of Information in GONU, Rabie Abdulaati, commented on the move by SPLM to join the coalition of opposition parties in naming a single presidential candidate.

[Rabie Abdulaati]: “Yes, this is a SPLM strategy; they should look for whatever strategy they feel is suitable for them to enter the elections - this is up to them. So I can not decide or determine what the SPLM will do.”

That was the adviser to the ministry of information in GONU, Rabie Abdulaati, speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Khartoum.

Gambari replaces Adada as head of UNAMID

Nigerian diplomat Ibrahim Gambari is to become the head of the UN-African Union peacekeeping force in the conflict-hit Darfur region, the UN has announced.

Mr Gambari is a former Nigerian foreign minister who is currently serving as UN special envoy to Burma.

He will take up his post on 1 January 2010, a spokeswoman for UN chief Ban Ki-moon said.

Mr Gambari replaces Congolese diplomat Rodolphe Adada, who stepped down earlier this year.

Full story: BBC News Gambari to head Darfur UN mission 01:37 GMT, Thursday, 3 December 2009.

South Sudan: Teachers in Central Equatoria on strike

This is the second time in the last six months that the teachers in Central Equatoria state have gone on strike because of non-payment of salaries.

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 2, 2009:

(Juba) – Teachers in Central Equatoria state are continuing their strike action, demanding two months of unpaid wages from the Government of Southern Sudan.

The teachers’ representative, Rev Daniel Swaka, told SRS that the state government had paid them salaries for the month of September and had promised to pay the remaining salaries by October.

However, the state director in the Ministry of Education, David Lowela, said that the government had never promised to pay the teachers in October.

[David Lowela]: “Teachers in other counties have not been paid their salaries for September. We want this salary to be paid to teachers in the remaining five counties. Central Equatoria state has six counties altogether and only teachers in Juba county and in the state education department have been paid. So the minister is urging them to accept their September salaries and wait until teachers in the other counties are paid for the month of September and then the October salary will be given to all the teachers in the state at once.”

This is the second time in the last six months that the teachers in Central Equatoria state have gone on strike because of non-payment of salaries.

South Sudan: Up to 100,000 people in Lakes state risk infection from HIV/AIDS

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 2, 2009 by Mageng Wade:

(Rumbek) – The governor of Lakes state, speaking on World AIDS Day, says that up to 100,000 people in the state risk infection from the disease.

SRS correspondent, Mageng Wade, attended the World AIDS day event in Rumbek on Wednesday. He sent this report.

[Mageng Wade]: “The governor of Lakes state, Awet Akot, addressed Tuesday's gathering at Freedom Square saying that if a hundred thousand people in the state are infected with HIV/AIDS before the referendum, it will be a great loss to the state. Akot said that if AIDS spreads to the cattle camps and villages, it will be dangerous to the community, adding that people need to fight this expensive war regardless of who they are. He added that HIV/AIDS does not care whether you are a minister, governor, doctor or even a teacher; it kills everyone regardless of who you are. Statistics from the states shows that cases of HIV/AIDS are alarming and if people don’t exercise caution, then a quarter of the people might not vote during the elections and the referendum.”

That was SRS correspondent, Mageng Wade, reporting from Rumbek, Lakes state.

NEC says 12 million Sudanese people have registered to vote in the elections

Note that according to the statistics, Unity state boasts the highest number of voters registered in any of the 25 states of Sudan. 11 million voters registered in the 15 northern states and 2.5 million voters registered in the 10 states of southern Sudan.

The National Elections Commission has extended the registration period for an extra seven days, to end on December 7.

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 2, 2009:

(Khartoum) – The National Elections Commission has announced that 12 million people have registered to vote in the elections scheduled for April 2010.

Lieutenant-general Alhadi Mohammed Ahmed, a member of the National Elections Commission, announced the figures at a press conference on Tuesday in Khartoum.

[Alhadi Mohamed]: “So far, the number of registered citizens has reached 12 million voters and we think this is a very reasonable number in accordance with the international targets which were set by the United Nations. We are expecting to reach 80 percent, which will be between 13 to 14 million voters. Although we have limited time which has required the elections to be pushed back from April 5 to 11, the adjustment might take us into the rainy season which as we all know limits access to many parts of Sudan, especially the south, the southern part of Blue Nile and South Kordofan and the southern part of White Nile and southern Darfur. All these areas get affected by the rain and their rainy seasons come earlier. So I believe for an election, the number we have is very reasonable compared to the previous registration which was conducted in 1986.”

According to the statistics, Unity state boasts the highest number of voters registered in any of the 25 states of Sudan. 11 million voters registered in the 15 northern states and 2.5 million voters registered in the 10 states of southern Sudan.

The National Elections Commission has extended the registration period for an extra seven days, to end on December 7.

SLM-Nur claim they killed 10 SAF soldiers and wounded 4 others in fighting around Jebel Marra and Torran Tora, W. Darfur

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, December 2, 2009:

(Juba) – The Sudanese Liberation Movement, Abdelwahid el-Nur faction, claim that they killed 10 SAF soldiers and wounded 4 others in fighting around Jebel Marra and Torran Tora in Western Darfur on Monday.

An SLM spokesman, Abdel Rahman gave his version of the events to Sudan Radio Service on Wednesday.

[Abdal Rahman]: “The SAF moved from Nartiti and Torr and their purpose was to attack the SLM in Torran Tora in Western Darfur. The government and their militias attacked us but the SLM managed to stop them and we caused great damage to the government forces. We captured 5 vehicles from them. There are still dead bodies of SAF soldiers lying in SLM controlled areas now.”

SRS efforts to contact a SAF spokesman to comment on the SLM claim were unsuccessful.

TGI Thursday's - Dubai recently set the weekend as a universal Friday and Saturday

From ComingAnarchy.com November, 209, 2009:

A local take on a Western theme



The Dubai Mall has a T.G.I. Friday’s chain restaurant establishment, but the name does not match the local customary weekend. The Islamic holy day is Friday (whereas the Jewish holy day is Saturday, and the Christian holy day is Sunday). Dubai recently set the weekend as a universal Friday and Saturday to bring the country more in-line with global standards; some Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia, have the weekend on Thursday and Friday, reportedly because they refuse to have the weekend include the Jewish holy day.

A local restaurant in the Deira old town district of Dubai has a play on the T.G.I. Friday restaurant theme.

See CRISIS IN DUBAI: A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

Andrew Heavens on AU Peace and Security Council trip to N. Darfur, W. Sudan 24 Nov 2009

North Darfur’s governor Osman Kebir told Tuesday’s trip he had welcomed about 800 delegations since July 2006.

One official was overheard referring to El Fasher’s “red carpet camps” where residents turn out to welcome party after party.

It was a reminder just how slick all sides to the Darfur conflict have become in selling their story to passing dignitaries — the rebels too have their spokespeople, websites and organised media tours...



Photo: View from the African Union bus driving through Abu Shouk camp, north Darfur. AU Peace and Security Council trip to North Darfur, 24/11/09. (Source: Andrew Heavens Flickr 25/11/09)



Photo: UNAMID headquarters El Fasher, Darfur. AU Peace and Security Council trip to North Darfur, 24/11/09. (Source: Andrew Heavens Flickr 25/11/09)

Related report from Reuters Blogs, November 25, 2009:
A slick visit to Darfur’s red carpet camps
By Andrew Heavens in Khartoum, Sudan

There was a time when visits to Darfur were uncertain affairs, fraught with danger. These days — as long as you travel with the right people and stick strictly to the right route — they can be as comfortable as a coach trip.

The African Union delegation plane touched down in El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, at 9.35 a.m. on Tuesday. We were on the bus heading back to the airstrip at 4.40 p.m.

In between, the members of the African Union’s peace and security council visited the governor’s walled-in compound, where ambassadors watched tribal dancing and a PowerPoint presentation (complete with CD-ROM handout).

The next stop was the heavily secured UNAMID peacekeeping headquarters. Next, a razor-wired police station, 200 metres outside a displacement camp, where around 40 residents had been waiting for two hours to talk to the delegates.

Forty-five minutes later, the 18-vehicle convoy of buses, 4×4s and armed escorts drove slowly through Abu Shouk camp. Then there was one final stop at the governor’s to eat dinner and admire his collection of gazelle and exotic birds. The AU ambassadors and women in the party received souvenir mats.

Darfur has got used to hosting visitors in the six years since it became one of the world’s best known conflict zones.

North Darfur’s governor Osman Kebir told Tuesday’s trip he had welcomed about 800 delegations since July 2006 which would make about one a day, without adjustment for understandable overstatement.

One official was overheard referring to El Fasher’s “red carpet camps” where residents turn out to welcome party after party.

It was a reminder just how slick all sides to the Darfur conflict have become in selling their story to passing dignitaries — the rebels too have their spokespeople, websites and organised media tours.

Critics question the use of these Darfur day-trips, especially around El Fasher, which is a world away from the region’s remaining badlands where four groups of foreigners have been kidnapped since March.

Members of the AU group defended the visit, saying it was a symbolic gesture of concern and solidarity, adding they would pass on the points made during the 45-minute briefing in Abu Shouk to Khartoum and their headquarters in Addis Ababa.

It might have been interesting to find out what the residents of Abu Shouk themselves thought about the quick consultation.

But this journalist and a colleague were quickly brought back into line when we tried to sneak out of the police compound and walk to the edge of the actual camp.

“You can’t go there, what are you doing?” asked one of the officials with the AU group. “You might speak to the wrong people … And why are you making things more complicated for us than they already are?”

Photo: Bird in the compound of the governor of North Darfur. AU Peace and Security Council trip to North Darfur, 24/11/09. (Source: Andrew Heavens Flickr 25/11/09)



Photo: A young Sudanese child is helped with a drink of clean water at the Abu Shouk refugee camp near El Fasher, in Darfur, Sudan, in August 2004. (AFP/Jim Watson/Sudan Watch front page)



Photo: Traditional dancer with sword performs for the governor of north Darfur (second right) and chair of the African Union peace and security council (far right). (Source: Andrew Heavens Flickr 25/11/09)

ICRC: Negotiations have begun for Frenchman kidnapped on Nov 9 in Chad

The ICRC suspended its operations in eastern Chad and western Darfur following the incident.

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, December 1, 2009:

(Khartoum) – The International Community of the Red Cross says that negotiations have begun in order to secure the release of a staff member who was kidnapped on November 9 in Chad.

Laurent Maurice, a France national, was kidnapped by a Darfur anti-government group in eastern Chad along with two other workers from Triangle, a French humanitarian agency.

Samara al-Rufai is an information officer for the ICRC. Speaking to SRS from Khartoum, he said that the kidnappers had not yet made a ransom demand.

(Samara al-Rufai), “We are still in contact with the kidnappers. We have been calling them by phone but our man hasn’t been released yet. We are trying to resolve this issue as quickly as possible because the important thing is the security and safety of our colleagues and humanitarian staff in general. This is why we are calling for their release. We don’t know at this point what they [the kidnappers] are demanding. But we don’t believe that there should be a price to be paid to release somebody who is conducting humanitarian work for people in conflict areas. There should not be a price for that. The ICRC does not negotiate at all in terms of money.”

The ICRC suspended its operations in eastern Chad and western Darfur following the incident.

SPLM to change the way party candidates are selected

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, December 1, 2009:

(Wau) - The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement says it will introduce stringent standards for the selection of party candidates who wish to run for public office in the forthcoming elections.

Speaking to SRS in Wau on Tuesday, a senior SPLM official, Edward Lino, said that the party will ensure that only competent people are selected.

[Mr. Edward Lino]: “We are going to change the way candidates are selected. A candidate must come from the area and people must know him or her well. He or she should be popular and must have the capacity to serve. This is not the time to appoint a baker as a Minister for Education or a tractor driver as the Minister for Finance. The time for such things has ended! We need candidates who can work for their country. We need strong people who are capable of two basic things: one they must work to create a sense of unity among our people and two, they must follow the policy of the movement – these are the basic requirements."

Edward Lino added that he is confident that the SPLM will win a majority of the seats in most constituencies within south Sudan in the elections which are scheduled for April 2010.

Carter Centre report says voter registration in Sudan progressing satisfactorily

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, December 1, 2009:

(Khartoum) - The Carter Centre has issued a report which suggests that, despite logistical problems which have delayed the process, voter registration has been progressing satisfactorily since it begun on November 1st 2009.

The Carter Center was formed by in 1982 by former US president Jimmy Carter. As part of its governance program, the Center conducts election observation missions around the world.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service by phone from Khartoum on Monday, the Carter Center field office director, Jeffrey Mapendere, has acknowledged that the 7-day extension of the registration exercise will enable more people to register for the elections scheduled for 2010.

[Jeffrey Mapendere]: “As you saw in the statement, we are saying mainly two things. Generally speaking, it has been going on well, but of course there are things to be improved. One thing that they have already done is that they have extended the period which gives most people the opportunity to register. It will also help make sure that they provide enough materials to all the states so that at least those who want to register during this period don’t face problems. There have been a few cases where people ran out of registration books and some other materials. We are urging the Electoral Commission to make sure that supplies are provided and also that the staff working on the voter registration process get their salaries. Of course we have been experiencing low registration rates in several states, mostly in the south and also the totals so far are not as high as we expected but there are some states with very high registration rates.”

In their report, which was published on November 30, the Carter Center thanked the NEC for facilitating the work of its observers.

The Carter Centre has deployed observers from 21 countries to monitor the voter registration process.

In Mundri, southern Sudan, HIV/AIDS infection is 3 per cent

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, December 1, 2009:

(Khartoum - Mundri – Malakal – Wau) – Events were organized throughout Sudan on Tuesday to mark World AIDS Day.

Sudan has seen the rate of HIV/AIDS increase steadily in recent years with the number of cases accelerating dramatically, particularly in southern Sudan, since the end of the civil war in 2005.

Although people in northern Sudan are often reluctant to talk openly about the disease, according to the senior HIV/AIDS counselor in Al-Sahafa Hospital in Khartoum, Amna Abdelhalim Mohammed, increasing numbers of people are turning up voluntarily for testing at Voluntary Testing and Couseling centers.

[Amna Abdelhalim Mohammed]: “The numbers have increased. We started in 2003 and between then and 2009, the numbers have increased a lot. In the beginning, we used to handle one or two cases a month but now we test between 108 and 119 people every month. The results of the test used to show one or two HIV-positive people in a month but now up to thirteen a month are testing positive. The more people come for testing, the more the number of positive tests we get. Frankly, this number has increased and it is not a solution for us to keep burying our heads in the sand. We are supposed to have a complete center that gives treatment.”

In Western Equatoria, the number of HIV positive people has also increased over the years. Here, however, HIV/AIDS groups talk openly about the virus. The commissioner of Mundri West county, Bullen Abiter, urges the communities to continue going for tests to monitor their status.

[Bullen Abiter]: “In Mundri, the percentage of HIV/AIDS infection is 3 per cent. And this shows that AIDS has begun to get a grip. If someone has HIV/AIDS, that is not the end of everything. That person can still live like any other normal person if he or she takes their medication. The ARVs can make you live for even 15 to 20 years.

The important thing is that people should go for an HIV test. After the test, you will be advised on what to do.”

In Malakal, Angelo Michael Waan is the director-general of the Upper Nile AIDS Commission.

[Angelo Michael Waan]: “In Upper Nile state we don’t have statistics of people with HIV/AIDS because we didn’t do any research. But with the people coming to test for HIV in our centers, it indicates that there is an increase in numbers. So now we are urging our people to be tested so that we can know how many people are affected in our state. We are now working with schools in the awareness campaigns because AIDS is not just the responsibility of the Ministry of Health alone but it is also the responsibility of everyone and especially the media.”

Dominica Thomas is a student in Wau. She too stresses the importance of being tested for the disease.

[Dominica Thomas]: “If someone gets tested and didn’t get it in his or her body, I’ll say that that person doesn’t have the virus at that moment. But if people don’t want to get tested, I’ll say that everyone in Wau here has HIV, because it’s only when you get tested that you will know your HIV status. We have to fight HIV/AIDS because this is a very bad disease for our children, our fathers, and mothers and for all the generations, all over the world.”

World AIDS Day was organized in Sudan by NGOs working in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, Unicef and the GOSS Ministry of Health.

The theme for this year's event was “Universal Access and Human Rights”.

UNAMID strongly rejects accusations in a Sudan Tribune report against its peacekeepers

Sudan Tribune [see copy in full here below] quoted Mr. Hussein Abu Sharati, presented as a spokesperson of Darfur IDPs and Refugees, as saying that “peacekeepers in the area were present but did not intervene to prevent the killing.”

UNAMID strongly rejects the implied accusation that its forces in the area of Deleij camp knew about the alleged killings but failed to perform their task of protecting civilians.

UNAMID investigated the allegations, meeting with IDPs and the Umdahs of Deleij camp who assured UNAMID that no killings took place as reported by the ST and that the voters’ registration process in the area was concluded with no problems.

UNAMID deplores that such serious accusations against its peacekeepers were published without even taking the pain to verify them, either independently or with UNAMID.

False reports of this nature can only ignite violence in the region and jeopardize lives, at a time when UNAMID relentlessly strives to protect civilians and end violence in Darfur.

Source: United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
UNAMID Strongly Rejects Accusations in a Sudan Tribune Report against its Peacekeepers

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 1, 2009/APO - According to a Sudan Tribune (ST) news report published on 29 November 2009, “seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were killed Friday in West Darfur following a wrangle between the residents and government troops which attempted to force them to take part in voter registration.” ST reported that the alleged killings took place in Deleij IDPs camp, some 280 km from El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state.

Sudan Tribune quoted Mr. Hussein Abu Sharati, presented as a spokesperson of Darfur IDPs and Refugees, as saying that “peacekeepers in the area were present but did not intervene to prevent the killing.”

UNAMID strongly rejects the implied accusation that its forces in the area of Deleij camp knew about the alleged killings but failed to perform their task of protecting civilians.

UNAMID investigated the allegations, meeting with IDPs and the Umdahs of Deleij camp who assured UNAMID that no killings took place as reported by the ST and that the voters’ registration process in the area was concluded with no problems.

UNAMID deplores that such serious accusations against its peacekeepers were published without even taking the pain to verify them, either independently or with UNAMID.

False reports of this nature can only ignite violence in the region and jeopardize lives, at a time when UNAMID relentlessly strives to protect civilians and end violence in Darfur.

- - -

See Sudan Watch, Monday, November 30, 2009: 7 killed, 30+ injured in clashes between IDPs and gov't forces in Deleij camp and Geneina town, west Darfur - The adviser to the Minister of Information in the Government of National Unity, Dr. Rabbie Abdullaati, denied the involvement of the Sudan Armed Forces in the incident.
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Copy of report published at Sudan Tribune, Sunday 29 November 2009 04:10:Sudan kills seven IDPs in Darfur camp

November 28, 2009 (PARIS) — Seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were killed Friday in West Darfur following a wrangle between the residents and government troops which attempted to force them to take part in voter registration.



Burial ceremony at Kalma IDP camp (UNAMID/file)

The IDPs ask the government to disarm militia and to bring to justice responsible of atrocities committed in the restive region as well as to conclude a peace deal with the rebel groups before organize elections in the country.

However, the local authorities in Darfur launched a voter registration process in the three states of the province in a bid to count IDPs that the UN estimates their number to be 2.7 million.

Many of them resisted the Sudan fifth population and housing census conducted in April year. The total number of Darfur three states is estimated at 7 501 012 according to the figures published by the Sudanese authorities.

The Sudanese regular forces and militia in West Darfur state on Friday evening — at 05:00pm – killed seven people in Deleij IDPs camp, some 280 klm from El Geneina the capital of West Darfur state. The incident took place after attempts by local officials to persuade the residents of the camp to register in electoral lists.

In a discussion with the officials who were accompanied by regular forces from the army and police besides Janjaweed militiamen the residents reiterated their rejection to the electoral operation.

"They had a hot discussion with the officials after declaring their support to (the rebel leader) Abdel Wahid Al-Nur, then the regular forces and the militia started shooting on the innocent civilians," said Hussein Abu Sharati the spokesperson of Darfur IDPs and refugees.

He further said the peacekeepers in the area were present but did not intervene to prevent the killing.

Speaking on Saturday afternoon, the IDPs spokesperson added the regular forces had been withdrawn after the killing.

Abu Sharati also stressed that what was happened in Deleij could be repeated in two other camps in North Darfur.

According the spokesperson, the Sudanese authorities already visited Al-Maliha and Kassap camps today and threatened to arrest tomorrow those who refuse the voter registration operation.

"Today they already arrested seven local leaders (Mashaikh) from Kassap camp," he further said.

Sudan launched a one month voter registration operation inside and outside the country, ahead of general election scheduled to be held next April. The process is extended for one week during the next month. (ST)

Note that the report refers to the alleged killings taking place at Deleij IDPs camp, some 280 klm from El Geneina the capital of West Darfur state, but the file photo selected by Sudan Tribune shows a burial ceremony at Kalma IDP camp - a photo I seem to recall seeing years ago.

Children of Darfur sing for peace

From Radio Dabanga, December 1, 2009:

(EL GENEINA) - As an expression of happiness, children in El-Geneina (West Darfur) sang for peace and chanted the slogan of Radio Dabanga on the eve of Eid Al Adha. In a mixed feeling interview with radio Dabanga children of Darfur wished that the war is over, that the peace returns to Darfur and that they can return to their homes and loved ones safely.

Ibrahim Gambari new force commander in UNAMID?

According to the following report, Rwanda and Nigeria threatened to pull their troops out of Darfur over new force commander post in UNAMID.

From Inner City Press
Nigerian "Blackmail" Captures UN's Darfur Post for Gambari, Spurned Candidate Tells Inner City Press
By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, November 30, 2009 -- The joint UN - African Union envoy post to Darfur has been the subject of "blackmail by the Nigerians," a well placed African Ambassador exclusively told Inner City Press on Monday morning, explaining the UN's offer of the post to Nigerian Ibrahim Gambari.

He said that "once the Nigerian threatened to pull their troops out of Darfur unless they get [Rodolphe] Adada's post," he and other candidates withdrew themselves from consideration "to avoid putting the Secretary General in an awkward position."

Previously, Rwanda threatened to pull its troops if it was not given the force commander post in UNAMID, vacated by Nigerian Martin Luther Agwai.

Now, the Ambassador said, "the Nigerians have given Ban Ki-moon a list of their nationals for consideration for the post." He added that while he understands that Ban will "give in" and name a Nigeria, it will not be one on the list provided by the country.

Asked about the possibility, reported months ago on June 19 by Inner City Press, of Ibrahim Gambari getting the post, the Ambassador nodded and said, "but it is not yet very open."

Subsequently, Inner City Press got confirmation of the post going to Gambari from a senior Ban administration adviser on the 38th floor, as well as individuals who have received confirmation from Mr. Gambari himself. He was getting shouldered out of his Development Fund for Iraq duties by Ad Melkert. He was known to be frustrated by Ban's political chief Lynn Pascoe not letting him work on any African issues. But who will take over for the UN in Myanmar? Watch this site.

One wonders what the U.S., France and UK, which criticized Rodolphe Adada's "too soft" stance to Ban Ki-moon, think of this process to replace Adada.

At a closed door lunch between the Security Council and Ban, the three Western Permanent member lambasted Adada's assessment of Darfur. Inner City Press has been told, by an attendee of the lunch, that rather than say he'd look into it -- or, as he has with Kai Eide in Afghanistan, that he fully supports "all" of his SRSGs, Ban said he agreed with the criticism and would talk to Adada. Then Adada was not renewed.

More recently, Ban's outgoing spokesperson has insisted that UN position like the contested number two post in the UN Development Program are given out on merit, not continent much less nationality. The process to replace Adada, as described by a withdrawn applicant, is at odds with this claim.

Following the Security Council's consultations about Darfur on November 30, Inner City Press asked outgoing Council president Thomas Mayr-Harting of Austria what the Council made of report that Sudan's Al Bashir government wants the UN to prepare to pull its peacekeepers out. Mayr-Harting said, that did not come up. Again.

Footnote: Mayr-Harting also said, in his final stakeout as Council President, that the Council would defer until its extension of the mandate UN Mission in the Congo the damning conclusions of the Congo Panel of Experts, including that the Mission, run by Alan Doss, is assisting and enabling former CNDP units which are now Congolese Army units and are involved in mining, including of gold.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, in a rare but still overly controlled stakeout Q &A before Mayr Harting's, spoke of the DRC sanctions, alluding to Sixty Minutes' November 29 piece on the topic, as well as Somalia. Inner City Press has submitted written questions on these and another topic to the U.S. Mission, which says it will respond when possible. Watch this site.

Sudanese opposition party leaders meet on Dec 1 & 12 to decide on boycotting, participating or delaying elections

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, 30 November 2009:

(Khartoum) - Opposition party leaders will hold a meeting on December 12 to decide whether to boycott the general elections, scheduled for April 2010.

In September, an opposition party conference in Juba recommended that if the democratic transformation laws were not endorsed by November 30, they would boycott the elections. So far, there is little sign that GONU intends to examine the legislation before the deadline.

The spokesperson for the national opposition coalition, Farouk Abu Issa, spoke to SRS on Monday from Khartoum.

[Farouk Abu Issa]: “We didn’t say that we will boycott the elections by November 30, but people have proclaimed it as the scheduled day for boycotting. Since the National Elections Commission has extended the voter registration deadline for another week, we’ve decided to hold a meeting of opposition parties on December 1. It will take place at the Umma party headquarters to discuss the agenda for the meeting of the leaders, and we have agreed that a general meeting will take place on December 12. So tomorrow’s meeting will prepare the papers which will be presented to the leaders, together with the different scenarios regarding the elections, to decide whether we will be boycotting, participating or delaying.”

Farouk Abu Issa was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Khartoum.

South Sudan: SPLM condemns sentencing of Sudan girl to 50 lashes by a sharia court in Khartoum

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, 30 November 2009:

(Juba) - The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has condemned the sentencing of a sixteen-year-old southern Sudanese girl to fifty lashes by a sharia court in Khartoum.

The teenager, Selifa, was arrested last week because she was wearing a knee-length skirt.

The SPLM secretary-general, Pagan Amum, told Sudan Radio Service in Juba on Monday that the arrest is contrary to the provisions by the CPA. Southerners living in Khartoum are not supposed to be subject to sharia law. It is the interpretation of this law by the Sudanese authorities which has led to the flogging of women who are deemed to be dressed inappropriately.

[Pagan Amum]: “We in the SPLM condemn this humiliation of under-age girls and women. It is not part of Sudanese culture to beat small girls and women and it is wrong for any government to start condemning girls to 50 lashes. We say that this is wrong. It is a contravention of the peace agreement and it's against the constitution.”

Amum urged southern Sudanese in the north to report any form of humiliation or violence against them to the human rights commission in Khartoum.

In September, journalist Lubna Hussein was arrested by the public order police in Khartoum. She was charged with dressing immodestly and sentenced to be flogged with a group of southern Sudanese girls who were arrested with her.

She was imprisoned but later released after her case attracted international attention. She is currently living in France. The other girls were flogged.

South Sudan: Communities in Jonglei state have began to participate in a disarmament exercise

Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang told Sudan Radio Service on Monday that most civilians are getting tired of the climate of insecurity in their areas and this has contributed to the success of the disarmament exercise.

Since the beginning of the year, Jonglei has seen an upsurge in inter-ethnic attacks and counter-attacks. Dozens were killed and hundreds more have been forced to flee their homes.

From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 30 November 2009:

(Wau) - After months of inter-ethnic fighting, communities in Jonglei state have began to participate in a disarmament exercise.

Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang told Sudan Radio Service on Monday that most civilians are getting tired of the climate of insecurity in their areas and this has contributed to the success of the disarmament exercise.

[Kuol Manyang]: “The program of disarmament in the state was launched and it has been well-received by the civilian population because the arms in their hands were a source of insecurity to themselves. Now we are continuing to mobilize them through their chiefs, politicians, community leaders and youth leaders. We are urging the people to register their weapons with the authorities. Some have already given up their arms, especially in Duk and Uror counties.”

Since the beginning of the year, Jonglei has seen an upsurge in inter-ethnic attacks and counter-attacks. Dozens were killed and hundreds more have been forced to flee their homes.

South Sudan: Voter registration in Western Bahr el-Ghazal is moving on more smoothly

From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 30 November 2009:

(Bor) - After experiencing low voter turn-outs and equipment shortages, there has been an increase in the numbers of people registering in Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, according to local officials.

One of the registrars, Madam Colita Aku, told Sudan Radio Service in Wau on Monday that they have enough registration material to complete the exercise.

[Colita Aku]: “The registration exercise in Western Bahr el-Ghazal is moving on more smoothly than before, because initially there was no awareness campaign, people weren't sure what was going on. But now people have realized that it is their right as citizens of the state and of southern Sudan to register for the coming elections. As regards the registration forms; we are sure that we have enough because we ordered more and they should be enough to see us through the remaining seven days of registration.”

Northern Bahr el-Ghazal also ran out of registration forms in all five counties, which led to the suspension of the exercise in the state.

The registration process in southern Sudan has been experiencing logistical problems and low turn-outs since the registration exercise started on November 1.

South Sudan, Upper Nile state: Newly-appointed governor, William Othon, assumed his duties on Monday

Photo: Maj. Gen. Gatluak Deng, Governor of UNS with H.H the Shuluk King (Rath) in his Royal headquarters of Alak, Upper Nile, March 22, 2008. (T. Thok- ST) (Source: Sudan Tribune, Nov. 30, 2009 - Newly appointed Upper Nile state Governor assumes office

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From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 30 November 2009:

(Malakal) - The former Governor of Upper Nile state, lieutenant-general Gatluak Deng Garang, says he has officially resigned from the National Congress Party.

The newly-appointed governor, Dr. William Othon, assumed his duties on Monday.

Lieutenant-general Garang was appointed governor of Upper Nile state in February last year by the National Congress Party, to replace Dak Duop Bishok.

Garang told a press conference in Malakal on Monday that he is returning to the army and will not join any political party in Sudan.

[Gatluak Deng Garang]: “I will continue my career in the Sudan Armed Forces as a soldier. But to end my service in this ugly and unhappy way after 31 years, shows that unity is not attractive. I don’t believe what has happened and it’s unbelievable for others but that is the way it is. Dear colleagues and friends, I announce today on 30 November 2009 my resignation from the National Congress Party and I hand over the duties to the new chairman of the party and I thank President al-Bashir. I appreciated serving with him and you should know if it was not for al-Bashir, many would not have joined the National Congress Party.”

Garang called on his supporters in the NCP to leave the party and he urged southern Sudanese to unite.

[Gatluak Deng Garang]: “If there are people in NCP because of me or my friends and relatives, let them leave the party. You southerners should guard against greed and jealousy which are the enemies of peace and stability. Unite, because there is power in unity and defend yourselves and the resources of southern Sudan. You should work for the poor and weakest citizens. We should all work together in memory of our martyrs.”

The former governor of Upper Nile, lieutenant-general Gatluak Deng Garang, was speaking at a press conference in Malakal on Monday.

JEM's El-Tahir El-Fakie says the war in Darfur is not over

What ambassador Halim said was a reaction to the UN secretary-general’s statement that no progress has been made in Darfur.

From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 30 November 2009:

(Khartoum/London) - The Government of National Unity says that the AU and UN joint peace keeping forces in Darfur should prepare to leave the region.

“The war in Darfur is not over.

Sudan’s Ambassador to the UN, Abdulmahmoud Abdulhalim, made the statement in New York last week.

Abdulhalim was reacting to a report by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon that GONU has violated an agreement which allows the full deployment of UNAMID forces in Darfur.

GONU claims that there is an improvement in security and the humanitarian situation in Darfur and that there is no need for UNAMID in the region.

The adviser to the Minister of Information in GONU, Dr. Rabie Abdullaati, spoke to SRS from Khartoum on Monday.

[Dr. Rabie Abdullaati]: “What ambassador Halim said was a reaction to the UN secretary-general’s statement that no progress has been made in Darfur - yet the last report by UN observers described how there is a tremendous improvement on the ground in Darfur regarding the humanitarian and security situations. Even the UNAMID reports say so. So there are many indications that show there is no need for the joint AU-UN peace-keeping forces in Darfur.”

The main Darfur anti-government group, the Justice and Equality Movement, claimed that a war is still going on in Darfur, and that there is no improvement in the region.

The chairperson of the JEM legislative council, Dr. el-Tahir el-Fakie, spoke to us from London.

[Dr. el-Tahir el-Fakie]: “The war in Darfur is not over. The end of the war should lead to a ceasefire agreement, reconciliation, compensation and the return of the IDPs. All these issues have not been settled yet. Now they want the UNAMID to leave? This is just political maneuvering and the facts are inaccurate. The ambassador knows very well that the Government of Sudan can’t chase out UNAMID because the conflict is not over. There are still some pending issues; displaced people, people getting killed, and there are criminals that must be prosecuted. This is the issue.”

SRS contacted UNAMID spokesman Noureddine Mezni, but he declined to comment on the issue.

The UNAMID hybrid operation was endorsed by the AU and the UN in December 2006 and was approved by the Government of Sudan in June 2007, after months of opposition.