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

SPLM Rebels Gun Down 30 Sudanese Soldiers

The Sudanese People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) has claimed responsibility for killing 30 Sudanese government soldiers during an ambush in the city of Khor Adrak in Blue Nile State on Saturday. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, SPLM-N spokesman Arno Nuguthulu also stated that the organization captured or destroyed several armored personnel carriers. Nuguthulu went on mention that "The SPLA is now in control of all areas of operations in Blue Nile State and South Kordofan." Fighting in Blue Nile has been ongoing since the beginning of September and has been an early stain on the diplomatic relations between the north and the newly formed sovereign southern state. SPLA members have argued that fighting has increased due to government attacks on civilian targets, most notably an incident where eight bystanders were killed in the Corey area of Blue Nile State. SPLM-N has stated that these civilians had no direct links to their organization.

By: Nick McGuire

Minister Warns Students Against Enrolling in Unlicensed Universities

In South Sudan, the Minister has made warnings for students that are possibly enrolled and paying tuition in schools that are not legally recognized as universities and schools of higher education. These "schools" do not carry the proper accreditation which is required to have university status yet they take on students. Many of these institutions do not have anything remote to proper academic resources and campuses as a majority are being carried out in primary school classrooms. This truly shows the strife and poverty that is seen in South Sudan.

Matt Boguslawski

Leaders of Sudan and South Sudan Agree to End Disputes

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has just ended a two day visit to Khartoum to meet with Sudan President Omar al-Bashir. The two presidents discussed the problems still facing their country since the south succession earlier this year. The main issue they discussed was oil production and transport. The two leaders formed committees to end outstanding issues that may lead toward another civil war. The two leaders meeting is a good sign.

Also discussed was the fighting in the Blue Nile state and Southern Kordofan. These regions are both located in Sudan and since the South Sudan troops have been removed from Abyei the fighting has cooled off. Yet, Sudan refuses to remove its troops until the 4,200 Ethiopian peacekeepers designated for the region arrive. So far only about half have arrived to the region.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Leaders-of-Sudan-and-South-Sudan-Agree-to-End-Disputes-131417578.html

Nicole LeDonne

South Sudan President in Khartoum

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir was in Khartoum to lead the first to-level delegation to Khartoum to lead discussion about contested border regions and oil for the the first time since southern succession. On saturday in one-on-one talks with President Bashir both presidents promised to work towards a future of peace and stability for the two countries. President Bashir commented: "We achieved the comprehensive peace agreement (in 2005) through joint efforts. By the same good will, we will not go back to war." Although negotiations have made some progress since the succession in July, joint committees on security and borders have yet to make any visable progress nor is there any talk yet of the promised referendums in the contested areas of Abyei and the Nuba Mountains where there is still fighting between the Sudanese army and militia groups with ties to the former SPLA.

By: Gina Fazio

Blue Nile Refugees Flee to UN Camp in Ethiopia

As violence continues in the border state of the Blue Nile, droves of Sudanese refugees are fleeing to UN camps in Ethiopia as they continue their endless search for safety and peace. Reports indicate that over 27,000 Sudanese have drifted across the Ethiopia border to the east since September 1, due to the fighting in the Blue Nile.

The newest camp constructed by the UN is in the western Ethiopian town of Tongo, which provides the closest safety zone for the escapees, and another much needed location after a large camp in Sherkole recently announced that it had reached its maximum capacity. The new camp hopes to move 400 people per day from the border to Tongo, where they will be given much needed necessities such as water, food, shelter, and improved sanitation. The fact that the Ethiopian government is assisting with the process, and that these camps are being created are certainly positives, but the only real solution to the problem is one that does not seem to be happening anytime soon; peace in the Blue Nile, and for that matter, Sudan as a whole.

http://www.sudantribune.com/UN-opens-camp-for-Blue-Nile-s,40373

David Johnson

Sudan will leave Abyei when UN fully deploys

Sudan and South Sudan still occupy the vital oil city of Abyei. Further, the tensions between the two states are beginning to boil around the lucrative city.

Presidents Al-Bashir and Kiir, of Sudan and South Sudan respectively are meeting in Khartoum in the coming week to discuss issues. High on the agenda is the issue of Abyei.

Sudan's UN Ambassador has stated that Sudan will withdraw its troops as Ethiopian peacekeepers begin their deployment in Abyei.

Both sides were suppose to have already withdrawn their troops, but of course that has yet to occur. Hopes are riding high on the ability of Ethiopian peacekeepers to precipitate the withdrawal.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_UN_SUDAN?SITE=TXDAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Stephen Phelps