Last week in Parliament

Sajid Javid (Conservative): Clause 184 gives Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs the power to require payments on account in relation to the APD annual accounting scheme, which was introduced to minimise administrative burdens for the extension of APD to business jets and will improve the fairness of the tax overall. The clause also updates the list of territories in band B of APD to include the new nation of South Sudan.

Sudan Briefing 22/04/2013

A weekly round-up from Peace Direct (www.peacedirect.org)

NEWS ROUND-UP

Sudan, South Sudan relations

Reuters: Rebels say seize military base in Sudan border oil state

16 April: Rebels in Sudan’s oil-producing border state of South Kordofan said on Tuesday they had seized a military base near the state capital, underlining tensions in the region that could undermine the recent detente between Sudan and South Sudan. Read more.

Sudan

Al Jazeera: Sudan frees army officers held for coup bid

17 April: Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has pardoned nine army officers, days after they were jailed for their role in an alleged coup attempt, state news agency SUNA reported. Read more.

South Sudan

AP: More than 20 killed in South Sudan violence

18 April: A theft of 750 cattle sparked a manhunt by security forces that devolved into an attack by those forces on a medical facility, where four medical staff and a patient were killed, officials said on Thursday. More than 20 people died in total. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: Chinese VP vows stronger ties with South Sudan

21 April: The Chinese vice president, Li Yuanchao on Thursday vowed to promote friendly cooperative ties with newly independent South Sudan. Read more.

Darfur

AFP: Paramilitaries ‘mutiny’ in Sudan’s Darfur: ministry

21 April: Paramilitary forces in Sudan’s Darfur have mutinied, the interior ministry said on Sunday, as a United States diplomat expressed concern that security in the western region is worsening. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: JEM-Bashar deputy general commander killed in North Darfur clashes

21 April: The Justice and Equality Movement led by Mohamed Bashar (JEM-Bshar) announced the killing of its deputy general commander Saleh Moahmed Jarbo and accused JEM rebels of his death in North Darfur. Read more.

ICRC News release: Soldiers including wounded released in Darfur

21 April: Seven soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces released in Darfur by the Sudan Liberation Army – Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) were handed over to the Sudanese authorities today. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the handover, acting in its capacity as a neutral intermediary. Read more.

Reuters: Peacekeeper shot dead in Sudan’s Darfur region

20 April: An international peacekeeper was shot dead by unknown gunmen in an eastern part of Sudan’s Darfur region, the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) said. Read more.

South Kordofan

Sudan Tribune: Turkish company to explore oil in South Kordofan

21 April: The Sudanese Ministry of Oil signed on Saturday a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Turkish company Soma Group by which it will grant the latter a concession to begin oil exploration and production in block 23 in the state of South Kordofan. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: Sudan vows to neutralize SPLM-N rebels in South Kordofan

20 April: The Sudanese government today affirmed that its army is on alert to circumvent any offensive by the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan state. Read more.

Last week in Parliament

William Hague (Conservative): “The G8 endorsed the deployment of international experts to help build up the judicial, investigative and legal capacity of other countries, which the United Kingdom is already doing. Our team of over 70 experts has been deployed to Bosnia, the Syria border and Libya, and will carry out further deployments this year to those three countries, as well as to South Sudan, Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The G8 Minis The G8 endorsed the deployment of international experts to help build up the judicial, investigative and legal capacity of other countries, which the United Kingdom is already doing. Our team of over 70 experts has been deployed to Bosnia, the Syria border and Libya, and will carry out further deployments this year to those three countries, as well as to South Sudan, Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The G8 Ministers announced £23 million in new funding to back these efforts, including £10 million from the UK.”

A weekly round-up from Peace Direct (www.peacedirect.org)

NEWS ROUND-UP

Sudan, South Sudan relations

Sudan Tribune: US says Sudan is making progress in cooperation agreement

16 April: The United States embassy in Khartoum has welcomed the recent progress made in the implementation of cooperation agreements signed last September between the two Sudans, notably the resumption of oil production in South Sudan on April 6. Read more.

BBC News: Sudan tensions ease as President Omar al-Bashir visits South

12 April: President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has ordered the border with South Sudan to be opened, during his first visit since it gained independence. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: Sudan accuses rebels of seeking to undermine normalisation process with South Sudan

14 April: Sudan’s government has directed scathing criticism to Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N), accusing it of seeking to undermine peace and stability between with South Sudan, and called for international measures against the rebel group. Read more.

South Sudan

BBC News: Five Indian UN troops killed in South Sudan

9 April: Five Indian peacekeepers escorting a UN convoy in South Sudan have been killed in an ambush by rebels, the office for the UN secretary-general has said. Read more.

Sudan

Sudan Tribune: Sudan’s Bashir will probably seek a new term, opposition leader says

15 April: The secretary-general of the opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP), Hassan Abdullah al-Turabi, said that Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir will likely run in the upcoming elections despite his assertions to the contrary. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: African Development Bank to support Sudan’s efforts to resolve debt problem

13 April: The African Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to keep up its support to Khartoum government until Sudan’s foreign debt problem is resolved. Read more.

Darfur

Sudan Tribune: Sudan justice minister asks Bashir for forces to capture Darfur suspects

15 April: Sudan’s justice minister, Mohamed Bushara Dousa, disclosed on Monday that he had asked president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir to issue a decree establishing a joint force comprised of all regular forces under the command of Darfur’s special crimes prosecutor to assist in capturing fugitives. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: Sudanese president removes South Darfur governor from office

13 April: Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir relieved the governor of South Darfur, Hamad Ismail from his position without further details about the cause of this expected decision following the increase of insecurity in the state. Read more.

South Kordofan, Blue Nile

Sudan Tribune: Direct talks on South Kordofan and Blue Nile to begin next week, SPLM-N says

15 April: Direct talks between Sudanese government and Sudan people’s Liberation Movement- North (SPLM-N) to settle South Kordofan and Blue Nile conflict will start on 23 April, announced the rebel group on Monday. Read more.

A weekly round-up from Peace Direct

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Sudan, South Sudan relations

Sudan Tribune: South Sudan’s Kiir may meet Sudanese president in Kenya
7 April: South Sudan said on Sunday that president Salva Kiir is likely to meet his Sudanese counterpart, Omer Al Bashir in Nairobi, during the inauguration ceremony of the new Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta. Read more.

Sudan

BBC News: Sudan frees political prisoners in first wave of amnesty
2 April: Opposition confirms release of seven people day after president orders move as part of deal to end hostilities with South Sudan. Read more.

Reuters: Sudan officers get jail terms for alleged coup attempt
7 April: A Sudanese court sentenced nine army officers to prison terms of up to five years on Sunday for their role in an alleged coup attempt against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, a lawyer said. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: UNHCR rejects reports of repatriation of Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia
6 April: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Ethiopia has rejected a media report claiming arrangements have been made to repatriate some 33,000 Sudanese refugees from camps in Ethiopia. Read more.

Reuters: Egypt to produce sunflower oil in Sudan, curb imports
7 April: Egypt aims to become self-sufficient in sunflower oil by using farmland provided by neighbouring Sudan as it moves to end large purchases on world markets, Supply Minister Bassem Ouda said on Sunday. Read more.

South Sudan

Reuters: South Sudan restarts oil production
7 April: South Sudan has restarted oil production after agreeing with Sudan to resume cross-border flows last month, an oil official said, ending a row over transit fees which brought the African neighbours close to war. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: EU, IOM launch peace initiative in South Sudan
7 April: The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has embarked on several peace promotion events, seeking to bring conflicting South Sudanese communities in harmony with one another. Read more.

UN News Centre: South Sudan must do more to protect civilians in Jonglei, UN says
5 April 2013 – The Government of South Sudan must do more to protect communities at risk for attacks and bring the guilty to justice, the UN peacekeeping mission in the country today said releasing its findings from an into the killing of at least 85 cattle herders in Jonglei state. Read more.

Darfur

BBC News: Sudan Darfur donor conference hosted by Qatar
7 April: The Gulf state of Qatar is hosting a two-day conference on development and reconstruction in Sudan’s Darfur region. The conference is seeking some $7.2bn (£4.7bn) in development aid aimed at making Darfur more self-dependent. Ahead of the meeting, the UK announced it would contribute at least £33m. Read more.

SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN UPDATE – 3^rd April 2013

A weekly round-up from Peace Direct

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NEWS ROUND-UP

Sudan-South Sudan relations

Sudan Tribune: “SPLA will return to borders if Sudan army attacks continue”

30 March: The southern army (SPLA) will be forced to return to border areas where it withdrew its troops recently, if the Sudanese army continues attacking its territory, in violation of the security agreement both countries reached. Read more

Reuters: First South Sudan oil exports to reach Port Sudan in May - Sudan

28 March: South Sudan’s first oil exports will arrive at Sudan’s Red Sea export terminal in Port Sudan in mid-May after both countries agreed to resume cross-border flows, a senior Sudanese oil official said on Thursday. Read more

UN: UN mission verifies start of Sudan, South Sudan withdrawal from zone in Abyei

26 March: The United Nations peacekeeping force in the oil-rich Abyei area, which is contested by South Sudan and Sudan, has completed its first verification mission to make sure that troops from both Governments pull out of the demilitarized border zone. Read more

South Sudan

Guardian (UK): South Sudan battle against insurgents kills 163

28 March: A heavy military battle inside South Sudan’s border killed 163 people, mostly rebels, when government soldiers clashed with rebels that South Sudan accuses its neighbour Sudan of supporting, officials said Thursday. Read more

Bloomberg: South Sudan may take a year to reach pre-shutdown oil output

28 March: South Sudan, which is resuming oil output halted 14 months ago, may take as long as a year to reach pre-shutdown production levels because of possible damage to equipment, said analysts including Paul Tossetti at PFC Energy. Read more

Sudan

Sudan Tribune: Sudan says Uganda a threat to regional stability

31 March: The Sudanese government lashed out again at Uganda accusing it of undermining regional security by harbouring and supporting anti-Khartoum rebel movements. Read more

Reuters: Sudan asks rebels to help draft constitution as tensions ease

26 March: Sudan’s vice president on Tuesday invited rebel groups to help prepare a new constitution, a sign of Khartoum’s newly-relaxed stance toward the insurgents since signing border security deals with South Sudan this month. Read more

LAST WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Q: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that 70% of new arrivals to the refugee camps in Eastern Sudan disappear soon after arrival; and whether they have any information about the reasons for the disappearances.”

A: Baroness Northover (Whip, House of Lords; Liberal Democrat): “The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that up to 70% of people entering and registering in refugee camps in Eastern Sudan leave shortly afterwards, for a range of reasons.

“UNHCR’s assessment is that a high percentage of those leaving the camp do so voluntarily and travel either within or outside of Sudan in search of employment and livelihood opportunities. Some however do become victims of trafficking. This is an issue of deep concern. The UK, together with other donors, has provided support both to awareness raising and protection activities of humanitarian agencies through the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). The UK remains engaged with this important issue, working closely with the lead agencies, UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).”

Q: Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries are considered to be fragile and conflict-affected by the Government.”

A: Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey and Wood Green, Liberal Democrat): “DFID identifies 21 of its 28 focus states as being fragile or conflict-affected. These are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe. This list was last updated in May 2011 and is updated every two years.”

Last week in Parliament

Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that 3,000 Eritreans fled Eritrea in 2012 for the refugee camps in Eastern Sudan.”

Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat): “The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that approximately 400 to 600 persons entered refugee camps in the east of Sudan each month in the second half of 2012, with the large majority of refugees and asylum-seekers originating from Eritrea. The figure has reduced from around 2,000 persons/month in early 2012. UNHCR provides food, shelter and primary health support to new arrivals, and ensures access to basic services and protection support in the refugee camps. The UK continues to provide support to the common humanitarian fund to meet current needs within Sudan.”

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking at the United Nations Security Council to ensure that parties involved in the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2046.”

Baroness Warsi (Conservative): “The UN Security Council receives regular updates on the situation in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and last discussed this on 12 March. Members were told that the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North had been invited for talks by the African Union with an aim to agree a cessation of hostilities. The UK urged the Government of Sudan to participate in talks without preconditions and to grant full and independent humanitarian access. We will continue to press through the UN Security Council for both parties to attend talks as soon as possible, and without preconditions, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2046.”

Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Defence:

“(1) what steps he has taken to monitor and evaluate the effect and outcomes of his Department’s Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context training on the conduct of the armed forces of Sudan;

“(2) how much his Department has spent on providing training in military institutions in Sudan; and what further such spending is planned;

(3) what additional military co-operation is planned between the British armed forces and those of Sudan; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of any such co-operation.”

Mark Francois (Conservative): “Ministry of Defence engagement with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) is funded by the tri-departmental Conflict Pool and is in line with the objectives of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy and the International Defence Engagement Strategy. This year the MOD has spent approximately £750,000 on defence education for the SAF, of which £450,000 was spent on provision of education within Sudanese military institutions. The education provided in Khartoum included English Language teaching and the delivery of the Management of Defence in the Wider Security Context (MDWSC) course. The Defence education programme for the next financial year has yet to be finalised. We currently expect it to be largely similar in nature and cost.

“Our Defence engagement in Sudan contributes to wider cross-government and international efforts to promote stability, accountability and good governance across Sudan. The intent is to encourage security sector reform, with an emphasis on respect for human rights, professionalism, and governance and accountability mechanisms within the armed forces. This engagement has also allowed the UK to play a key role in supporting African Union-led negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan, influencing senior Sudanese military officials to make progress on security-related post-secession issues, thereby contributing to regional stability.

“The MDWSC has formed part of our Defence education programme since 2010 with three courses delivered at the Higher Military Academy in Khartoum. It is intended to increase awareness of the range of processes and techniques that may be utilised to enhance the effective governance and management of defence. The UK Defence Academy has undertaken an internal validation of each MDWSC course to determine whether it met its immediate objectives and to ensure that subsequent courses are tailored to meet identified areas of need. MOD Defence education in Sudan is also subject to scrutiny annually as part of the Conflict Pool funding process. The Deputy Director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan presented on the course held in January 2013. ICRC participation helps ensure that UK-delivered education is coherent with and supports wider international efforts to encourage respect for International Humanitarian Law.”

Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what humanitarian access is permitted by the Government of Sudan to the war-affected areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan; what is their assessment of the number of civilians dying through lack of food and medicine in those areas; and when they last raised in the United Nations Security Council the enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2046.”

Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat): “We continue to press both parties to negotiate a cessation of hostilities which would enable humanitarian access to all areas. The estimated numbers of people affected (approximately 900,000), reports from agencies and from those who have fled to camps in South Sudan and Ethiopia, give us cause for great concern. Access is urgently needed for a full and independent humanitarian needs assessment. We reiterated our calls to parties to allow access in the United Nations Security Council on 12 March. We will keep the possibility of further action in the council under review should forthcoming talks between the parties not yield any progress.”

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2046 which called on the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North to enter into negotiations, and to permit humanitarian access throughout South Kordofan and Blue Nile.”

Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat): “Both sides are obliged by decisions of the African Union and UN Security Council to enter direct political talks on a cessation of hostilities, and we are extremely disappointed that this is yet to happen. We hope both parties will meet in March, and we are encouraging them to attend and engage in serious talks without preconditions, focusing first on achieving a cessation of hostilities and allowing full and independent humanitarian access.”

A weekly round-up from Peace Direct (www.peacedirect.org)

NEWS ROUND-UP

Sudan, South Sudan relations

UN News Centre: UN envoy says Sudan and South Sudan withdrawing troops from demilitarized zone

22 March: The Governments of Sudan and South Sudan have begun withdrawing their troops from a safe demilitarized border zone, a United Nations envoy said today, as he briefed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the latest agreements between the two neighbours. Read more.

Sudan

Telegraph: Sudan’s president said he intends to step down in 2015

22 March: Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s president and an indicted war criminal, said the people of Sudan need “fresh blood and a new impetus to continue their march” as he announced his intention to retire. Read more.

Reuters: Sudan authorities seize paper for reporting protest – source

KHARTOUM24 March: Sudanese security authorities confiscated the Sunday edition of the independent newspaper Al Khartoum because it reported on an opposition protest, a source at the newspaper said. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: US embassy in Sudan resumes consular services

24 March: The US embassy in Khartoum will resume full consular services on Monday, following a six month closure after the compound was targeted in violent protests in the Sudanese capital. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: Sudan FM accuses some NCP figures of undermining country’s policy in Africa

23 March: The Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti criticized unspecified parties within the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and accused them of sabotaging Khartoum’s strategy to strengthen ties with Africa. Read more.

South Sudan

Sudan Tribune: Northern Bahr el Ghazal legislators call for dissolution of parliament

24 March: Members of the politically divided parliament in Northern Bahr el Ghazal have begun calling on South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit to consider dissolving the state assembly to end an ongoing dispute between lawmakers. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: UN pledges more commitment to protect civilians in South Sudan

21 March: Civilian protection remains the United Nations key priority in South Sudan, despite recent internal insecurity challenges, Hilde Johnson, the head of the agency’s mission (UNAMISS), told the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday. Read more.

Darfur

AFP: Darfur gunmen detain 31 displaced people: UNAMID

25 March: Gunmen detained 31 internally displaced people travelling to a government-run conference, peacekeepers of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said on Monday, underlying security and other challenges faced by Darfur’s 1.4 million displaced. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: Sudan, JEM-Bashar initial an agreement on Darfur conflict

24 March: Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Mohamed Basher (JEM-Bashar) on Sunday initialed an agreement on three important files, announced the joint mediation. Read more.

Blue Nile, South Kordofan, and Abyei

Reuters: Sudan ready to talk with southern rebels – Defence minister

20 March: Sudan made its first offer to hold direct talks with rebels on its southern border with South Sudan on Wednesday. Read more.

Sudan Tribune: Sudan abandons 50-50 power sharing demand for Abyei administration

22 March: The Khartoum government is reported to have abandoned its demand to hold 50% of the positions in the administration of Abyei, the main area of dispute along the international border between Sudan and South Sudan. Read more.

Last week in Parliament

Ian Lucas (Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.”

Lynne Featherstone (Liberal Democrat): “I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for International Development.

“We are deeply concerned by the plight of civilians caught up in the fighting in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. Around 900,000 people have been displaced or severely affected by conflict since it began in June 2011. Although limited access means that we are unable to make a detailed assessment of the humanitarian situation, evidence received, including from refugees arriving in South Sudan and Ethiopia, points to a level of food, insecurity among those remaining in the conflict zones. We are working with the UN and other agencies to ensure all options for access are explored, and are also ready to make further funding available to meet the needs of people in all areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile as soon as access is possible.”

Cathy Jamieson (Labour): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet with the Sudanese Ambassador to discuss the detention of opposition party member Mohammed Zain al-Abdeen and to request that he receives adequate medical care with regard to his poor health.”

Mark Simmonds (Conservative): “We are concerned at the case of Mr Mohamed Zain Al-Abdeen. Officials at our embassy in Khartoum are in contact with Mr Al-Abdeen’s family to discuss the details of his detention and his welfare, most recently meeting them on 6 March. We have raised his case with senior officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will continue to do so. As Professor Osman is also a dual national, we have requested consular access twice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are deeply concerned that we have had no response to these requests. Embassy consular officials will continue to press strongly for access, and have issued another request for access on 7 March. We await their response.

“We will continue to monitor this case closely, and look for further opportunities to raise our concerns about this case, as well as looking for opportunities for co-ordinating action with our international partners in Sudan. As well as raising our concern over consular access with the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum, we will also seek to raise this case with the Sudanese ambassador in London at the next available opportunity.”