Ugandan border moves into South Sudanese territory

Reports have emerged from South Sudan that unilaterally the southern border the country shares with Uganda was moved as defined by Global Positioning Satellites suddenly giving the country some territory that belongs to Southern Sudan.

Border relations between the world's newest country and Uganda have been a continuous problem as Ugandan Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) has had a significant presence in the border regions in search of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) which they had perused across the border into South Sudan. Sources assert that the LRA "is no longer in the area".


By: Gina Fazio

UNESCO Reprimands South Sudan on Education Reform

On saturday, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)called for the newly formed nation of South Sudan to allocate more resources towards its extremely limited educational system. According to the organization, South Sudan has some of the worst indicators for education levels in the world. These comments were made during a ceremony which welcomed South Sudan as UNESCO's newest memeber and happened only two days after the fledgling nation had completed the procedures necessary to ratify the agency's constitution. Irina Bokova, UNESCO's Director-General, pledged to stand by South Sudan throughout the process of educational advancement but stated that the nation still faced 'immense challenges'. One startling statistic presented by the organization stated that only eight percent of women in South Sudan know how to read and there are estimated to be only 400 girls in the last grade of secondary school within the entire country of 8 million people.

By: Nick McGuire

Chinese Firm Wins Contract for S. Sudan's New Capital

Currently in the new nation of South Sudan the capital city is Juba. However, it has been decided that a different capital is wanted by the people and government and is to be located 60 miles from Juba. With this information there have been amount of dealings being done for the construction rights of the building of the new capital. The contract has been awarded to a Chinese firm for an undisclosed amount. This sort of dealing is following what has been seen in Sudan and all of Africa with a strong Chinese pressence for construction in return for access to natural resources.

Matt Boguslawski

The UN Decides NATO Mission Has Been Accomplished in Libya

The UN security council has decided that Nato’s mission in Libya will formally be over on Monday. This mission was first launched to protect Libyan civilians by any means necessary following Gaddafi’s violent assault on protester. In the process, Nato was able to get rid of Gaddafi and his control network. Although Libya’s National Transitional Council has asked for NATO to stay because of continued security needs the security council decided that the passed mandate to protect Libyan citizens has already been achieved. Any further military action mandated by the UN will need to be voted on separately. Even though the UN will no longer have a strong military presence on the ground, western countries have continued to keep advisors in Libya to try to keep the stockpiles of weapons found in the country from entering the wrong hands.

to read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15516795

-Kathleen Fultz

Students Lead Anti-Government Protest in Sudan

Students organized an anti-government protest in the eastern Sudan town of Kassala today, centered on poverty and overall inflation in the country. The protest, which included hundreds of young Sudanese, is a promising step for the people of Sudan. Though small in scale, hopefully increased pressure will continue to be put on a regime that has severly lacked accountability in its actions for over 20 years. Even before the North-South split that cut deeply into the North's oil revenue stream, the Sudan government has never really shown any sort of fiscal responsiblity, or responsibility of any sort for that matter. Now as the country tries to diversify its trade assets, corruption and the lack of governmental planning are chief reasons why the economy is regressing and the people are suffering at even greater rates. Protests like these need to amplify so the government feels enough pressure to reform and improve, or so it can be replaced by (hopefully), a brighter and less morally reprehensible government.

http://af/reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E7LU0LC20111030

David Johnson

Un urged to Monitor Government moving Militia

On October 29, the UN's head of peacekeeping stated that the peacekeeping mission in Darfur has no mandate to monitor the government and the flying on Janjaweed members from Darfur to the Blue Nile State. UNAMID is a one billion a year peacekeeping effort in Darfur. Susan Rice was asked if monitoring the Sudanese government and their activity of transporting militia members, she stated, shed have to take a closer look at the recent mandates. Then she was asked if the UN has an abiding duty to stop war crimes. Her response was, " I dont think its specifically mandated"

I think this is important because of our discussion of genocide and if it determines a states legal obligation to do something when they label human rights violations as genocide. It is similar because although there is no legal obligation there should be some sense of obligation because of the facts, and the knowledge of human rights violations, instead of sitting by and watching them occur.

http://www.innercitypress.com/unamid1mandate102911.html

Katie Kruse

S.Sudan dismisses rebel warning of looming advance

An armed rebel group the South Sudanese Liberation Army (SSLA) has said they captured the town of Mayom in the oil rich Unity State and were poised to attack Warap. The SSLA has said they will liberate the people of South Sudan from corruption and poverty.

South Sudanese government sources claim that there is no threat and the SSLA is not in control of Mayom. Military leaders in South Sudan also claim there is no significan security threat to Mayom.

The SSLA has given NGO and aid workers three days to leave Warap, their reported next target.

It will be interesting to see if the SSLA are able to hold up their threat. Further, it will be important to see if the South Sudanese government and military is actually aware and in control of their own state.

It will be curious to see how groups such as the SSLA will effect the economic and political development of South Sudan.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h8nWpT0OZBfXYzNbXTsR0ePy8gSQ?docId=CNG.22bf39aaf6fbe6d2d020bdb834fe727f.01

Stephen Phelps

Sudan distributes 50 additional Gold Exploration Licenses

Recently, Sudan which produces African gold, has distributed fifty more licenses to firms to search for gold as well as other minerals. In response to all the oil reserves lost to South Sudan which became independent in July, increasing production of African gold is one way Sudan hopes to replenish what it has lost.

The licenses permit these firms to search for gold in the eleven states. Thus far, Sudan has distributed about 200 gold exploration licenses in total. Minerals Minister, Ahmed, stated the plan for next year is to create a refinery that can hold 150 tons of gold and 30 tons of silver. Sudan estimates in 2011, it will produce approximately 70 tons of gold. It’s estimated that 6-7 tons of gold will derive from ordinary mines while the remaining is produced by over 200 local Sudanese that were drawn to the gold rush.

http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-hands-50-more-gold-exploration-licenses-181820762.html

Taryn Vaughan

Rebels Attack South Sudanese Town

Rebels from the Southern Sudanese Liberation Army (SSLA) have attacked an area in South Sudan particularly rich with oil. According to BBC, the SSLA is reluctant to accept the SPLM, another rebel group, as leaders, citing corruption and underdevelopment. The SSLA encouraged UN workers to leave the state.

-Rebeca

Music in the Streets of Sudan

On Monday, a famous Sudanese singer dedicated a new song to peace in Darfur at a UN Day event. The celebration took place in the northern Darfur capital El-Fashir, and had a strong political message to the government of Sudan and their actions in the Darfur. Lyrics referenced the displacement of people, the death of children, and that the women of Darfur shouldn't suffer from the actions of violence. At the celebration was peace envoys from 18 countries throughout Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and all present strongly enforced the message that it was time to stop the internal violence in the Sudan.

Being the third-largest installation of UN personal in the world, following New York and Geneva, there was also a memorial for those killed in the recent attack on UN troops by rebels.

The song isn't up on youtube yet either, I checked. But I'm sure it's catchy.

Bree Roozen

A Media Forum in South Sudan Talks About Press Freedom

On the 22nd of October, South Sudan hosted a media forum in Juba, urging the news media to be unbiased and deliver objective journalism as the country starts to mature out of their new independence. The country is trying to initiate an independent media base that is not pressured by the government officials. The chairman of the Union of Journalists of Southern Sudan Oliver Modi spoke to the Committee to Protect Journalists to raise concerns over the eight attacks against the press in 2011. This forum was set up to ease the fears of journalists that are nervous about reporting criticism about the South Sudanese government. Topics discussed included press freedom and making the media independent from the government. The next step will be to pass clear legislation on media by the South Sudanese government to establish the place of journalism in this new country.

To read more: http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-media-forum-calls-for,40507

Title of the artice: South Sudan Media Forum calls for Objective Reporting

-Kathleen Fultz

Sudanese Military Claims Control of Sali

According to the Sudanese Government, the city of Sali has been taken over by the army. Sali is the stronghold of the SPLA in the Blue Nile region. The Sudanese Government claims that the battle had only lasted 12 hours and it was an easy victory. However, the leader of the SPLA in the city of Sali claims that the Sudanese army has not even yet entered Sali and that three Sudanese helicopters have been brought down in the fighting, according to them the battle is not yet over. The fact that fighting is occuring is evidence of the fighting and escalating violence in the southern part of Sudan.

Matt Boguslawski

Sudan, Rebel Groups Report Attempts to Work Towards Peace

News reports coming from Khartoum indicate that the Sudanese government hopes to improve peace relations with rebel groups out of Darfur, including main groups such as the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The Doha peace deal signed months ago that was suppossed to serve as a peace accord for Darfur, included only the Liberation and Justice Movement rebel group as a signatoree, and did not involve the SLM or JEM at all. It was also stated at the time by the Sudanese government that if a deal had not been reached by October with the SLM or JEM, that insurgence could be carried out and violent means taken to essentialy eradicate the groups. But this new announcement included a suspension of sorts on that timeline, and indication that peace will be welcomed at any point by the government. This does not change the fact that peace is rarely legitmately sought out by any of the players (government, rebel groups), and that violence and atrocities continue while the government offers these hollow words and empty statements. The Doha Darfur Peace Document has thus far shown to be another half-hearted attempt at achieving stability in the region, and Darfur and its people are still waiting for any type of meaningful and long-lasting action regarding peace.

David Johnson

www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-says-ready-for-peace-with,40498

Ahmadinejad meets Sudan, India and Ivory Coast new ambassadors

http://www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1875804&Lang=E

On Saturday Ahmadinejad met with the new Sudanese ambassador,Mir-Ghani Ababakr, to Iran. His comments addressed issues of establishing justice and peace in the world. Iran hopes their relations will grow as they are two countries rooted in the Islamic tradition. After meeting with several other African leaders, Ahmadinejad stressed the importance of strong relations between Iran and Africa to fight off the hegemonic powers who have carried out great injustice toward the nations across the world.

“The first obstacle is the hegemonic powers’ will to prevent boosting cooperation amongst the independent countries that Iran has crossed it, the second one is the existence of redundant and voluminous bureaucratic structures that should be won by holding different joint conferences between the economy and industry activists and also advancing the relation on banking and customs, ”Ahmadinejad noted. The friendship between Iran and Sudan is sadly predictable.

By:Liz Hasseld

Humanitarian Situation in South Kordofon and Blue Nile

The government representative for the United Special, Princeton Lyman wants Khartoum to allow international organizations to evaluate the humanitarian situation in border states of South Kordofon and the Blue Nile. Lyman met with Osman, the foreign ministry undersecretary, in an attempt to accomplish a plan of action to settle disputes in the border region of Abyei. Osman’s response was that the situation in Abyei was political not humanitarian and is irritated the North and South have not had meetings regarding security issues.

Fighting occurred earlier this year in the two border states of South Kordofon and Blue Nile region. Both of these states were allies to South Sudan during the civil war but became a part of the North when the South gained independence. Marawih, the foreign ministry spokesperson explained that Osman accused the SPLM for the animosity because it did not withdraw forces from South Kordofon and Blue Nile, according to the 2005 Peace Agreement. The Sudanese government is not open to the SPLM-N troops staying. The government has tried to disarm the SPLM in the two states. The international community was blamed for making it a humanitarian circumstance putting more stress on Khartoum instead of the party responsible for the fighting.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201110230018.html

Taryn Vaughan

SPLM’s Luka Biong rejects conditional withdrawal of troops from Abyei

Luka Biong a minister in the SPLM, the ruling party of South Sudan disputes the withdrawal of Sudanese military forces (SAF). The government in Khartoum has stated that they will withdrawal troops once Ethiopian troops have fully deployed in Abyei. However, Biong explains that there has been no agreement with regards to the number of troops Ethiopia will deploy in Abyei. Further, the number now deployed, 1800, is greater than the number of SAF troops in the area. Yet, Khartoum has no withdrawn its troops.

Biong also states that the presence of SAF troops in Abyei is the only disrupting element. Further, he claims that Sudan and Ethiopia agreed to give the position of speaker of the Abyei area legislative council to a memeber of the SPLM. This has not been done which further complicates the political situation.

Essentially, Biong believes the area should be under SPLM control and the SAF should completely pull out of the area. He also wants to keep Ethiopian troops in Abyei for security and stability.

http://www.sudantribune.com/SPLM-s-Luka-Biong-rejects,40321

Stephen Phelps

Gaddafi: found

An article at Khaleej Times has announced the demise of Muammar Gaddafi. He was located in the town of his birth, with what is believed to be the last of his well-armed supporters. He was found, captured and only after that were the fatal blows dealt. Based on one article it seems as though there may be video footage of the event.

The militia had been advised to avoid revenge killings and to be careful in their ascent of power by force. Handing Gaddafi, alive, over to the ICC would have been the most effective method for which to establish the new government and regime's legitimacy. NATO forces and support has already begun to be recalled.

-Rebeca

Bashir vows Shariah Law Constitution

President Omar al-Bashir announced his full intentions to push forward with the creation of an all-Islamic constitution and instigation of Shariah law as the primary legal governing force in Sudan last Wednesday. With the predominantly Christian south having seceded more than three months ago now leaving the predominantly Muslim north to its own designs. The President had threatened such a move back in December, prior to the referendum on Southern independence, but at the time it had been seen as more of an empty threat.

He also recently claimed to a group of students in Khartoum in a speech that: “Ninety eight percent of the people are Muslims and the new constitution will reflect this. The official religion will be Islam and Islamic law the main source [of the constitution],” Bashir said in a speech to students in Khartoum. “We call it a Muslim state.”

Corruption In South Sudan

Since its Independence in July this year South Sudan has been struggling to overcome what they consider one of their biggest obstacles: corruption. To overcome this issue they created a committee dedicated to getting rid of corruption, which is in form of a 5 year strategy. Due to lack of capabilities a lot of people do not believe the committee can carry out the process of ridding Sudan of corruption. South Sudan has more major issues like trying to stay off the list of failed states even though they are a new country. This issue reminds me of a book The Bottom Billion because in this book the author talks about landlocked countries and how the neighbors of a country highly influence how the country that is landlocked will operate. South Sudan is surrounded by corrupt neighbors which does not give it a positive outlook.

http://presstv.com/detail/205308.html

Leader of Sudan Rebel Group Warns of Eminent Attack

If the Sudanese government rejects the currently-debated Darfur peace agreement, the leader of the JEM warns of an eminent attack against Khartoum. He reported to CNN that JEM would prefer to actively pressure the government than waste time at another negotiation session if the current agreement falls through. The JEM has been working on various peace agreements with the Sudanese government since 2003 but JEM remains unbelieving of the government's claims of wanting peace. The JEM believes that unless they wrest control of the government from Al-Bashir and his cabinet, the current regime will never bother finding a solution for the violence in outlying regions of the country. JEM's leader is currently reorganizing civil and military organs of the movement and is working to quickly bring forces together to bring the current government own. This plan would also include participants from the SPLM.

Al-Bashir has responded that the government is not intimidated and does not believe the JEM and SPLA have the power to overthrow the government, instead citing them as terrorists. His alliance, he claims, is with the people of Darfur.

Bree Roozen

South Sudan instability

Currently, South Sudan is dealing with its instability because it is an oil-rich region. Unity State is a part of South Sudan experiencing a wide spectrum of issues, some which include economic, political and social problems. Apparently, Unity is one of the crucial regions known to produce the majority of South Sudan’s oil. There are continuous negotiations occurring between Unity and Khartoum regarding transit fees and how to allocate revenue as well as determining boundaries near border regions.

There is tension between North and South Sudan along the borders where migration and blocking goods/people has become an issue. Over the past few years many rebellions have erupted across Unity. EJ Hogendoorn, ICG’s Horn of Africa project director recommends that the government strengthen local institutions in order to help alleviate economic issues in the South.

http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-faces-oil-linked-instability-004022909.html

Taryn Vaughan

No Combat Role for U.S. Advisers in Uganda, Official Says

This past week, the United States has sent out 100 military advisors to work with the Uganda military. The United States specifically wants to capture Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army. This is a bold move by the United States after the devastation in Somalia when US soldiers were dragged across the street during the Clinton administration. Virgina Blaser clarifies the US mission in Uganda in this article, explaining that the majority of advisors are going to stay in Uganda to work with their military, but small groups will be sent out to “field locations” in the jungle where the LRA are known to be operating from. Other areas that these US troops are likely to be working in are Central Africa Republic, Congo, and South Sudan. The current role of the US does not include direct combat, however if the LRA retaliates in violence, the US troops have already been given the approval to engage in combat for self-defense. With no deadline for pulling out troops, it will be interesting to see if the United States involvement in the operation to dissolve the LRA and capture Joseph Kony will lead to more field missions for US soldiers.

Kathleen Fultz

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/world/africa/no-combat-role-for-us-advisers-in-uganda-official-says.html?_r=1&ref=africa

Bashir still has not been arrested

According to AFP, Bashir, the first sitting president to be given an arrest warrent by the ICC, was not arrested while in Malawi although Malawi is a member state of the ICC.

This further shows the shartfallings of the ICC and its lack of authority and power.

-Rebeca

Sudan and South Sudan to Resolve Oil Issues

According to Sudan's ambassador to South Africa, Sudan and the newly formed nation of South Sudan will eventually form a mutually beneficial agreement on oil sharing between the two countries. These comments coming on the heels of the South Sudanese President's first visit to the north since the split which, according to the ambassador, proves that their is now a significant willingness to cooperate. Ambassador Alsharif went on to say that, "During the visit, they agreed to never resort to war to to solve problems and that dialogue would be the basis of a resolution." However, significant details will need to be hammered out before such a resolution can even be considered. While the vast majority of discovered oil lies in South Sudan, almost all of the oil infrastructure including major ports remains in the north. The two states may therefore have no choice but to come to an agreement where both sides share in the benefits and the burdens.

By: Nick McGuire

Govt Lashes Out At Western Reactions to Al-Bashir's Visit to Malawi

In Sudan and across the world there has been an outcry due to the actions and failed acceptance of responsibility by the Malawian government. This is due to the fact that President Omar Al- Bashir of Sudan had visited Malawi and his arrest warrant was not carried out. Malawi is a member of the International Criminal Court and has the duty to carry out arrest warrants when so necessary. President Bashir had an arrest warrant issued due to his involvement in the attrocities that ocured in Darfur.

Matt Boguslawski

South Sudan Arrests Money Changers

There has a been a movement in the black market of South Sudan. 20 'money changers' as they are called, have been arrested with the hope that the new currency of South Sudan will now stabilize. The police are continuing investigation and claim more arrests will be made.

The new 'South Sudanese pound' has replaced the old 'Sudanese pound'. It has been trading at 4 per dollar on the black market. The decline in value is affecting food prices and other commodities causing inflation. Since indendence South Sudan has control of 375,000 barrels a day of oil (which is 75 percent of the former Sudan’s total output), the 3rd largest in sub-Saharan Africa.

Bloomberg

By: Liz Hasseld

South Sudan to tighten control ver govt spending

South Sudan is facing severe issues with regards to money and corruption. To help combat corruption the Finance Minister Kosti Manibe Ngai has announced the institution of finance measures. The main measure taken will be to give cash limits for government agencies.

This is key to the financial success of South Sudan in the near future. Aid groups are reportedly threatening to pull out of South Sudan if the rampant corruption continues as it has.

Further, South Sudan is one of the poorest states in the world. Making the fight against corruption even more important.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iaRqA-tUOjbl3wmsZ3LdayWLRIAQ?docId=CNG.ac61265bedd2a8109263975ce8276c0c.4a1

Stephen Phelps

Sudan Will Not Attend U.S. Workshop on Darfur

The United States will hold an official workshop in two weeks focused on bringing lasting peace to Darfur; an event that will be attended by rebel groups of the region, but not any representative of the Sudanese government. The Liberation and Justice Movement was the only rebel group involved in the Doha Darfur Peace Document of 2011, and it is the aim of this workshop and continued efforts going forward on the part of the U.S. to bring agreement with the Sudanese government and the other violent factions invloved in Darfur, including groups such as the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), and Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). The official position coming out of Khartoum however is that any discussion against the Doha Darfur Peace Document, is at this moment, unneccessary. Those surveying the continued unrest of the region would probably tend to differ with this stance, but the reality is that any progressive ventures such as the one being put forth by the United States are unlikely to yield any successful results until Sudan changes its relatively apathetic tune.

David Johnson

www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/10/13/Sudan-not-participating-in-Darfur-talks/UPI-28281318536697/?spt=hs&or=tn

Peacekeepers killed in Sudan

UN and the African Union say unidentified assailants have killed three peacekeepers and wounded six others guarding one of Sudan's internal displacement camps. The joint UN/AU program UNAMID had troops patrolling around a camp in the northern Darfur region late Monday night when the attacks occurred. Along with the UNAMID casualties, one assailant was killed. UNAMID official Ibrahim Gambiri called on Sudan's government to investigate what he called a 'war crime', but as of yet, no government action has been taken.

Bree Roozen

War in the Blue Nile Region

The Blue Nile region is located in the middle region of Sudan, close to the new boarder that divides North and South sudan. This area in the past month ha become a place of violence and terror for its habitants. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the loyal SPLA members has left many injured and in hospitals. Air raids dropping bombs on villages is of the most common. The lack of hospitals is not the only issue, the supplies to treat these wounds are running out fast. There have been over 600 amputations in the past month. The bombings are completely random like most of the violence and raids that occur in Sudan. Bashir has blocked any foreign aid from entered the area of the blue nile. Most think the random bombing is a tactic to demoralize the rebel armies. This is important because now there are about 1.2 million people on the move from their homes in the blue nile. This is just another humanitarian crisis developing in Sudan, following the patterns of a deadly trend.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jh6CaKaSLSBmCOxHejQS7XG7AMaA?docId=CNG.a82b52e7bd3813cbcd907bbf111de5d6.f1

Deadlines to Prevent Conflict in Sudan

Both the North and South Sudan have declared deadlines to settle their disagreements. Omar al Bashir announced “We have agreed to have committees and have given them deadlines to reach a solution on all the pending issues.” The two sides have failed to resolve disputes over oil and borders, especially the border region where rebels remain. There were no actual deals made, but the two presidents made it clear that they intended to work towards a peaceful relationship concerning these issues. Kirr explained, "My government is ready to discuss any final solutions on all outstanding issues, be it on the economy, security, borders and Abyei's status.” Kirr said “we left the war station in 2005” and has no intentions of instigating any more war. The 2005 peace agreement ended many of the conflicts between the two sides, but destroyed the South. The leaders are working to prevent further conflict and are pending the completion of the 10 crossings on the north-south border. On October 18 the leaders will decide where exactly to place these ten crossings.

http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-sets-deadlines-resolve-north-south-issues-141640998.html

Taryn Vaughan