December 14, 2008 (JUBA) — The Ministry of Regional Cooperation of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) refuted a corruption allegation stemming from a purported news outlet called IRS and circulating over the internet.

According to a message from IRS received by Sudan Tribune, dated December 5, Stephen Madut Baak, identified as an advisor to President of GOSS Salva Kiir Mayardit, entered London’s Heathrow airport with $3 million in undeclared cash and was subsequently questioned by police.

The article implied that Baak had stolen the money from his country.

But the Ministry of Regional Cooperation explained Friday that Baak was indeed carrying money into the United Kingdom, though considerably less than $3 million.

GOSS indicated that Baak was advanced the amount of $137,000 for him and his three staff in order to establish a GOSS office and purchase a vehicle in London.

"Comrade Stephen Madut Baak was also given assistance by GOSS and took loans against his monthly pay LS 200,000.00 (two hundred thousand sterling pounds only) to settle his family and resolve some of his personal problems," said the GOSS ministry, alluding also to his health problems.

As it was pointed out by some commentators, the IRS article plagiarized phrasing directly from unrelated articles written years ago at The Independent and other news outlets. There likely is no news organization called IRS.

These facts indicate that someone with specific information about Stephen Madut Bak’s activities fabricated the news article by mixing general truths with misinformation.

"It is a living historical fact that Comrade Baak is a very senior person in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), who served the movement in various capacities with dedication and diligence," said the GOSS statement from Juba.

The statement also acknowledged, "Given his health problems, he will serve from the GOSS Liaison office in London due for official opening in the early FY 2009."

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December 14, 2008 (KAMPALA) — Troops from Southern Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, launched a joint military operation Sunday morning against the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army base (LRA) in eastern DR Congo, a joint statement said.

LRA soldiers keep guard at the assembly point in Ri-Kwangba on the Sudan-Congo border, Western Equatoria, April 10, 2008. (Reuters) The statement was signed by the three chiefs of military intelligence; Brig. James Mugira (UPDF), Brig. Mutual Majok (SPLA) and Brig. Deodenne Kitenge (FARDC).

The Ugandan President urged military action against the rebel leader Joseph Kony after the later rejection to a two year negotiated peace agreement that southern Sudan government had mediated. But last week he pledged to not attack the LRA after a meeting with the top negotiator of the rebel group.

The three armies launched an attack on the LRA camp in Garamba forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The joint force "successfully attacked the main body and destroyed the main camp of Kony code-named camp Swahili, setting it on fire," the statement said.

There no further details about the attack or the fate of Joseph Kony who refused three times since last April to sign the final peace agreement with the Ugandan government.

The elusive rebel leader asked to defer an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court despite the reassurances by Kampala that if he signs they would not hand him over to The Hague and they would seek a UN resolution to block the ICC jurisdiction.

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By Jack Kimball

KAMPALA - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has urged fugitive rebel Joseph Kony to sign a final peace deal, saying the Lord's Resistance Army boss has been told all about plans to lift an international arrest warrant against him.

Kony has demanded International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments for him and his top deputies be scrapped before they quit forest hideouts in northeastern Congo and end two decades of conflict that have destabilised a swathe of central Africa.

"President Yoweri Museveni has urged ... Kony to come out and sign the peace accord," Museveni's office said in a statement late on Monday.

"The President noted that Kony has had enough time and brief on the ICC process as displayed in the draft peace agreement."

Uganda's government has pledged to ask the U.N. Security Council to suspend the ICC warrants after Kony lays down his arms. But the self-proclaimed prophet remains suspicious.

He is wanted by prosecutors in The Hague for his role in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people, driven two million more from their homes and destabilised neighbouring parts of volatile eastern Congo and oil-producing south Sudan.

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By Isaac Vuni

December 8, 2008 (JUBA) — As southern Sudanese celebrates Eid al Adha, feast of sacrifices and Catholic diocese of Eastern Equatoria marks silver jubilee of its existence today, the Council of ministers approved for salary reduction of ten per cent on constitutional post holders starting from January 2009, official spokesman Gabriel Changson Chang has said.

Southern Sudan prresident Salva Kiir is chairing GOSS council of ministers meeting (Photo file, by T. Kennedy) Minister Chang said the decision was taken on order to remedy GOSS from Global Economic crisis where oil price felt to $50 per barrel. Adding that those affected ranges from South Sudan, states, independent commissions, commissioners, speakers, deputy speakers, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons respectively.

Addressing journalists, Minister Gabriel Changson says the precautionary measures are taken in order to avoid the current short fall in oil prices likely to affect coming South Sudan government budget of 2009.

The cabinet also directed minister of finance and Economic planning to prepare 2009 budget based on current oil price so that it does not affect socio-economic development and to compelled ministries, governors and commissioners accountable during implementation faces.

The meeting also resolved to reduce traveling for short courses abroad and directed that government officials living in hotels at expenses of government must stop immediately.

The council further directed ministries of Agriculture and Animal resources to give priority to food security by introducing large scale mechanization faming to boost agricultural production and reduce market prices.

The council also resolved that ministries and commissions are to merging or amalgamated to pave way for a lean size cabinet. While state governors are required to render full report on their developmental activities to council of minister and the extraordinary eight hours meeting was chaired by Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit who also wish every Sudanese a happy Eid al Adha.

By Manyang Mayom

December 1, 2008 (RUMBEK) - Thousands of Lakes state citizens turned out in Rumbek’s Freedom Square to celebrate the World HIV/AIDS day. This is the second year since the establishment of the state AIDS Commission to celebrate the event in Rumbek, although it was already celebrated under the umbrella of the United Nations during the years of peace negotiations.

Gol Meen women group celebrate World AIDs Day in Rumbek Photo by Manyang Mayom (ST) The ceremony was shared by Lakes state Political Affairs Advisor Apollo Madok Chol and Lakes state MPs, as well as folklore teams representing eight counties of Lakes state, members of organized forces and heads of different UN agencies in Rumbek.

According to the director of the HIV/AIDS Commission in Lakes state, Paul Thok Ayok, Lakes state joins in crowning 2008 the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

World AIDs Day began in 1988 when health ministers from around the world met and agreed on the concept of the day as an opportunity for all of us to come together to demonstrate the importance of AIDS and show solidarity for the cause. In 2008, this underlining principle of solidarity and awareness remains the same. Since 1988, the face and response to AIDS has greatly changed, often for the better, but this anniversary offered an opportunity to highlight how much more still needs to be done.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) representative read out the messages of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, saying that "on this world day, let us all pledge to be hope-givers who offer encouragement and take action to create a future without AIDS."

Ban’s message continued, "Recently I read about a Congolese woman living with HIV who received medicine through the United Nations. She is now part of a group called the ’Hope-givers’ team, which helps other families dealing with HIV."

"We have to end the stigma and discrimination that still stop so many people from learning how to prevent HIV and get treatment. And we need resources – enough to provide services that will have a real impact in communities and on entire nations," said Ban’s letter.

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November 23, 2008 (NGERJEBI) — It is hard work coming home when your country was at war for two decades.

Refugees arrive in Juba, in southern Sudan, at a transit facility supported by UN and NGO agencies, December 1, 2005. Homes must be built from scratch, fields for crops cut where the wild and tough bush has grown, and warning signs erected in areas with landmines.

"Lack of food is the biggest problem," said Josephine Mayo, a farmer who returned in January to the southern Sudan village she abandoned in 1998 when two of her children were killed in fighting and the settlement burnt.

Ngerjebi, a small farming community in lush countryside some 30 miles (50 kilometres) from Juba, the capital of semi-autonomous southern Sudan, is typical of many villages across this grossly under-developed region.

Four million people were displaced from or within south Sudan, according to assessments made after the 2005 peace that ended 21 years of civil war by joining the southern rebel leadership with the Arab-led north in government.

The displaced are now coming home.

Around 1.7 million have returned, according to an October report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and life is far from easy.

Many complain of insecurity in a region awash with guns and militia remnants and — three years after the peace deal was signed — an exhausting lack of services despite the south’s sizeable oil revenue.

It’s a situation worrying some deeply.

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November 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM)— Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir should meet with the Chadian president Idriss Deby Itno on the sideline of a UN sponsored summit to be held in Doha, Qatar on November 29.

Chad President Idriss Deby and Sudan’s President Omer al-Beshir shake hands after signing a non-aggression pact in the Senegalese capital on March 14, 2008 in Dakar. (AFP) This meeting would be the first since the two neighbouring countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations and the exchange of ambassadors earlier this month. The two head of states met for the last time on the margins of the Islamic Conference Organisation in Dakar March 2008.

Al-Bashir who is charged of genocide and war crimes in Darfur, will lead Sudanese delegation to the second United Nations Summit on Financing for Development (FfD), and Deby also will head the Chadian delegation.

Mustafa Osman Ismail, a close adviser to the Sudanese president was in Ndjamena on November 11 to discuss normalisation of bilateral ties. Al-Bashir expressed his sincere intention to return bilateral relations to their normal, said Ismail. He further added that Al-Bshir’s message dealt with required steps to achieve normalization.

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November 17, 2008 (MOSCOW) — Sudan is ready to offer Russian companies working in the oil sector and railway construction in Sudan benefits to develop bilateral economic cooperation, a Sudanese official said on Monday.

"Sudan must become the gate for Russia into Africa as a country, which borders nine countries, has a varied climate and ample natural resources," Osman Mudawi, chairman of foreign affairs committee of the Sudanese parliament, said at a meeting with his counterpart Mikhail Margelov in Moscow.

Russia delayed somewhat in the resumption of its presence in Africa and the Middle East, the Sudanese official further said according to the RIA Novosti.

Mudawi further said that Sudan does not see Russia’s economic partner only and, but an ally to security. He pointed out that there are some areas on the African continent in which Russian soldiers take part in peacekeeping operations, including Darfur.

The Russian official, Margelov, stressed that Russia sees that all the problems in Sudan and African countries that suffering from internal conflicts should be solved with the help of the international community but without direct intervention.

November 17, 2008 (JUBA) — A delegation of European diplomats arrived in southern Sudan on Monday, seeking Sudan’s support for a European Union call for a moratorium on the death penalty.

"There is a particular concern which is important for the European Union... which is the issue of the death penalty and the call by the EU on the moratorium on the execution of the death penalty," said French ambassador to Sudan, Christine Robichon.

Robichon spoke on behalf of a nine-member delegation of EU diplomats, including ambassadors from Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and representatives of the 27-nation bloc.

The interim constitution of semi-autonomous southern Sudan upholds the death sentence for those who commit the most serious crimes, and who are aged between 18 and 70, with pregnant women exempt.

In the north, dozens of people were this year sentenced to death by special courts, for alleged involvement in a Darfur rebel attack on Khartoum. Amnesty International says Sudan is one of the leading nations that sentences minors to death.

The three days of scheduled talks mark the first time that such a large group of EU diplomats are holding dialogue in southern Sudan.

"We will discuss different issues, of course, the CPA which is a strongly supported by the EU and all issues related to democratic transformation, human rights, and good governance," Robichon said.

The French ambassador noted a "political will" in the south to create a democratic environment where civilians are protected, freedom of press upheld, and where accountability and transparency prevail.

"So we really have sessions on these issues, on human rights," she said.

By Philip Thon Aleu

November 14, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Facing challenges of increasing water level in the State capital, Jonglei government asks United Nations agencies “to join-up” for common goals, state minister of information and communication says Thursday.

Photo showing flood affected area in Bor town (Photo Ph Thon, ST) Speaking to Sudan tribune at his office in Bor and hours before a meeting scheduled with UN agencies, Taban Jouch describe the flood as a calamity that has sent hundred homeless. “This is a disaster. It has dislodged many people from their residential areas,” the minister stressed.

The flood followed river Nile overflow Sunday night that submerged the most populated town suburbs in Bor Town. Pan de Machuor, Pan-jak and Lek-yak have been critically hit. By Thursday, two lodges — Safari and part of Liberty — and the main park are taken up by water. Many households in Pan-jak have been evacuated.

The level kept increasing in the last three days; downing many huts and clearing hand-made dykes off it route. Analysts say the level could decrease shortly; dismising claims that more people will be displaced. The latest flood in Jonglei capital took many residents and government by surprise.

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By James Gatdet Dak

November 13, 2008 (JUBA) – The semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has formed a Juba-based Board of Directors for the Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nile-pet).

Nile-pet is a newly established oil company owned by the Government of Southern Sudan.

The appointment of the Board of Directors was decreed on Wednesday by the First Vice President of Sudan and GoSS President, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, with effect from November 4, 2008.

“This decree dissolves any existing Board of Directors and nullifies any previous appointments made in relation to the management of the Nile Petroleum Corporation,” the Decree reads.

The Board is mandated to properly manage the oil sector body “so that it can achieve maximum economic benefits for the people of Southern Sudan in the oil Sector.”

The Decree appoints the Minister of Energy and Mining, John Luk Jok, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, with membership of Kuol Athian Mawien, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Anthony Lino Makana, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development, Elijah Malok Aluong, Governor of the Bank of Southern Sudan, Dr. David Nailo Mayo, Chairman of Southern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund, Emmanuel Bol, Secretary General of Southern Sudan Investment Authority, Kuong Daniel Gatluak, Office of GoSS President, and Bol Wek Agoth, Office of GoSS President.

The Decree also states that each of the Oil Producing States in Southern Sudan shall have one representative in the Board. Any other person may also be co-opted by the Board.

Southern Sudan produces most of the Sudan’s oil which pumps half a million barrels per day.

Ninety seven per cent (97%) of its annual budget comes from its 50% share of oil revenue distributed in Khartoum by the Government of National Unity (GoNU) per the provisions of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the 21 years of war in January 2005.

The semi-autonomous region will decide in 2011 referendum vote to either confirm the present unity of Sudan as a country or opt to create an independent nation in its territory.

Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who faces indictment for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), called a unilateral ceasefire in Darfur today.

The decision followed recommendations made by a state-sponsored peace forum that was established by Bashir after the ICC prosecutor called for his arrest in July. But the Justice and Equality Movement, one of the main Darfur rebel groups, immediately dismissed the announcement as a "PR ceasefire".

In a speech in Khartoum today Bashir said that he was launching a campaign to disarm militias and restrict the use of weapons in Darfur - an apparent reference to the notorious Janjaweed and other government-aligned forces.

"I hereby announce our immediate unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and the warring factions, provided that an effective monitoring mechanism is put into action and observed by all involved parties," Bashir said.

Analysts were cautious about the declaration, noting that numerous ceasefire agreements and promises to disarm militias since the start of the conflict in 2003 have failed.

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By Philip Thon Aleu

November 10, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – To serve your Country with commitment and patriotism, keep-off tribal differences and "let’s say: Down tribalism. Down tribalism," Jonglei governor Kuol Manyang argues graduating prison officials on Monday.

Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk, speaking to 198 prison officers and about three (3) thousands spectators at Freedom Square in Jonglei capital Bor, empathizes the need to graduate oriented officers. Director of Prison John Diing Deng says his men will answer the slogan in services.

After months of intensive training at Malou, three miles north of Bor town, the 198 officers including 41 women, took oaths in a colourful ceremony attended by chiefs of various departments and head of organized armed forces. Standing in sun heat for hours, on the other hand, swing the ceremony unpleasantly for six officers who collapsed.

One woman was among those who lost conscious, knocking ground with front head as expected of train-experienced armed forces. They were rushed to a shade for first aid. All were in better conditions by press time and pledged competence — in their filed —unanimously.

Another six prisons won prizes for excellent performances during the training. A discipline ward went to a young man though 25% woman representation took one. Deputy Governor Hussein Mar Nyuot announced two bulls offer as State award to the law enforcing organ.

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November 9, 2008 — Last week election in the United States of American in which Mr. Barrack Obama emerged as the winner after a bruising political competition with his rival from the Republican Party John McCain- that took him exactly 18 months to materialize- brought a momentarily excitement and joy to many Southern Sudanese. The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) party in the Sudan has been quoted as planning to stage a party in celebration for an American elect President Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama. The leaders are making final touches for the occasion that is scheduled to be launched this month in Khartoum. In Juba the leaders whether in parliament or in the executive were seen and heard sending congratulatory messages to the United States of American (USA) President elect and his team for the successful victory against their Republican rival Senator John McCain. The mood looks the same across Africa, especially in East Africa where the Obama senior came from.

There are several factors as to this mood and this is normal. People hug, shed tears and dance spontaneously especially in Kenya. Change though is an abstract in its real term, so many people didn’t buy it but the fact that the unthinkable reality if not notion of black man occupying the Oval House resounds strongly in the minds and understanding of many Black Americans and majority of Africans. Everything there is in place and no one denies those feelings from that democracy in that great part of the world (United States of America). People start to think twice about themselves and the world around them as far as individual achievements are concerned. Everyone hails US stable democracy and its power and system.

Everyone at least I know on the morning of Wednesday was wearing a radiant face of happiness but I kept no secret of my unreserved support for John McCain. The reasons? Senator John had what I need to pull me out of my political quagmire with the North. Does that sound selfish? Not really, the author is after his interest as Southern Sudanese. Senator (then) Obama am afraid is another Clinton in extension. Clever and articulate but calculative and risk shyer. May be am alone; but talking sense alone or lip service doesn’t make sense to me at all. I believe in action; perhaps a leader who would look at my enemy in the eyes could have brought that difference! Under Republicans President then the North started to talk the talk. The North has started to croak defiance now even before President Bush leaves office- read President Al Bashir rally last week in Eastern Sudan.

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November 9, 2008 (JUBA) — The Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Salva Kiir Mayadrit appealed the southern Sudanese political parties to unite and to work together for the interests of southern Sudan.

The Vice president of the republic and the head of southern Sudan government was speaking at the opening session of South-South Forum that would be held in Juba for 4 days.

Kiir urged the eight political parties from southern Sudan to work together and build a government that would serves the interests of the people of the semi-autonomous region

He said the next year general elections should be conducted in a reasonable and honourable manner.

The SPLM leader told eight southern Sudanese parties, that it is important seal a deal with all the political forces in the country on the right of self determination in the south.

The meeting was initially scheduled for 20 October. It will get together during 4 days besides the SPLM all the member of the Alliance of South Sudan Political Parties (ASSPP) which was founded last June in Juba.

November 4, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese official disclosed today that his country is contemplating developing a nuclear power programme for scientific research.

Electricity pylons stand in front of Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant on July 9, 2008 in Grafenrheinfeld near Wuerzburg, Germany (Getty) The Sudanese minister for Science and Technology Ibrahim Ahmed Omer told the official news agency (SUNA) that his government received approval for its plans from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Omer said that IAEA will fund the programme jointly with the Sudanese government. However he did not say if a formal agreement has been signed.

The Sudanese official noted that the world is moving towards using peaceful use of nuclear energy to produce electricity.

He further said that despite Sudan’s diverse energy sources its devising plans for any future needs to make use of the available technology in different aspects.

Sudan is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows countries to build nuclear power stations under international supervision. Its northern neighbor Egypt is already working on constructing a nuclear power station that is expected to be completed within the next 10 years.

Omer said he toured Japan, Austria and Mozambique to brief officials there on the needs of Sudan and opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

November 4, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Over 150 Sudanese journalists launched today a 24-hour hunger strike and three newspapers will shut down for three days in a protest against media censorship.

A Sudanese journalist protests against censorship in Khartoum November 4, 2008. (Reuters) After 16 years of full control on the media, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the interim constitution upholds freedom of the press and expression since 2005. But laws guaranteeing press freedom have yet to be passed, and security officials inspect the editions of every newspaper nightly.

Sudanese journalists began a 24-hour hunger strike and the Ajras Al-Hurriya, Al-Maidan and Rayal Al-Shab newspapers halted production for three days, saying they could no longer accept government restrictions over editorial content.

"We are being censored every day," said Ajras al-Huriya newspaper’s general manager Saleh Ahmed Mohammed Elhag at the protest launch.

Journalists say news articles and editorials are banned, particularly on subjects deemed sensitive such as the conflict in Darfur, International Criminal Court, corruption and human rights.

Reporters and human rights activists also say the current crackdown started in February after newspapers published reports accusing the government of backing Chadian rebels in a failed coup attempt.

Elhag said he had been ordered to remove so many articles that he had been forced to pull entire editions more than 20 times since the paper’s launch in April.

Ajras al-Huriya whose name means Freedom Bells in English, had failed to appear more than 20 times since its April 7 launch owing to censors. The daily is closely linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the main partner of the National Congress Party and the ruling party in southern Sudan.

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October 21, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan is considering new fiscal measures in lights of the continued drop in oil prices, a newspaper reported today.

The independent Al-Sudani newspaper quoting sources at the finance ministry said that Khartoum established a committee to evaluate the economic situation and come up with recommendations to prevent a possible crisis.

The committee is contemplating an “exceptional budget” for 2009 that will likely cut down on expenditure and focuses on new revenue opportunities besides petroleum industry.

Furthermore the government will scrutinize adherence to the budget for the remaining months of 2008.

The Sudanese finance and national economy minister Awad Al-Jaz has reportedly met with heads of government owned companies to discuss ways of boosting revenue and make up for shortfall in oil prices.

Oil is the main source of revenue for Sudan and helped fuel its unprecedented economic growth despite US economic sanctions.

Many Sudanese economists have warned that government spending is getting out of control leading to a rise in inflation rates.

However the global financial crisis has led investors to believe that oil demand will be severely curtailed in developed nations and possible China and India. Crude oil is down 52 percent from its all-time peak of $147.27 reached July 11.

By Philip Thon Aleu

October 21, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Kuwaiti Zain telecommunication network, the second in the state, launched mobile services provision in Jonglei capital on Sunday as communication improves.

Residents of Bor Town can now dial Sudan’s code; ( +249), relieving Southern Sudan’s vast State from Ugandan’s code (+256) provided by Gemtel.

Zain sells fully connected mobile phone at 100 Sudanese Pound (SDG), sim card at 15 SDG and pledged low charges for local calls. It is still unclear whether international calls, previously difficult to access with other network, could enter with a lot of ease.

But to complete connection to Zain is digging on hill! National identification card or passport is required of one to be a customer; a long registration process and restrictive, traders contacted claim.

“This is a business and I don’t see a reason of requesting national IDs,” Jacob Mading, a shop attendant at Marol Market reacted at the congested shop where Zain registration is done.

However, it is not clear why connection has very hard with Zain till Tuesday. Most subscribers complain that their phones might be having a lot of fault or connection is not completed though purchasing is done.

“The business polite language is ‘cash of delivery. When shall we have clear voices over the phones?” a town resident who prefers anonymity questioned.

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By James Gatdet Dak

October 19, 2008 (JUBA) – The year 2009’s budget ceiling for the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) would be based on US dollars $65 per barrel in its oil revenue forecast amid uncertainty in oil prices.

Oil platforms constructed near Kotch in southern Sudan (AP)

This was resolved in the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, chaired by the Vice President, Riek Machar, in the light of the current crisis in global economy, particularly the falling oil prices.

Oil prices have already fallen by over $50/barrel from the peak of $140/barrel experienced in July this year.

Officials blame uncertainty in US elections scheduled for November as one of the factors causing the fall in oil prices.

The benchmark price of $65 per barrel constitutes what can be used for the resource forecast, given that the current oil prices are in the region of $90 per barrel, and still falling.

If the prices are maintained above $65 per barrel during the year, the Government would either build up reserve money and/or supplement its 2009 budget ceiling using the surplus.

Leading oil producing countries, particularly the OPEC member states, are expected to respond to the declining oil prices and may decide to cut down their respective oil productions in order to maintain high prices and prevent further downfall.

The Juba-based semi-autonomous Government receives 50% of oil revenues produced in the South from the Khartoum-based Government of National Unity (GoNU) per the wealth sharing provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The oil revenues account for ninety-seven (97%) of the overall budget in the region which produces about half a million barrels of oil per day.

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By Philip Thon Aleu

October 19, 2008 (BOR TOWN) — At least five cattle raiders have been killed, seven wounded and one captured in Duk County by Sudan’s People Liberation Army (SPLA) following cattle theft by “criminals” identified as citizens of Twic East County’s Payam of Maar over week ago.

The Friday October 10 incident, the first of it kind in history, has been widely condemned as fear ranges that Greater Bor Counties are falling apart. The 86 raiders allegedly “missed the planned route” and take Duk cattle camp as the last resort.

Raiding has been frequent in recent months despite government calls for peace negotiations and peaceful disarmament. However, inter-clan wrangling has been low but Maar Payam has set a new record, Duk relatives in Bor say.

The SPLA engaged the inexperienced raiders in guns fire for minutes and instantly recovered all cattle, killing some and captured one.

The commissioner of the overwhelmingly shocked Duk County Mayen Ngor refused to make any comment when contacted on Wednesday in Jonglei capital Bor. Sources close to Duk chief say he has been under tense as to what decision to take.

Duk County suffered heavy attacks in May and August, 2008 from Uror County from the North and never expected any assaults all from the South. Heavy dowry and cattle prestige have been greatly attributed to instigating insecurity.

To reduce cattle raiding and child abduction, SPLA has been deployed at boundaries of communities in State where history of attacks trend has been greatly respected.

A community in eastern Uganda has banned the deeply rooted practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), an official has said.

Kapchorwa district chairman Nelson Chelimo said it was "outmoded" and "not useful" for the community's women.

The Sabiny are the only group in Uganda that practises FGM, which involves cutting off a young girl's clitoris.

Mr Chelimo said the council had submitted legislation to parliament for the ban to become law nationwide.

"The community decided that it was not useful, that women were not getting anything out of it, so the district council decided to establish an ordinance banning it," Mr Chelimo told AFP news agency.

He said there was a local belief that women who married without circumcision would be stricken by illness, but that this was "really outmoded".

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By Manyang Mayom

October 14, 2008 (RUMBEK) – Inter-clan fighting broke out in Cueibet County in the western part of Lakes state when two hitherto friendly clans, Waat and Kongor, clashed on Sunday in a place called Duong Payam, resulting in five people shot dead and four more severely injured.

Waat and Kongor are two sections of the Gok Dinka of Cueibet.

The commissioner of Cueibet County, Kongor Deng Kongor, explained that the fighting erupted over a girl being impregnated last year. There are no political differences involved, added the official.

Meanwhile, in Rumbek East County on Monday, fighting broke out that resulted in four people killed and three wounded, who were admitted to Rumbek State Hospital under critical condition.

The fighting in Rumbek East County was reportedly caused by a song that was created by youth belonging to the Duor-chiek clan to insult the Duor-bar clan. Fighters from the groups clashed in Bar-Pakeny, the most important market servicing the communities of Lakes state during the war period in southern Sudan when the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) fought the Khartoum government.

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By Andrew Heavens

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Peacekeepers on Monday said they had sent reinforcements to guard a volatile camp for displaced Darfuris after reports of accusations that Sudanese government forces might be preparing an attack.

But Sudan's armed forces denied any plans to attack Kalma camp, home to around 90,000 people who have fled more than five years of fighting in Sudan's remote west.

The U.N.-African Union UNAMID force said it would carry out 24-hour patrols of Kalma camp, "as a result of recent alleged threats of an attack on the camp by the Government of Sudan Forces."

Force spokesman Kemal Saiki did not go into detail about the source of the threats.

More than 30 Kalma residents were killed when soldiers and armed police raided the camp in August, saying they were searching for weapons and suspects.

Tensions rose again in the camp last week when Sudanese interior ministry officials accused camp residents of shooting down a UNAMID-contracted helicopter, killing all four people on board.

Aid sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were growing fears authorities would use the investigation into the helicopter crash as an excuse to raid the camp again.

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October 5, 2005 (JUBA) — The President of Southern Sudan Government tomorrow will pay a one day visit to the capital of Lakes state that witnessed last month inter-clan clashes and a political crisis between the government and the state parliament.

Salva Kiir Maydrit, will arrive to Rumbek on Monday morning to open census office in the capital of the lakes. However, reliable sources in Juba said he would hold talks with the local officials on the latest crisis between the state government and the speaker.

On September 24, lawmakers supportive to the state government said they impeached speaker of the legislative assembly, Isaiah Machinkok, who had led efforts against the allegedly corrupt State Minister for Finance, Trade and Industry, Philip Marol Mading.

Since the Lakes has two speakers.

The State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Isaac Kon Anok was seen as the coordinator of the move against the speaker Machinkok. Also on the same day the Governor Daniel Awet Akot, published a statement saying the speaker had been removed and necessary steps would be taken to avoid constitutional vacuum.

While the MPs supporters of Machinkok rejected the impeachment and said it was illegal.

Governor Akot and Speaker Machinkok were this week in Juba. Akot participated in the governors meeting while Machinkok were there to explain his position on the ongoing crisis in the Lakes.

By James Gatdet Dak

September 28, 2008 (JUBA) – The 6th Governors’ Forum of Southern Sudan will begin on Monday in Juba to review progress achieved and resolve on challenges facing state governments in the context of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Top in the agenda is expected to be the issue of insecurity in the semi-autonomous region.

In 2006, the Presidency of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) established the Governors Forum involving ten Southern Sudan states governors as a quarterly round-table to share ideas and resolve on common issues.

Other concerned GoSS institutions and international partners including the United Nations, World Bank and Non-governmental organizations also participate in the Forum on invitation.

The theme of the meeting is to operationalize decentralization in Southern Sudan for effective CPA implementation, and will be officially opened by the GoSS President Salva Kiir Mayardit who will highlight objectives and expected outcome of the meeting.

The five-day Forum, whose sessions will be chaired and facilitated by the Vice President, Riek Machar Teny, will first listen and react to status report on implementation of recommendations of the 5th Governors’ Forum, after which each state will present achievements scored and challenges faced since the last Forum.

On fiscal decentralization, the meeting will reflect on status, progress and challenges for the year 2009 budget.

It will also discuss administrative decentralization and reforms that will include GoSS functions, inter-governmental relations between GoSS and state governments, Civil Service and Public Service reforms.

On Local Government level, the Forum will discuss progress and challenges in the areas of legislation, capacity building, staffing and boundaries.

The meeting will also have an Aid Strategy overview and debate on coordination of foreign development assistance. These will include presentations by representatives of Multi-Donors Trust Fund/World Bank (MDTF/WB), United States Aid for International Development (USAID), Joint Donors Team (JDT), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), among others.

The Forum will finally have an overview on the status of CPA implementation, particularly on North-South demarcation process, challenges and preparations for the coming general elections.

Moves to try Sudan's president for alleged war crimes threaten to plunge the country back into civil strife

By Simon Tisdall

The apparent failure of Sudan to block the formal indictment of its president for war crimes is threatening to plunge the country into renewed internal conflict, provoke a break with the UN and end cooperation of African Union countries with the international criminal court.

Tribunal judges are expected to rule within the next two months on a request by the international criminal court chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, for an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir concerning war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide allegedly committed in Darfur. Although action on the most serious allegation of genocide may be deferred, the other charges are almost certain to go ahead.

Addressing the UN general assembly last week, Sudan's vice-president, Ali Osman Taha, warned Khartoum would view an arrest warrant as tantamount to a declaration of war by the western powers. "Realisation of peace in Darfur and in [southern] Sudan, and the steps taken by the ICC, are two parallel lines that can never meet," he said.

Bashir's spokesman, Mahfuz Faidul said Sudan was pursuing a peace initiative in Darfur and was considering independent prosecutions of alleged wrongdoers. If the ICC went ahead, he said, Khartoum's response "will be nothing less than ending all our agreements with the UN". That could entail the expulsion of UN peacekeeping missions, aid agencies and NGOs in Darfur and the south.

Sudan wants the UN security council to invoke Article 16 of the ICC charter, which keeps a case frozen for 12 months at a time. Its stance has won backing across the developing world, including the African Union, the Arab League, the Islamic Conference Organisation and the Non-Aligned Movement. 

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By Philip Thon Aleu

September 23, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Speaker of Eastern Equatoria State Assembly dismissed charges that caused her impeachment but says "our societies are not ready for women leadership."

Sabina Dario Speaker Sabina Dario rejected charges at a press conference organized by the press in Southern Sudan capital Juba last week and vowed not to listen to the voices calling for her resignation.

"There was a threat that by Monday I must resign but I told them that I will not," Dario told reporters Sabina added: "This is because our societies are not ready for women leadership" but there are no genuine unconstitutional moves she made.

The Eastern Equatoria Assembly accuses Speaker Dario of ordering search of MPs pockets for pistols, signing financial documents beyond her mandate and downplays money-laundering at the assembly, but she denied all these charges.

"These accusations are not based on evident as were proven by the previous fact finding committee," she asserted.

Eastern Equatoria is one of the media-starved states in Southern Sudan. Effort made by local reporters to cover the State turmoil ended up in detaining The Juba Post earlier this month termed journalists harassment as "media has become a crime in Eastern Equatoria."

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KHARTOUM (AFP) - Sudanese aircraft bombed Darfur rebel positions on Thursday in the latest offensive in the war-torn region, rebels said, with the UN reporting wounded government troops in the area.

Fighters from the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) have reported an upsurge in attacks in the past two weeks, with heavy battles between insurgents and government and militia forces backed by aircraft.

Much of the reported fighting has taken place near Tawila in North Darfur state, some 50 kilometres west of the regional capital El Fasher.

"There is bombing both at Khazan Tungur and near Tawila with Antonov planes," Abu Bakr Kadu, a commander from the SLA-Unity faction, said from Darfur.

All offensive flying in Darfur is banned under a 2005 UN Security Council resolution.

Rebels on Wednesday said about 100 government vehicles packed with troops launched an attack, but were beaten back when separate SLA factions joined together in a unified force.

"The bombing has continued again after Wednesday, but there are no government soldiers now," Kadu said, a report backed by other rebels.

"The ground forces are not here now, but the Antonovs are moving across the area," said Ibrahim Al Hillo, a commander from the SLA faction led by Paris-based exile Abdel Wahid Mohammad Nur.

The attacks could not be independently confirmed.

However, the joint UN-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said peacekeepers at Tawila had witnessed wounded government soldiers and a heavy troop presence.

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September 18, 2008 (ALFASHER) — Darfur rebels said they clashed with the Sudanese troops in Northern Darfur yesterday evening, killing 21 soldiers in the most deadly autumn since four years in the troubled western Sudan.

Army officials say they are fighting bandits and carjackers in Darfur in order to secure roads and protect humanitarian convoys. Therefore they deny attacks against the factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) in the different parts of Darfur.

The Sudanese troops attacked yesterday at the sunset the SLM/A Al Nur positions in Helf, located at 122 klm northern Al-Fasher on Wednesday, said Suleiman Marjan, who commands SLA-Abdel Wahid Al-Nur forces northern Darfur.

Marjan said the attackers who came in 55 vehicles had to withdraw quickly to Malit due to the heavy fire from the rebels.

He added that they destroyed six vehicles.

The rebel commander said no body could blame them when they attack troops that violate the signed ceasefire agreement on daily basis.

Reports of continued fighting are received every day from the rebel groups about attack against their positions in different part of Darfur, since more than two weeks.

According to the United Nations, up to 300,000 people have died in Darfur and more than 2.2 million have fled their homes since rebels rose up against Khartoum in February 2003. Sudan says 10,000 people have been killed.

By Philip Thon Aleu

September 15, 2008 (BOR TOWN) — John Garang de Mabior Institute of Science and Technology in Bor opens Monday but lectures could not start as scheduled, an official said today.

Dean of Students David Malual Wuor told Sudan Tribune on Monday at the Institute that lecturers from the affiliated European university; the Free International University of Moldova (ULIM), have not arrived in time due to some misunderstanding.

The misunderstanding he says, rest entirely on the act of establishment signed by GoSS president on July 23 that does not indicate John Garang Institute as branch of ULIM.

An oil company ASCOM built the Institute finances it and caters for lecturers salary in an agreement with Jonglei state authorities.

However, the students of the Institute are very eager to have lectures on time so that they get introduce to long awaited university lessons that they have never experience since the start of their academicals periods.

On the other hand, the dean remains optimistic that lessons begin next week. "We have been communicating with them (ULIM officials) and they promised to come (to Bor) before September 25," he said.

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13 dead in stampede at stadium

Thirteen people are dead after a stadium riot was apparently sparked by accusations that a soccer player used witchcraft during a match in Congo, a UN-funded radio station reported Monday.

Most of the dead ranged in age from 11 to 16 and were suffocated in the fracas Sunday in Butembo, in eastern Congo's North Kivu province, Radio Olapi said.

The Nyuki System soccer club was losing to rivals Socozaki when Nyuki's goalkeeper reportedly ran up the pitch chanting "fetishist" spells in an attempt to change the course of the match, Radio Olapi said. The station provided no more details.

Fighting soon broke out between the opposing teams. When a police officer tried to intervene, spectators pelted him with rocks, wounding him on the head, the radio station said.

Police then retaliated by firing tear gas into the crowd, where 13 are believed to have died in the ensuing rush for the exits.

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By James Gatdet Dak

September 8, 2008 (JUBA) — Bad weather on Saturday was blamed for postponement of the scheduled meeting between the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar Teny, who is the Chief Mediator of the Uganda peace talks and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony at the Sudanese-Congolese border.

 Joseph Kony shakes hands with South Sudan Riek Machar (Reuters) This was explained to the press by the Vice President, Machar, who also left for Khartoum on Sunday for a scheduled joint meeting on Monday between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

The postponed meeting was expected to lead to the signing of the Ugandan Final Peace Agreement by Joseph Kony between his rebel movement and the Ugandan government.

Machar who is the Chairman of the SPLM Political Executive Committee and co-Chairman of the Joint Political Executive Committee between the two peace partners said the joint committee would discuss outstanding issues in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in the national capital. The Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha will co-chair the meeting with Machar.

It was not clear when the next visit to Joseph Kony would take place.

Following two years of talks brokered by the Southern Sudan government, The Uganda peace process witnessed a setback when the LRA leader failed to appear to sign the Final Peace Agreement scheduled for April 10, 2008 at Riikwnbwa camp in Western Equatoria state near Sudan-DR Congo border, citing ICC arrest warrants as an obstacle to peace.
ction in late August suspended deliveries to 450,000 people in North Darfur, the WFP said.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has threatened to suspend deliveries of food aid to Sudan's Darfur province after a string of attacks on its convoys.

'Repeated and targeted attacks on food convoys are making it extraordinarily difficult and dangerous for us to feed hungry people,' said Monika Midel, WFP's Deputy Representative in Sudan, said in a statement.

'Should these attacks continue, the situation will become intolerable, to the point that we will have to suspend operations in some areas of Darfur,' she added.

The WFP said more than 100 vehicles containing food aid had been seized by raiders since the start of the year and 69 trucks and 43 drivers remain missing.

Food rations have been cut as a result of the attacks, the WFP said.

In July, 50,000 people received no supplies due to the insecurity, while the WFP's partner German Agro Action in late August suspended deliveries to 450,000 people in North Darfur, the WFP said.

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KHARTOUM, Sudan - A man waving a knife hijacked a jetliner carrying about 100 people Tuesday in Sudan's troubled Darfur region, forcing it to land at a World War II-era airfield in the heart of the Sahara Desert in neighboring Libya, officials said.
 
The Boeing 737 was commandeered soon after taking off from Nyala, capital of southern Darfur, en route to Khartoum, the national capital, said Yusuf Ibrahim, director of Khartoum's airport. He said it was not clear whether one or several hijackers were involved.

Libyan aviation officials confirmed the plane landed in Kufra, a desert oasis in that country's arid southeast close to the Sudanese and Egyptian borders.

Authorities were said to be traveling to Kufra, some 1,000 miles from Libya's capital of Tripoli. The airfield has little, if any, communications equipment, and Libyan officials said they had been unable to contact the hijackers since the plane landed.

The only contact was earlier from the pilot, who radioed a mayday signal to Tripoli requesting permission to land and refuel, said a Libyan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media. By midnight, the plane had not refueled and it was unclear whether the Libyans would allow it to do so.

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July 9, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Three students detained last month for inciting tribal hatred, over internet, have been released on Tuesday.

The students hail security unit of professionalism and Jonglei government of been very transparent and fast in investigating their case. They are, orally, bounded to Jonglei, ready to be called anytime should need arise and banned from posing commends on internet again.

The students, from Dr John Garang de Mabior Institute of Science and Technology, Bor, were arrested on June 28 by security intelligent - a day after the Institute administration gave two weeks suspension for breaching Institute rules limiting correspondence.

A third student was arrested on Monday July 1. All were charged for posing hostile messages in Sudan Tribune commentary forum – they (students) accept and admitting wrongdoings, investigating officer says.

While briefing the students on Monday July 1 at the Institute, Jonglei governor Kuol Manyang condemns the students’ behaviors and cautioned them against using offensive adjectives.

“If somebody says or does something bad, just say ‘not good’ or ‘good’ if it is good. Do not insult yourself. Don’t insult tribes.” He said.

According to students, the security unit found them guilty for insulting themselves but not politically motivated. State Attorney General suspended the charges and allowed them to go back to school had it not been the two weeks suspension that ends on Friday July 11, the students told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday. Institute confirmed the release and maintains the suspension.

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(RTTNews) - Sudan's government on Thursday condemned the attack on UN-AU peacekeeping mission in the country's troubled Darfur region on Wednesday, which resulted in the death of seven peacekeepers.

The government blamed the SLM-Unity rebel faction for the attack and said in a statement released Thursday that the attack was intended to "destabilize the region and prove it is not safe." It also urged the UN and western countries to take sterner actions against the rebels.

Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday killed seven members of the joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission and injured 22 others in a well-coordinated attack in northern Darfur.

Despite the Sudanese government's claims, the UNAMID suspects government-backed Janjaweed militia of being responsible for Wednesday's attack, for which no one has yet claimed responsibility.

The UNAMID or the joint AU-UN mission took over peacekeeping duties in the troubled Darfur region in January from the AU peacekeeping force. Though it is authorized to have 26,000 members, it has only about 9,000 troops under its disposal now.

UN estimates that about 300,000 people have been killed and some 2.5 million displaced after ethnic Africans of the region took up arms against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum in 2003 to fight discrimination.

June 30, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir issued a decree today relieving the chief of the civil aviation authority Gen. Abu-Bakr Gaa’far.

Ibrahim Abdullah Abd Al-Karim was named as the new civil aviation authority chief.

Sudan official news agency (SUNA) also reported that Al-Bashir banned all Russian made planes from operation.

The decision by the Sudanese president comes in the aftermath of a cargo plane crash today near Khartoum airport shortly after takeoff killing four Russian crew members.

A plane (Ilyushin 76) chartered by a private company called Ababiel crashed near the airport in an empty area.

The plane crashed and the fire had already started while it was in the air, a witness said. While taking off the plane collided with an electricity pillar and crashed, he added.

The plane was flying from Khartoum to Juba.

Earlier this month a Sudan airways passenger plane veered off the runway and burst into flames minutes after it landed killing 28 people.

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June 30, 2008 (JUBA) — Vice President of southern Sudan government has pointed figures at the Ugandan army saying they are responsible of recent attacks in the border areas with Uganda. He further ordered the Ugandan troops who hunting the LRA rebels to leave the country.

A Ugandan soldier in May 2007. Riek Machar who is also the chief mediator of the Ugandan peace talks had last March innocented the Ugandan rebels from accusations of committing attacks against civilians in different part of the greater equatorial.

Speaking to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, Machar said that according to the findings of a committee sent to investigate the attacks, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is to blame on recent attacks in Western Equatoria State.

"I sent the committee to go and investigate it. The rest of the evidence is there. Indeed, it didn’t turn out to be the LRA, but they were UPDF," Machar told parliament in Juba.

According to documents presented to parliament, the ceasefire monitoring team attached to the Ugandan peace talks investigated an alleged LRA attack close to the Sudanese-Ugandan border in which a 31-year-old man was abducted.

They reported that about 30 gunmen raided a homestead at Nyongwa village on June 19, looted food and household goods and abducted Jino Moga Mandara.

The abductee was found dead three days later, apparently with a head injury and stab wound seemingly from a bayonet, three kilometres (two miles) away from the homestead on the route down which the attacker beat a retreat.

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June 24, 2008 (DAKAR) – Military experts from feuding neighbours Chad and Sudan met on Tuesday to discuss how to patrol their 1500 km long common border zone.

According to a non-aggression pact signed in the Senegalese capital, on the sidelined of the Islamic Conference summit on March 13, the two countries agreed to deploy a monitoring force to ensure stability on the joint border and to establish a contact group composed of Congo, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya and Senegal.

General David Ngomine Beadimadji led a team of Chadian military experts, while Sudanese General Ibrahim Ezzedin led his country’s delegation. Negotiations began on Tuesday, a day late due to the late arrival of the Sudanese.

"Chad will supply its own soldiers to patrol its own border, Sudan will supply its own soldiers to patrol its own border, and the peace and security force will become a mechanism for observing the two countries," Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio told reporters at an opening ceremony on Monday.

Senegal and Libya, both members of a "contact group" following implementation of the Dakar peace deal, had identified 10 sites suitable for border surveillance posts, he said.

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JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) - South Sudanese authorities have begun to collect thousands of guns amassed by civilians during decades of war to try to end tribal conflicts which claim dozens of lives each year, officials said.

Since a 2005 north-south peace deal ended Africa's longest civil war, efforts by the semi-autonomous southern government to disarm civilians have claimed an estimated 1,500 lives because they took weapons from some tribes leaving them vulnerable to neighbouring communities who were still armed.

Southern Internal Affairs Minister Paul Mayom said on Thursday few had given up their guns voluntarily and a new army- backed campaign was needed. He said they would simultaneously disarm communities nearby to avoid bloodshed.

"(This) new approach is comprehensive disarmament, by removing all the illegal guns," Mayom said. "If you don't do it we'll take it by force."

During Sudan's north-south civil war which has raged on and off since 1955, tribal communities were given or bought weapons to protect their lands and cattle. But with peace, gun law has remained paramount in many parts of the south.

The new campaign will differ from earlier attempts that targeted specific communities.

In 2006 the Swiss-based independent research group Small Arms Survey estimated some 1,200 civilians and 400 soldiers were killed in a campaign to disarm the Lou Nuer tribe as their neighbours retained weapons.

But this year the civil authorities will give communities warning and then record, collect and store the guns in a more organised fashion to avoid similar bloodshed.

At least 911 rifles have already been collected in one area, one official said. But others warn that any army involvement could backfire. "There could be violence," John Baloch, a member of one of the still-armed tribal communities said.

Cattle raiding and revenge attacks have sparked cycles of violence in the largely pastoralist south with deep tribe and clan divides. At least 20 people were killed in one incident in May but numbers are often higher.

"Without disarmament there can be no peace," said William Chan Acuil, deputy of the southern government's humanitarian wing.

The north-south war, complicated by issues of religion, oil, ideology and ethnicity, claimed 2 million lives and forced more than 4 million to flee their homes.

June 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Senior Presidential Assistant, Minni Arcua Minawi denied reports about his defection to Chad and affirmed he will soon return to Khartoum from Darfur were he visited Refugee camps.

Minni Minawi Informed source told Sudan Tribune from Ndjamena that he met with Minawi who was expressed anger “in very harsh language” at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) for not implementing the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Minawi managed to slip into Chad despite refusal by Khartoum to let him visit” the source said.

However, the Sudanese official denied in a statement to Al-Ray Al-Aam his travel to Chad affirming that he was in Kamoa near Karnoyi after visiting displaced camps in remote areas of North Darfur.

He further said he was in the border area for sorting out some problems. "I will return in a few days to conduct my duties in Khartoum soon." Minawi said.

The former rebel warned of attempts made to create a crisis between him and the government and added:

Minawi who is the only former rebel leader to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) with the Sudanese government in Abuja on 5 May 2006, expressed repeatedly frustrations and criticized Khartoum for not implementing the peace agreement.

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By Tesfa-alem Tekle

June 22, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The joint meeting of ministers of Water Resources of Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan held in London to discuss projects that would be executed on Nile River was successfully concluded, according to Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR).

Minister of Water Resources Asfaw Dingamo told Walta information center that the projects studied by the British and French companies EDF and Scott Wilson could benefit the three nations if implemented.

The companies have forwarded detailed studies of projects to be undertaken in the Nile Basin,he said, adding that the three countries have reached consensus on the hydropower opportunities available in the basin.

The studies would help expand large-scale irrigation development works in Ethiopia, Asfaw stated, further noting that they have also proved that hydropower projects to be developed in the Nile Basin could only be materialized in Ethiopia.

The studies are of paramount importance to avert the evaporation problem witnessed in the Sudan and Egypt as well as the erosion in Ethiopia, the minister added.

The studies also revealed that projects carried out around the Nile basin could be of immense economic benefits if carried on the highlands of Ethiopia. Sudan has supported the idea, he said.

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June 10, 2008 (BEIJING) — Sudan and China today signed eight agreements covering such fields as economic and technological cooperation, finance, agriculture and public health; in presence of Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Vice-President and Xi Jinping Chinese Vice-President.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha at a welcome ceremony in Beijing, on June10, 2008 (Xinhua) Taha arrived in Beijing on Monday to start his third China trip. He visited China in March 1996 and March 2001.

According to the signed agreements China will extend two grants of financial assistance to the Sudanese Government in addition to a interest-free loan, the establishment of an agricultural centre in state of Gedaref, eastern Sudan and to send Chinese agricultural experts to Sudan

The parties agreed to establish a hospital in al-Damazin, Blue Nile state funded by the Chinese side, besides the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the migrations procedures of Chinese workers in Sudan

The agreements were signed by Awad Ahmed al-Jaz the Sudanese minister of finance and national economy and Chinese Minister of Trade Shi Quangsheng.

While the protocol of agricultural cooperation between Sudan and China was signed by al-Zubair Bashir Taha, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Chinese Minister of Agriculture Sun Zhengcai.

The Vice President Taha invited Chinese businessmen to invest in his country saying that Sudan enjoys broad possibilities for investment and agriculture besides the oil projects and infrastructure like dams, roads, bridges, electricity, industrial and various commercial activities especially in Communications and engineering sectors.

JUBA, Sudan, June 11 (Reuters) - Cholera has infected almost 6,000 south Sudanese and killed at least 44 this year, with more than half dying within the past four weeks, officials from the South Sudanese Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

"From previous experience it always starts (in the south) and goes north," South Sudan's director for preventable medicine John Rumunu said. The epidemic has now reached Bor town, in the centre of South Sudan, he said.

A 2005 peace deal ended more than two decades of north-south civil war and established a semi-autonomous southern government, but the conflict left the region's health infrastructure desperately undeveloped.

Some 700 people died from the waterborne disease in 2006 and around 25,000 were affected. Cholera causes vomiting and acute diarrohea and can rapidly lead to death from dehydration if not treated.

This year outbreaks have occurred in several southern towns, Rumunu said, including the southern capital Juba where cases in nearby army barracks first raised the alarm in May.

Government authorities and United Nations agencies have been trying to force private water truckers to chlorinate their water before selling it to Juba households, most of which do not have running water.

Sahr Kemoh, a water and sanitation expert with the United Nations Fund for Children, said in 2007 an estimated 9,800 cases were recorded in total, but said year's rains were not over.

Sudan's north-south conflict killed 2 million people. Fought over religious, ethnic and ideological differences it was fuelled by the discovery of large oil reserves. It is separate from the Darfur conflict.

By Wasil Ali

June 3, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – The Darfur advocacy groups in the US have expressed little surprise over the abrupt suspension of normalization talks between Washington and Khartoum.

Demonstrators listen to a speaker after a march sponsored by The Save Darfur Coalition to mark International Human Rights Day with a Dream for Darfur Torch Relay through the streets of Washington, DC to China’s embassy, 10 December 2007 (AFP) John Prendergast, a former Clinton administration official and Co-Chair of the ENOUGH Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity, told Sudan Tribune that the talks “were ill-fated because the U.S. approached them without any leverage”.

“U.S. Defense Secretary Gates himself has said that it make sense to pursue negotiations only when you have built some leverage” he added.

Professor Eric Reeves, Smith College English professor and Sudan expert, echoed the same call saying “it is hardly surprising that he [Williamson] found it impossible to make progress in normalizing relations with Khartoum’s genocidaires”.

The US special envoy told reporters in Khartoum today that dialogue with the Sudanese government on bilateral ties will be halted after failing to broker an agreement between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) over the oil rich region of Abyei.

"Until they want a meaningful peace, there is nothing the United States or others can do. I’ve tried my best and I leave sad and disappointed," he said following days of talks on how to resolve a crisis in Sudan’s Abyei district.

"Right now our talks are suspended," he added.

Professor Reeves accused the Sudanese government of “deliberately and systematically” escalating military tensions in the area.

“Khartoum continues to renege on key terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), including accepting the binding arbitration of the Abyei issue reflected in the July 2005 report of the distinguished Abyei Boundary Commission (ABC)” he said.

The ‘Save Darfur’ coalition issued a statement attributed to its president Jerry Fowler, saying that the decision by the US to suspend the talks “must not be an end to robust U.S. engagement to resolve the crises in Abyei and Darfur – neither of which can be solved in isolation from the other”

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JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) - South Sudan's leader accused the northern government on Tuesday of reinforcing troops in the disputed oil town of Abyei, raising tensions as U.N. Security Council envoys flew in to shore up a north-south peace deal.

Clashes in Abyei last month increased fears of a return to all out war between the northern government and the south, which signed a peace agreement in 2005 to end two decades of civil war. The Security Council envoys, who flew into the southern capital Juba on a tour of African hotspots, discussed Abyei with South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir and will also hold talks with President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's government in Khartoum.

At stake in Abyei is control of lucrative oilfields and a pipeline supplying about half Sudan's daily 500,000 barrel output. Three years after the peace accord, the sides have failed to agree on the borders or administration for the area. South Sudan's leader told reporters: "The troops are coming down from Khartoum to Abyei ... I have already called him (Bashir) to order his military leaders to pull out their forces from the Abyei area. We are not going to fight them."

Kiir, who is president of semi-autonomous south Sudan as well as first vice-president of the country as a whole, said there was no danger of a return to war "as long as there was a will for peace". Deng Arop, a senior official of the parliament in the south, told Reuters 38 trucks full of northern soldiers had arrived in el-Muglad, a town about 120 km (75 miles) north of Abyei, over the weekend.

"They are converging on Abyei, they expect a big fight," he said. "There are three battalions -- one brigade."

He estimated that would mean 2,100 soldiers and not less than 1,500, equipped with heavy weapons.

No on was immediately available for comment from Sudan's government or armed forces. But officials have denied southern accusations of troop buildups in the past.

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By Philip Thon Aleu

May 19, 2008 (BOR TOWN, Jonglei) – Cattle primitive business, the barter trade, resulted to lost of over three dozens lives between Nuer Lou and Duk Padiet communities of Jonglei state at Pakam Amiel in Duk County (about 150 miles) northern Bor Town Saturday on May 17, Sudan Tribune has learnt.

Jonglei government says no official number of causalities is available.

"I can’t tell you exactly what happens because we do not have the report in written form," the Acting Government of Jonglei state and the State Minister for Land and Physical Infrastructures Eng. John Amuor Kuol told Sudan Tribune when contacted Sunday at Dr. Garang Institute cultural day, Bor Town.

The minister, however, acknowledged that the two communities were engaged in exchange of fire on Saturday.

"You will complete the rest of the function because I’m going to attend a meeting in the town where we shall discuss the current insecurity reports," he told parents and students at Dr. Garang Institute Sunday, referring to the fight between Duk and Wutror Counties communities of Jonglei.

Bor town residents belonging to the two communities denounce the clashes and call upon the state government to act.

All top Jonglei officials, including commissioner of Duk County are attending SPLM National Convention in southern Sudan capital Juba and thus inaccessible. Minister Amuor represents the state government.

The Oil Company; ASCOM Co. Ltd staff operating at Aker-Ker — location between the two communities — are said to be safe.

Nuer Lou cattle keepers, while returning from Duk’s Toch — area between rivers used to graze cattle in dry seasons — in Duk County territory, fell apart when a two men exchange of a bull and a heifer failed Saturday.

A Nuer Lou is said to have demanded exchanging his heifer for colored-bull — a sign of riches and of great reputation in cattle keeping communities — belonging a Duk Padiet who refused. He was instantly shot dead for denying the barter business, relatives in Bor town claimed.

Exchanges of fire erupted in revenge and defend lasting for six (6) hours (9:00am – 2:00Pm) between the two neighbors. Unconfirmed source puts dead to over thirty and many more wounded. Duk County is said to have lost a half herd of cattle on May 17.

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KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) -- The leader of Sudan's main opposition party said Saturday that a recent attack on the capital by Darfur rebels may encourage other disgruntled Sudanese to rise up against the government.

Hassan Turabi, the country's leading Islamist ideologue and an ally-turned-adversary of President Omar al-Bashir, lambasted the government over its handling of the Darfur conflict, in which as many as 300,000 people have died since 2003. He also said the U.N. is not doing enough to protect Darfur.

Hundreds of fighters from the Justice and Equality Movement, which has emerged as the most effective Darfur rebel group, staged the bold attack on Khartoum's twin city, Omdurman. It was the first time in decades the rebels had approached the capital.

"There is so much misery in Darfur, genocidal measures actually," Turabi, 75, to