Sudan no longer recognises SPLM-North

Sudan's government has announced that it no longer recognises the existence of one of the key opposition parties, SPLM-North. Soldiers loyal to the party have been fighting government forces in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. It is thought that the SPLM-North party has close ties with the rebels in South Sudan, who are partly responsible for the country's new found independence.

In related news, South Sudan has said that it plans to relocate its capital from Juba to Ramciel. The new capital will come under the jurisdiction of the national government rather than the State. According to a number of sources, the government recognises that the move may cause ethnic tensions and has therefore said that the transfer process will take place in stages.

Only two months ago, Sudan's government signed an agreement with the opposition party aimed at finding a resolution to conflicts in the two states. Since then, violence has broken out in Blue Nile between Sudan's army and fighters loyal to SPLM-North. The newest outbreaks follow three months of clashes in Southern Kordofan.

A senior official at the Information Ministry, Rabie Abd al Atti, confirmed that the government no longer recognised SPLM-North. He did not speculate about the allegations of mass arrests but said that if any of SPLM-North's supporters wanted to carry out political activities they would be subject to arrest.

The crackdown follows President Omar Al-Bashir's declaration of a state of emergency in Blue Nile and the expulsion of leader of SPLM-North, Malik Agar, from his elected post as State governor. The government controls the State capital of Damazin while most fighters loyal to SPLM-North seem to have withdrawn to their base in the south of the State, Kurmuk.

Sudan has made allegation against South Sudan of supporting the SPLM-North fighters, a charge the latter denies.

Sources: BBC News, Sudan Tribute, Sudan Vision

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Sudan: Abyei on fire

According to the UN, the town of Abyei has been set on fire. Earlier today, the UN Security Council called on North Sudan to immediately withdraw its armed forces from the region. It appears the situation has since deteriorated, with reports of looting and violence spreading throughout the region.

Abyei was granted a special status under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the two decade civil war between the North and the South. Terms under the agreement stipulate that both sides have to keep their troops out until a referendum to determine Abyei's future.

The UN Mission in Sudan (Unmis) released a statement saying it "strongly condemns the burning and looting currently being perpetrated by armed elements in Abyei town". Unimis emphasised that the North's troops were "responsible for maintaining law and order in the areas they control", urging Khartoum to "intervene to stop these criminal acts".

Speaking about the situation in Sudan, French ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, said the North army's military operation “threatens to undermine the mutual commitment of the parties to avoid a return to war.”

The army, however, remains defiant and has vowed to hold territory it seized in the disputed region, directly ignoring UN's calls for withdrawal.

Sources: BBC News, KBC, AFP, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.

Sudan bombs Darfur village

According to the UN, Sudan has carried out an air strike mission on a village in the western region of Darfur. A number of the group's officials are trying to make their way to the Sukamir area in north Darfur to gauge the situation.

The UN believes that pro-government Arab militias are trying to cleanse the region of non-Arab residence. It is estimated that as many as 300,000 people have been killed in the strike.

UN's deligation in Darfur, Unamid, released a statement on Wednesday 18th May, saying jet planes struck Sukamir, located near Kuma, on Tuesday. It also said a team had been sent to the area "to collect information on possible casualties and newly displaced persons". The statement confirmed that UN flights to the regions of Shangil Tobaya, Fanga Suk and others in north Darfur have been suspended.

Khartoum has denied knowledge of the strike, which was similar to the one on Sunday 15th May when the town of Labado and the village of Esheraya in southern Darfur came under bombardment.

Head of Unamid Ibrahim Gambari has voiced concern about the situation, saying: "I call upon all parties to exercise the utmost restraint in the use of lethal force."

Citing “security threats,” the Sudan's government restricted all movement of peacekeepers in South Darfur state beyond a 15 km radius from Nyala, the state capital.

Sources: BBC News, AFP, Bloomberg

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.

Sudan: SPLM rejects Ahmad Haroun's win

Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM) has officially rejected the election victory of North Sudan's ruling National Congress Party's (NCP) candidate, Ahmad Haroun, on account of alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Haroun was declared the winner of the governorship poll in the oil-rich South Kordofan State, defeating his closest opponent and SPLM's candidate Abdul Aziz Al-Hilu by some 6,500 votes. SPLM said the vote was rigged.

Haroun is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly mobilising Arab militias to commit genocide, against black Africans residing in Darfur, during his time as a minister in the region in 2003-4. He has contested the allegations, saying they were not ture.

Speaking on behalf of the party yesterday 15th May, Head of SPLM, Yasir Arman, noted: “We will not accept these results because the vote was rigged.” Experts fear that this latest incident might provoke violence in the region where more than 1.5 million people have died during the decades of conflict.

Many believe that the ongoing tensions between the North and the South - quelled by a 2005 peace deal which paved the way for the South's independence - will flare-up again if various frustrated groups and individuals take up-arms once more.

Speaking to the BBC an official from the Justice Africa think-tank, Hafiz Mohamed, said: "These people were fighting for 20 years and their aspirations are not fulfilled...The way things are going, it's leading to a deadlock, which will end up with people carrying arms to release their frustration…If it starts, no-one can stop it – it will affect the south, it will affect the north. With the war in Darfur, we are heading for dangerous times."

Sources: BBC News, Los Angeles Times, Sudan Tribute, Sudan Vision

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.

At least 70 killed during clashes in South Sudan

Reports have emerged that at least 70 people have been killed during two days of fighting between South Sudan's army and rebels in three oil-producing states in the south. According to Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) spokesman the fighting broke out in Unity and Upper Nile states on Thursday 17th March.

The spokesman said that at least 70 people were killed during the clashes, including 34 South Sudan soldiers and 36 members of a rebel group led by former general George Athor.

Last week, after similar clashes in Jonglei state, South Sudan's government accused the North's President Omar Al-Bashir of trying to destabilise the South before it declares independence in July. An estimated 99 per cent of South Sudanese backed secession in January's referendum, part of a 2005 peace treaty between the North and the South after decades of conflict.

The conflict between SPLA and Athor's rebels erupted in April last year after the latter alleged fraud in State elections. The rebel leader, however, agreed to a ceasefire earlier this year.

Yet, shortly before the week-long referendum South Sudan's government accused the North of using Athor to derail the smooth running of the vote. Both the rebel leader and Khartoum dismissed the allegations as baseless. The ongoing conflict between the Noth and the South has forced Juba to suspend talks with Khartoum about the impending secession. It is yet unclear when and if the talks will be resumed.

Sources: BBC News, RTT News, AFP, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.

UN Security Council concerned for Sudan's oil rich Abyei region

The UN Security Council has expressed concern about the situation in Sudan's oil rich Abyei region, where a referendum on self-determination is expected to take place on January 9th 2011.

In a statement, approved by all its 15 members, the Council urged Sudan to reach an agreement on Abyei and appease the mounting tension in the region. In a separate development, the Council welcomed the conclusion of a peaceful registration process for the referendum in South Sudan. The head of UN peacekeeping, Alain LeRoy, said that although the situation in Southern Sudan appears to have stabilised the region remains fragile. He also noted that the security situation could become compromised during and after the referendum.

"As the Council is aware, we are working on options for a possible augmentation of U.N. troops in Sudan, to prevent any deterioration in the security situation after the referendum, and to increase our capacity to monitor possible ceasefire violations and protect civilians throughout the mission area," said LeRoy.

The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, told the Security Council that a peaceful referendum is essential in order to establish long-term peace and stability in Sudan. She added that if referendum protocol is followed polling will commence on schedule, but said that status of Abyei remains unresolved.

"Any resolution regarding the future of the Abyei area must respect the legally affirmed rights of the people of that region and it must be reached with the consent of both parties. We also face additional upcoming challenges, including the effective conduct of the Southern Sudan referendum itself," said Rice.

Sources: Voice of America, Global Security, UN

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.