S.Sudan: WOTAP in Wau helps women look after their families and set up small businesses

From Sudan Radio Service, Thursday, 09 July 2009:
WOTAP Funds Women's Project in Wau

(Wau) – A women’s development group, Women Training and Promotion, WOTAP, based in Wau, Western Bahr El-Ghazal State provides funding to help women look after their families and set up small businesses. They get support from the FAO, the WFP and the state Ministry of Agriculture.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service in Wau on Wednesday, Linda Ferdinand Hussein, the director of WOTAP in Wau, explained how her agency empowers women in the state.

[Linda Ferdinand]: “We have two agricultural projects at the moment. We have a project called the Seeds Business Project. We are working with progressive farmers in six locations. One is in Wau and the other five are outside Wau. We train farmers to produce seeds in that project. 

We also have free seed distribution to the IDPs and the host communities. 

We also have vegetable gardening where we train women on how plant vegetables which are important to the health of their children and from which they also get some income. 

The Ministry of Agriculture sends us advisers who train our project members. We also have goat-restocking program where we give women outside town goats on a revolving basis. 150 women have benefited from this goat-restocking program.”

One of the beneficiaries, Juleta Mario, is in her sixties and lives in Momoi village, five miles from Wau town. Sudan Radio Service visited her in her grass-thatched tukul, where she takes care of her goats.

[Juleta Mario]: “These goats were given to us women who are abandoned by our husbands. My husband left me and bringing up my children was very difficult. So WOTAP gave us these goats to help me in bringing up my children, saying that when the goats deliver more goats they take the ones they gave us and leave us with the ones they delivered. WOTAP gave us these goats in 1994. They delivered twelve more goats. They took their parents and I remained with mine. When I have problems I sell some of them and now I remained with 8 goats. They are still delivering.”

Ferdinand said that members sell their agricultural produce and the group shares the income.

However, she said that one of the challenges her agency faces is that the donors restrict their use of funds and that prevents WOTAP from expanding.

Latest - CECAFA 2009 results from Khartoum, Sudan - Thurs, 09 July 2009

Report from Sudan Radio Service on Thursday, 09 July 2009:

(Khartoum) – Rwanda’s Atraco enjoyed a surprise victory on Wednesday night, knocking out Uganda’s Kampala City Council 4-0 in CECAFA’s quarter finals in El-Merrikh’s stadium, in Omdurman.

The Rwandans had faced several humiliations earlier in the tournament but qualified narrowly by edging out first Djibouti’s Kartileh and then Kampala City Council.

In this match, the first half was centered in the midfield and the two sides missed several chances of scoring.

Atraco apparently gained from the weakness of Kampala City Council in the second half and scored their first goal in the sixty-third minute through left-wing Hamisi Gitagenda.

KCC began to dominate the match but did not capitalize on their chances to equalize before Andre Lomami headed a corner ball home, scoring Kampala’s second goal in the seventy-fourth minute.

The Ugandan coach, George Nsimbe, tried to turn the table around by substituting two strikers but this could not prevent a soaring third goal from Johnson Bogoole in the eighty-seventh minute.

Just before the final whistle, Atraco’s captain, Shyaka Jean, recovered a long kick from his goalkeeper and dodged his way swiftly past the Kampala’s defense and shot to score the fourth goal.

The Rwandans will now meet Kenya’s Mathare United, who narrowly elbowed out fellow Kenyans, Tusker FC.

Mathare and Tusker’s match was described by sport analysts as a battle of wits because the match went all the way to the end 1-1. It was only after post-match penalties that the stand-off gave way in Mathare’s favor.

Duncan Ochieng, in goal for Mathare, saved three kicks out of five to ensure a three-two victory against Tusker.

Ochieng was chosen as the Man of the Match and received a $2000 prize from Al-Sadda newspaper.

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

Sudan has joined the African Petroleum Producers Association

From Sudan Radio Service  Thursday 09 July 2009:

(London) – Sudan has joined the African Petroleum Producers Association, a move that is being seen as an opportunity to demonstrate greater transparency regarding oil revenue.

There have been widespread complaints by the SPLM over transparency in the oil revenue remitted to it by the NCP.

Francis Perrin is the editor of Arab Oil and Gas at the Arab Petroleum Research Center in Paris He spoke to Sudan Radio Service by phone on Thursday.

[Francis Perrin]: “The fact that Sudan is now a member-state of the African Petroleum Producers Association can of course be an opportunity for this country to go further down the road of transparency. It’s not one of the main aims of the APPA, the African Petroleum Producers Association, but it’s clear that in the present industrial context, every organization or producer and any organization linked to the oil industry is led to study transparency issues and to try to make some progress on this way. As the APPA is an organization whose main objectives are to develop cooperation and the sharing of knowledge and expertise amongst its member-states, including Sudan, it’s clear that Sudan will be in a position - if it wishes do so - of benefiting from the experiences of countries which are producing and exporting for a much longer time than Sudan.”

Perrin went on to explain the attraction of Sudan to countries like the United States.

[Francis Perrin]: “I do not know any consuming country, a big consuming country, which does not look at Sudan with some thoughts about oil. It does not mean that oil is the only issue or the only aspect which is of interest there. Also, of course, the political aspects, the strategic aspects, especially other economic aspects, other than oil, but oil of course figures as far as Sudan is concerned in its relationship with the external world, especially with the larger oil-consuming countries, whether they are in North America, in Asia, or Western Europe.”

That was Francis Perrin, the editor of Arab Oil and Gas at the Arab Petroleum Research Center in Paris.

Sudan scholar Douglas H. Johnson re inter-ethnic clashes

From Sudan Radio Service, Thursday, 09 July 2009:
Sudan Scholar Johnson and Inter-Ethnic Clashes

(London) – The chairman of the Sudan Studies Society of the UK says that inter-ethnic fighting in south Sudan has its roots in the civil war, the time when militias were armed by both sides and clashes arose between SPLA, SAF and the civilians.

Historian Douglas H. Johnson spoke to Sudan Radio service on Thursday. This was his response to the question of whether conflicts in southern Sudan are politically motivated.

[Douglas H. Johnson]: “Well, I think some of them are politically motivated but I think that what you have to recognize is that people can not be made to fight if they do not have reasons of their own to fight. They may be helped by people from outside, but if they have particular grievances that have not been addressed by the state governments or the Government of south Sudan, those would be the underlining reasons why they will want to go to fighting. Of course, cattle raiding has a long history but civil administration also has a long history of how to deal with cattle raiding, how to bring it to an end and how to punish people who have been involved in the raiding. This is something that has been true of the British government or the independent government and even the government of the old regional southern government. They all had ways of calling people together, having inter-tribal meetings, identifying who has been involved in raiding or abduction. And paying compensation and organizing the return of the cattle and the abducted people. It is something I would say would be the prime duty of civil administration, to address these issues. The state government and the Government of southern Sudan each have a role to play in that.”

Douglas Johnson spoke to Sudan Radio service on Thursday from London.

For further reports, click on Abyei label here below.

UNAMID hands over land used by AU Mission in Sudan

UNAMID - Daily Media Brief,
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, July 8, 2009 (via APO):

Security Situation in Darfur

The security situation in Darfur has been relatively calm.

UNAMID military conducted 89 patrols including confidence-building, escort patrols and nine night patrols covering 47 villages and IDP camps during the reporting period. UNAMID Police advisers conducted 137 patrols in and around the villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID hands over land used by African Union Mission in Sudan

UNAMID senior officials yesterday handed over to Sudanese Government officials in South Darfur the compound occupied by the former African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) until the transfer of authority from AMIS to UNAMID on 31 December 2007.

On behalf of the Mission, Senior Administrative Officer, Mr. Hassan Yusuf Mahmoud, expressed appreciation to the Government of Sudan, including the Ministry of Planning and General Utilities, for its cooperation with the Mission, in particular for providing land to the Mission.

He informed that the location will be used by the Nyala Technical College and the Women and Children Hospital.

The representative of the Sudanese Government, Mr. Elhadi Najm, expressed appreciation to UNAMID for its efforts and for its support to the peace process in Darfur. He reiterated the Government’s continued support and cooperation with the Mission to enable it to carry out its mandate, in accordance with the policies of the Government of Sudan for providing security and stability in Darfur.

UNAMID Military presents items to IDPs in South Darfur

UNAMID military in South Darfur yesterday gave food items to women and children of the Dereige internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp. They also provided educational assistance to ten orphans for the next two academic years. The children were also given food items and educational materials.

The ceremony was attended by senior military officials, police advisers and representatives of IDPs.

- - -

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French Delegation Visit North Darfur

From Sudan Radio Service, Wed, 08 July 2009:
French Delegation Visit Darfur

(El Fasher) – A French parliamentary delegation visited El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur on Tuesday for talks with state officials, the joint peacekeeping mission and displaced people.

The delegation, headed by the French Ambassador to Sudan, Patrick Nicolozio, met UNAMID chief Rodolphe Adada, who briefed them on the work of the peacekeeping mission and the general security situation in Darfur, which he described as "calm but unpredictable."

UNAMID spokesperson Nouraddine Mezni spoke to Sudan Radio Service on Tuesday about the visit.

[Nouraddine Mezni]: “Mister Adada, the joint special representative of UNAMID received the French delegation. Mister Adada appealed to France and the international community as a whole to do everything possible to push forward the peace process. He stressed that UNAMID will continue its efforts on the ground to diffuse violence, protect civilians, in particular the internally displaced persons, and create an environment conducive to the success of the peace process. The aim of this tour is to prepare a report on the situation in Darfur to be submitted to French National Assembly in October 2009”.

The delegation also met different Sudanese government officials in Khartoum who urged France to press the Paris-based SLM leader Abdel Wahid Al-Nur to join the peace process in Doha. They also requested that the French authorities help to ease the current tensions between Sudan and Chad.

The delegation is expected to visit Juba in the coming days to meet with the officials of the Government of southern Sudan after their visit to Darfur.

Jonglei State, S. Sudan: UN Bases in Okobo and Pibor

From Sudan Radio Service 8 July 2009:
UN Bases in Okobo and Pibor

(Juba) – The United Nations says it has established two temporary operating bases in Jonglei state as part of its stabilization plan following tribal clashes in March and April this year.

The bases are in Pibor and Akobo counties and will house 120 civilian, military and police personnel.

The head of the United Nations Mission in southern Sudan, David Gressly, told a press conference on Monday that the military component of the base will withdraw soon, leaving behind its civilian component.

UNMIS unveiled the stabilization plan for Jonglei state after tribal clashes between the Murle and Lou-Nuer in March and April this year.

CEFACA Results Latest

From Sudan Radio Service, Wed, 08 July 2009:
CEFACA Results Latest

(Khartoum) – The Sudanese champions El-Merrikh trampled over Burundi’s InterStars 2-0 in CECAFA’s quarter-final match on Tuesday evening and qualified for the semi-finals. The match began in a dull mood but heated up in the second half with El-Merrikh’s Nigerian star Indahor Indurance scoring the first goal in the sixty-first minute. He was later substituted by fellow Nigerian striker Klechi Osunwa who scored the second goal in seventy-second minute of the second half.

Sudanese striker Faisal Ajab was injured in the second half and will miss the next match of the semi-final on Friday against TP Mazembe of DR Congo.

Mazembe had earlier trounced Sudan’s Hay El-Arab 6-1 in a match that saw the locals making a slow start in the first half. Mazembe’s striker Bendi Benza shot a long range ball from left center of the field which skewered its way into the Hay El-Arab net, registering the first goal for the guests in the twenty-fourth minute. Hay El-Arab’s coach, Ahmed Sari, immediately re-arranged tactics and his boys retaliated with a goal through striker Magdi Abdel Majid in the thirty-fourth minute. The Congolese managed to hammer in their second goal before half-time and later slotted in four goals, instantly qualifying them for the semi-finals against El-Merrikh.

Off the pitch, the CECAFA organizing committee has banned Zanzibar’s Miembieni from the competition for five years. The decision by the committee was issued on Tuesday following bitter exchanges between Miembieni club officials and the referee of Sunday’s match in Port Sudan. According to a statement by CECAFA Secretary-general Nicholas Musonye posted on CECAFA’s website, a report from the referee and the match commissioner in Port Sudan found Miembieni to have flouted competition rules before abandoning the match midway in the second half.

The ban includes fining the club 20,000 USD and excludes them from all CECAFA-related activities. Their coach, Bushiri Ali, will not be allowed to participate in the competition for the next five years.

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

US sanctions on Sudan are far reaching and must be lifted

Photo: Andrew Heavens is a reporter and photographer who has worked with Reuters since 2005, first from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and now Khartoum, Sudan. His African career followed 10 years of reporting for newspapers in Britain and the United States. (Reuters)

In the following story, he recounts his experience of U.S. economic sanctions on the country whose president Omar Hassan al-Bashir is accused of masterminding human rights abuses in Darfur.

WITNESS: Battling to borrow money in sanctions-hit Sudan

By Andrew Heavens, 04 July 2009

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The United States achieved at least three things when it stepped up economic sanctions on Sudan: it banned most trade between the two countries, froze Sudanese assets and closed the door on my British mortgage.

Trade sanctions are presented as sophisticated instruments -- ways of forcing change in foreign governments without resorting to war. But in today's inter-connected world, economic penalties designed to hit one country can quickly spread beyond their original target.

"We can't open a mortgage account with your address in Khartoum," the officer from Bank of Scotland International told me over the crackling phone line. "It's on our list of sanctioned countries."

A journalist from Britain, I was trying hard not to sound too desperate. We had already been turned down by two other lenders without explanation. My family's dreams of buying a little semi-detached corner of England -- somewhere to spend our holidays back home from Khartoum -- were fading.

"But I'm British and I want to buy a house in Britain," I told the bank official, with the slightest note of pleading in my voice. "We haven't imposed any trade sanctions on Sudan. It's only America."

The bank official was sympathetic, but there was nothing he could do. "If there are sanctions imposed from another country, from a risk point of view we can't get involved either."

FALL FOUL

The key word there was risk.

In theory, the United States and its organs only have the power to stop U.S. citizens and companies doing business with another country.

In practice, non-U.S. companies can still fall foul of the sanctions administered and enforced by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Take the tale of Lloyds TSB, part of the London-based group which also owns one of the banks that turned me down, Bank of Scotland International.

In January Lloyds agreed to forfeit $350 million to U.S. authorities in connection with charges its staff had faked records so clients from Sudan and other sanctioned countries could do business with the U.S. banking system.

According to a research note from international law firm Cleary Gottleib, it was the first case of its kind, involving the U.S. Department of Justice punishing sanctions violations by "a non-U.S. person."

Lloyds spokeswoman Sara Evans confirmed Bank of Scotland had a policy of not providing mortgage accounts to customers who live in Sudan, and other banks have been quick to follow the precedent.

An OFAC report in January said it was aware of a number of "third country" banks that had started cutting ties with Sudan and shutting down accounts of customers living in Sudan.

"Sudan also is facing apprehension from foreign firms about staying in the country under the threat of further U.S. and multilateral sanctions and the growing influence of divestment campaigns," read the report to the U.S. Congress.

NO VISA

On the ground in Khartoum, the effects of the restrictions have been frustrating, if sporadic.

The worst hit are the millions of "ordinary" Sudanese citizens who have had nothing to do with the alleged human rights abuses that sparked the main wave of U.S. trade sanctions in 1997, or the Darfur conflict, which provoked tougher restrictions in 2006.

Everything from getting hold of dollars to wiring cash abroad is a grind. Day-to-day transactions are handled with big bundles of bank notes -- Visa and other U.S. electronic payment companies do not operate in Sudan.

Back to my own sorry financial affairs, there was the time I was trying to clear a cheque from a U.S. account to a bank in Malaysia. (Don't ask -- life can get very complicated here.)

The accountant had attached a brief explanatory note to the transaction: "Payment for Sudan rent."

The cheque was blocked.

Then there was the payment a South African newspaper wanted to send me, again with "Sudan" in the transaction details. The British bank I have used for more than 25 years refused to accept it.

And then, again, there was my mortgage. Well, reader, I eventually got one. But I won't tell you who ended up agreeing to the deal, in case they're prompted to take another closer look at my personal records.

(Editing by Catherine Bosley and Sara Ledwith)

Some citizens leaving Abyei in fear of violence following boundary ruling

From Miraya FM Wednesday, 08 July 2009:
Ashraf Qazi: Abyei Road Map has reached critical stage

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Sudan, Ashraf Qazi, has said that the Abyei Road Map has reached a critical stage ahead of the anticipated ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on Abyei. Qazi has visited to Abyei and met with the joint administration of the area and the local authorities and discussed the final arrangements and necessary precautions for assuring the safety of citizens after the ruling.

Meanwhile, the head of Abyei's administration, Brigadier Arop Moyak, has expressed concern over what he described as the irresponsible actions that may be carried out by some citizens whom may no be pleased by the court's ruling.

Meanwhile, Miraya FM's Correspondent in Abyei has assured that caution is looming over the area and some citizens have started leaving the town in fear an outbreak of violence following the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on Abyei.

Further reading

Apr 24, 2009 - Sudan Watch: Final judgement on Abyei boundary issue within 90 days

May 30, 2006 - Sudan Watch:  Interview with Dr Douglas H Johnson, expert on the Abyei Boundary Commission - Hofre Nahas area; part of Bahr El Ghazal transferred to Darfur in 1960s

Aug 16, 2005 - Sudan Watch:  Sudan: Abyei Boundary Commission report

Click on Abyei label here below for further reports on Abyei.

JEM rebels openly driving through Oure Cassoni camp in Chad for Darfur refugees

A JEM spokesman told the BBC his group had permission from the Chadian authorities to enter Oure Cassoni camp in Chad near Sudan's border for supplies and to get vehicles fixed.

Source: BBC News Tuesday, 07 July 2009
Sudan rebels 'use Chad's camps'

JEM dismisses a report by the BBC that their troops are moving around refugee camps in NE Chad

From Sudan Radio Service Tuesday, 07 July 2009:

(London) – The Darfur anti-government group, the Justice and Equality Movement, has dismissed a report by the BBC that their troops are moving around refugee camps in north-eastern Chad.

The report said that a BBC investigation discovered that JEM fighters have been seen - armed and unchallenged - in Oure Cassoni, a refugee camp in north-eastern Chad.

JEM has described the report as baseless.

A senior JEM official, Dr El-Tahir el-Fakie, spoke to Sudan Radio Service from London on Tuesday.

[El-Tahir El-Fakie]:” JEM is completely responsible and respects international law and the situation of the IDPs and the refugees. This report is nonsense and baseless.

First of all, the refugees are in Chad, JEM has no presence in Chad, they are inside Sudan. JEM has a presence in Sudanese territory around Umbaru, Furawiya, and Kornoi, so JEM does not need to go to the refugee camps and enter Chad, so this is baseless talk. 

They are saying the same thing now that was said before, a month ago, the ICRC contacted us, asking about some people who had entered the camps and abducted some refugees, but it appeared that those people had no link with JEM. It could be some other parties, but JEM has nothing to do with this issue.”

Dr El-Tahir el-Fakie was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Tuesday from London.

ICC chief prosecutor in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to meet AU panel on Darfur

Excerpt from a report by AFP, Tuesday 07 July 2009 (ADDIS ABABA):
AU, ICC 'working together on Darfur crisis': prosecutor

The African Union and the International Criminal Court "are working together" to resolve the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region, court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo insisted Tuesday.

"Now it is time to stop the crimes. The AU is working (to stop the suffering of people in Darfur), the court is working, and we are working together," Ocampo said.

"Peace and justice are working together in Darfur," insisted the prosecutor, who was behind the ICC arrest warrant against Sudan's President Omar al-Beshir for crimes against civilians in the war-torn, western Darfur region.

His comments came after the AU on Friday said it would not cooperate with the warrant and again appealed to the United Nations to delay the case.

But Ocampo insisted Tuesday: "Mr Beshir will face the charges. It will take time, it is a process.

"Arresting a head of state is a process, it is not a police operation."

Ocampo was speaking on a visit to Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to meet an AU panel which focuses on the crisis in Darfur.

The prosecutor added he was in Ethiopa at the invitation of the AU panel.

UK Foreign Office minister Malloch-Brown to stand down

A FOREIGN Office minister announced last night that he is to step down this summer for "personal and family reasons".

Lord Malloch-Brownsaid he still "greatly admired" Gordon Brown and his decision had "nothing to do with the political situation".

In a statement, he added: "I have always said that I would not do this job forever. And I have strong personal and family reasons for moving on at this time."

During his tenure in the Foreign Office, Lord Malloch-Brown attracted controversy, not least over his occupation of a grace-and-favour home in Whitehall. There were also persistent rumours of tensions with his direct boss, Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

It also emerged last night that all MPs have been invited by HM Revenue and Customs to discuss their tax affairs with officials in the wake of the revelations about their expenses.

Dave Hartnett, the department's permanent secretary for tax, also signalled that several would be required to discuss their position following the public disclosures. Source: Scotsman report, 08 July 2009 - Minister steps down 'for personal reasons' 

Malloch-Brown to quit Foreign Office role

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Foreign Office minister resigns

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Sudan's Safat-01 aircraft runs on car fuel

Here are two photos of the Safat-01 aircraft, a two-seater propeller plane produced at Sudan's state Safat Aviation Complex. It is Sudan's first home-manufactured aircraft -- a $15,000 training plane that runs on car fuel.



Photo:  Sudan's Safat-01 plane, the country's first home-manufactured aircraft, taxis down a runway at a launching ceremony in Khartoum, July 05, 2009. President Omar Hassan Al Bashir said on Sunday sanctions could not block development in his country.   Picture taken July 5, 2009. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin. Full story: Reuters, July 5, 2009.



Photo: Safat 01 plane. (Source:  Sudan Tribune article 24 June 2009 - Sudan to begin aircraft production in July)



Photo: Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir waves to supporters at the launch of the Safat-01 aircraft, Sudan's first home-manufactured aircraft, a $15,000 training plane that runs on car fuel, in Khartoum July 05, 2009. Picture taken July 05, 2009. (Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin)

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ICC launches a series of radio programmes in the Central African Republic (CAR)

From UN News Centre, Monday, 06 July 2009:
ICC begins radio series to explain activities to Central Africans

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today launches a series of radio programmes in the Central African Republic (CAR) as part of an outreach campaign aimed at informing the country’s population about the court’s mandate and activities.

The 13-episode series, which will be broadcast in the Sango language, is called “Understanding the International Criminal Court” and uses a question-and-answer format. At least 14 separate radio stations are expected to air the programmes.

The radio programmes are the result of some 50 outreach sessions held by the ICC in the Central African capital, Bangui, between January and June this year.

Individual episodes will be aired once a week, and the topics include the structure of the court, the rights of suspects, judgement and sentencing and the rights and responsibilities of witnesses and victims.

The situation in the CAR is one of four – along with Sudan’s Darfur region, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda – currently under investigation by the Prosecutor of the ICC, an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Hat tip: UN Dispatch