South Sudan and DICTTATORSHIP HAD BEEN BORN!

Form your own party, Kiir tells SPLM contenders

July 29, 2013 (JUBA)- South Sudan president, Salva Kiir has openly told those opposed to his leadership to the South-ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to form their own political entities, if the party no longer fulfils their aspirations.

Kiir, who also doubles as the current chair of the party, stressed that doors remain open for those intending to exit the party with plans to challenge its top leadership.

“[The SPLM was abandoned in 1991[and] 1992. Whoever does not want to be under the leadership of somebody, can go and establish his or her own political party,” he said Monday.

The president, making his first public statement since he dissolved cabinet last week, was speaking at an occasion organised by former child soldiers, popularly known as red army.

In a series of republican orders issued on 23 July, Kiir removed his long-time deputy, Riek Machar, dissolving the entire government in a move that surprised many.

He said it was too early for any election campaigns to take off, given that the country’s citizens will not vote, till 2015.

"This is not the time for campaign. For those who are in a hurry, I will say, if they don’t want to wait for the right time, they better leave [the] SPLM and then go and form their own political party", he said.

Analysts interpret the president’s remarks as an indirect response to the recent declaration by Machar to challenge him for the position of the party chairmanship.

At a press conference he held on Thursday, the former vice-president reiterated his desire to run for the chairmanship ruling party, before the two-year old country holds its first national election due in 2015.

"I have told my colleagues in the politburo [political bureau] that come the next elections in 2015, I would contest those elections", he told reporters in the capital, Juba.

He further stressed that ascending to power should be done through peaceful and democratic processes, and that is why he called on the army to remain neutral in such political processes.

Machar said he is attached to the unity of the party and denied that he had any intention to form a new party as it was the case in 1991 when they had disagreed with the former SPLM, the late John Garang.

International observers fear that a power struggle would take place within the party pointing out that Machar who is a SPLM deputy chairman and the party’s leader Salva Kiir would forge internal factions within the party.

(ST)

Food aid reaches Sudan’s Blue Nile state for first time in over a year, UN agency reports

Food aid reaches Sudan’s Blue Nile state for first time in over a year, UN agency reports

4 April 2013 – In what the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is calling a “major breakthrough,” the first UN food rations have reached conflict-affected people in Sudan’s Blue Nile state since 2011, when the isolated rural area near the South Sudan border was cut off by insecurity and movement restrictions imposed by the Government.

“While we continue to strive for access to all areas, this is still a major breakthrough which will enable us to assist those who continue to be displaced by the conflict or those who have decided to return to their homes and are in dire need of food assistance,” said WFP’s Country Director in Sudan, Adnan Khan.

Fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) broke out in Blue Nile state in September 2011, after neighbouring South Sudan seceded under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended a decades-long civil war. The fighting in Blue Nile displaced and then isolated tens of thousands of people.

“We are giving a two-month ration for this first round of distribution, following an assessment which we carried out early last month in two of the areas most severely affected by the conflict, Geissan and Kurmuk,” said WFP Programme Officer Arduino Mangoni. He is in Geissan leading a team that monitors the distribution of food to 12,000 people. WFP plans to reach an additional 39,000 people in Kurmuk.

Additional WFP staff are in four other localities in Blue Nile state to determine how people are coping with their food needs, what food is available in the market and at what price.

“The overall plan is to assist all those we can reach in the six localities before the onset of the rainy season in May,” Mr. Khan said.

WFP has said it will need an additional $20.5 million to buy 17,000 metric tons of food it estimates will be needed.

By luka Biong Deng.

By Luka Biong Deng

July 24, 2013 - The abrupt declaration of Bashir not to ever allow the flow of oil from the South shocked the people of the two countries and international community. However, such decision was almost watered down when the two vice presidents, Dr Riek Machar and Utaz Ali Osman, met in Khartoum as a High Level Committee which is one of the joint mechanisms for the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement. The two vice presidents agreed to resolve any dispute through the mechanisms agreed upon by the parties. In fact the two countries signed on 23rd April 2013 “Mechanisms for Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Dispute Resolution Relating to the Cooperation Agreement”. These mechanisms provide for recourse to third-party dispute resolution mechanisms in case the two countries fail to resolve any dispute relating to the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement.

In the spirit of these dispute resolution mechanisms, the two vice presidents succeeded to bringing optimism, wisdom and reasoning to the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement. The people of the two countries received the outcome of this meeting with enthusiasm with expectations that it will inject new life to their ailing economies and as a result the currencies of the two countries gained strength. However, such optimism was dashed again by Bashir when he notified the South that he will not allow the flow of the oil of the South after 7th August unless there is a clear evidence that the South has ceased supporting the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF).

In fact this date of 7th August 2013 was fixed by Sudan without any legal basis as a reference to the expiry of sixty (60) days of its notification to the South about its intention to shut down the processing and transportation of the oil of the South. There are only two cases when Sudan has the right to terminate the Oil Agreement: (1) if the shut down by Sudan of the processing and transportation facilities for the oil of the South continues for more than 60 days because of failure of the South to pay its financial obligations to Sudan; and (2) if South commits a material breach to the Oil Agreement and such breach is not remedied within sixty (60) days. The South did not fail to pay Sudan its financial obligations nor did it commit a material breach of the Oil Agreement.

During his sudden and humiliating visit to Ngeria, Bashir did not go to participate in the African summit on HIV/AID, tuberculosis and malaria but to use the opportunity to misinform the African leaders that he is going to halt the flow of the oil of the South by alleging that the forces of the SRF supported by the South are posing a real threat to Khartoum. The real question is whether Bashir will really halt the flow of the oil of the South by 7th August?

It is clear that Bashir does not have any legal basis to take such decision even if the South is hypothetically assumed to be supporting the SRF as such act would not constitute a material breach of the Oil Agreement. In particular the Oil Agreement is a commercial agreement with mutual economic benefit and as such it is not made conditional to the implementation of other agreements. It is in the best economic interest of Sudan to implement the Oil Agreement. The International Monitory Fund recently welcomes the agreement between the two vice presidents and described it as a genuine effort to breathe new life into the beleaguered economies of the two countries. With this agreement, Sudan is expected to receive about $ 2 billion a year in fees from exporting the oil of the South.

It will certainly be an economic suicide if Bashir continues with his decision, particularly in the light of political development in the Arab countries. Sudan used to depend mainly on benevolent financial aid from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran. With the second popular revolution in Egypt that deposed and aborted not only political Islam in Egypt but also the international political Islam, the Arab and Islamic countries are alerted of the danger of political Islam. The bold decision by Qatar to ban the activities of Muslim Brothers and to generously support with Saudi Arabia and others the post-Muslim brothers Egypt have understandably made Bashir extremely nervous as he will not expect further aid from the Arab countries.

Also the new leadership of Iran will not be the same as his predecessor and he will be relatively moderate and may gradually move away from Islamic radicalism with the aim of improving relations with international community. Certainly, Bashir will be one of the victims of this political change in Iran. Importantly, the Egyptian second revolution sent powerful message to the regimes in Sudan, Libya and Tunisia that the people are likely to rise up against Political Islam. Although Sudan and possibly Libya may try to instigate Muslim brothers to create civil unrest and possibly civil war in Egypt, the army with the determination of the great people of Egypt will be able to restore stability and normalcy in Egypt.

The drama of Bashir’s recent visit to Nigeria shows that the African countries that he will be visiting are shrinking as the voices of civil society are getting too loud to be ignored by their leaders. This unjustified decision by Bashir to stop the flow of oil of the South is a clear defiance to an agreement facilitated by the African Union. Also the countries that have been sympathetic with Bashir such as China and Russia may take a firmer position towards this irrational decision by Bashir. The US government and EU may now abandon the moral equivalence approach and may take clearer position in supporting the efforts of the South for building alternative pipeline, trucking oil and building oil refineries.

Internally, the NCP is getting weaker as there is now a consensus to hold to the leadership of Bashir as unifying figure with more reliance on reformists. The First Vice President Ali Osman may be a victim and he may be relegated and possibly moved to head the parliament. These changes will make NCP more divided and vulnerable with a leader who is on run from the ICC. If Bashir runs for another term, it will not only be unconstitutional but it will discourage SRF and other democratic forces to participate in the permanent constitution-making process and general elections in 2015. The outcry of Bashir about the danger posed by SRF with support from the South is a reflection of the lack of morale and weakness of his army that is becoming increasingly incapable to fight.

Also the situation in Eastern Sudan is a political volcano that is about to erupt at any time. The people of Eastern Sudan have been betrayed by Bashir who dishonoured the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement and the development assistance that was mobilized from Arab countries in their name. With this tension and frustration in Eastern Sudan, Eritrea may feel equally betrayed by Sudan and that may restrain the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Also with political changes in Qatar, it is likely that the Darfur Doha Document will not survive.

As for the South, the decision of Bashir not to allow the oil of the South to flow will certainly work to consolidate the unity of the people of the South as well as the leadership of the SPLM. Importantly, the South will seriously consider alternative pipeline, trucking of oil and building more refineries in the South. Diplomatically, the South should not only focus on attracting new investors to oil sector from USA and EU but also from other countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The South may need to strengthen its relations with Arab countries and should seriously consider the status of observer in the League of the Arab Countries.

On the basis of this account, Bashir will either voluntary reverse his decision or he will be made to back down from his decision through pressure by the international community. If, however, Bashir insists on his decision, he will then be digging his own grave by hastening the collapse of regime in Khartoum. On the other hand, the South will have a legal basis after 7th August 2013 to terminate the Oil Agreement as the act of Bashir to unilaterally halt the flow of the oil of the South constitutes a material breach of the Oil Agreement. I hope and I am confident that the wisdom and pressure of international community will eventually prevail and Bashir will be made to come to his sense to allow the oil of the South to flow through Sudan.

The author who is a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School can be reached at lukabiong@kushworld.org . this article is also published by the New Nation Newspaper York, UK.

VERY GOOD JOB OF KORDOFAN PEOPLE.

Arabic Gum Exports Raise in First Half of the Year

Khartoum - Arabic Gum exports rose to 33 thousand tons in the first six months of this year, with revenue of $ 50 million, and are expected to rise to $ 70 million by the end of this year.
The Acting Director of the National Agency for Exports Insurance and Financing, Al-Hadi Abdullah announced that there are new markets opened for Arabic gum in France, Britain, the Netherlands and a number of other European countries, in addition to the old markets in the Gulf States and a number of other countries. Abdullah added that the agency had issued insurance policies to six shipments of Arabic Gum exported to Europe, noting that the documents issued by the Agency and the efforts of the Arabic Gum portfolio and Gum Council led to the rise of quantitative and open new markets.
The National Agency was established to develop and promote Sudanese exports, contribute in supporting export sector, and to provide funding and promotion to support the competitiveness of the Sudanese exports, in accordance with the provisions of Islamic Sharia Law.

By SUNA, 19 hours 49 seconds ago 

NEWS OF SUDAN

NEWS OF SUDAN

President Renews Confidence in the People of Darfur

Khartoum – The President of the Republic, Field Marshal Omer Al Bashir, has renewed his confidence in the people of Darfur to resolve all problems in the region and normalize the situation, calling on the population of the region to unite and sustain their tolerant customs and traditions.

Addressing yesterday the annual Iftar hosted by the president of the Darfur Regional Authority, Dr. Al Tijani Al Sisi said the coming conference of peaceful co-existence is very importance.

The President deplored what is happening in Darfur among the residents of one region, calling on them to stop unjustifiable tribal conflicts.

The Vice President, Al Haj Adam Yousuf addressing the function highlighted the importance of the role of the people of Darfur in the peace process, stating that the people of Darfur are up to the challenges.

He called on all the concerned parties to shoulder their responsibilities to bring an end to all incidents of insecurity particularly tribal conflict.

Meanwhile, DRA President said the region is encountering challenges especially tribal conflicts, stating that war had negative impact on the social fabric.

He stressed the need to impose the rule of law, urging the people of the region to work for peace in the region. He said a conference on social peace will be organized to end tribal conflict in the region.

By Hana Abdel Hai, 11 hours 53 minutes ago 

 

Turabi holds rare meeting with NCP figure

July 23, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Hassan Al-Turabi, leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) held on Tuesday a rare meeting with former presidential Ghazi Salah Eddin, years after a dissidence among Sudanese Islamists.

Ghazi played an important role in 1999 when ten leading members of the National Congress Party (NCP) moved against Turabi’s domination of the decision making process in the country and limited the attribution of the former NCP secretary general.

Since, the party split and Turabi created his PCP which is a fierce opposition party refusing any compromise with the regime.

Turabi’s meeting with Ghazi who is now a marginalized figure in the party after his removal from the presidency and the chairmanship of NCP parliamentary block took place at an obituary to commemorate Yassin Omer Imam, a prominent Sudanese Islamist.

No details of the closed door meeting have so far been released, but the two men discussed for more than a hour without the presence of any third party.

Ghazi is close to a group of Islamist officers that had been last November accused with the former chief of the intelligence and security apparatus of preparing a military coup against the regime but were released by the president earlier this year.

Turabi’s PCP announced on Monday it has a secret plan to bring down the regime of president Omer Al-Bashir.

The Islamist opposition party remains the only opposition force that is openly calling to establish an Islamic regime in Sudan.

(ST)

COMBONI COLLEGE stablished 1899 . my school and worked also as teacher.

Farewell Ceremony at Comboni College under the Auspices of the Italian Embassy

On Sunday, the 21st of July 2013, at Comboni College Khartoum, in the presence of Dr. Chiara Petracca, the Italian Charge’ d’Affaires a.i. and Fr. Peppino Puttinato the College’s Director, the ceremony for the announcement of the winners of the scholarships to study in Italy financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held. The two winners are: Bashir Mohamed Bashir who will study a-three year Bachelor course in Engineering and Industrial Production at the Politecnico di Torino and Mustafa Abdelkarim Idriss Hassan who will study a three-year Bachelor course in International Relations at the University of Catania. They both are students at Comboni Italian classes.
During her speech, Dr. Petracca expressed her happiness about this important event and congratulated the two students, wishing them to have a successful experience in Italy. Dr. Petracca then reiterated the commitment of the Italian Embassy in the promotion of Italian language and culture and the successes already achieved in the course of this year in the context of the cultural cooperation, expressing the hope that this will be further strengthened in the coming months.

She said that there was great difficulty in the selection of winning students because all the students had high level intelligence.
On his part professor Giuseppe Puttinato Vice Chancellor of Comboni College addressed the ceremony explaining the evolution of the college until it became a college, expressing his appreciation to the Italian Embassy for their continuous support adding that these books that you see on the shelves and this equipped hall equipped are funded by the Italian Embassy.
During the programme the organizers honored and bid farewell to Dr. Barbara and by the Vice Chancellor / Giuseppe Puttinato by providing memorial shield to Dr. Barbara as well as the students of the Italian language who granted her a memorial shield marking the end of her term in Sudan.

By Mohamed Awad Mahmoud Osman, 12 hours 45 minutes ago 

Bashir confessed errors and war crimes WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

Bashir makes rare admission of "bloodshed" & "injustice" in Sudan

July 22, 2013, (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir gave an unusually candid assessment of the situation in his country expressing regret over the prevalence of bloodshed in Sudan and even appeared to be holding himself personally responsible.

"How will god answer our prayers when we are shedding the blood of Muslims and each others’ blood?" Bashir told attendees at an Iftar dinner hosted by the head of the Darfur Transitional Authority (DRA) al-Tijani al-Seisi at his home in Khartoum.

"We know that the destruction of the Ka’aba [in Mecca] is lesser [in gravity] in the eyes of god than the killing of a [human] soul," he added.

The Sudanese president stressed that people get punished in this life for all sins they commit except murder which has its retribution saved for the day of judgment.

The veteran Sudanese general, who ruled Sudan for 24 years since staging a coup in 1989, also said that the "injustice" shrouding the country resulted in drought and lack of rain.

"How can we ask for mercy [from god] when our hands are covered in blood?" Bashir asked.

He then addressed the growing trend of tribal conflicts in Darfur and urged the Darfuris present to raise their hands and make an oath on their desire to seek peace.

"Swear and say we are for peace and against war….We do not want anyone from outside advising us. We will solve our own problems," the Sudanese president said.

Bashir said that reasons for the killings in Darfur do not even warrant slaughtering a sheep let alone a human being and vowed that an upcoming a tribal reconciliation conference will come up with real solutions.

The out-of-the-ordinary statements by Bashir represent a stark departure from his usual fiery speeches in which he often strikes a challenging and threatening tone to his opponents and to the western nations alike which he claims are working to topple his regime.

Throughout his two-decades rule, Bashir has managed to weather a major civil war with what is now independent South Sudan, multiple rebellions that continue till this very day, U.S. sanctions and most recently an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant alleging that he orchestrated war crimes and genocide in Darfur.

The conflict erupted in the large western region of Darfur in 2003, when ethnic African rebels rose up against Khartoum, complaining of discrimination by the Arab-dominated government.

Khartoum responded with a military crackdown, and it is accused of unleashing Arab militias known of Janjaweed, which have attacked ethnic African villages, killing, raping and looting residents, according to United Nations reports.

While Khartoum’s human rights record has always drawn condemnation since Bashir came to power over its brutal suppression of dissent, the Darfur conflict created a headache for the Sudanese government which has sought tirelessly to label it as a manufactured and an exaggerated crisis.

Bashir himself has vehemently denied any mass killings in Darfur and continuously asserted that no more than 10,000 were killed since the violence broke out a decade ago and rejected responsibility for the deaths.

The UN estimates that 300,000 people were killed in the course of the Darfur conflict while more than 2 million civilians were displaced.

Even though the violence in Darfur has ebbed from its 2003-2004 peaks it has recently picked up again between the army, rebels and rival tribes, displacing some 300,000 people since January of this year.

(ST)

Darfur nasty WAR.

3 July 2013 Last updated at 11:28 GMT
Sudan profile

1881 - Revolt against the Turco-Egyptian administration.
1899-1955 - Sudan is under joint British-Egyptian rule.
1956 - Sudan becomes independent.
1958 - General Abboud leads military coup against the civilian government elected earlier in the year
1962 - Civil war begins in the south, led by the Anya Nya movement.
1964 - The "October Revolution" overthrows Abbud and an Islamist-led government is established
1969 - Jaafar Numeiri leads the "May Revolution" military coup.
1971 - Sudanese Communist Party leaders executed after short-lived coup against Numeiry.
1972 - Under the Addis Ababa peace agreement between the government and the Anya Nya, the south becomes a self-governing region.
1978 - Oil discovered in Bentiu in southern Sudan.
1983 - Civil war breaks out again in the south involving government forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), led by John Garang.
Islamic law imposed
1983 - President Numeiri declares the introduction of Sharia Islamic law.
1985 - After widespread popular unrest Numayri is deposed by a group of officers and a Transitional Military Council is set up to rule the country.
1986 - Coalition government formed after general elections, with Sadiq al-Mahdi as prime minister.
1988 - Coalition partner the Democratic Unionist Party drafts cease-fire agreement with the SPLM, but it is not implemented.
1989 - National Salvation Revolution takes over in military coup.
1993 - Revolution Command Council dissolved after Omar Bashir is appointed president.
US strike
1995 - Egyptian President Mubarak accuses Sudan of being involved in attempt to assassinate him in Addis Ababa.
1998 - US launches missile attack on a pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum, alleging that it was making materials for chemical weapons.
1998 - New constitution endorsed by over 96% of voters in referendum.
1999 - President Bashir dissolves the National Assembly and declares a state of emergency following a power struggle with parliamentary speaker, Hassan al-Turabi.
Advent of oil
1999 - Sudan begins to export oil.
2000 President Bashir meets leaders of opposition National Democratic Alliance for first time in Eritrea.
Main opposition parties boycott presidential elections. Incumbent Bashir is re-elected for further five years.
2001 Islamist leader Al-Turabi's party, the Popular National Congress, signs memorandum of understanding with the southern rebel SPLM's armed wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Al-Turabi is arrested the next day, with more arrests of PNC members in the following months.
US extends unilateral sanctions against Sudan for another year, citing its record on terrorism and rights violations.
Peace deal
2002 - Government and SPLA sign landmark ceasefire agreement providing for six-month renewable ceasefire in central Nuba Mountains - a key rebel stronghold.
Talks in Kenya lead to a breakthrough agreement between the government and southern rebels on ending the 19-year civil war. The Machakos Protocol provides for the south to seek self-determination after six years.
2003 February - Rebels in western region of Darfur rise up against government, claiming the region is being neglected by Khartoum.
2003 October - PNC leader Turabi released after nearly three years in detention and ban on his party is lifted.
Uprising in west
2004 January - Army moves to quell rebel uprising in western region of Darfur; hundreds of thousands of refugees flee to neighbouring Chad.
2004 March - UN official says pro-government Arab Janjaweed militias are carrying out systematic killings of non-Arab villagers in Darfur.
Army officers and opposition politicians, including Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi, are detained over an alleged coup plot.
2004 September - UN says Sudan has not met targets for disarming pro-government Darfur militias and must accept outside help to protect civilians. US Secretary of State Colin Powell describes Darfur killings as genocide.
Peace agreement
2005 January - Government and southern rebels sign a peace deal. The agreement includes a permanent ceasefire and accords on wealth and power sharing.
UN report accuses the government and militias of systematic abuses in Darfur, but stops short of calling the violence genocide.
2005 March - UN Security Council authorises sanctions against those who violate ceasefire in Darfur. Council also votes to refer those accused of war crimes in Darfur to International Criminal Court.
2005 June - Government and exiled opposition grouping - National Democratic Alliance (NDA) - sign reconciliation deal allowing NDA into power-sharing administration.
President Bashir frees Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi, detained since March 2004 over alleged coup plot.
Southern autonomy
2005 9 July - Former southern rebel leader John Garang is sworn in as first vice president. A constitution which gives a large degree of autonomy to the south is signed.
2005 1 August - Vice president and former rebel leader John Garang is killed in a plane crash. He is succeeded by Salva Kiir. Garang's death sparks deadly clashes in the capital between southern Sudanese and northern Arabs.
2005 September - Power-sharing government is formed in Khartoum.
2005 October - Autonomous government is formed in the south, in line with January 2005 peace deal. The administration is dominated by former rebels.
Darfur conflict
2006 May - Khartoum government and the main rebel faction in Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Movement, sign a peace accord. Two smaller rebel groups reject the deal. Fighting continues.
2006 August - Sudan rejects a UN resolution calling for a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur, saying it would compromise sovereignty.
2006 October - Jan Pronk, the UN's top official in Sudan, is expelled.
2006 November - African Union extends mandate of its peacekeeping force in Darfur for six months.
Hundreds are thought to have died in the heaviest fighting between northern Sudanese forces and their former southern rebel foes since they signed a peace deal last year. Fighting is centred on the southern town of Malakal.
2007 April - Sudan says it will accept a partial UN troop deployment to reinforce African Union peacekeepers in Darfur, but not a full 20,000-strong force.
War crimes charges
2007 May - International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for a minister and a Janjaweed militia leader suspected of Darfur war crimes.
US President George W Bush announces fresh sanctions against Sudan.
2007 July - UN Security Council approves a resolution authorising a 26,000-strong force for Darfur. Sudan says it will co-operate with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (Unamid).
2007 October - SPLM temporarily suspends participation in national unity government, accusing Khartoum of failing to honour the 2005 peace deal. Returns to government in December.
2008 January - UN takes over Darfur peace force. Government planes bomb rebel positions in West Darfur, turning some areas into no-go zones for aid workers.
Abyei clashes
2008 March - Presidents of Sudan and Chad sign accord aimed at halting five years of hostilities between their countries.
2008 April - Counting begins in national census which is seen as a vital step towards holding democratic elections after the landmark 2005 north-south peace deal.
UN humanitarian chief John Holmes says 300,000 people may have died in the five-year Darfur conflict.
2008 May - Southern defence minister Dominic Dim Deng is killed in a plane crash in the south.
Tension increases between Sudan and Chad after Darfur rebel group mounts raid on Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city across the Nile. Sudan accuses Chad of involvement and breaks off diplomatic relations.
Intense fighting breaks out between northern and southern forces in disputed oil-rich town of Abyei.
2008 June - President Bashir and southern leader Salva Kiir agree to seek international arbitration to resolve dispute over Abyei.
Bashir accused
2008 July - The International Criminal Court's top prosecutor calls for the arrest of President Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur; the appeal is the first ever request to the ICC for the arrest of a sitting head of state. Sudan rejects the indictment.
2008 November - President Bashir announces an immediate ceasefire in Darfur, but the region's two main rebel groups reject the move, saying they will fight on until the government agrees to share power and wealth in the region.
2009 January - Sudanese Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi is arrested after saying President Bashir should hand himself in to The Hague to face war crimes charges for the Darfur war.
2009 March - The International Criminal Court in The Hague issues an arrest warrant for President Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Alliance strained
2009 June - Khartoum government denies it is supplying arms to ethnic groups in the south to destabilise the region.

2009 July - North and south Sudan say they accept ruling by arbitration court in The Hague shrinking disputed Abyei region and placing the major Heglig oil field in the north.
2009 August - Darfur war is over, says UN military commander in the region, in comments condemned by activists.
2009 December - Leaders of North and South reach deal on terms of referendum on independence due in South by 2011.
Darfur deal
2010 Feb-March - The Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) main Darfur rebel movement signs a peace accord with the government, prompting President Bashir to declare the Darfur war over. But failure to agree specifics and continuing clashes with smaller rebel groups endanger the deal.
2010 April - President Bashir gains new term in first contested presidential polls since 1986.
2010 July - International Criminal Court issues second arrest warrant for President al-Bashir - this time on charges of genocide.
2010 August - Mr Bashir tests ICC arrest warrant by visiting Kenya, an ICC signatory. The Kenyan government refuses to enforce the warrant.
2011 January - People of the South vote in favour of full independence from the north.
2011 May - Northern troops overrun town of Abyei on disputed border between north and south. South describes it as ''act of war''. Thousands flee.
South becomes independent
2011 July - South Sudan gains independence.
2011 September - State of emergency declared in Blue Nile state, elected SPLM-N Governor Malik Agar sacked. Some 100,000 said fleeing unrest.
2011 October - South Sudan and Sudan agree to set up several committees tasked with resolving their outstanding disputes.
2011 November - Sudan accused of bombing refugee camp in Yida, Unity State, South Sudan.
A Kenyan judge issues an arrest warrant for President Bashir, saying he should be detained if ever he sets foot in the country again.
2011 December - International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor requests arrest warrant for Sudan's defence minister, Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein, for alleged war crimes in Darfur.
Sudanese government forces kill key Darfur rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim.
2012 January - South Sudan halts oil production after talks on fees for the export of oil via Sudan break down.
2012 February-April - Sudan and South Sudan sign non-aggression pact at talks on outstanding secession issues, but border fighting breaks out.
2012 May - Sudan pledges to pull its troops out of the border region of Abyei, which is also claimed by South Sudan, as bilateral peace talks resume.
2012 June - Week-long protests in Khartoum at austerity measures spread from students to general public and turn into clashes with police. The government cut fuel and other subsidies because of the drop in oil revenues after the independence of South Sudan.
2012 August - Some 655,000 have been displaced or severely affected by fighting between the army and rebels in states bordering on South Sudan, the UN reports.
Sudan and South Sudan strike a last-minute deal on the South's export of oil via Sudan's pipelines.
2012 September - The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan agree trade, oil and security deals after days of talks in Ethiopia. They plan to set up a demilitarised buffer zone and lay the grounds for oil sales to resume. They fail however to resolve border issues including the disputed Abyei territory.
Clashes with rebels in Darfur and South Kordofan region.
2012 October - Explosions destroy an arms factory in Khartoum. Sudan accuses Israel of the attack on what is believed to be an Iranian-run plant making weaopns for Hamas in Gaza. Israel declines to comment.
2013 March - Sudan and South Sudan agree to resume pumping oil after a bitter dispute over fees that saw production shut down more than a year earlier. They also agreed to withdraw troops from their border area to create a demilitarised zone.
2013 June - Dozens killed in fighting between two Arab tribes vying for control of a gold mine in Darfur. An initial bout of violence, in January, killed around 500 people

Ethiopia dam.

Millennium Dam: Facts and Fallacies (5)

The Political Concerns:
In a study prepared by Dr. Saif al-Din Yusuf Mohamed Saied on “The implications of the Renaissance Dam on Sudanese water security”, he discussed some foreign strategies that may pose political problems for the downstream countries: Egypt and Sudan. He gave special attention to the American and Israeli strategies, this in addition to the possible problems that the host country Ethiopia might pose. This study has been discussed in special forums and published by some newspapers lately. The following extracts of the study have been published on Al Intibaha Newspaper on the 10th of this July.
The Israeli strategy in the Nile Basin
The Israel’s ambitions in the waters of the Nile run back to old times. There are studies and some plans to get 1% of the Nile water since 1903/1974/1979. To achieve this end, it has also prepared detailed studies for each of Ethiopia, Zaire, Rwanda and Uganda to build dams and establish agricultural projects. And through its presence in the countries of the Nile, it planned to purchase and get ownership of agricultural land with Jewish capital, claiming the establishment of agricultural projects in those territories especially in (Ethiopia and the democratic Republic of Congo). Furthermore, Israel is seeking to incite the Nile Basin countries to ask for reconsidering the water shares of the Nile River. Arnon Sofer affirms this in his book “conflict over water in the Middle East” in which he has stated that “Israel has a special strategy for the Nile basin countries, and the distribution of water quotas among the Nile basin countries directly affects Israel, so Israel has to coordinate with Ethiopia in this respect).
Reading this the downstream countries of the Nile Basin have real concerns that cannot be waved away easily because of the continuous animosity that plagued their region since the establishment of the Israeli state against the will of the nations of the region.
(Continues next Insha’a Allah)

By A.S. Alkoronki - GMS, 17 hours 43 minutes

MILK.

Milk in East Darfur, Squandered Blessing

The milk market in Ed Daein is one of the town’s most remarkable places. The milk market, which is made up of make-shift straw shelters and provides different types of milk for customers. The goods are on display in the open air, where health services are lacking; hence milk at this market is prone to contamination and bacteria as well as other pollutants.
Halima Hassan Ahmed, a milk woman said that milk is supplied to the market on donkeys and by small vehicles from remote regions, tens of miles away from the market place, in the morning. She noted that milk is cheaper during the rainy season worth less than 1SDG per a pound. Ms Ahmed said that she also prepares and deals in traditionally fermented or soured “rob”
She said that herders have to milk the cows and pour the milk on the ground because it is difficult from them to supply the milk from pastoral regions to the market during rainy seasons. Herders get rid of milk to ensure that the health of their milk cows is not affected. She lamented that farmers are compelled to pour the milk on the ground while some central regions of Sudan are crying for milk. Halima said milk is supplied to the market by trucks on Saturdays from the grazing regions. She said that most of the milk women come to the market from adjacent regions to work until around 5:00pm to get back to their homes. Women sell milk in summer and keep their cows in autumn.
Sakina Adam Khatir said milk prices are affordable, one pound for a pound of milk, 16 pounds for a pound of butter. She indicated that milk-women are facing harsh treatment by locality officers, who look down on women vendors. She called on local authorities to organize the Ed Daein milk market, adding that  milk-women pack their milk products  such as butter, yogurt  in used mineral water bottles after cleaning them with hot water and soap; however, she said this method is not enough for preventing contamination. She called for the re-operation of The Ghazala Jawazat Milk Factory to make use of amounts of milk being wasted. She said most of the female milk vendors in the markets own cattle and that they will sell their milk to the factory and that takes more time to take care of their animals instead of travelling distances to sell milk. They may also eventually become factory personnel.

plan and the change.

The power of change Plan Sudan promotes community volunteers to change lives of women and children

The talent of individual volunteers who can use their skills to empower others is often rare.  For 34 year old Intissar Elobeid - a dynamic young woman who lives in Kassala State, volunteering is all about making a difference to the people who need a helping hand.
Intissar has dedicated much of her spare time over the past 10 years, supporting Plan Sudan programs in Elgineed community – River Atbara Program Unit. She is committed, intelligent and always available to support and engage all members of her community, no matter their age.
“The best thing about being volunteers is promoting change and becoming part of it. When we first started, all the women in my community didn’t know how to read and write, they were unaware of the issues that affect their lives. But now through the Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques (REFLECT) program supported by Plan Sudan, more than 200 Women in Elgineed community know how to read and write. We have made the change possible through REFLECT,” says Intissar. She is a facilitator for one of the REFLECT circles.

Women hand made products

REFLECT is an innovative approach to adult learning and social change promoted by Plan in Sudan. The programme empowers groups of learners to develop their own learning materials and activities (e.g. drama, story-telling and songs) which reflect their socioeconomic and political circumstances. As such, the development of literacy and other related skills is closely linked to people’s everyday life
As an active member of the community development committee, Intissar not only works with other community volunteers but also visits families and REFLECT groups supported by Plan Sudan’s child centred community development programme. For her, the REFLECT program implemented by Plan Sudan is a perfect match for the women in her community.
“The program helped create social links for the families. Women have become more of producers than consumers, as they are more proactive and innovative. They produce furniture and decoration items using locally available materials and sell them to villages and neighboring communities” said Intissar.

According to Intissar, the program has helped to improve families’ income and living conditions. “Women are now able to pay their children school fees and give financial contributions towards the implementation of some community development projects in the area,” she says.
Plan Sudan has inspired and supported hundreds of such community volunteers in Sudan to play an active role in bringing positive changes in their own lives as well as in the lives of the other community members. So far Plan has supported 3,298 highly motivated community volunteers to take leadership role in their own communities to bring long lasting changes in the lives of the community members particularly women and children across Sudan.

By Plan Sudan, 14/07/2013

ELSA BIRTHDAY

                                          Grande Elsa, happy birthday from dad lots of                                                                                           love.

Then it was the Americans behinde the Garang death!!

US ufficiale: il (CIA) dietro l'assassinio di John Garang e Hariri

2013/07/16 10:28
Accusato l'ex ufficiale della National Security Agency, la CIA americana (CIA) che ha approfittato di un programma per operazioni segrete in tutto l'anno, preparato dopo l'11 settembre, allo scopo di perseguire i terroristi per la liquidazione delle figure politiche obiettivi erano incompatibili con gli interessi economici dei militari per l'amministrazione americana, e non era ostile agli Stati Uniti.

Egli disse: "Wayne Madsen," un ex ufficiale della National Security Agency, gli Stati Uniti, il programma di matrice attacco universale permesso l'assassinio della CIA dell'ex primo ministro libanese "Rafik Hariri", il Primo Vice Presidente della Repubblica del Sudan, "John Garang," l'apparato di sicurezza ufficiale Forze libanesi "Elie Hobeika, "e altre figure politiche in Africa e in Asia, soprattutto in Pakistan.

Giornale del giorno dopo

U.S. officer: the (CIA) behind the assassination of John Garang and Hariri

07-16-2013 10:28 AM
Accused the former officer in the National Security Agency, the American CIA (CIA) that it took advantage of a program for covert operations around the year, prepared after September 11, the purpose of prosecuting terrorists for the liquidation of political figures objectives were incompatible with the economic interests of the military to the American administration, and was not hostile to the United States.

He said, "Wayne Madsen," a former officer in the National Security Agency, the U.S., the program matrix attack universal allowed the CIA assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister "Rafik Hariri," the First Deputy President of the Republic of Sudan, "John Garang," the official security apparatus in Lebanese Forces "Elie Hobeika, "and other political figures in Africa and Asia, especially in Pakistan.

Newspaper the next day

We have the Blue Nile and White Nile run as The Nile from Khartoum and we are thirst...HA HA HA HA!!!!!

Sporadic protest in Khartoum over water pollution

July 16, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese capital, Khartoum has witnessed on Monday sporadic protests against the backdrop of a severe shortage in drinking water and water pollution.

Hundreds of residents in Soba neighbourhood, east of Khartoum have staged a protest on Monday against lack of drinking water, setting fire on old tires in a main highway street and chanting anti- Khartoum state government slogans.

Dozens of protesters in Al-Kalakla suburb, south of Khartoum had also protested on Sunday including women who held empty water containers indicating lack of drinking water in their homes.

The Sudanese capital suffers from poor water services particularly in the summer.

Water engineering experts attribute the reason of this chronic problem to the use of poor-quality Chinese spare parts instead of the western expertise and machinery.

The water shortage trigged an extraordinary session at the state assembly to discuss the problem.

A lawmaker at Khartoum state legislative council expressed disappointment, saying "it is inappropriate to have a water problem in a city which is surrounded by two Niles; I think there is a serious administrative malfunction which must be corrected".

The minister of urban planning and infrastructure in Khartoum state, Al-Rashid Fageeri has acknowledged the severe water crisis and attributed the problem to the process of substitution and replacement of malfunctioning equipments".

He complained in a statement before Khartoum state legislative council Monday about the delay in the central bank’s funding for the import of water equipments as well as water networks maintenance.

The director of Khartoum State Water Corporation (KSWC), Judallah Osman, for his part, disclosed that water turbidity rates have reached 35 thousand units this year compared to 33 thousand units last year which caused the water problem.

Several MPs at Khartoum state legislative council drew scathing criticism for the ministry of urban planning and the KSWC accusing both sides of administrative negligence.

The lawmakers have further questioned the quality and specifications of the water stations and stressed the need for a radical solution to the water problem, saying that 90% of the water shortage is caused by unstable electricity supply as well as the negative role of the central government.

A recent report issued by the inspector general in Khartoum state revealed that KSWC is using carcinogenic substances including solid polymer, powder and chlorine in water treatment besides importing materials which do not conform to standards and specifications.

The MPs also called for exempting Khartoum residences affected by the water shortage of the monthly fees until a fundamental solution for the problem is reached.

Large parts of Sudan’s sprawling capital Khartoum continue to grapple with shortage of potable water despite the authorities’ much-vaunted construction of water pipes networks and plants.

(ST)