60 % of Sudanese people have no access to electricity.....VERY BAD.

Home | News    Saturday 26 April 2014

60% of Sudan’s population don’t have access to electricity: official

April 25, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Electricity Distribution Company (SEDC) has revealed that only 40% of the population has access to electricity compared to 90% in neighbouring countries.

SEDC’s director, Ali Abdel-Rahman, who addressed the opening session of the states’ 4th power grid conference in El-Obeid, capital of North Kordofan state on Thursday, underscored that electrical supply will cover the whole country by 2031.

“Despite our efforts, the figures of electricity production and consumption are modest. We are currently working on increasing numbers of beneficiaries from electricity,” he said

He added that in spite of the stability of electrical supply, the percentage of beneficiaries is only 40%.

Abdel-Rahman pointed that SEDC launched the solar power electricity project for houses in order to cover the deficit in electricity production following the successful experience of North Kordofan state.

He said that the thermal power sector is experiencing major difficulty because it consumes large amounts of gasoline to produce thermal electricity, disclosing that the Al-Foula electricity grid would function soon after it has been included in the national grid.

The state’s minister at the ministry of electricity, Tabita Butrus Showkai, has called for North Kordofan’s solar energy project to be extended to the rest of the country, as well as the electrification of agricultural projects, demanding that solar energy also be introduced to rural areas by 2031.

(ST)

ALL OF US ARE GOING.

Home | Comment & Analysis    Saturday 26 April 2014

Obituary: Osman Hummaida

By Amnesty International

April 25, 2014 - Osman Hummaida who died from a heart attack on 17 April was a vital, exuberant, passionate and dedicated human rights defender, and a central figure in the Sudan human rights movement over the past 20 years. From 2008 until his sudden death he was Executive Director of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), a Sudan human rights organization. Osman was a close contact and friend of Amnesty International. He was always ready to help, to find out information, to discuss the situation. His aim was to end impunity and bring torturers and – especially – those who gave the orders, senior officials, ministers, the President – to justice. “We are building up the evidence, we will get him in the end” – he would say about a particularly suspect minister.

A political activist in Sudan in the 1980s, he was arrested in 1990/1 after the military came to power in Khartoum. After his release and escape from Sudan it was human rights which took up all his energies. In exile in London, Osman helped to found several important Sudanese human rights movements. The Sudan Organization against Torture (SOAT) was based in London. Later, by 2000, when there was more space for local non-government organizations in Sudan, he played a part in founding the Khartoum Centre for Human Rights and Environmental Protection (KCHR) and the Amel Centres for Rehabilitation and Treatment of Victims of Torture in Nyala and El Fasher in Darfur. The Amel Centres were later to win many international prizes for their work.

These organizations Osman helped found, developed out of networks of lawyers, journalists and doctors. They recognised the need for careful and accurate documentation of torture and of other human rights violations. Osman organized workshops and training sessions in London and Sudan which initiated many young activists into human rights work. A vital cornerstone of the work of these organisations was strategic litigation to bring perpetrators to justice in Sudan, and when this failed, using regional and international channels such as the African Commission on Human and People’s rights, the UN human rights councils and the International Criminal Court to seek justice. One of the cases before the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights involves Osman. He and two colleagues were arrested and two of them tortured in Khartoum in November 2008.

Osman, and the organisations he helped found were also heavily involved in advocacy. They published cases, submitted reports to the African Union, UN Human Rights agencies in Geneva and other governments. SOAT and later the ACJPS would hold joint meetings with other NGOs to inform and campaign on human rights issues. In 2003, when the massive displacement and killings in Darfur were growing, Osman brought Darfur lawyers to Geneva to lobby and explain the situation to every African country’s delegation and other members of the UN Human Rights Commission. In 2004 SOAT and the KCHR set up the Darfur Consortium, a network of African NGOs who were fundamentally important in carrying the fight against ethnic fighting in Darfur to the African Union, leaving Sudan isolated even among fellow African states. A network of Arab human rights NGOs led a similar campaign.

When the International Criminal Court indictment was issued against President Omar al-Bashir in March 2009, the KCHR and the Amel Centre, along with other Sudanese Human Rights organizations .

were banned. Osman and colleagues left Sudan fearing arrest. However, from Kampala the group founded the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies to continue the struggle for human rights in Sudan, using documentation, training of activists, strategic litigation and, as always, advocacy. In May/June 2014, the ACJPS will celebrate its fifth year, a tribute to the tireless work of Osman Hummaida, its executive director, for human rights in Sudan.

Osman’s passing leaves a big void in the Sudan human rights defenders landscape. Amnesty International will greatly miss him.

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Education.

" Nono anno ( 1 ) "2014/04/24 03:48Suhair Abdul Rahim
Senza lo studio dei funzionari psicologici, sociali e accademiche o educativi deciso di istruzione nel nostro paese , per cancellare una media del terzo anno e l'integrazione della scuola primaria con la fase centrale di conoscere più avanti in Basic .Senza lo studio di psicologico, sociale e scolastico o educativo deciso di tornare ancora una volta l'anno cancellato . Nel senso che la signora Segretario della Pubblica Istruzione Suad Abdel Razek Btaatalm nei nostri figli , riempito Chktk Bakhtak , il mio Mzaaaaj ... Shilo anno restituito strappato otto anni ... anni .. ma sono liberi di nove , ma ragionevole .. ! ? .So che conosce qualcun altro che non erano presenti nella funzione del ministro quando è stato licenziato per l'anno e l'integrazione delle due fasi ... ma so anche e conosce gli altri erano dietro la decisione di tornare l'anno come quello di qualsiasi ministro di essere nominato primo Mibdo comincia a cambiare le decisioni dei suoi predecessori nel ministero , e se questo è la prima evidenza che la Chglo netto e Walker completamente .Anche se le vittime prima di tutto i nostri figli (topi ), esperimenti al Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione bambino in Swan non parlare di chi sta studiando in una scuola privata e passa attraverso ( i driver ), il trasporto di lusso che si dimettono deportazioni di massa , ma ne parlerò che a piedi o in sella a mezzi di trasporto pubblico sono stati dimessi della casa senza ottenere un bicchiere di latte e un panino hamburger ha guidato i mezzi pubblici dopo una violenta discussione con ( direttore) sugli studenti tariffari pubblicizzati solo attraverso le pagine dei giornali e che non è la sua terra .E ha raggiunto la scuola e trovò la prima metà della quota è finita e si sedette nella fila davanti a una lavagna e un insegnante esaurito ( Gbashh ) e una sedia traballante in sgangherato e decisione sgangherato separato.Dopo di che è arrivato prima colazione distesa inizia la sofferenza e ( Madafrh ) davanti al buffet per ottenere il pane pieno di potassio metile farcito Btamah dominato dal gusto di carbonati e Baksmat più di Alcabacba .Se questo studente con buone individui fortuna può ottenere una dose di acqua da una salsa vassoio di plastica perforata vuoto e legato una corda al lato ( Zeer ) ( per esempio , come un rubare ! ? ! ) .So ( Zeer ) , che celebra le alghe Petkatherha allineato con continuo gioco di rane verso il basso ( frame) .Ci dispiace ( frame) non è destinato quadro Khrassanaa o piattaforma elevata per mettere ( Ozaar ) Scuola , ma la finestra è ( il bastone ) auto Old stato di validità piercing e Matthey ( Zeer ) per berlo alunni Saeedi fortuna è fortuna in presenza di acqua in sé , perché è chiaro possibile essere ( Alamueh ) conclusiva o quello che hanno pagato il conto, non sarebbe parlando di bagni e laboratorio Garden e computer portatile. Questi lussi .Ma il più pericoloso Mavi tutta questa faccenda è , mio Segretario di Istruzione e la vostra posizione di un bambino piccolo con uno studente durante l'adolescenza senza tener conto della dimensione , altezza e pensare e agire e changes Alvesalogih , il comportamento e gli interessi fisica e personale e l'impatto sulla studente odiava. Come un bambino a studiare in settima con un pantalone alunno Hoarabh e considerando come un bambino non si conosce l'ABC del mondo è l'amore , la tolleranza e l'ottimismo con una studentessa nel processo della maternità .Segretario Signora hanno cambiato il curriculum sterile . Cosa significa preservare un bambino nel quarto divorzio AL e salva Mappa del Sudan prima secessione e il sistema di Gezira , gomma arabica , Sudan granaio del mondo , e sappiamo che sono tutti i sogni Zlot .In secondo luogo , in cui le storie dei Compagni e Califfi in decisione Educazione islamica , fai a sapere che il bambino è nel sesto grado , per esempio , non sa nulla di Abu Obaida .Madam Secretary :Quelle dei nostri figli nostri figli prima struttura di ogni rinascita ... ai topi Atjalohm .
suheir16@yahoo.com

Dialogue of Bashir!!!

Dialogue or bellows ? !
04-18-2014 10:15 PM
Fathi Daw

I almost do not know the people in human history Astgvl rights as it has done in the league those with bass Sudan and its people . Yes, there are many peoples in this big world rule dictators iron and fire , but Dlona the head of one of the same species say publicly « We power de Jbnaha rifle and Aisaha Legge Chilha rifle » then the same mouth that pronunciation disbelief say after that decimated crops, livestock « Let us talk for Sudan promising » ? Dlona the head of the same vein admitted ( Bedma ) of the tongue and the coverup of killing ten thousand people of his countrymen , and then hit him tambourines and overlies a platform for dancing for joy on their bodies ? Spoke to me about the head of the same tribe sat cross-legged on the helm of power for nearly a quarter of a century , and called for victims of the massacre of new and crisp with his stick on their faces and said to them : « Come , my group, we are the children of today » .. and believes some people and they know it .. If there is a lie , and if he speaks, entrusted Khan ?

What more regulations bad in the world , while prepared , but spoke to me about the system declared jihad on his people and forced the younger very junior to engage in his burnt offering , and then open Sdnth the Koran did not see from verses only « and prepared them what you can of power , including steeds terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy . . » Having blown coffins , came Ihdthonhm for attractive unity , then opened and did not see the same Koran verses only « Hold on to God and be not divided among yourselves .. » ? They reminded me of the President of the separation of tens of thousands of civil service and uniformed , under the pretext of ( public interest ), and after serving a third of them died and the displacement of one-third the second , and before the last third licks poverty and destitution , and the bitterness of humiliation and shame in his homeland and the Diaspora , he said to them : « second is in favor of the year , and in enabling , and in the houses of ghosts and the children Guts eggs » ? Kbrune system that kills almost satiety Jhabzth they talk about austerity ? Dlona system devoted to tribal , regional and ethnic screaming, calling for discarded ?

What is the most corrupt people in the ground while Thsém , but spoke to me about the junta denied the corruption of Ophthalmologists , a religion which Itbthelon in niche morning, evening , and after the weary hands of the Office of the Auditor General for anchoring , called Vraunha « to review the law Unlawful Enrichment and suspicious , so as to allow its provisions to address all forms of corruption » Dlona the league violated the legitimacy and monopolized power and killed and tortured and displaced and ruined , and after that have exhausted their belongings , stole the lips of God - promenade filled - and , speak what he did not say : « let bygones be bygones ! » spoke to me about the people that has been ruled by a single party with all the means of conjuring tricks , then called about a hundred glaze came out of their holes and threw what they are lying Vtlagaf what Aovkon like him? Spoke to me about a country under some Sahafier writing with distended eyes and smelt for actually seeing all the bitterness and pain that are not obvious to viewers , and suddenly people came out brandishing pens are talking about freedom and paths , transparency and democracy and Zumha and necessity ?

What's more , while reminding them losers , but I ask you whether to Nafie Ali Nafie assigned in this universe healed him of his tongue , and both the abuses of his people as the number of pores of his skin ? Is there a twin recoil Suath came and preached violent people who can not be a substitute for dialogue , and that monopoly power is not a substitute for elections and anxieties ? Dlona the defense minister rains accounted for more than 70 % of the budget , however, is talking about ( the theory of the defense given ) without blinking an eye ? Oalmona man reincarnation of the spirit of Rasputin and March, the number of opportunistic chin whiskers more than did Dr. Hassan al-Turabi .. usurped the authority and became Arabha , then its origins and has become the enemy , and then returned to it and became its ally ? From talking to me about one person in this world has a special party as Mr. Mohammed Osman Mirghani , and managed by the pairing between politics and holiness as he could not state the Umayyad caliphs Abbasid not do? Dlona politician spent more than half his life in politics and affairs , however Pflmat liver pushes toward the guillotine system says he opposes and wants to overthrow him and we endorsers ?

I've managed to fool us in the league of the ruling for the umpteenth time , succeeded in making us unconsciously echo the word of dialogue like a discoverer of new Sudanese , succeeded in Adkhalna in a coma until one of us does not remember her sins , succeeded in making us pronounce everything except the obligatory missing by her accounting. They want to re- produce themselves reproduce the crisis , as if they were not killed or tortured and did not ruin did not separate the country was united . I certify that if Samuel Beckett theater of the absurd was a pioneer among us to dawdle for a moment to recognize his genius and Ptqasr Tqazem talents . Seems to always be in the midst of no reasonable in which we live that the Sudanese people (credited ) like a person sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit , and when it resumed, the referee before the judges justified , and they have to reduce Akoah penalty to the rule of life sentence , and suddenly exclaimed leaders ( Opponents ) trance saying live Justice !

Hey gentlemen, what a broader and narrower ordeal words , we the people have remained oppressive power Trodah as tame Circus black coach to Isosha and Astanasseha . Ndmn made ​​us surprised even we sleep and wake up on Dbebha in our faces , if Djana patience , and if our thirst may lament . League Dbgt our skin with all sorts of vices and designated Aptlaouat in order to rush to the prayer rug and breathe God our complaints do not have to face . Authority violated our freedoms Voskhana hearing Onascidna ( national ) Nnevs by Krepettna . League Guetltna stood turnoff Bmuarah our dead bodies and returned prattle as they are engaged in it . Authority slaughtered necks of the vein to vein , Vdgna a bird slaughtered pain . The gentlemen who are not subject to logic , and wanted to Amntgah foolishly that it reserves the first hospital in Majaveb . It can change its skin to live , but you saw any of you live changed her skin became a dove of peace!

This system Kalsamera who made his calf bellow and called it falsely dialogue !

Last words : to be democracy and accountability , although the long travel ! !
faldaw@hotmail.com

Talk about peace ....!!!!????

Home | News    Saturday 12 April 2014

Sudan’s defence minister vows decisive summer for Darfur rebels

April 11, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese defence minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein has called on rebel groups in Darfur to seek a negotiated peaceful solution, warning that a summer military campaign would crush rebellion in the restive region.

Hussein, who addressed a public meeting with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur capital El-Fasher on Friday, said the government welcomes rebel groups who wish to join the peace process, adding the government made the necessary arrangements to end rebellion in the region.

“Rebels have to join peace before they be militarily crushed,” he said.

He further praised the RSF militias, saying they set a good humanitarian example in dealing with hostages and citizens, and provided services for the needy population in the region.

The director of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), Mohamed Atta, for his part, disclosed they had dispatched other RSF units to South Kordofan state to fight against the SPLM-N rebels and maintain security in the state.

The SRF militia, which operates under the command of NISS, is formed August last year to fight rebel groups in Darfur region, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states following joint attacks by Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels in North and South Kordofan in April 2013.

NISS ACCUSED OF PLOTTING

Meanwhile Sudanese rebel alliance, the Sudan Revolutionary Forces (SRF), announced in a statement issued by its top military commander, Abdel-Aziz Al-Hilu, that they had obtained “certain information” that the NISS is undertaking a plan in coordination with the military intelligence, the Popular Defence Forces (PDF), aiming to mobilise tribal militias to fight against its forces in Blue Nile, Nuba Mountains, North Kordofan and Darfur.

He added that those militias, which include forces recruited from outside Sudan, will target civilians to displace them from rebel areas. But, the government will cover these attacks, describing it as tribal clashes.

The statement added this task was assigned to a force stationed in Al-Fayed village in Rashad district in the Nuba Mountains, pointing the force is commanded by Brig. Gen. Abdel-Samad Babiker, Lt. Col. Mohamed Al-Fatih Ahmed, and Maj. Gen. Mohamed Al-Rabie’.

The force is also supported by a battalion of Mujahideen (holy fighters) from Khartoum and a battalion of the paramilitary PDF, according to the statement.

The rebels said the militias backed by aerial bombardment, shelled Toumi and Al-Mansour areas in South Kordofan and burned several villages, including Toumi, Al-Mansoura, Tarawa, Kluro, Tendimen, Taglbo and Teri, in order to force villagers to move to government-controlled areas.

Al-Hilu called upon rights groups and human rights activists to condemn the scorched earth policy carried out by the government and expose regime’s repressive policies against defenceless citizens.

The commander of the RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, for his part, denied that his force had committed war crimes or human rights abuses in the region, accusing rebel groups of seeking to tarnish their image.

He said the RSF is innocent of these criminal practices, underscoring they arrested groups of outlaws who attacked civilians north of the town of Mellit while they were chasing remnants of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) following an attack on the town last month.

In March, the African Union and United Nations joint special representative and joint chief mediator for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, openly accused the RDF of attacking civilians.

In his address at the Um Jaras peace Chambas condemned the RSF attacks, saying they were the main cause of displacement of thousands of villagers.

The SLM-MM carried out attacks in South and North Darfur states, triggering reprisal attacks by government militias on villages suspected of support to the rebels. These attacks coincided with tribal clashes in the North Darfur state.

The violence displaced over 215,000 civilians in the state.

(ST)

Dialogue for new Sudan!

Home | News    Wednesday 9 April 2014

Sudan’s NCF, SRF call for independent committee to facilitate national dialogue

April 8, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s opposition umbrella organisation of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) and the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) have underscored the need to reach a comprehensive solution to the country’s crises and renewed call for establishing a transitional government and an independent body to facilitate the national dialogue.

The two parties demanded in a joint statement read by the NCF leading figure, Yahiya al-Hussein at a press conference on Tuesday a peaceful solution which leads to change.

But the Arab Ba’ath Party representative at the NCF, Mohamed Diaa Al-Din, objected to the statement, saying he did not read it despite his approval for its content.

According to the statement, a peaceful solution and constitutional process require creating an atmosphere conducive for dialogue and applying genuine confidence building measures including ending war, addressing humanitarian crisis, annulling all laws restricting freedoms, and moving from war and totalitarianism to peace and democracy.

The statement stressed the need for agreeing on an independent mechanism to administer dialogue among all parties and identifying necessary actions for a serious and productive dialogue, calling for agreement on a clear roadmap which leads to transitional arrangements and an interim government to carry out what will be agreed upon.

It further demanded holding a constitutional conference with the participation of all political and social forces without exclusion in order to arrive at comprehensive solutions for Sudan’s crises and drafting a democratic elections law.

The statement also emphasised that contacts and consultations between the NCF and SRF will continue in order to arrive at a joint program that meets interests of the Sudanese people.

The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir announced a series of resolutions at the onset of a political roundtable held on Sunday in Khartoum with the participation of 83 political parties.

The NCF forces boycotted the political roundtable, saying the government did not respond to its conditions for creating an environment conducive for dialogue.

Bashir instructed authorities in the states and localities across Sudan to enable political parties to carry out their activities inside and outside their headquarters without restrictions except those dictated by the law.

The Sudanese president also pledged to enhance press freedom so that it can play its role in the success of the national dialogue unconditionally as long they abide by the norms of the profession.

Political detainees who have not been found to be involved in criminal acts will be released, Bashir added.

He also stressed the government’s commitment and willingness to allow rebels to participate in the national dialogue and vowed to give them adequate and appropriate safeguards to attend and depart safely afterwards.

However, on Monday, the Reform Now Party (RNP), which is chaired by a leading dissident from the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Ghazi Salah al-Deen al-Attabani, announced that the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) prevented the party from holding a seminar at the Omdurman Ahlia University (OAU) despite obtaining prior permission.

In a press release on Monday, secretary-general of the rebel Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-North, (SPLM-N) Yasser Arman downplayed the presidential resolutions and described them as “wordplay”, saying they have no value as long as extraordinary laws continue to exist.

In a televised address to the nation in January, Bashir announced a four-point plan for reform “to stop the war and bring peace, free political society, fight against poverty and revitalise national identity”.

He called for political forces and even rebel groups, on the condition they lay down their arms, to engage in dialogue aimed at meeting key objectives.

NCP officials, including Bashir, have brushed aside opposition calls for the 2015 elections to be delayed and the formation of a transitional government that would work on drafting a new constitution to prepare the country for the polls.

The opposition National Umma Party (NUP) and the Popular Congress Party (PCP) PCP are the only major opposition parties to accept Bashir’s call for national dialogue so far.

Although both parties warned that they would pull out of dialogue with the NCP if progress stalls.

(ST)                                                                                                                                     

Imperialism of drugs ...

India Drugs Giant Rejects Novartis Patent Accusations

Leading Indian drug company Biocon on Friday rejected allegations by Novartis that it infringed on the Swiss pharmaceutical giant's patent for its blockbuster diabetes drug Galvus.
Novartis announced Thursday it was seeking an injunction in the Delhi High Court to stop Biocon from launching a generic version of Galvus, also known as Vildagliptin.
The suit against Biocon is the latest legal salvo in a campaign by global drugmakers against the nation's huge copycat drugs industry that the pharmaceutical companies say reduces incentives to produce cutting-edge medicines.
"Biocon has a reputation for respecting all valid IP (intellectual property) and intends to operate within the parameters of applicable IP laws in India and elsewhere," the Indian company said in an emailed statement to AFP.
"Biocon has not been issued any injunction on Vildagliptin; nor has Biocon launched the product in India. There is no impact on our immediate plans for this product," added Biocon.
The Bangalore-based company, which is Asia's largest insulin maker, did not elaborate.
India's generic drug industry is a major supplier of cheaper copycat medicines to treat diabetes, cancer and other diseases afflicting its vast poor population who cannot afford expensive branded versions, as well as to other parts of the world.
India also has some of the world's toughest patent laws as the government seeks to make life-saving therapies available locally to lower-income citizens.
Galvus, one of Novartis' top-selling drugs globally with sales of $1.2 billion last year, is used to treat Type 2 diabetes, which typically strikes later in life and is associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
India has one of the largest number of diabetes sufferers in the world, making it a lucrative market for drugmakers.
Novartis said in an emailed statement it filed the case earlier in the week seeking the injunction against Biocon for alleged "infringement of the Indian basic compound patent" of Vildagliptin.
The patent on Vildagliptin expires in 2019 and it is "fully prepared to defend" it, the company said.
The firm added the court had ordered Biocon not to "manufacture, sell or export Vildigliptin for commercial purposes" until the next hearing, slated for April 28.
Earlier this month, it said, the Delhi High Court granted Novartis a preliminary injunction against another leading Indian generic firm, Wockhardt Ltd, for alleged patent infringement involving the same diabetes drug.
"A robust and predictable intellectual property (IP) system is an essential pillar of an innovative" pharmaceutical sector, Novartis added.
Wockhardt has challenged Novartis's patent before India's Intellectual Property Appellate Board.
Last year, India's Supreme Court rejected a bid by Novartis for patent protection for an updated version of its leading leukaemia drug Glivec, arguing the compound was a significant improvement because it is more easily absorbed by the body.
In a ruling that went to the heart of patent law in a country known as the "pharmacy to the world", the court said the compound "did not satisfy the test of novelty or inventiveness" required by India's strict legislation.

By AFP, 16 hours 27 minutes ago 

money to fix the dictatore.

Sudan receives $1bn deposit from Qatar

April 3, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – At the end of a one-day visit of Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Khartoum on Wednesday, Sudan announced receiving a $1 billion central bank deposit from the rich Gulf state.

Al-Thani who became Emir of Qatar in June 2013 after his father’s abdication received a warm welcome in Khartoum where he held talks with Sudan’s president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir before to leaving for Algeria.

At the end of bilateral talks between the two delegations, the Sudanese finance minister Badr Al-Deen Mahmoud announced that Qatar deposited $1 billion in Sudan’s central bank.

Mahmoud said that the two countries agreed to boost two existing projects of Al-Diar real estate , and Al-Hassad Food, adding that the two sides agreed to solve the problems facing the Qatari investments in the country.

The finance minister added the talks focused on several areas of joint cooperation, disclosing agreement on establishing Kenana sluiceway project besides the agricultural production and manufacturing project.

He said they would hand over its feasibility study to his Qatari counterpart soon.

Economic experts predicted the Qatari deposit would positively impact on Sudan’s economy and reduce the US dollar’s exchange rate against the Sudanese currency.

The US dollar sold at 8.65 Sudanese pounds (SDG) in the black market on Tuesday. The official exchange rate is around 5.7 pounds to the dollar.

Sudan has been struggling with what was described as an economic shock following the loss of the oil-rich south in July 2011. Oil revenues constituted the majority of Sudan’s exports, national income and source of hard currency.

The governor of the Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS), Abdel-Rahman Hassan Abdel-Rahman, said on Wednesday that the visit of the Qatari emir underscores the strong ties between the two countries, pointing to the role of both leaders in promoting distinguished relations to serve the common interests.

He added those ties have positively impacted the banking sector in the two countries besides promoting economic ties and the joint investment and development projects.

Sudan’s foreign minister, Ali Karti, said at a press conference on Wednesday that the visit didn’t discuss strained ties between Doha and other Gulf states, pointing to the continued mediation efforts to resolve differences among those states.

On March 5, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors from Qatar, accusing Doha of failing to abide by an accord not to interfere in each others’ internal affairs. Qatar denies the charge.

He added the Qatari Emir came to Sudan at the invitation of Bashir, noting it was a successful visit and achieved its objectives in enhancing the growing ties between the two countries.

Karti further pointed that the visit was arranged in advance and had nothing to do with the recent political developments in the region.

The foreign minister announced that Bashir had issued a decree exempting all Qatari citizens from obtaining entry visas to Sudan as of Wednesday in order to strengthen and promote bilateral ties.

He asserted that arrangements and contacts with the Qatari side were underway in order to address the causes which prevented Sudanese citizens from being granted entry visas to Qatar, saying the Qatari side was responding to requests in this regard.

Karti stressed that the two sides discussed Qatar’s desire to invest in areas of tourism, electricity, and real estate besides implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), further pointing that Qatar had continued to finance and implement development projects in Darfur.

The Qatari Emir received the Necklace of Honour from Bashir besides other gifts including birds, rare African parrots, and authentic Arabian camels.

(ST)