S. Sudan: Wau Commissioner violates women's rights and freedoms

Ha! On 18 August in southern Sudan, the Local Assembly in Wau debated the decree issued by the Wau Commissioner last week whereby he declared that women would not be allowed to enter any UNMIS, UN Agency and/or NGO office premises or accommodation without being registered by his office.

The Local Assembly concluded that the move of the Commissioner was illegal, and violated women's rights and freedoms.

In the meantime, some women in Wau organised themselves and marched to the Commissioner's office with a CPA book in order to read for him the relevant chapters which pertain to the freedoms of both men and women.

Source: UN Country Team in Sudan 20 Aug 2006.

Sudan and Iran discuss five MoUs

On 19 August, the Iranian Agriculture Minister discussed with GNU Minister for International Co-operation the implementation of the five MoUs signed on 21 June in Tehran.

The Iranian Minister also carried a message from Iranian President Ahmadinejad to President Bashir.

Source: UN Country Team in Sudan 20 Aug 2006.

UPDATE: Aug 21 2006 Sudan Tribune: Sudan, Iran to reactivate agreements in animal resources - Sudan and Iran have agreed to reactivate the agreements which were signed between them in the fields of establishing modern factories, vaccines and medicines production, training of Sudanese cadres, cooling, fisheries, and opening new markets.

Sudan begins export of crude oil to Japan

The first load of Sudanese crude oil produced at Trajaz oil field left Bashaer Port on the Red sea coast for Japan today, Bahrain News Agency reported 20 Aug 2006:

The 600 thousand oil barrel consignment was exported by the White Nile Corporation for Oil Operations on Sunday where Minister of Energy and Minerals, Dr Awadh Ahmed expressed hope over the promising future of his country in the field of oil industry mainly after Darfur agreement had been signed.

The Sudanese Minister affirmed his country's keenness to develop its ties with friendly states to attain common interests, pointing out to the efforts being exerted to extract oil from under the waters of the Red sea.

SPLM obtains Sudan embassy in US, deputy head of UN delegation

Two of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) ambassadors have been appointed in Washington and New York, one as Sudanese ambassador in USA and the second as deputy head of Sudan Mission to the United Nations.

Sudan has nominated Mr John Ukac Lueth as Sudan's ambassador to the USA and Dr Akec Khoc Acieu as deputy head of Sudan's delegation to the UN. Full story ST 16 Aug 2006.

Arabs to UN: Give Sudan more time on Darfur

Reuters report Aug 20, 2006, excerpt:

"A resolution passed by the Arab League council of foreign ministers said: "(The council) asks the Security Council to give the Sudanese government more time to implement its plan to improve conditions and preserve security in Darfur, which it presented to the United Nations on August 2."

It added: "It calls for the postponement of the U.N. Security Council meeting which is due to take place next week in New York...to allow time for consultation and coordination between regional organisations on the role of AU forces in Darfur."

Sudanese militia killed two AMIS peacekeepers in Darfur?

An unsourced report at inthenews.co.uk says militia killed the two African peacekeepers in Darfur. Don't know where they got the information, if it means Janjaweed or what. More later.

Meanwhile, the state-run SUNA accused the rebel National Redemption Front (NRF/JEM) of the attack, ST/Agencies reported Aug 19, 2006:

"Leaders of the groups found responsible for this "despicable attack" will be held "personally accountable," said the AU, without specifying which armed groups it suspected of being involved.

"This unprovoked ambush against AMIS peacekeepers is also a clear breach of the ceasefire agreements, with which all parties are bound to comply, as well as the relevant AU PSC and UNSC resolutions," the AU said."

See Aug 29 2006 news reports on N Darfur: 2 Rwandan peacekeepers killed, 4 wounded.

Arab League urges its members to fund AMIS for 6 months

The Arab League on Sunday backed Sudan's rejection of UN troops in Darfur, AFP reported (via Times of Oman) Aug 20, 2006. Excerpt:

A League committee called for a reinforcement of the African Union mission already on the ground in Darfur.

The Arab League meeting also urged its members, which number 22 including Sudan, to fulfill their commitments made at a March summit in Khartoum to provide six months' worth of financing for the African Union mission.

EU's Solana sends Pekka Haavisto to Darfur

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Saturday expressed serious concern over situation in Darfur, PD/Xinhua reported Aug 20 2006:

Solana's office said EU Special Representative for the Sudan Pekka Haavisto will have meetings next week with the Government of Sudan, with Darfur armed movements, the African Union, the UN and other international partners about ways and means to prevent a new escalation of violence and to move the peace process forward.

EU REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR AU UN TRANSITION

EU Press Release, Brussels Aug 20 2006 (via ReliefWeb) Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the CFSP, expresses serious concern about the new deteriorating security situation in Darfur - excerpt:

"In line with the conclusions of the international conference held in Brussels on 18 July, the High Representative reiterates that the European Union fully supports the efforts of the African Union and the United Nations to achieve, in close coordination, a successful transition without which any realistic solution to the Darfur crisis is impossible."

N Darfur: 2 Rwandan peacekeepers killed, 4 wounded

Armed group kills two African Union peacekeepers In Darfur Easy bourse reported today (via Dowjones BN) :

Two African Union peacekeepers were killed and three wounded when their convoy was ambushed in Darfur Saturday, the AU said in a statement.

A group of unidentified armed men attacked an AU fuel convoy traveling to the AU's HQ of El Fasher in North Darfur, the statement said.

From News.com.au:

The attack targeted a convoy carrying fuel in the Kuma area around 80 km northeast of Darfur's main town of el-Fasher. The area is under the control of rebels who did not sign the May peace deal, but the AU said it was not clear who the attackers were.

One AU source said the soldiers who were attacked were from Rwanda. Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa supply the majority of the soldiers in the AU force.

From AFP via News24:

Two Rwandan peacekeepers were killed and four wounded when unidentified gunmen ambushed their convoy in North Darfur on Saturday.

The six peacekeepers had been escorting a fuel convoy from El-Nahud to El-Fasher, said African Union Mission in Sudan spokesperson Mousa Hamani.

He said the attack was "a clear breach" of truce agreements in the war-ravaged western region.

"Two soldiers were killed and four others were injured," said Hamani.

"Two of them sustained serious injuries and were flown to Khartoum for medical treatment, while the other two are now being treated at a medical centre in El-Fasher. All of the six were from the Rwandese contingent."

The AU said three of its soldiers were killed by Sudan Liberation Army rebels in October. An AU peacekeeper was killed in an ambush in Darfur on May 29.

Pronk: Enforce implementation of DPA and start DDD

"The solution of this crisis should be found, first, by enforcing the implementation of what has been agreed, rather than allowing the Government and the Minawi faction to disregard their commitments," writes UN SRSG Jan Pronk in his latest blog entry Aug 18, 2006. He goes on to say:

"Second, by getting all parties on board (instead of alienating dissenters and attacking non-signatories) and inviting them to participate in all inclusive Darfurian institutions, whether they have signed the agreement or not (yet).

Third, by starting an all inclusive Darfur-Darfur dialogue as soon as possible and by linking this dialogue with reconstruction, return and reconciliation programmes, irrespective of the political stance of the groups concerned.

Last but not least, by establishing a robust international peace force, capable to deter and contain old and new assailants, Janjaweed as well as NRF, bandits as well as warlords. The DPA is more than a security arrangement. However, without an improving security situation all other elements of the DPA are bound to fail."

Sudan plans to send 10,500 troops to Darfur

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said it had obtained a copy of a proposal, drawn up by Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, to send 10,500 new government troops to Darfur. Full report Reuters Aug 18, 2006 (via ST) - excerpt:

Bashir, quoted by the official Sudanese News Agency, told a gathering of the armed forces on Monday, "We are determined to defeat any forces entering the country just as Hizbollah has defeated the Israeli forces.

Photo: Soldiers man a Sudanese army checkpoint outside the abandoned village of Hashaba, south of Al-Fasher in Darfur, in June 2006. A UN-led force for Darfur would need up to 18,600 troops and intense international pressure has to be put on Sudan to accept the intervention, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said. (AFP Aug 1, 2006/Charles Onians)

Aug 18 2006 HRW report: U.N.: Reject Sudan's Darfur Plan - Khartoum tries to head off UN force to protect civilians (hat tip CFD)



Photo: A soldier with the Government of Sudan sits next to weapons and ammunition at an outpost in Sudan's northern Darfur town of Tawilla May 17, 2006.



Photo: Sudanese protestors from student and youth organisations rally in front of the parliament building in Khartoum, to protest against UN plans to deploy peacekeepers in Darfur in June 2006.

U.S. dismisses Sudan president's threat

The Bush administration on Friday dismissed a threat by Sudan's president to fire on any UN force sent to Darfur, AP's Barry Schweid reported Aug 18, 2006. Excerpt:

The African Union, which has peacekeeping troops in the western Sudanese region, would make up the majority of an expanded UN force that would benefit the Sudanese government as well as the people of Darfur, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.

"Ultimately, we believe that this is in the interest of all the participants in Sudan, including the government, and we expect that they will ultimately agree to let this go forward," he said.

A draft resolution by the United States and Britain was introduced at the United Nations on Thursday.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has warned that Sudan's army would fight any UN forces sent to Darfur, while Britain's UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry stressed that no UN force would be deployed in Darfur without the consent of the government.

Casey said the Sudanese government has said in the past it would welcome the UN forces to help monitor and enforce a peace agreement. "That's what we are trying to do here," the spokesman said.

"And, ultimately, we believe that is not only what should happen but that is what will happen," Casey said.

With violence escalating in Darfur, Jones Parry said he hopes the resolution can be adopted by the end of August.

In New York, the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, Mark Malloch Brown, said, "We are extremely worried about the deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, and the absence of a clear political path to the deployment of the U.N. force."

"It is very important that we all pay lots of attention to Darfur," he said. "Something very ugly is brewing there."

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US THREATENS SUDAN AFTER UN RESISTANCE

Aug 19 2006 Sapa-AFP report by P Parameswaran (via IOL) US threatens Sudan after UN resistance:

A senior US State Department official warned Friday about "the reality" facing Sudan if it "confronted with a unified international community" and a UN resolution that was "the will of the international community."

Referring to Beshir's threat, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, asked: "Do they want to defy that, and if they do, then what are the potential consequences for them?"

"Don't forget there is a process in The Hague going on in terms of investigations of potential war crimes," the official said, referring to demands by the international community that Darfur war crimes suspects be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

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THEY'RE WASTING PRECIOUS TIME ARGUING

Commentary by Drima: The Sudanese Thinker re U.S. Dismisses Sudan President's Threat:

"The debate on UN troops hasn't ended yet and it doesn't seem like it will end any time soon. I'm tired. They're wasting precious time arguing.

As I've stated previously, AU being in command is the best option we have. Bashir's regime doesn't trust the UN troops coming into Darfur under chapter 7. The UN should just accept it. They should also take Al-Qaeda's threats seriously.

Darfur will turn into a war zone if the UN troops come into it without the Sudanese dictatorship's consent. That ought to make things real "humanitarian" for the people there."

- - -

DISPLACED WOMEN WAITING ... FOR WHAT? MORE WAR?



Feb 19 2005 photo: Displaced Sudanese women from Darfur. Violence in refugee camps sheltering 2.5 million people in Darfur has rocketed since a peace deal was signed in May and threatens to jeopardise the world's largest aid operation, a joint statement by four major aid agencies said on Tuesday. (Stringer/Reuters Aug 8, 2006)



May 2006 photo: Displaced Darfuris are seen in the town of Gereida, southern Darfur, May 2006. The US and Britain presented a draft resolution to the UN outlining the deployment of 17,000 peacekeepers to Darfur, despite opposition by the Sudanese government. (AFP Aug 17, 2006/Jonah Fisher)



Photo: A woman stands in front of her shelter at a camp for Internally Displaced Persons in North Darfur, June 13 2006. (Reuters Aug 17, 2006/Zohra Bensemra)

UPDATE: US EXPECTS SUDANESE ACCEPTANCE OF UN FORCE

Coaliton for Darfur points to VOA report US Expects Sudanese Acceptance of UN Force. Report excerpt:

Sudan has strongly opposed the proposed upgrade of the international peacekeeping presence in Darfur, with President Omar al-Bashir even threatening to forcibly resist the introduction of U.N. troops.

However, officials here say they think the Khartoum government will eventually relent, and they make clear that the introduction of Thursday's U.N. resolution is aimed at building international pressure on the Sudanese leadership to reconsider.

At a news briefing, State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey noted that Sudanese officials initially signaled acceptance of the force upgrade when a Darfur peace agreement was forged between the government and rebel groups last May in Nigeria.

He suggested that once the global community, through the Security Council, has spoken forcefully about the need for the Darfur force, the Sudanese government will reconsider.

"Once the international community has spoken to this issue, then let's see what the reaction of the Sudanese government is," said Mr. Casey. "Again, I think if you look historically at what's occurred here, the government of Sudan has, when appropriately presented with facts on the ground, responded to them. I think at this point what we need to do is not worry about where they are today, but worry about where they are once we get a resolution passed that authorizes this force."

Casey noted that there already is a United Nations force in Sudan working to implement the country's north-south peace accord, and that the envisaged 17,000-member Darfur peacekeeping mission would be built on the existing African Union presence.

Veto-wielding Security Council members Russia and China have expressed reservations about the U.S.-British draft but spokesman Casey said the Bush administration is optimistic about chances for its early adoption.

He said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, though nominally on vacation, has been conducting telephone diplomacy on behalf of the resolution and spoke about it this week with, among others, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

"Something very ugly is brewing there," Mark Malloch Brown - UN troops cannot be sent without agreement from Khartoum

UN troops cannot be sent without agreement from Khartoum, Reuters report reminds us Aug 18 2006 (via ST).

Also, the report reveals that Mark Malloch Brown, the deputy UN secretary-general, has told reporters:

"Something very ugly is brewing there. We are extraordinarily concerned. We are extremely worried about the deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, and the absence of a clear path to the deployment of a UN force."

Photo: The United States warned Sudan of potential consequences if it continued to resist UN peacekeepers in Darfur, hinting of stepped up moves for an international probe on alleged war crimes in the region. Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir, seen here in June 2006, has warned that his country would confront any UN-sponsored forces sent to Darfur (AFP/Aug 18, 2006/Issouf Sanogo)

Note, the above Reuter's report states that in Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said "the Sudanese government has both a need and an obligation to accept this force as part of the peace deal that they, themselves, agreed to." From what I can gather, the Sudanese government has never accepted a UN force as part of the peace deal. Unlike the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) for southern Sudan, the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) does not include a peacekeeping force.

UN troops would reinforce AU presence already in Darfur

The British officials who drew up the latest draft resolution on Darfur say they hope it can be adopted by the Security Council within a month, to enable troops to be deployed in January, BBC news reported Aug 19, 2006.

The BBC report tells us Russia and China have some reservations. And that new troops would reinforce an African Union presence already there in Darfur.



Photo: An African Union armoured personnel carrier patrols the Sudanese village of Gos Beina, south of the town of al-Fasher in Darfur. (AFP Aug 1, 2006/Charles Onians)

Note, earlier news reports filed here at Sudan Watch, suggest there's talk of using peacekeepers from the UN mission in southern Sudan (UNMIS).



Photo: An African Union soldier stands guard in the village of Gos Beina during an AU patrol south of the town of al-Fasher in Darfur, June 2006. (AFP Jul 29,2006/Charles Onians)

Sudan removes squatters' slum housing nr Khartoum

Khartoum is surrounded by miles of slum housing where millions of Sudanese from the war-torn south and west of the country have sought shelter over the past two decades from conflict, disease and famine.

But land prices have soared and the government wants the land the build houses or sell to investors. Full report Sudan Tribune Aug 18, 2006.
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Aug 17 2006 BBC report - UN call to stop Sudan demolitions - Heavily armed policemen and tanks had surrounded the squatter camp at Dar es Salaam, some 40km from the capital, before moving in at 0800 local time, the UN said in a statement on Thursday. United Nations officials in the area were barred from entering the area, but heard gunshots. There are reports of deaths, including a child.
- - -

THOSE FILTHY CRIMINALS

In the comments at Drima's Sudanese Thinker blog, a reader called Tse asks:

How come land prices skyrocketed for land near Karthoum? Does the government provide alternative housing? What's gonna happen to these unfortunate people now?

Drima replied:

"Land prices are skyrocketing in Khartoum because of the massive number of foreigners and companies moving into Khartoum's best districts. Demand is increasing quickly and as a consequence so are the prices. Higher prices mean more profit for businessmen with conncetions to the government or in the government. Since normal business in Sudan is risky because of corruption and a screwed up economy, many people over the years have turned to investing in real estate because it's much less riskier. There are so many foreigners in Khartoum now and it's slowly getting crowded. Investors want to develop massive areas of land surrounding Khartoum to accomodate the growing demand. They clear the land. They use it and they make more money. The rich gets richer and the poor get poorer.

Alternative housing??! LOL. Welcome to Sudan where there is no such thing. Here in Malaysia, the government by the law must provide decent alternative housing before removing illegal squaters. Sudan? Nada, zip, nothing! These people have to go and squater somewhere else now. They'll be forced to move to worse places with no proper access to water or electricity. Getting some water will require a longer walk.

It's one sad disgusting reality that I can't stand Tse. Sudan now is like Europe during the dark ages.

JEM calls upon Sudan to release Slovene envoy

Aug 17 2006 Darfur outlaws JEM (Khartoum declared them terrorists) appeal to Sudan's president for release of Slovenian envoy, Tomo Kriznar.

See Tomo Kriznar - official website where one can read the first chapter of Tomo Kriznar's book NUBA, Pure People. [hat tip POTP]

Sudan rejects US-UK proposal of UN troops in Darfur

Aug 18 2006 The New York Sun (Benny Avni) - excerpt:

An American-British proposal to deploy 17,000 troops in Darfur was immediately rejected yesterday by Khartoum. President Bashir threatened that if the UN-led force reaches his country, it will be "defeated" like Israel by Hezbollah.

"We are determined to defeat any forces entering the country, just as Hezbollah has defeated the Israeli forces," [Sudanese president] Mr Bashir said yesterday.

"Legally speaking, the African Union" does not have "the right to transfer" the mandate in Darfur to a UN-led force, Sudan's ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Bashir Manis, said. "The Sudan government is opposed to the sending of troops, and I cannot see how anyone can envisage sending troops to a country which is not welcoming those troops."

Earlier this year the African Union's Peace and Security Commission met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where it decided "in principal" to pass the mandate of its force to the United Nations.

Sudan gov't consent not required in the resolution

Excerpt from commentary by Tim Fernholz at New Republic Aug 17, 2006:

"Transcript of a press gaggle with Ambassador Jackie Sanders, the alternative representative for special political affairs to the United Nations:

Reporter: Ambassador, on that last point, [Sudanese] President [Omar Al] Bashir said as recently as yesterday that not only will he not welcome a U.N. force, he would attack it. What do you plan to do about that?

Ambassador Sanders: Well, there are a number of high level dialogues going on including from the United States. The UK is sending an envoy to the region to speak with him, and I think--as was discussed in the Council today--all the countries of the Council and any country that has any influence with this government is welcome and encouraged to use its influence to get the president to get on board with this... .

Reporter: Is the consent of the government of Sudan required by this resolution as far as you see it?

Ambassador Sanders: I would say it is not required. The fact of the matter is it's in our job description to get this thing adopted, then it's in the job description of the government of Sudan to consent to it and to move forward. And that's what we are expecting and that's what we're going to work toward.

Reporter: Sorry, you just said not required?

Ambassador Sanders: The consent is not required in the resolution.

Reporter: But it's required for the force?

Ambassador Sanders: Well practically speaking, it's going to be useful to have the government on board to get this accomplished."

- - -

Deteriorating situation calls for action, US diplomat says

From US Department of State 17 Aug 2006 re US, UK submit resolution on UN peacekeepers for Darfur:

"After a private meeting with the Security Council to present the resolution, U.S. Ambassador Jackie Sanders said, "Hopefully, we'll get a resolution adopted quickly and unanimously."

"We hope the government of Sudan will do its part," said Sanders, the deputy U.S. envoy to the United Nations."

Unanimously? Everyone on UN Security Council, including China and Russia? She can't be serious.

NATO's helping AU forces headed to Darfur

US Department of Defence News Briefing with Gen. Jones from the Pentagon Aug 17, 2006 - excerpt:

"We have a small mission in support of the African Union in Ethiopia, in which we bring some capacity building to the African forces that are headed to Darfur and also some strategic lift in and out of Darfur for the nations that are committing those battalions." - Commander, U.S. European Command, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, General James L. Jones.

Sudan may be gearing up for major offensive in Darfur, UN peacekeeping official warns

Aug 17 2006 UN News Centre report says Sudan may be gearing up for major offensive in Darfur, UN peacekeeping official warns:

The Sudanese Government seems to be determined to pursue a major military offensive in strife-torn Darfur, building up its armed forces in the region as the situation there deteriorates, the Security Council heard today.

In a closed-door briefing, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hedi Annabi also warned the Council that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has reiterated his opposition to a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur and vowed that the Sudanese armed forces would fight any UN force dispatched to the region.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York that Mr Annabi urged the Council to consider re-engaging Khartoum directly for a final discussion on the question of whether it would agree to a UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur.

The President of the Security Council, Ambassador Nana Effah-Apenteng, told reporters following the meeting that a draft resolution had been introduced on Sudan. "We are looking at the possibility of bringing all the major players to a meeting here, the League of Arab States, the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference), the African Union and a representative of the Sudanese Government," he said, adding that the first two had already accepted.