Archive for July 18, 2012

Nelson Mandela: Happy 94th Birthday Madiba!!!!!

Posted: July 18, 2012 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Africa

Nelson Mandela Birthday: Millions Of South African Children Sing For Loved Leader

Nelson Mandela Birthday

JOHANNESBURG — Nearly 12 million children across South Africa kicked off celebrations Wednesday for the 94th birthday of Nelson Mandela, the country’s deeply loved anti-apartheid icon, with resounding choruses of Happy Birthday. Mandela is expected to spend the day privately with his family at their homestead in his southeastern birth village of Qunu. Meanwhile, communities in South Africa and around the world were dedicating 67 minutes of the day to volunteer work and projects for the needy – one minute to mark each of Mandela’s 67 years in public service. Mandela became South Africa’s first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison for his fight against the racist apartheid rule, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Tributes to Mandela poured in early Wednesday, with U.S. President Barack Obama saying Mandela “has changed the arc of history, transforming his country, the continent and the world.” Ahmed Kathrada, one of Mandela’s oldest friends, said Madiba, as he is affectionately known by his Xhosa clan name, championed the dignity of all.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/nelson-mandela-birthday_n_1682171.html

U.S. Urges Sudan, South Sudan to Talk or Face Economic Turmoil

Posted: July 18, 2012 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Junub Sudan

U.S. Urges Sudan, South Sudan to Talk or Face Economic TurmoilBy William Davison on July 18, 2012

Sudan and South Sudan must build on recent talks between their leaders to resolve disputes that brought them to the brink of war this year or face a “rapid downward economic spiral,” the U.S.’s top Africa diplomat said. President Salva Kiir’s meeting with Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir on July 14 in Addis Ababa was a “significant” step toward reaching an accord on outstanding issues including oil- transit fees and disputed territory, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson said in an interview in Ethiopia’s capital yesterday.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-18/u-dot-s-dot-urges-sudan-south-sudan-to-talk-or-face-economic-turmoil

S. Sudan: Billions lost in fake contracts, inflated payrolls

Unspecified billions of taxpayers’ money went unaccounted for in 2008, either through dubious award of contracts to unregistered companies or inflated payrolls in South Sudan government ministries and agencies, an audit report of its financial statements reveal. The report, which covers nine specific areas, was unveiled before lawmakers by the Auditor General on 16 July. It looks at budget execution, oil revenue, non-oil revenue, payroll expenditure, internal control and maintenance of asset registers, bank and cash accounts, operating, procurement and expenditures.

http://www.sudantribune.com/S-Sudan-Billions-lost-in-fake,43293

Sudan: Presidential Summit – Salva Kiir Offers Money and Kordofan Conflict Resolution

Khartoum — In his last Saturday meeting in Addis Ababa with President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayadrit offered financial support and mediation to end South Kordofan and Blue Nile conflicts. Salva Kiir during the meeting offered financial support to help Khartoum to overcome the severe economic crisis Sudan is experiencing since one year ago, according to different sources and confidential documents seen by Sudan Tribune. He further proposed South Sudan mediation to end the one-year conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile with the rebels of Sudan people’s Liberation Movement- North (SPLM-N) which was part of South Sudan ruling party before the independence.

http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudans-Presidential-Summit-Salva,43294

South Sudan runner bids for independent place
Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) – A refugee from Sudan’s civil war who became a top distance runner after moving to the United States is fighting for last-minute permission to compete in the London Olympics as an independent athlete. Guor Marial, 28, who was born in 
US Urges Sudan, South Sudan to Talk or Face Economic Turmoil
Businessweek
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in July 2011, taking with it about 75 percent of Sudan’s oil production. In January, South Sudan halted 350000 barrels a day of crude shipments because of a disagreement on how much it should pay for the fuel to be 
South Sudan
The Economist
ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, a winner of the Nobel prize for peace, was the guest of honour at South Sudan’s first birthday party on July 9th where he gave a sermon calling for peace. Stop fighting and wealth will follow, he told the young nation’s leaders
Voice of America – ‎Jul 16, 2012‎
After the shutdown in oil production in January, which accounted for 98 percent of South Sudan’s revenue, Kirr said the government had to make dramatic cuts. South Sudan has 59 ministers and deputy ministers at the national level alone.
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle – ‎Jul 17, 2012‎
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir attends the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sunday, July 15, 2012. / The Associated Press Happy Birthday South Sudan! One year ago this month, South Sudan became the world’s newest nation.
AllAfrica.com – ‎Jul 17, 2012‎
2 deadline, the leaders of Sudan and South Sudan over the weekend engaged in their first direct talks since hostilities spiked in late April. But on Monday, observers here in Washington warned that the framework for the talks remains too narrow, 
Tripoli Post – ‎
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit will hold another meeting under the auspices of the African Union on Saturday in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries.
UPI.com – ‎Jul 17, 2012‎
JUBA, South Sudan, July 17 (UPI) — There’s “no problem” in resuming oil production in South Sudan should the government in Khartoum respect southern finances, a negotiator said. South Sudanese and Sudanese leaders met last weekend to discuss issues 
Financial Times – ‎Jul 17, 2012‎
The best customers are not those after the shining necklaces that fill display cases, but Sudan’s own central bank, ravenous for ingots to exchange for hard currency. When South Sudan seceded last year, it took three quarters of the country’s oil 
Al-Bawaba – ‎Jul 17, 2012‎
Sudan foreign minister denied that Sudan and South Sudan have reached an agreement over pipeline transit fees during the one-to-one meeting between presidents Omer Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir on Saturday. Ali Ahmed Karti told reporters in Khartoum, 
Think Africa Press – ‎‎
An oil worker in Unity State, which was previously part of Sudan but is now in South Sudan. Photograph by the Enough Project. What started as a student movement against spending cuts in Khartoum a month ago has since spread to other segments of the 
AllAfrica.com – ‎‎
Khartoum — In his last Saturday meeting in Addis Ababa with President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayadrit offered financial support and mediation to end South Kordofan and Blue Nile conflicts. The one-to-one meeting was 
Al-Bawaba – ‎Jul 17, 2012‎
Sudan, which is under US economic sanctions, lost an important portion of its oil revenue after the independence of South Sudan a year ago. Also, the failure to agree with its new neighbour on fees of oil transportation has deprived Khartoum from 
BusinessLIVE – ‎Jul 15, 2012‎
An economic crisis aggravated by the secession of oil-producing South Sudan a year ago has fueled sharp increases in food and other prices in Sudan, stoking discontent against the government of veteran President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
Sudan Vision – ‎Jul 16, 2012‎
Khartoum – The Sudanese Government said it would not engage South Sudan on oil dossier before security issues are settled. Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Karti told reporters yesterday that the meeting between President Al Bashir and President Kiir would 
AllAfrica.com –
The secession of mostly non-Muslim South Sudan a year ago sparked predictions that Sudan, which hosted former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, would start implementing Islamic law more strictly. In a speech to leaders of the mystical 
Voice of America – ‎
The protests may be small in Sudan, but they are far from over. Two protests turned violent today; one at Khartoum University, the other at Sudan University south of the Sudanesecapital. When Khartoum University students went to the Vice Chancellor’s 
Saudi Gazette – ‎Jul 16, 2012‎
For the presidents of Sudan and South Sudan the challenge is particularly daunting. Sudanese leader Omar Al-Bashir shook hands the other day with his South Sudanese opposite number, Salva Kiir in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
Reuters Africa – ‎
Sudan is suffering a severe economic crisis, resulting from the loss of much of its oil when South Sudan broke away and became independent a year ago. Year on year inflation was 37.2 percent in June, double the rate of June 2011, adding to the 

One Year Later: South Sudan’s Ongoing Conflict

Posted: July 18, 2012 by PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. in Junub Sudan

Sudan Refugee Crisis Worsens

Getty Images –
JAMAM, SOUTH SUDAN – JULY 17: A Sudanese mother suffering from malnutrition holds her son who is also underweight as they get medical care at the MSF ( Medecins Sans Frontieres ) field hospital July 17, 2012 in Jamam refugee camp, South Sudan.
TIME – ‎‎
A year after achieving its independence, South Sudan is wracked by instability and concerns over the frailties of its fledgling government. A refugee crisis, sparked by neighboring Sudan’s brutal crackdown on rebel militias north of the border, 
NPR – ‎
A year after South Sudan declared its independence, intractable problems remain: tribal conflict, oil disputes, corruption, hunger and continued fighting. New Yorker staff writer Jon Lee Anderson traveled to the remote Nuba Mountains, in Sudan, 
Toronto Star – ‎‎
Paula Bronstein/GETTY IMAGES Sudan refugee Sinara holds her grandson, Karum Bashir while his mother was away getting water in Jamam refugee camp, South Sudan. Up to 16000 refugees are in the process of being moved due to flooding in the camp.
The Guardian – ‎‎
South Sudan A year on from South Sudan’s independence, what has changed in the world’s newest country and what does this mean for its people and development: in numbers, for the region, economically, politically, for those still without citizenship, 
Chicago Tribune – ‎
If the ideals of the Olympics as expressed in their Charter and rituals still ring true in any way, the most resonant moment of the last Summer Games was the sight of Lopez Lomong, a refugee from civil war in the Sudan, carrying the US flag into the