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.

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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

- - -
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.

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.

From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 30 November 2009:

(Khartoum) - Seven people were killed and more than thirty others injured in the clashes between IDPs and government forces in west Darfur last Friday.

The clashes erupted when IDPs declared their support for Sudan Liberation Movement rebel leader Abdelwahid al-Nur and refused to take part in the voter registration exercise.

IDP spokesperson, Hussein Abu Sharati, described the incident to SRS on Sunday.

[Hussein Abu Sharati Arabic]: “On Friday, government forces and the Janjaweed militia came to register people in Deleij IDP camp and Geneina town, but the civilians refused to take part in the voter registration exercise, demanding that the government should bring peace by negotiating with the rebel groups in Darfur, disarm the militias and bring those who committed atrocities to justice. The IDPs said that they will only register if Abdelwahid returns to Sudan. That’s when the government soldiers and the Janjaweed started to force people to register. Then they asked the civilians to hand over the person that they wanted to vote for. Then they started shooting at people. They killed seven people and wounded thirty-seven others.”

However, 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.

[Dr. Rabbie Abdullaati]: “There is no evidence to prove these accusations. Maybe that incident was perpetrated by the Darfur anti-government groups who are divided into many factions. They want to disrupt the security situation, in order to send negative signals to other countries and bodies that support the anti-government groups in Darfur.”

Dr. Rabbie Abdullaati was speaking to SRS from Khartoum on Monday.

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UPDATE on Tuesday at 14:48 PM GMT UK December 1, 2009:

See Sudan Watch today: UNAMID strongly rejects accusations in a Sudan Tribune report against its peacekeepers

U.S. Special Envoy Gration Sudan Trip Summary

It is critical that Sudanese citizens take advantage of the recently announced one-week extension to register to vote, as it is the only way for the Sudanese people to maintain their right to participate in the national elections in April 2010.

From US Department of State
U.S. Special Envoy Gration Trip Summary
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
November 27, 2009

The United States Special Envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, has just returned from a November 16-November 23 trip to Sudan. He traveled to the areas of Khartoum, Abyei, and Darfur.

In Khartoum, the two parties to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)—the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)—continue their discussions to resolve key outstanding issues relating to the 2010 national elections and the 2011 referenda in Southern Sudan and Abyei. Without immediate resolution of these disputes, we are concerned about the chances for conducting credible elections and referenda. Unfortunately, the parties have not yet demonstrated the political will necessary to achieve resolution on these difficult and sensitive issues.

Special Envoy Gration also traveled to Abyei to observe the progress in implementing the July 2008 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on the boundaries of this area. There is an urgent need for enhanced on-the-ground communication about the PCA decision, including its impact on local communities, in order to allay community concerns and prevent potential conflict.

In Darfur, Special Envoy Gration’s meetings concentrated on the security situation along the Chad-Sudan border. In a disturbing trend, lawlessness and banditry have heightened tensions along the border. Addressing these ongoing security concerns is crucial for achieving a lasting peace in Darfur.

Finally, the Special Envoy visited four voter registration centers in Khartoum, Abyei, and Darfur, as registration for the 2010 national elections is currently underway. It is critical that Sudanese citizens take advantage of the recently announced one-week extension to register to vote, as it is the only way for the Sudanese people to maintain their right to participate in the national elections in April 2010. PRN: 2009/1181

Large numbers of quality sheep from Darfur, western Sudan have been exported and this explains the rise in prices

The Feast of Sacrifice, or Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holiday which celebrates the story of Ibrahim, or Abraham, whose faith was so strong he was prepared to sacrifice his son to God.

Report by Sudan Radio Service - SRS

27 November 2009 - (Khartoum) - Livestock prices have risen in Khartoum as Muslims celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice, or Eid al-Adha.

Sheep are particularly in demand during the holiday period as they are sold to be slaughtered and eaten as part of the celebrations.

Sudan Radio Service spoke to traders who were selling sheep in the city on Friday. They say prices have risen sharply because Sudanese livestock exports have increased over the last year and there are fewer sheep on the market.

Salim Abdalla Hamad Salim is from Southern Kordofan.

[Salim Abdalla]: “The price of sheep has risen this year compared to last year because the export market has affected the prices and makes them expensive. Large numbers have been exported. I cannot say exactly how many have been exported but large numbers of sheep have been exported. Some animals are being sold for between 400 SDG and 150 SDG. Prices depend on the size of the animal. The big one has its price and the small one has its price also. The cheapest sheep goes for 135 SDG and the highest price is 500 SDG. This year, business is not going well because of the increase in prices.”

Ismail Abdalla Imam, from Kutum in Northern Darfur, says large numbers of quality sheep from Darfur have been exported and this explains the rise in prices.

[Ismail Abdalla Imam]: “We have special customers and we bring them the kind of animals they require. As you can see here, most of these animals are from western Sudan - these red ones are from western Sudan and the white ones are from eastern Sudan. You have to provide quality to stimulate the market and motivate the customer who comes to buy. That big white sheep over there will sell for around 550 SDG and the red one is also worth 550 SDG. The white one in the middle could fetch up to 330 SDG.”

Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holiday which celebrates the story of Ibrahim, or Abraham, whose faith was so strong he was prepared to sacrifice his son to God.

South Sudan, Western Bahr el-Ghazal: Corruption among top government officials is delaying development in the state

Lino Agustino Adam, the director-general of Public Service and Human Resource Development in Western Bahr el-Ghazal, southern Sudan, is calling on the government to take a lead in fighting corruption in the region.

Report by Sudan Radio Service - SRS:

27 November 2009 - (Wau) - Corruption among top government officials is delaying development in the state, according to Lino Agustino Adam, the director-general of Public Service and Human Resource Development in Western Bahr el-Ghazal.

Agustino says that most offices are occupied by incompetent people, adding that the state is spending money on the salaries of employees who don’t deliver services.

[Lino Agustino Adam]: “You find someone in government telling you that they want their friend or relation to be appointed or employed in some kind of job, without putting the person in the budget. You put them in a job that doesn't suit them. Then they come to you saying, “I am the sister, or I am the son or nephew of His Excellency”. Dressing themselves like a lord, with five pens in their breast pocket and strutting around with a briefcase, when you give them a desk, they cannot work!”

Lino Agustino Adam was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Thursday in Wau.

He is calling on the government to take a lead in fighting corruption in the region.

Sudan Radio Service - SRS new website will be online soon.

National Electoral Commission says any Sudanese person with refugee status in Egypt will not be allowed to register

85% of southern Sudanese in Egypt who hold a UNHCR card have been prevented from voter registration.

From Sudan Radio Service, Friday, November 27, 2009:

27 November 2009 - (Cairo) - Eighty-five per cent of southern Sudanese in Egypt who hold a UNHCR card have been prevented from registering in the voter registration exercise.

The registration committee in Egypt announced that any person with refugee status in Egypt will not be allowed to register.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service in Egypt, one of the registrars, Abubakar Abdelgadir, explains.

[Abubakar Abdelgadir]: “We have received instructions from the National Electoral Commission saying that anyone whose visa has been canceled by the Egyptian authorities and who has a refugee card should not be registered.”

The voter registration exercise in foreign countries has seen low turn-outs because the NEC has imposed a stringent set of registration requirements on Sudanese citizens living abroad.

Sudan Radio Service will be back online soon. This report was received by email.

South Sudan: Registrars in Mundari East are having problems reaching voters

In Mundari East county, southern Sudan, the National Elections Commission (NEC) should make sure that the registration centers are properly identified, so that people know where to go to register.

When they wanted to show the people how to get to the center, the NEC officials used the same boundary tape the deminers use to indicate the presence of land-mines

Full report from Sudan Radio Service, Friday, November 2009 by email:

27 November 2009 - (Mundri) - The logistical challenges facing registrars in Mundri East county are making it difficult to register people in the county.

Speaking to SRS on Friday, the commissioner of Mundri East county, Wilson Api John, says that the NEC should make sure that the registration centers are properly identified, so that people know where to go to register.

[Wilson Api]: "When they wanted to show the people how to get to the center, the NEC officials used the same boundary tape the deminers use to indicate the presence of land-mines. In Kideba, one of the registrars asked someone to go and register but he refused – he asked why the registration center was in a dangerous zone because he saw the tapes which usually indicate the presence of land-mines. It took a long time for people to understand that this was the place where they were supposed to register.”

Api added that a lack of transport is the biggest challenge faced by the voter registration team.

[Wilson Api John]: “The turn-out is very low. The officials who are supposed to be registering people are finding it hard to get to the registration centers. They do not have a means of transport - not even bicycles - therefore they are finding it hard to move around because the distance from the village to the registration centers is quite far. They have no means of transportation. They need at least a bicycle for them to get around.”

The commissioner of Mundri East, Wilson Api John, was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Mundri.

Sudan Radio Service website at http://www.sudanradio.org/news.php is being redesigned and will be back online very soon.  

The National Electoral Commission has cancelled arrangements which made voter registration easier for Sudanese citizens living in Kenya

News report from Sudan Radio Service for Thursday, 26 November 2009:

(Nairobi) - The National Electoral Commission has canceled arrangements which made voter registration easier for Sudanese citizens living in Kenya.

Earlier this week, the NEC had decided that a valid passport or a student ID was enough to enable people to register. People without a valid passport were able to register if they were accompanied by a witness who could vouch for their identity.

However, speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Thursday in Nairobi, the Sudanese ambassador to Kenya, Majok Guangdong, said the Embassy had received a letter from the NEC which set out the new registration requirements.

[Majok Guandong]: "Yesterday, we received a letter from the National Electoral Commission indicating that the procedures should follow the law, which states that a person should be Sudanese, 18 years and above, holding a valid Sudanese passport and a resident permit. People who do not meet these requirements will not be able to register."

Ambassador Guandong fears that fewer people will register following the announcement of the new requirements.

[Majok Guandong]: "I think the number of people will definitely reduce because there is no flexibility and the people who will turn out will be just those who meet the new requirements. I am expecting that the numbers of Sudanese coming to register will drop considerably."

He urged Sudanese citizens living in Kenya to continue to participate in the voter registration exercise.

Click on National Election Commission label here below to view related news and updates. Cross-posted to Kenya Watch.
- - -

UPDATE at 17:18 PM GMT UK Friday November 27, 2009:

Report by Sudan Radio Service, November 27, 2009:

(Nairobi) - Following the cancellation of arrangements which make voter registration easier for Sudanese living in Kenya, voter turn-out numbers are expected to decline.

The chairman of a Sudanese community association based in Nairobi, Dr. Senari Abdulwahab, says the National Electoral Commission is denying Sudanese who live abroad the right to register.

[Dr Senari Abdulwahab]: “It is very surprising, because when the representative from the Commission came we talked and he was clear that people should respect the law, but that there must be some arrangement made because most Sudanese nationals in Kenyan don’t have documents like a passport or a resident permit. We agreed and so I was surprised that after two days, the orders to relax the rules were canceled. After this has happened, we can not say that the registration process is for all Sudanese, because they have introduced regulations that are penalizing some people. It is clear that they do not want Sudanese nationals who live in Nairobi to register.”

Senari Abdulwahab was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Friday in Nairobi.

South Sudan: Juba's public health inspector has ordered all trucks selling water in Juba payams to be painted light blue

Imagine the fevers and stomach pains.  News just in from Juba, southern Sudan says water retailers in Juba have been accused of using sewage tankers to transport drinking water. The public health inspector for Juba county, Sebit Amusa Tongu’n, has ordered all water-sellers to abide by public health regulations and is quoted in the following report as saying:

“We have ordered all the trucks selling water in the Juba payams to be painted light blue"

Email report from Sudan Radio Service, Thursday, November 26, 2009:

(Juba) - Water retailers in Juba have been accused of using sewage tankers to transport drinking water.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service in Juba this week, the public health inspector for Juba county, Sebit Amusa Tongu’n, has ordered all water-sellers to abide by public health regulations.

[Sebit Amusa Tongu’n]: “We have ordered all the trucks selling water in the Juba payams to be painted light blue. This is a strategy to make sure that people don’t get confused between trucks carrying water and ones carrying sewage. So I would like to tell the citizens of Juba, Kator and Munuki that if you see a truck which is being used to sell water that is not painted blue, you should take its number and report it to us."

Tongu’n also said that it is not clear where exactly some water retailers get their water.

He said all water retailers should fetch water at specified points along the Nile, at sites where the public health office treats water with chlorine.

Sudan Radio Service's news headlines will return soon at www.sudanradio.org. With thanks to

Charles Haskins
News Programming Advisor
Sudan Radio Service (SRS)
A project of Education Development Center
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www.sudanradio.org

US Special Envoy Scott Gration's latest report from Sudan: “Along the Border”

Email from US Department of State
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:57:48 -0600
“Along the Border”
Scott Gration, Special Envoy to Sudan
Washington, DC

As our UN helicopter landed in Muglad, the large crowd of locals and tribal elders quickly approached our small plane. We were quickly ushered into a meeting hall, where we listened intently as the Misseriya tribal elders spoke passionately about their community’s concerns.

Muglad is a major town in Southern Kordofan, Sudan, and one of the ancestral areas of the Misseriya. It is just north of the Abyei region of Sudan, an area on the North-South border that has been a hotbed of tension and conflict. Ongoing disputes about the boundaries of this area led to a recent decision this year by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague outlining the final boundaries. I was in Abyei when this decision was handed down, and I returned to the region last week to listen to the people from the area about how they’ve received this decision, including the nomadic Misseriya tribe and the Ngok Dinka, whose traditional homeland is the Abyei Area. Having heard from Ngok Dinka leaders earlier that day, it was time to hear directly from the Misseriya. They made it clear that they were highly concerned about the PCA ruling, voicing their distress that Misseriya land had been taken away.

There has been a lot of misinformation about the PCA decision. Reports that the demarcation commission would build a wall on the border are not true, and reports that the Misseriya would be denied access are also false. In fact, the decision specifically grants access rights to the Misseriya and does not dictate the construction of any sort of barrier.

It is crucial that Sudan and the international community work to implement the ruling of the PCA. It is important that the demarcation of the border get underway, and it is also crucial that, as decided by the PCA, the Misseriya and the Ngok Dinka both are guaranteed access rights to the Abyei region. It is fundamental that we respect the rights and the needs of those who call Abyei and the surrounding areas home.

On this trip I also made a visit to Darfur. I traveled to El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, and then on to El Geneina in West Darfur near the Chad-Sudan border. I met with UNAMID leaders and others to monitor the status of the security situation and related issues along the border. Ending the tension and the conflict on the border is crucial in bringing peace to Darfur. Additionally, with national elections in Sudan coming up in April 2010, I also took the opportunity on this trip to visit voter registration sites in Khartuom, Abyei, and Darfur. I look forward to sharing more of my observations from my trip in the following days.

Thank you for your continued interest, Scott.

Southern Sudanese youth leaders say this time is the time for fighting with the ballot paper instead of with bullets

Report by Sudan Radio Service (SRS), Wednesday, November 25, 2009:

(Juba) - Southern Sudanese youth leaders are calling on young people in Sudan to come out and register in large numbers in order to take part in the coming general elections.

In an interview with Sudan Radio Service in Juba on Monday, representatives of the Juba University students’ association said that they will not be manipulated by politicians in the run-up to the 2010 general elections.

Dhal Adit Dhal, from JUSA, spoke to Sudan Radio Service.

[Dhal Adit Dhal]: “So many people have been hired to attack people. But what we have to do as young people is to make sure that this time is the time for fighting with the ballot paper instead of with bullets. We will go to our parents and other citizens to tell them about the importance of the elections. We should not be dragged blindly into them by the politicians. Sudan has been unstable for a very long time. We have to make sure that this time we make Sudan better. A new Sudan with all the different cultures and all the diversities!”

Adit called on young people to vote wisely in the coming elections and to elect responsible leaders who will act to create positive changes in Sudanese society.

Sudan Radio Service will be back online soon.