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 The government controls the State capital of Damazin while most fighters loyal to SPLM-North seem to have withdrawn to their base in the south of the State, Kurmuk.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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Britain to strengthen trade ties with Sudan

Britain's minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham, said that Britain is keen to strengthen its trade links with Sudan despite the US sanctions, and the pending arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir over the Darfur conflict.

"One of our top priorities is to increase trade with different countries around the world, particularly in Africa. The trade we have with Sudan at the moment is very good. Our bilateral trade is well over £100 million but we feel the scope for that trade can increase,” said Bellingham during a conference in Khartoum.

Bellingham told reporters that the oil trade was "very important", but also said that British oil producers were, "lagging behind in the exploration and exploitation of oil all over Sudan," where there is great potential.

It is estimated that Sudan produces approximately 500,000 b/d, and has reserves of 6 billion barrels between its north and south divide. More recently commercial trade with Sudan has been made difficult due to the US sanctions against Khartoum imposed, in 1997, on grounds of cultivating international terrorism.

"There are no UK sanctions, there are US sanctions," said Bellingham and maintained that Britain still wants to see “more UK banks taking a positive view toward Sudan.” In addition to the sanctions, the International Criminal Court (ICC) added three genocide counts to existing charges against Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Talking about the outstanding arrest warrants, Bellingham said that the British government supports the ICC’s decision and encourages the government of Sudan to “collaborate with the court over the existing arrest warrants,” before adding that Britain does not have an “argument with the Sudanese people," and therefore feels it would be "wrong" for Britain "not to encourage the trade because trade equals wealth creation, jobs, prosperity, sustainability."

Source: Middle East Online

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