SPLM delegation meets with President Mbeki in Addis Ababa

SPLM delegation meets with President Mbeki

 in Addis Ababa

As part of  a regional tour to explain its position on the issues of a comprehensive and just peace and the political developments in Sudan, a delegation of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement, consisting of  Malik Agar, Yasir Arman, Ramadan Hassan; and Zayed Issa, met on Wednesday evening November 23rd, 2011, in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, with the President and members of the African Union High Implementation Panel, the former South African President Mbeki, and former Presidents Abdulsalam Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya. The delegation conveyed to the AUHIP members the position and prospective of the SPLM on the general political situation in Sudan with emphasis on the following issues:

One: The humanitarian issues, and the need to deliver food to the needy and the protection of civilians, and the establishment of a tripartite mechanism consisting of the SPLM, the Sudanese regime, and the international community, to deliver food to the needy on both sides of the conflict.

Second: The necessity of establishing an independent commission to investigate war crimes and the massive human rights violations and to put an end to impunity.

Third: The SPLM believes that a just and a permanent solution would not be possible except in accordance with a comprehensive perspective. The origin of the problems in South Kordofan, the Blue Nile, Darfur, and other areas, lies in the Khartoum’s wrong policies, and therefore it is an imperative to address the roots of these crisis, through a comprehensive participation of all political forces, and to avoid any and all partial solutions between a single one of the political forces and the Khartoum regime.

Fourth: The SPLM confirms its firm and absolute adherence to the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) and its openness to all Sudanese political forces, youth organizations, women, the politically dismissed from service, civil societies, victims of dams construction, and the rural marginalized and urban poor, who desire change, and in order to achieve consensus that will enable all of us to reach a just peace and democracy, the State of equal citizenship and the restructuring of the center of power.

Fifth: That any attempt for serious constitutional review process, needs to start with first ending the wars, and to be conducted under an all political forces agreed upon interim government, and not under the gunpoint of the National Congress Party.

Sixth: A national constitutional conference, with the participation of all political forces and civil society organizations, is the only approach to answer the historical question of how to govern Sudan? Before the question of who govern the Sudan? The national constitutional conference represents the right approach and solution to the crises of governance and civil wars.

Seventh: the Alliance of the Sudan Revolutionary Front provides the optimum political framework, to resolve the crisis of wars with the forces that bear arm, together with the resolution of the crisis of governance, with the participation of all political forces in a comprehensive political solution, (The Khartoum regime has to change, or we will change it.)

Eighth: The IGAD countries; the African Union – including the Republic of South Sudan – , the United Nations, the Arab League, the United States of America, and the European Union, are the guarantors of the CPA, including the CPA protocols that relates to the Republic of Sudan, and they have a huge responsibility to stop the violation and the infringement of the CPA by the National Congress Party, and it is their duty to challenge the belligerence of the National Congress Party, and the wars it waged, instead of its (NCP) implementation of the CPA. This duty also requires the solidarity with the struggle of the people of Sudan for peace and democracy.

Yasir Arman
Secretary General of the SPLM
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Addis Ababa.

Dear All

Please find an update below on Sudan plans for attacking South Sudan

Thanks.

Bol

21^st November 2011

Update Information on the Sudan plans to sustain continuous military attack on South Sudan

·        For the last two weeks, the NCP government has deployed troops along the South Sudan/Sudan border.

·        SAF has deployed a brigade between Raga and SouthernDarfur at Burama.

·        SAF has deployed two battalions in Abyei in addition to the forces that were there already.

·        New SAF forces have been brought to Heglig, Karsana and Abu gadama. These forces are intended to occupy oil fields.

·        In Upper Nile, SAF has deployed troops in Hamara, Abu Jabia. These forces have attacked kuek and kaka trade centre on 10^th & 16^th November respectively.

·        There have been bombings in Maban, Yabus, Raga county, and violation of South Sudan air space is on daily basis.

·        There is a SAF military built up in Kosti, Rebek and Jebelen.

·        NCP has reinstated all the South Sudanese soldiers who were relieved from their positions within SAF in July and redeployed them to fight South Sudanese. A colonel by name Thiel Malual Awak who is a former soldier in SAF has been re-called to lead attack on Warrap state.

·        Other nationalities have been recruited as mercenaries to fight South Sudanese.

·        NCP has started massive arming of Messiriya, Rezigat, Fellata and Abororo tribes to fight along SAF troops in Western Bhar el Ghazal, Northern Bhar el Ghazal, Unity and Upper Nile states.

Bol Makueng

SPLM Secretary for Information, Culture and Communication

Upto $10,000 Research Grant for Graduate Students

Read below:

Are you a graduate student (masters and Phd) at an African university or a Canadian university? You could be eligible for this grant.

Spread the word. So far almost four rounds of this grant have been announced in the past year or two. Not a single South Sudanese has  been awarded the grant to the best of my knowledge. Where are our graduate students? Spread the word.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Funding available for African and Canadian students as part of 2012 graduate research grants

Waterloo, Canada – November 23 – Graduate students from Africa and Canada will have the opportunity to benefit from $300,000 (CAD) in funding, as the Africa Initiative today announces a call for applications for the 2012 graduate research grant program.

Grants of up to $10,000 (CAD) will be awarded to as many as 15 African students applying to study in Canada and 15 Canadian students to conduct field-based research in Africa. Applications for the Africa Initiative Graduate Research Grant, which can be found online at http://www.africaportal.org/exchange, must be submitted by January 15, 2012.

“There is already great enthusiasm for the 2012 grant competition,” said Nelson K. Sewankambo, director of the Africa Initiative. “The students who have been participating in the 2011 program are gaining incredible experience, either by building new networks in Canada or by conducting important and unique field work with local partners in Africa. Those who are successful in the 2012 competition will be making an remarkable contribution to research on Africa.”

As part of the Africa Initiative, a joint undertaking by The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in cooperation with Makerere University and the South African Institute for International Affairs, the Africa Initiative Graduate Research Grant will give special consideration to proposals that present new and policy relevant research, and that cover one or more of the areas of conflict resolution, energy, food security, health, migration and climate change.

Successful applicants who are currently enrolled in an African university will spend up to three months at a Canadian university undertaking research funded by the program. The research will lead to a major paper to be considered for publishing.

Successful applicants who are currently enrolled in a Canadian university will spend up to three months in an African country undertaking field-based research funded by the program and produce a major research paper that will also be considered for publishing.

For more details on this program, please visit: http://www.africaportal.org/exchangeor contact Ibi Brown, Exchange Program Coordinator for the Africa Initiative, atibrown@cigionline.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kevin Dias, Communications Specialist, CIGI                                                                                      

Tel: 519.885.2444, ext. 238, Email: kdias@cigionline.org

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, nonpartisan think tank on international governance. Led by experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI’s interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world.

CIGI was founded in 2001 by Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM (Research In Motion), and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

For more information, please visit www.cigionline.org

SPLM-N Members Sentenced to Death: Committee for the Support of Political Prisoners and Detainees in Sudan

Call for Solidarity

Committee for the Support of Political Prisoners and Detainees in Sudan

A summary tribunal held in the town of Sinja, Sinnar State, have issued death sentences against nineteen of SPLM-N civilian detainees from Blue Nile State and Northern Sudan, who have no involvement in the on-going military action there.

Those detainees were arrested from their homes and places of work during the NCP regime assault in Blue Nile and its elected SPLM-N Governor, Malik Agar, last September. Almost all those held underwent unspeakable torture, degraded treatment and abuse for the period of their detention. As a result, some have become physically disabled or disfigured from systematic ill treatment. Now finally, under the cover of a complete news blackout, they have been subjected to summary trials, which bear no relation to natural justice or impartial judicial processes- they were not granted, even the most basic of their legal rights. The sentences are but, a most flagrant violation of all human rights norms. Now the nineteen condemned detainees await their fate in Kober prison, in Khartoum, among them the renowned writer and poet Mr. Abdel-Monim Rahma.

What follows is a list of the detainees, whose trials are due to take place in Sinja in the coming days.

·    Musa Jah-Alrasoul

·    Hammad Ahmed GAdim

·    Saddam Abbas Jol (a minor)

·    Mohammed Abdel-Algani Digais

·    Sheikh Ali Alnour Geri (local chief- Kalogi)

·    Abdallah Altoum Salih

·    Musa Balolah Kasina

·    Alsir Amir Alzaki

·    Jaroum Jah-Alrasoul

·    Taha Someit Marhoum

·    Abdallah Mohammed Al-Hassan

·    Karoum Awad Bashoum

·    Koji Malwal

·    Alrashid Umada Khossi

·    Abdallah Abdel-Rahman Abdallah

This is in addition to 60 detainees in the area of Sennar and Blue Nile States , from the leaders and members of the SPLMN, who are subjected to extreme tortures and detention conditions.

The Committee calls upon all patriots at home and in the diaspora to rise up to stop this barbaric trials.

ACT NOW!

Committee for the Support of Political Prisoners and Detainees in Sudan .

Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement –North

24 November 2011

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

Today, November 25^th, marks the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.  The 16 days also include the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada (December 6^th) and International Human Rights Day (December 10^th).

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which has been informally recognized since 1981 and was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999. November 25^th is the anniversary of the 1960 murder of the three of the four Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of dictator Rafael Trujillo, whose rule they were fighting to end.

“Violence against women and girls takes many forms and is widespread throughout the globe. […] On this International Day, I urge governments and partners around the world to harness the energy, ideas and leadership of young people to help us to end this pandemic of violence.  Only then will we have a more just, peaceful and equitable world” (UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon).

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada was established in 1991 to mark the anniversary of the murders of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal on December 6^th, 1989.

During the massacre at  l’École Polytechnique, also known as the Montreal Massacre, Marc Lépine entered the university armed with a legally obtained rifle and a hunting knife. During his attack, Lépine separated the male and female students, claiming that he was “fighting feminism”.  He killed 14 women and injured 14 other people, including four men.

According to the Status of Women Canada, “as well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6^th represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence.   And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls”.

International Human Rights Day was is the anniversary of the day that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights was adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.  International Human Rights Day was formally established in 1950.

World AIDS Day, December 1^st, also falls during the 16 Days.

What can you do during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence?

Interview of Brazilian Journalist with Dr. Okuk in Rio de Janeiro

“Brazil Could Mediate Between Juba and Khartoum”
Fabíola Ortiz interviews South Sudanese diplomat JAMES PADIET ANGOK

Brazil could be a “trusted partner” in South Sudan’s negotiations with Sudan, says James Padiet Angok. Credit:Fabíola Ortiz/IPS Buy this picture

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sep 20, 2011 (IPS) – The world’s newest nation, South Sudan, is seeking support from Brazil – the first country in the world to recognise the new nation – in learning the art of diplomacy and defusing tensions and persistent conflicts.

South Sudan plans to open an embassy in Brasilia in 2012, the first in South America.

Brazil could be a “trusted partner” to help the new country negotiate with Sudan to the north and learn “how to conduct diplomacy,” said James Padiet Angok, in charge of relations with South America in South Sudan’s recently created Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

“Until now people don’t know that Brazil was the first country that established diplomatic relations with South Sudan, on the first day of our independence,” Angok said when he sat down with IPS for an interview during the Second Course for African Diplomats offered Sep. 12-23 by Brazil’s Foreign Ministry in Rio de Janeiro.

Representatives from Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are taking part in the course.

Q: How is the construction of the new country’s foreign policy going? 

A: Since the time of our independence on the 9th of July, we have started to sit down to try to design our foreign policy and also to determine in which countries we can open our embassies.

We are doing it in three phases: first, the countries where we will start this year, where the mission of South Sudan already had offices, about 21 countries. We started with the most representative such as the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa. Unfortunately we didn’t have any in South America, we only had offices in Europe, North America and Africa. Now we are just sending our ambassadors and diplomats to those offices that are already established.

The second phase is to add more embassies (up to a total of) 36; Brazil will be one of them, starting next year, 2012.

Then we will add more embassies in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Europe: in Switzerland, Holland and France; in Asia: in India, China, Malaysia, Japan and probably Indonesia.

Q: You are taking part in the Second Course for African Diplomats organised by Brazil’s Foreign Ministry in Rio de Janeiro. Why were you interested? What do you think Brazil can offer the countries of Africa? 

A: Three of us came to this course, one to give a lecture. We want to show Brazil our background, how we came to be an independent country. We are here…to learn from Brazil how they conduct their diplomacy, in which areas we can really cooperate with them. This course is very important for us.

One of the important things we can learn from Brazil is diplomacy in party politics; Brazil has succeeded in that. We want also to learn from Brazil the practical part of diplomacy, especially war and peace, in order to resolve problems using diplomacy rather than violence.

Q: Do you believe Brazil can help with your country’s diplomacy and foreign policy? 

A: We are trying to establish our diplomatic institute, we want to learn from Brazil how they translate their values in the training programme and then train their diplomats to lead Brazilian diplomacy in a professional way.

We are establishing a new institute, and we discovered that Brazil was one of the best when it comes to the practice of diplomacy, because Brazil manages the interests of the political parties (under the umbrella of) national diplomacy, it doesn’t take sides with any political party, and that is exactly what we want. So if there is any change of government or regime it doesn’t affect the diplomacy, which continues.

Q: Why learn from a developing country rather than looking for support from rich nations? 

A: We see Brazil as a developing country and the development gap between us and Brazil is not so wide. At least Brazil is humble towards us, we can learn from Brazil more than from the advanced countries who are sometimes very proud. We find Brazil very welcoming, especially to African countries.

Until now people don’t know that Brazil was the first country that established diplomatic relations with South Sudan, on the first day of our independence. This is very significant.

Q: You don’t see Brazil’s interest, and that of its companies, in Africa as an invasion or a kind of neo-imperialism? 

A: Brazil is totally different, it is a welcoming country and it doesn’t meddle in the affairs of other countries, it doesn’t dictate to other countries and doesn’t impose democracy by force.

These are some of the things that have attracted us to Brazil, the hospitality and the non-interference in the affairs of other countries. Brazil can only advise, they tell how they have done things, but they will not force you to do things, and this is the spirit we want really for us.

Q: Five decades of war before South Sudan became independent cost the lives of two million people. And the country is still facing internal tensions and conflicts. 

A: Nation building is a challenge. Sudan has been struggling to build a nation in this violent struggle it couldn’t resolve by diplomatic means. The result was separation, but the separation didn’t solve things, the internal problems remain both in the North and the South.

(We think we can find solutions by learning) the way of diplomacy from Brazil. We don’t need to rush into violence when there are differences. Yes we have a lot of tribal (conflicts over land distribution and) oil reserves. A lot of factors can easily draw us into violence, but the best way is how we can learn to resolve by dialogue and negotiation. So the challenges are still great for us; unity of our people is still very difficult.

We have 61 ethnic groups with 61 languages. We believe that in the new generation coming in the future we are going to overcome (the difficulties this poses). Ten years from now, the new generation which was not really involved in the war and violence will resolve differences in a more diplomatic manner. The generation we have now is traumatised because of the long wars.

Q: Independence was officially declared, but the borders between the North and the South have not been demarcated. How will this problem be worked out? Do you advocate “soft borders”, because of the movements of nomadic tribes? 

A: This border issue is one of the crucial post-independence issues pending between us and the North. The border with Sudan – about 2,000 km – is the longest border we have. It is a bit tricky because of the aspect of oil along the border, and also the tribal afflictions. When a country divides, if you don’t determine the borders, you won’t know which oil belongs (to which side). The soft border is tricky and it needs negotiation…to divide this oil in a fair manner.

If we just leave it like that without negotiation it can create conflicts. This is what we can learn from Brazil, how to negotiate this, and where Brazil could be of great help to us. We know Brazil doesn’t take sides easily.

We have this issue of the tribes which is connected to the days of the struggle. We have tribes on the border who have been struggling with the people of South Sudan against the regime in Khartoum (the capital of Sudan). But when we divided, by definition they belong to the North – but they feel uneasy and more identified with us in the South.

According to statistics from 2010, the population is 8.5 million in South Sudan, and in (the disputed territory of) Abyei we have like 600,000. The Abyei people originally are Dinka from the South, but by the CPA’s (2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement) definition of the borders they belong to the North.

Now they were given the referendum to decide, but the referendum didn’t take place because it was difficult to determine who really should vote and that’s why we see violence in Abyei.

Regarding the (state of) Blue Nile, they have what they call popular consultation. Within the CPA they are supposed to have a popular consultation done in the parliament, an elected parliament, to determine whether the CPA has given them good peace dividends or not, and if it has not, they can recommend what more can be done.

This didn’t take place so far (because of) the complications with the census. They didn’t accept the census, the people of Blue Nile and (the state of) Southern Kordofan rejected the census because they think it’s not their numbers.

So the census has to be redone and this delayed the popular consultations. Now it is apparent this issue becomes a bit critical because they think they belong to us in the South more than to the North. So now where do they belong to is the dilemma which they have.

This will need a lot of diplomacy, those are people who have had guns for more than 20 years. How do you tell them just to go home and lay down their arms. It is becoming difficult and results in violence, bombing and fighting.

Q: Is there a risk of a new civil war? 

A: Yes, the risk is real, but we in the South must control this risk because if we decide to respond today there will be war. But we decided that it is not time for us in the South to get involved in a war, there is no time for us to venture into the affairs of Sudan. We think that these issues should be resolved by diplomacy, not by war.

Q: What is the situation with regard to bringing basic services to the population? 

A: We have a big challenge in terms of food security. We don’t produce enough, so we import from Uganda, Kenya and Sudan itself, but these days Sudan has closed its border, so it is very difficult…there is no trade between us and Sudan now.

Most of the oil is in the South but the pipeline goes from the South to the refineries in the North. We decided that we should not close off the oil flow, trade is closed but the pipeline is still working because if we closed it we would have a problem in our budget, 99 percent of which comes from oil. So if the oil (flow is shut down), our budget drops to zero. We are thinking we can negotiate and have trade agreements so they can reopen and we get our food.

The oil goes from us in the South to the North to be refined, but we don’t get fuel from the North, so we get it from Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. And in Juba (the capital of South Sudan) we are having a crisis regarding fuel.

So far we are still depending on our neighbours. We think the North is an important neighbour for us and we need to negotiate. We think Brazil can help to negotiate and could be a trusted partner who could mediate in a neutral manner. This is the best way to do it.

Sudan’s NCP Warns against Sliding toward War with South Sudan

Sudan’s NCP Warns against Sliding toward War with South Sudan

CRIENGLISH.com
Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Friday warned against the danger that Sudan andSouth Sudan would slide toward the abyss of war if they fail to resolve some outstanding issues through dialogue. In the final communique of its general …

East African bloc admits South Sudan as member
Reuters Africa
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – East African heads of state admitted South Sudan as a member the regional bloc Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Friday, some four months after the nation proclaimed independence. “The Republic of South Sudan …

Cattle banditry threatens peace in young country of South Sudan
msnbc.com (blog)
Cattle raids are not new in South Sudan. But with a gun surplus left behind by the end of decades of conflict, the raids are more violent, adding fuel to long-standing ethnic rivalries in the herding communities. A herdsman from the Dinka tribe is …

South Sudan: Students Demand Principal, Dean of Students Removed
AllAfrica.com
The students also charged the principal for paying deaf ears to staff strike and failures to transport university assets back from the Sudan confiscated by the Khartoum government. The president of the Juba University Student Union Ajang Ajang Lino …

Sudan refugees to hit 100000 in weeks: UN
AFP
GENEVA — The number of people fleeing unrest in Sudan is likely to reach 100000 by the end of the year, a UN expert said on Friday. Since August about 76000 have sought refuge in Ethiopia and South Sudan from fighting in the volatile Blue Nile and ….

South Sudan: Students Demand Principal, Dean of Students Removed
AllAfrica.com
The students also charged the principal for paying deaf ears to staff strike and failures to transport university assets back from the Sudan confiscated by the Khartoum government. The president of the Juba University Student Union Ajang Ajang Lino …

South Sudan: Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence Launched
AllAfrica.com
This year marks the 6th anniversary of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence inSouth Sudan but is the first year that the South Sudan is celebrating as an independent nation. The Ministry is working to devise new ways to utilize the …

The world must continue to invest in the two Sudans’ future
The Guardian
The governments of Sudan and South Sudan deserve real credit for the south’s smooth transition to independence in July, but there remain difficult issues outstanding between them. An interim agreement on management of the disputed border area of Abyei …

South Sudan prisons in shocking state
ntvkenya http://www.ntv.co.ke Southern Sudan is facing major challenges of adequately catering for the basic needs of prisoners. The prisons are congested and the authorities lack the capacity to cater for an equally large number of new inmates….

Sudan, South Sudan resume negotiations
The Africa Report
By The Africa Report Sudan and South Sudan this week resumed negations on several issues that include the sharing of oil revenues and trade as well as demarcation of borders. The two countries have been involved in various negotiations, including post …

Sudan refugees to hit 100000 in weeks: UN
AFP
GENEVA — The number of people fleeing unrest in Sudan is likely to reach 100000 by the end of the year, a UN expert said on Friday. Since August about 76000 have sought refuge in Ethiopia and South Sudan from fighting in the volatile Blue Nile and …

Juba-Yei Alliance .. Dilemma of South Sudan Government Sudan Vision Confirmed news report said on Saturday that the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement, Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, arrived in juba, the capital of South Sudan in the framework of the Southern support to what is called the Revolutionary Movement or ..

Some 76000 people fleeing conflict in Sudan enter Ethiopia, South Sudan – UN UN News Centre The United Nations refugee agency voiced concern today over the movement of large numbers of people from Sudan into Ethiopia and South Sudan, saying that an estimated 76000 people have moved since August, mainly as a result of conflicts. …