tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201934922024-03-07T10:04:54.061-08:00The DARFUR Blog"The United Nations has called it the greatest crisis in the world. The United States calls it genocide."EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-12604352214584268552019-11-04T03:24:00.000-08:002019-11-04T03:24:38.251-08:00The Longest Genocide in History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliPbt9q-idaU8pPkpDT9AVLP50kvSulGmnKPDhuDzFdrRdSZz7DK-kHAfWmV2fTCAg2QZMxhl8s904kkCjI2dehCR7DEPoWudyquAdUFVWeeP5CWJcYkgh0eKx8byjdDAXbA2/s1600/Darfur_map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliPbt9q-idaU8pPkpDT9AVLP50kvSulGmnKPDhuDzFdrRdSZz7DK-kHAfWmV2fTCAg2QZMxhl8s904kkCjI2dehCR7DEPoWudyquAdUFVWeeP5CWJcYkgh0eKx8byjdDAXbA2/s400/Darfur_map.png" width="372" height="400" data-original-width="326" data-original-height="351" /></a></div><br />
The Darfur Genocide, called the first genocide of the 21st century since 2003 is now over 18 years, the longest genocide in history. The genocide the United Nations and super powers have failed to stop.<br />
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Over 100, 000 people have been massacred so far in the most horrifying gruesome atrocities of human conflict.<br />
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EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-35519477341195811702014-01-06T10:54:00.001-08:002014-01-06T11:07:29.758-08:00South Sudan: Situation Overview<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="http://player.grabnetworks.com/js/Player.js?id=2062337&width=435&height=326&content=vafdd7544b61fd5b80b03b1c699790ded552c1f18"></script><br />
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5 Jan 2014 11:49 Africa/Lagos<br />
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South Sudan: Situation overview<br />
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JUBA, South Sudan, 4 January 2014 / PRNewswire Africa / - Armed hostilities continued between 2 and 4 January 2014, with the heaviest clashes reported between Bor in Jonglei State and Mangalla in Central Equatoria State, and in Mayom County in Unity State. In other parts of the country, including Juba, the situation remained relatively calm but unpredictable. On 3 January, the two main parties to the hostilities sent delegations to Addis Abeba to participate in ceasefire negotiations, but violence continued as of 4 January. In the evening of 4 January, some fighting reportedly occurred in the Jebel area of Juba, though the circumstances remain to be confirmed.<br />
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At least 189,000 people have been displaced since hostilities erupted on 15 December. This includes 62,000 people sheltering in UN peacekeeping bases. The overall figure of people displaced has dropped as previous reported that 32,000 people were in the Ragat area of Unity State have not been confirmed by partners working in the area. In other places the number of displaced has continued to rise, including in Awerial where some 84,000<br />
<br />
people are now estimated to be sheltering. Overall, the displacement figure is still considered an under-estimate, as agencies' access to rural areas struck by violence remains limited.<br />
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<b>The number of South Sudanese seeking shelter in neighbouring<br />
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countries has risen to around 22,610. Some 13,000 people have<br />
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crossed into Uganda since 15 December. Another 5,290 refugees</b><br />
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have arrived in Ethiopia, in addition to some 400 Ethiopian refugees who had been living in South Sudan but who have chosen to return home. In Kenya, 1,650 refugees have been registered in Kakuma camp, with unconfirmed numbers of people arriving in Dadaab camp and Nairobi. Though the number of people who have crossed into Sudan is difficult to verify, aid agencies have reports that around 2,670 people have arrived since 15 December. Some 2,000 people have reportedly arrived in the Abyei area since the start of the violence.<br />
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A multi-sector humanitarian response operation is being coordinated from Juba, with aid agencies scaling up assistance wherever security allows. Active hostilities pose the main access challenge for humanitarian work, with operations in Bor, Jonglei State, severely hampered by the very challenging security environment.<br />
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SOURCE Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in South Sudan <br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><b>5 Jan 2014</b></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">11:49</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411407"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411407"> South Sudan: Situation overview</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">11:30</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411409"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411409"> FCO deeply saddened by murder in Libya</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">11:26</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411408"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411408"> UN PEACEKEEPERS REINFORCING PRESENCE IN SOUTH SUDAN AMID CONTINUED FIGHTING</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" colspan="2"><b>4 Jan 2014</b></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">07:16</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411128"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411128"> RCA: près d'un million de personnes déplacés par les violences interconfessionnelles</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">07:07</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411136"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411136"> Soudan du Sud: mobilisation de l'ONU pour venir en aide aux civils déplacés</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">07:04</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411126"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411126"> RDC: la MONUSCO en alerte au Nord-Kivu après l'assassinat d'un commandant de l'armée congolaise</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">06:38</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411130"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411130"> FCO Minister condemns bomb attack in Somalia</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">05:06</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411131"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411131"> Canada Condemns Bomb Attack in Somalia</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">05:03</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411129"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411129"> WHO and partners launch measles vaccination in Central African Republic</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">04:55</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411132"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411132"> UN PEACEKEEPERS IN DR CONGO ON ALERT AFTER KILLING OF ARMY COMMANDER</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">04:53</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411135"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411135"> SOUTH SUDAN: UN RAMPS UP AID EFFORTS, URGES CONFLICT PARTIES TO ENSURE HUMANITARIAN ACCESS</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">04:50</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411134"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411134"> CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC VIOLENCE DISPLACES NEARLY 1 MILLION, UN AGENCY SAYS</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" colspan="2"><b>3 Jan 2014</b></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">22:05</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411133"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411133"> Soudan du Sud : 30 000 personnes déplacées reçoivent de l'aide à Awerial</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">21:53</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411127"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7411127"> Le Canada condamne l'attentat à la bombe en Somalie</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">14:35</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7410326"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7410326"> A President Remembers the Past to Better the Present in New Novel</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">14:30</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7410323"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7410323"> WORLD Channel Focuses on Fight for Economic Equality</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">13:02</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7410516"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7410516"> République Centrafricaine (RCA) : l'insécurité contraint MSF à réduire ses activités sur l'aéroport de Bangui</a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">12:59</td> <td align="left"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7410528"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=7410528"> Conférence de presse de Mme Valerie Amos, Secrétaire générale adjointe aux affaires humanitaires</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-84047773983167794632012-07-18T09:37:00.000-07:002012-07-18T09:40:34.530-07:00Darfur Diaries: Message From Home<iframe width="300" height="210" src="http://embed.snagfilms.com/embed/player?filmId=c3550dd0-a748-11e0-a92a-0026bb61d036&w=300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br />
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<b>Darfur Diaries: Message From Home Synopsis</b><br />
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The documentary Darfur Diaries: Message from Home features interviews with many victims of the devastating genocide taking place in the area. The filmmakers seek to shine some light on this dark chapter in human history, encouraging people to make a great effort for humanitarian relief in besieged Darfur.<br />
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<b>Directed by:</b><br />
Jen Marlowe<br />
Adam Shapiro<br />
<b>Cast:</b><br />
Abdullah<br />
<br />
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<script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-11291950143313579922012-03-29T11:39:00.001-07:002012-03-29T11:42:00.784-07:00Outrage Over Iraq Welcoming of Wanted War Criminal Bashir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW1ddJ1Q2CcQvhc27MhoemDy2_kaBhQNy_ZYfrNQjbBgQ59WUQ6yE2OGGKufRRAWw9uK2uNwqXLv2iNTsBi6CmytOrPcAzG3ofFo0PlFi39O25400ae2U-HfOnnzKRUnuvqOE-Q/s1600/Sudan_Bashir.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW1ddJ1Q2CcQvhc27MhoemDy2_kaBhQNy_ZYfrNQjbBgQ59WUQ6yE2OGGKufRRAWw9uK2uNwqXLv2iNTsBi6CmytOrPcAzG3ofFo0PlFi39O25400ae2U-HfOnnzKRUnuvqOE-Q/s400/Sudan_Bashir.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725388962769993314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wanted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir</span><br /><br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">ADVOCACY GROUP CALLS ON UNITED STATES TO EXPRESS OUTRAGE OVER IRAQ WELCOMING OF WANTED WAR CRIMINAL BASHIR</span><br /><br />(Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide denounced Iraq for allowing the visit of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, and called upon the United States to express outrage over the visit. Bama Athreya, United to End Genocide’s Executive Director, made the following statement:<br />“Is this what the United States went to war in Iraq for -- to allow a wanted war criminal to visit? The U.S. government should issue a statement of outrage.<br />“This is the third visit of Bashir to a close U.S. ally in recent months and should be seen as a slap in the face to U.S. standing, if not outright U.S. commitment to justice for one of the world’s worst criminals. Nor are the consequences of this simply historical. Even today Omar al-Bashir continues to drop bombs indiscriminately on the people of Sudan and to put hundreds of thousands at risk of starvation by refusing to allow humanitarian aid into his own country.<br /><br />“Bashir should not be visiting countries like Malawi, Libya, and Iraq that the United States has so robustly supported. The next headline we see should not be about a war criminal being welcomed by a U.S. ally, but rather that Bashir is welcomed to the seat of the International Criminal Court in the Hague.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Background:</span><br /><br />On March 28th, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir traveled to Baghdad, Iraq for an Arab League Summit. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Darfur, where over 300,000 people have died since 2003. Iraq is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court so does not have a legal obligation to arrest Bashir, however such visits have resulted in diplomatic pressure and canceled visits to non-signatory countries in the past. The United States recently announced that it is suspending $350 million in aid to Malawi under the Millennium Challenge Corporation, citing deteriorating economic and political conditions, but also concern for Malawi allowing a visit by Omar al-Bashir as a contributing factor. Ongoing violence against civilians in Abyei, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur regions of Sudan displaced over half a million people last year and USAID’s Famine Early Warning System has warned of hundreds of thousands of people being at risk of emergency hunger levels one step below famine as the Sudanese government continues to block access for international humanitarian aid in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.<br />###<br /><br />The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now United to End Genocide. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities. The merger creates the world's largest anti-genocide activist organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $3 trillion in assets under management.<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" count="vertical" via="247nigeria">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/profile.php?id=100000165695211"><img src="http://www.socialmediabuttons.com/images/facebook4.gif" title="By SocialMediaButtons.com" border="0" /></a>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-28970730452729273482012-03-15T08:59:00.002-07:002012-03-15T09:05:50.987-07:00The AU Welcomes the Progress Made In the Negotiations Between Sudan And South Sudan15 Mar 2012 12:47 Africa/Lagos<br /> <br /><br />THE AU WELCOMES THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN<br /><br />ADDIS ABABA, March 15, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Mr. Jean Ping, welcomes the agreement reached by the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, on the ‘Framework Agreement on the Status of Nationals of the other State' and the Agreement on the Demarcation of the Boundary and Related Issues', in Addis Ababa on 12 March 2012, under the auspices of the African Union High level Implementation Panel (AUHIP).<br /><br /><br />The ‘Agreement on the Demarcation of the Boundary and Related Issues' establishes institutional mechanisms responsible for overseeing and carrying out the demarcation process of Africa's longest land border.<br /><br /><br />The ‘Framework Agreement on the Status of Nationals of the other State' sets up a Joint High Level Committee, which shall oversee the adoption and implementation of joint measures relating to nationals of the other State. The Agreement also accords nationals of each state the freedom of residence, freedom of movement, freedom to undertake economic activity, and the freedom to acquire and dispose of property.<br /><br /><br />Both these Agreements were initialed by the leaders of the teams negotiating the arrangements on post‐secession issues between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. They will be signed by President Omar Hassan el Bashir and President Salva Kiir Mayardit, at a Summit to be held in Juba in the coming weeks.<br /><br /><br />The Chairperson of the Commission is especially pleased to note the new spirit of compromise and cooperation expressed by the two Parties, and their reaffirmation of the principle of mutual viability, which has permeated this round of negotiations. The AU, through the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), has been insisting on this principle of mutual viability as the underlying principle for the negotiations between the two States. The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the acceptance by the Parties of the need to approach the negotiations as partners, not as adversaries, and to seek win‐win solutions to their relations. The two states are bound by history and geography to seek solutions that recognize their common interests, and this new spirit of cooperation will allow them to speed up their search for a comprehensive settlement to all aspects of their relations, in the interests of the peoples of both states.The Chairperson of the Commission recognizes that the acceptance of the principle of mutual viability marks only the first step in “rebooting” relations between the two neighbouring states. The challenge now is to ensure that this new attitude is sustained, and is translated into practical improvements in their relations. This would require that the two States address the security issues that currently continue to pose a major threat to peace in the region, and to address the issue of oil and related matters, including the resumption of oil production in South Sudan, to prevent any further damage to the economies of both states. The AU is committed to supporting the Parties as they address their challenges in this regard, and calls on the international community to extend its support to the Parties.<br /><br /><br />The Chairperson of the Commission expresses his continued appreciation and gratitude to the AUHIP, which is chaired by former President Thabo Mbeki and includes former Presidents Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, for their tireless work in bringing about this change in the Parties attitude to the negotiations. The Agreements signed yesterday mark a turning point in the negotiations, and will enable the Parties to speed up their negotiations on all outstanding matters in their relations. He also extends appreciation to the team that has been working in support of the AUHIP, for their invaluable contribution to the search for a peaceful solution that would allow the two states to live in peace. The Chairperson reiterates his commitment to sparing no effort in support of the AUHIP and the Parties in their search for a comprehensive solution to all matters.<br /><br /><br />Source: African Union High level Implementation Panel (AUHIP).<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Top Report</span><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=5057725">CoreLogic® Reports More Than 860,000 Completed Foreclosures Nationally in the Last Twelve Months</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=5057857">The Dow Jones Credit Suisse Hedge Fund Index Finished Up 1.61% in February</a> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=5057860">Akerman Senterfitt Survey Indicates Improving Economic Conditions Behind Rising Hopes for Real Estate Market in 2012</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=5057882">Truly Madly Deeply in Love With Television: Nation Spends More Than Two Months a Year in Front of Screens</a> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=5057755">Kbb.com Editors Name 10 Best Sedans Under $25,000</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?packageid=1003420">Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Move Higher</a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial;color:black;background:white"> </span></span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=5056543">USAA, Amazon.com, Costco, Virgin America, Apple, Trader Joe's and Wegmans Among the Highest in Customer Loyalty in the 2012 Satmetrix® Net Promoter® Benchmark Study</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=5056932">Worldwide Trailer Satellite for Warner Bros. 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They called on the Government of Sudan to bring the perpetrators to justice and stressed that there must be an end to impunity for those who attack peacekeepers.<br /><br /><br />The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for UNAMID and called on all parties in Darfur to co-operate with the mission.<br /><br /><br />Source: UNITED NATIONS<br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time </strong> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>24 Jan 2012</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">06:03</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4951952"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4951952"> UN Security Council press statement on killing of peacekeeper in Darfur</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">05:21</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4951813"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4951813"> Concluding Statement by an IMF Mission to Benin</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>23 Jan 2012</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">14:37</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4950613"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4950613"> The African Union strongly condemns the attack against an UNAMID patrol in South Darfur</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">12:37</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4949812"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4949812"> Nigeria / Exécution sommaire / Un journaliste assassiné pour avoir couvert les attentats suicides de Kano</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">12:32</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4949700"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4949700"> Nigeria / Targeted killing / TV reporter gunned down while covering Kano suicide bombings</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">07:35</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4947894"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4947894"> Nigerian reporter murdered while covering bombings</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">07:26</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4947872"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4947872"> The African Union strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in Kano, N igeria</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">05:26</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4947452"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4947452"> Canada Deplores Recent Attacks in Nigeria</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">05:14</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4947412"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4947412"> Graves accès de violences au Nigeria (21.01.12)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" count="vertical" via="247nigeria">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/profile.php?id=100000165695211"><img src="http://www.socialmediabuttons.com/images/facebook4.gif" title="By SocialMediaButtons.com" border="0" /></a>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-5785310366763931842011-12-07T05:20:00.000-08:002011-12-07T05:23:29.694-08:00Sudan: Faith Leaders, Activists Deliver 45,000 Postcards To Secretary Clinton<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHf1W8lxsMpxa1vjJ0Cg1Q2phZYXgZHKUZeqVO2cacmtY96spyjOLsthM_l4-4fSy3YG38sRcB2jPtPUGsZ4b8Naau_voAN2YpYcDz_TQnGKpNqPuJtPZIV3JV5waJB659rUoEDg/s1600/postcardslide-459x281.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHf1W8lxsMpxa1vjJ0Cg1Q2phZYXgZHKUZeqVO2cacmtY96spyjOLsthM_l4-4fSy3YG38sRcB2jPtPUGsZ4b8Naau_voAN2YpYcDz_TQnGKpNqPuJtPZIV3JV5waJB659rUoEDg/s400/postcardslide-459x281.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683364500397467458" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Faith Leaders, Activists Deliver 45,000 Postcards To Secretary Clinton Demanding Stronger U.S. Action To Stop Attacks On Sudanese Civilians</strong><br /><br /><br />Meeting with Special Ambassador to Sudan Focused on New Reports of Mass Atrocities Ordered by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir <br /><br /><br />(Washington, DC) – Faith-based and activist leaders delivered 45,000 postcards to the State Department today, calling on Secretary Clinton to take strong action to stop attacks on innocent civilians in Sudan and hold its President Omar al-Bashir fully accountable. <br /><br />The action came on the heels of news reports that Sudan’s armed forces attacked and are occupying the South Sudanese the town of Jaw, an area providing refuge to victims of previous attacks in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdCILUaYeAVuHiXHcw6LiOhcqLve6NVC8RZL57kRJZ5J394IAihef1Xz-4e_MP8bXdVmSlkgS86ZD7LcsmOIt4lcL5B7yIRiA_UmMzDX4yv3DrZQs4Dxl14hJA3zJVE-gediAwQ/s1600/Tom+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdCILUaYeAVuHiXHcw6LiOhcqLve6NVC8RZL57kRJZ5J394IAihef1Xz-4e_MP8bXdVmSlkgS86ZD7LcsmOIt4lcL5B7yIRiA_UmMzDX4yv3DrZQs4Dxl14hJA3zJVE-gediAwQ/s400/Tom+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683364496365851970" /></a><br /><strong>Tom Andrews, President of United to End Genocide and Special Ambassador to Sudan, Princeton Lyman</strong><br /><br />“Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir has led attacks on civilians, forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in the last six months, and is now occupying a South Sudan village where his victims sought refuge,” stated Tom Andrews, President of United to End Genocide. “These atrocities must be met with action by the Obama Administration, not its current tepid policy of holding out normalization as a reward for Sudan’s good behavior.” Andrews, along with representatives from the Nuba Mountains and faith organizations met with Special Ambassador to Sudan Princeton Lyman, and expressed the concerns shared by many Americans. <br /><br />“Activists across the country are joining our ‘Stop Bashir!’ campaign to amplify the voices of men, women and children in Darfur, in South Kordofan, in Blue Nile and in South Sudan who are being attacked, terrorized and driven from their homes by Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir,” stated Andrews. <br /><br />“We will not stop the pressure until Secretary Clinton demonstrates the leadership needed to stop these brutal attacks.”Anyone can send an electronic version of this postcard in just a few seconds by visiting www.stopbashir.org. This year alone, more than 500,000 people have been displaced in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and the Government of Sudan is blocking access to aid, setting up a likely humanitarian crisis. <br /><br />United to End Genocide is calling for the Administration to: Press for full and unimpeded access for international humanitarian organizations to South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur ;Push the United Nations Security Council to demand the Government of Sudan immediately cease conducting offensive military flights in and over South Kordofan and Blue Nile;Push the United Nations Security Council to authorize a peacekeeping force for South Kordofan and Blue Nile that contains a human rights monitoring component along with the appropriate resources and mandate necessary to protect civilians;Push for the expansion of the existing United Nations arms embargo for Darfur to all of Sudan;Hold perpetrators of violence accountable by strengthening and expanding U.S. and UN sanctions against those responsible for violence in South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Abyei; andDemand an independent international investigation into crimes committed against civilians in Abyei, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan, preferably through the International Criminal Court. <br /><br /><strong>### </strong><br /><br />The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now <a href="http://www.stopbashir.org/">United to End Genocide</a>. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide activist organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $3 trillion in assets under management.<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="247nigeria">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100000165695211"><img src="http://www.socialmediabuttons.com/images/facebook4.gif" title="By SocialMediaButtons.com" border="0" /></a>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-33452537360258357662011-12-03T03:25:00.000-08:002011-12-03T03:26:05.417-08:00Arrest Warrant for Defense Minister is Good. But...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuXqbQY85vpM_njXigFyvYVE4UeYFR5g774kz_MY0HCtbvFygf3Tui1lYHZyM7ImYlgvQzwa6grdNm5CmAu1tAXOdi4Z_3PtqlLwRSteAXnoofptxzk0uRsok5-yvUO3WefitLQ/s1600/omar_2068635b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuXqbQY85vpM_njXigFyvYVE4UeYFR5g774kz_MY0HCtbvFygf3Tui1lYHZyM7ImYlgvQzwa6grdNm5CmAu1tAXOdi4Z_3PtqlLwRSteAXnoofptxzk0uRsok5-yvUO3WefitLQ/s400/omar_2068635b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681859615154624098" /></a><br /><strong>President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide.</strong><br /><br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2011 <br /><br /><br />RIGHTS GROUP CALLS NEW ICC ARREST WARRANT FOR SUDAN GOVT LEADER MODEST BUT INSUFFICENT STEP Seeks U.S. Leadership for True Justice in Sudan <br /><br />(Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews released the following statement today in response to the International Criminal Court’s request for an arrest warrant for Sudanese Defense Minister General Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussein, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur: “The ICC’s action is a modest but insufficient step toward holding perpetrators accountable for heinous crimes they have committed against the people of Darfur. <br /><br />The fact remains that the worst perpetrators that are wanted by the ICC continue to commit these crimes with impunity and travel freely around the world. <br /><br />Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir and his cronies continue to commit atrocities that have displaced more than 500,000 people from Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Abyei this year, and these attacks show no signs of slowing despite the ICC warrants against them. “Because of failure of the UN Security Council to act, only crimes committed in Darfur are allowed to be pursued by the ICC, leaving the mounting atrocities in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Abyei beyond the reach of ICC prosecutors. <br /><br />“The people of Sudan deserve the true justice that will only come when the Obama administration and international community stand up to Bashir’s murderous regime. <br /><br />The Obama Administration must immediately impose strong sanctions on Bashir and other leaders responsible for attacks against civilians – not just in Darfur but everywhere atrocities are being committed. <br /><br />The administration must also play a leadership role to forge UN Security Council action including sanctions, the deployment of a civilian protection force, an arms embargo for all of Sudan and an ICC investigation into the atrocities still being committed in South Kordofan and Blue Nile that will make it possible for all perpetrators to be brought to justice.” <br /><br />### <br /><br />The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now United to End Genocide. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide activist organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $3 trillion in assets under management.<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="247nigeria">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100000165695211"><img src="http://www.socialmediabuttons.com/images/facebook4.gif" title="By SocialMediaButtons.com" border="0" /></a>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-29545460353791336402011-11-22T11:09:00.000-08:002011-11-23T01:09:34.375-08:00Latest News from Darfur<iframe frameborder="0" width="445" height="333" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x1i9m2"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1i9m2_darfur-george-galloway_news" target="_blank">Darfur - George Galloway</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/inet" target="_blank">inet</a></i><br /><br />21 Nov 2011 06:35 Africa/Lagos<br /><br /><br />Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief<br /><br />EL FASHER (DARFUR), November 21, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Media Brief / 20 November 2011<br /><br /><br />UNAMID supports sports competition in North Darfur<br /><br />In its continued efforts to engage the local community, UNAMID presented today sports equipment to five secondary schools from Abu Shouk, Al Salaam and Zamzam internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in North Darfur, which will participate in the Back to School Tournament. The kits included balls, nets, footwear and clothes for female and male volleyball and football teams.<br /><br /><br />UNAMID Director of Communications and Public Information Kemal Saiki said that “UNAMID has been very active working for the community, essentially for the youth. We are keen to see the youth engage in activities that promote competition in a peaceful way”.<br /><br /><br />On behalf of the Principals of the schools and the Umdas (community leaders) from the three camps, Ibrahim Alkheed Shekhadeen, Camp Manager for Abu Shouk and Al Salaam camps, stated that this donation will strengthen relations between the IDP community and the Mission. “We will continue to work with all youth in the camps, by uniting we build peace,” he said.<br /><br /><br />The tournament which begins on 21 November will run for three weeks between the secondary schools in Abu Shouk, Al Salaam and Zamzam IDP camps.<br /><br /><br /><br />UNAMID patrols<br /><br />UNAMID military conducted 139 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night and humanitarian escort patrols covering 78 villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. UNAMID Police advisors conducted 101 patrols in villages and IDP camps.<br /><br /><br />Source: United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Top Topics</span><br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time </strong> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>22 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">12:18</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4846613"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4846613"> Ozwald Boateng sets up new charity to fund African infrastructure projects</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">05:04</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4845113"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4845113"> Ford Foundation Announces Jubilee Transparency Award Winners</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">00:35</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4844612"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4844612"> Ford Foundation Announces Jubilee Transparency Award Winners</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>21 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">06:39</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4840133"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4840133"> Malabo to host third Africa –South America (ASA) senior officials meeting</a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time </strong> </td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>21 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 17:00</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4842018&packageid=1032217">Statement from the Office of the Trustee for the Liquidation of MF Global Inc.<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>17 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 18:33</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4836475&packageid=1032217">CME Group Statement on MF Global Segregation Violation<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 18:17</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4836388&packageid=1032217">ICE Clear U.S. Completes Transfer of MF Global Positions<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 00:52</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4835293&packageid=1032217">National Inflation Association Releases Statement on MF Global Missing Funds<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>16 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 22:20</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4835039&packageid=1032217">Josh Zeitz Joins MWW Group as Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 13:00</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4833803&packageid=1032217">LianDi Clean Technology Inc. Reports Financial Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2012<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>15 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 00:20</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4830718&packageid=1032217">Klehr Harrison WARN Act Lawsuit Against MF Global Seeks $25 Million<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>2 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 14:30</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4812799&packageid=1032217">Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day Highlights: Neurocrine Biosciences, Bemis, Societie Generale, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 01:55</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4811992&packageid=1032217">Hagens Berman Investigates MF Global Following Bankruptcy Filing<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>1 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 22:58</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4811859&packageid=1032217">Block & Leviton LLP Investigates MF Global Holdings Ltd.<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 21:47</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4811770&packageid=1032217">Arlington Asset Investment Corp. Eliminates MF Global Exposure<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 21:48</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4811579&packageid=1032217">Grant Park Funds Responds to MF Global's Bankruptcy Announcement<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 04:43</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4809733&packageid=1032217">Statement From the Office of the Trustee for the Liquidation of MF Global Inc.<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>31 Oct 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 22:43</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4809432&packageid=1032217">Liquidation Proceeding For MF Global Inc. Undertaken By Securities Investor Protection Corporation<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 15:47</td> <td><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4807876&packageid=1032217">CME Group Limits MF Global Trading to Liquidation Only<img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/spacer.gif" alt=" " border="0" width="10" height="5" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time </strong> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>21 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">06:35</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4840132"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4840132"> Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>17 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:31</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4836330"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4836330"> Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">12:29</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4836232"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4836232"> UNAMID organises dialogue on women and peace in Darfur</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">05:20</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4835498"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4835498"> USA / Update on Darfur</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>16 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">14:25</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4834564"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4834564"> AU Chairperson receives Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>15 Nov 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">06:34</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4831205"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4831205"> Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General on recent tensions between Sudan and South Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">05:27</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4831157"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4831157"> Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General on recent tensions between Sudan and South Sudan</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" count="vertical" via="247nigeria">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/profile.php?id=100000165695211"><img src="http://www.socialmediabuttons.com/images/facebook4.gif" title="By SocialMediaButtons.com" border="0" /></a>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-31306069628644308392011-11-19T00:41:00.000-08:002011-11-19T00:42:49.005-08:00The Obama Administration Must Change Policy on Sudan Now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5Jm9feRvawB24iFlmIySrCBasX1njl1BdbyOwDjEbicmswQalBhLUNEWbQi08GYEtxXvMJhSTgJxv-8J_c9R8MarQKbH9SvIyMC5QT8sRVPkk6fsEcYPIPcY81r66VD0-yAUfA/s1600/Sudan+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5Jm9feRvawB24iFlmIySrCBasX1njl1BdbyOwDjEbicmswQalBhLUNEWbQi08GYEtxXvMJhSTgJxv-8J_c9R8MarQKbH9SvIyMC5QT8sRVPkk6fsEcYPIPcY81r66VD0-yAUfA/s400/Sudan+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674101357917134978" /></a><br /><br />Act of War by Sudan Requires Change Of Course For Obama Administration’s Sudan Policy<br /><br />Action Not Words is Needed Now<br /><br />(Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews released the following statement today condemning Omar al-Bashir’s attacks on civilians in South Sudan and calling on the United States to hold Bashir and other perpetrators responsible for their crimes:<br /><br /><br />“Omar al-Bashir has driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in the last six months, and now he is attacking these same men, women and children in the South Sudan villages where they have sought refuge. These attacks are not only an escalation of Bashir’s brutality against civilians, they are an act of war against a sovereign nation whose independence the United States hailed and celebrated only four months ago. What more evidence does Secretary Clinton and the Obama administration need that its Sudan policy has failed and needs to be fundamentally changed? The United States needs to be demanding accountability not offering more accommodation in light of these latest atrocities. Words are simply not enough.<br /><br /> <br />“The Bashir regime’s actions – terrorizing and killing civilians, bombing refugee areas and signaling its willingness to go to war with South Sudan – must be met with action by the Obama Administration, not its current tepid policy of holding out normalization as a reward for Sudan’s good behavior.<br /><br /> <br />“The Obama Administration must immediately impose strong sanctions on Bashir and other leaders responsible for attacks against civilians, and play a leadership role to forge UN Security Council action including sanctions, the deployment of a civilian protection force, an arms embargo for all of Sudan and an investigation into the atrocities still being committed in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.”<br /><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Background:</span><br /><br />On Tuesday, the Sudanese military bombed the town of Gaffa in South Sudan where approximately 400 civilians from Blue Nile had taken refuge. Two days later, Bashir’s forces bombed Yida, a refugee camp in South Sudan where over 15,000 civilians from South Kordofan and Blue Nile have fled. Today, according to the South Sudan army, Bashir’s forces attacked a military base in the South killing at least 18 and wounding another 73. This week’s attacks are the first military assaults on South Sudan since its independence and represent a serious breach of international law and could lead to a renewal of conflict. Since the beginning of the year, Bashir’s regime have forced over half a million civilians to flee their homes in Darfur, South Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile.<br /><br /> <br /><br />###<br /><br /> <br />The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now United to End Genocide. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide activist organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $3 trillion in assets under management.<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="247nigeria">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100000165695211"><img src="http://www.socialmediabuttons.com/images/facebook4.gif" title="By SocialMediaButtons.com" border="0" /></a>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-37364975320123347762011-09-22T04:18:00.000-07:002011-09-22T04:31:30.574-07:00Human Rights Leader Faults Obama Administration for Failure In Sudan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-J5nt9tby81BUJsaqWetYMaahzRNGP2c0nu3tcRM-T8gGQ9_EfaS0Nz-OUdWG16b9YY2MW9yHZQF2AeSBCiEao6S0pOJ9rjErXPg4N3FC1Kkm_9juJ2kgaxZDxYeWkrHN6Wa/s1600/Obama.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-J5nt9tby81BUJsaqWetYMaahzRNGP2c0nu3tcRM-T8gGQ9_EfaS0Nz-OUdWG16b9YY2MW9yHZQF2AeSBCiEao6S0pOJ9rjErXPg4N3FC1Kkm_9juJ2kgaxZDxYeWkrHN6Wa/s400/Obama.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655143466553905426" /></a><br />Human Rights Leader Faults Obama Administration for Failure In Sudan – Could Cost Thousands Of Lives <br /> <br />Rejects Current “Normalization” Approach for Tough Sanctions against Indicted War Criminal<br /><br />(Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews today urged policymakers to mandate increased U.S. sanctions and other actions to help halt escalating ethnic-based attacks on civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile by forces backed by Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir. Andrews testified at a House of Representatives’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing, “Sudan: The Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in South Kordofan and Continuing Human Rights Violations in Darfur.”<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bYGms5sLooI3tcN-Dl_cy9_UXEtOcPhQtuds-c7r18Jial8hC8aTJX94vnX9AEsBuq33Lo6HtiY9wMm8teUAKmIyVFNAX-uACFlJbXgzAT8ONeaAARX6GK6izBqL6LsIwaM9/s1600/south+kordofan+map.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bYGms5sLooI3tcN-Dl_cy9_UXEtOcPhQtuds-c7r18Jial8hC8aTJX94vnX9AEsBuq33Lo6HtiY9wMm8teUAKmIyVFNAX-uACFlJbXgzAT8ONeaAARX6GK6izBqL6LsIwaM9/s400/south+kordofan+map.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655144721691875890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq32Oj3o1u5L1v3Ti7g3axYfc-nlhdmaeuGHHSOQd7uXyxTXGES57i2m0-XKA1Ab24U4Wj-7bNuTUJA9QQDToo8QJth8DK_S4sMyB8nFziFRhbqqkty-8ucpqGRomXLnRbW_6K/s1600/Omar+Bashir.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq32Oj3o1u5L1v3Ti7g3axYfc-nlhdmaeuGHHSOQd7uXyxTXGES57i2m0-XKA1Ab24U4Wj-7bNuTUJA9QQDToo8QJth8DK_S4sMyB8nFziFRhbqqkty-8ucpqGRomXLnRbW_6K/s400/Omar+Bashir.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655144721325730178" /></a>Omar al-Bashir<br /><br /><br />“Omar al-Bashir is repeating the targeted ethnic attacks of Darfur in South Kordofan and Blue Nile where his forces have already killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands displaced with little food and no access to humanitarian aid,” stated Andrews. “Unfortunately, the Obama Administration, by failing to demand accountability and leaving the option open for normalized relations with Sudan, is allowing Omar al-Bashir to get away with murder.”<br /><br />In his testimony, Andrews called on the Obama Administration to:<br /><br />• Expand current sanctions on Bashir and other individuals responsible for atrocities throughout Sudan, as current sanctions are specific to Darfur alone; <br /><br />• Make saving live in Sudan a high priority in dealings with China and other nations that can exert leverage on Bashir and his regime; and<br /><br />• Expend political capital necessary to pass a United Nations Security Council resolution that would expand individual sanctions for perpetrators, expand the existing arms embargo on Darfur to incorporate all of Sudan, expand the mandate of the International Criminal Court to cover the entire country, and authorize an international civilian protection force with the mandate and capacity to accomplish its mission.<br /><br />Andrews thanked the Lantos Human Rights Commission for helping to raise the alarm about ongoing atrocities in Sudan. “The American people need to know the truth about Omar al-Bashir and the atrocities he continues to commit, and this hearing is an important step,” stated Andrews. “I urge your leadership in considering legislation that would mandate increased U.S. sanctions and other actions to hold Omar al-Bashir accountable for his heinous actions and protect the millions of men, women and children in South Kordofan and Blue Nile whose lives are at risk right now.” <br />###<br /> <br />The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now United to End Genocide. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $2 trillion in assets under management.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">CONTACT: </span><br />Ann Brown, abrown@annbrowncommunications.com, 301-633-4193<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="247nigeria">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100000165695211"><img src="http://www.socialmediabuttons.com/images/facebook4.gif" title="By SocialMediaButtons.com" border="0" /></a>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-90452293563322565942011-08-04T09:35:00.000-07:002011-08-04T09:36:41.770-07:00GI-NET/SDC Welcomes Presidential Directive on Mass AtrocitiesGI-NET/SDC Welcomes Presidential Directive on Mass Atrocities<br /><br />(Washington, DC) – Tom Andrews, President of Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition issued the following statement welcoming today’s release of the Presidential Directive on Mass Atrocities:<br /><br />“President Obama is exactly right – preventing mass atrocities is very much a core moral responsibility of our nation while also being in our national interest. We welcome the release of the Presidential Directive on Mass Atrocities and steps outlined by the administration to strengthen our nation’s capacity to prevent mass atrocities and genocide. These include ensuring that vital early-warning information about a possible mass atrocity or genocide is able to get from the ground to the highest levels of government decision making.”<br /><br />“Strong action to stop mass atrocities is needed now more than ever. President Bashir of Sudan, wanted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, is now attacking the people of Sudan’s South Kordofan region. Swift action by the United States and its allies is literally a matter of life and death for civilians who are being attacked because of their identity. In Syria, more and more lives are being lost at the hands of government forces. It is imperative that the United States act expeditiously to build and leverage a whole of government response to the world’s worst crimes. Presidential leadership, interagency coordination and high-level prioritization are welcome steps forward.”<br />###<br /><br />The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network merged to create a more powerful voice dedicated to preventing and stopping large-scale, deliberate atrocities against civilians. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities such as Congo and Burma. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $2 trillion in assets under management.<br /><br /><br />CONTACT: <br />Ann Brown, abrown@annbrowncommunications.com, 301-633-4193<br /><br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time </strong> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>3 Aug 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">20:50</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4691096"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4691096"> Sudan Commits to the Original Mandate of the UNAMID, Rejects any Amendments</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">14:37</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4690812"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4690812"> Sudan: seed and tools for half a million people in Darfur</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">11:47</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4690501"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4690501"> Japanese envoy pays courtesy call on EAC Secretary General</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">11:09</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4690472"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4690472"> UN Secretary-General saddened by death of peacekeepers in Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>2 Aug 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">08:14</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4688862"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4688862"> Bangladeshi Workers Who Fled Libya Receive Reintegration Grants</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">06:45</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4688770"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4688770"> Message from UNAMID Joint Special Representative to people of Darfur on occasion of Ramadan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>1 Aug 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">22:20</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4688663"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4688663"> The Perils of Global Intolerance: the United Nations & "Durban III"</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">11:40</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4687899"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4687899"> The African Union High Level Implementation Panel Welcomes the Border Security Agreement between the Sudan and South Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">08:03</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4687192"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4687192"> US Assistant Secretary Michael Posner Travels to Sudan and South Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">07:56</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4687172"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4687172"> UN Secretary-General appoints Haile Menkerios of South Africa Special Envoy for Sudan, South Sudan</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" count="vertical" via="247nigeria">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><a href="http://facebook.com/people/Re-Branding-Nigeria-Clubs/100000165695211"><img src="http://www.socialmediabuttons.com/images/facebook4.gif" title="By SocialMediaButtons.com" border="0" /></a>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-43758491609813323512011-07-26T02:53:00.000-07:002011-07-26T03:17:01.808-07:00Another woman journalist jailed for reporting rape allegations in Sudan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1Dte22s0ap0ehq7UN30WZUAK4V0ANSGu9EiiRw9ik0YavPFleAx3AadAIqI0Ju0DO_0hUoRZNGI3I8YHv0RWdl9fcFuugD5b4e39VNTJx-amHyoMR6T-WRX6wFDBy407nW0H/s1600/censorship-15d3f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1Dte22s0ap0ehq7UN30WZUAK4V0ANSGu9EiiRw9ik0YavPFleAx3AadAIqI0Ju0DO_0hUoRZNGI3I8YHv0RWdl9fcFuugD5b4e39VNTJx-amHyoMR6T-WRX6wFDBy407nW0H/s400/censorship-15d3f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633601954004935794" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.sudantribune.com/Another-Sudanese-journalist-jailed,39642A">Sudan Tribune</a> Sudanese female journalist in a protest against censorship (FILE)<br /><br />25 Jul 2011 16:01 Africa/Lagos<br /><br />Sudan / Another woman journalist jailed for reporting rape allegations<br /><br />PARIS, July 25, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Amal Habani, a woman reporter for the daily Al-Jarida, was today sentenced to a fine of 2,000 pounds (600 euros) or a month in jail for reporting a woman activist's claims that she was raped by members of the security forces. As Habani refused to pay the fine, she was immediately taken to Omdurman women's prison, northwest of the capital, to begin serving the jail sentence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w-FCIjgI9iht-y-Difc_oGgObiab8E-rJTwyg8xooYd4mWpeRDtB3heN2ARxiujnAEOFw71WKVIOXmmWR7UdvrM9DdjEKOudO2xxEhJph4tfV6BupJUTPbQSDR6asXR_XAB3/s1600/sudan-women-protest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w-FCIjgI9iht-y-Difc_oGgObiab8E-rJTwyg8xooYd4mWpeRDtB3heN2ARxiujnAEOFw71WKVIOXmmWR7UdvrM9DdjEKOudO2xxEhJph4tfV6BupJUTPbQSDR6asXR_XAB3/s400/sudan-women-protest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633601955467924722" /></a><br />Photograph of women protesting against rape in war torn Sudan.<a href="http://www.rightsmonitoring.org/2011/03/sudan-the-government-arrested-and-beat-dozens-of-women-protesting-for-the-rights/">Credit: Rights Monitoring Organization</a>.<br /><br />Habani was convicted by Judge Modather Al-Rasheed of the Khartoum media court, who fined her editor, Saadeldin Ibrahim, 5,000 pounds (1,500 euros). Agence France-Presse quoted her lawyer as saying they were found guilty of publishing false information and violating journalistic ethics.<br /><br /><br />She is the second woman journalist working for Al-Jarida to be tried in the past three weeks for reporting human rights activist Safia Ishag's rape allegations. Fatima Ghazali was convicted on 5 July and was taken to Omdurman prison the same day. She was released two days later after paying her fine.<br /><br /><br />Seven other journalists and media contributors are due to be tried or are still the subject of judicial investigations for the same reason. They are Faisal Mohamed Salih, Babikir Omer Al-Garrai, Abdalla Al-Shaik, Mohamed Latif, Faiz Al-Selaik, Mohamed Osman and Dr. Nahid Al-Hassan.<br /><br /><br />More information: http://en.rsf.org/sudan-ten-journalists-hounded-and-18-06-2011,40485.html<br /><br /><br />Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF)<br /><br /><br />26 Jul 2011 07:40 Africa/Lagos<br /> <br /><br />Regional Conference On Migration In Africa Promotes Circular Labour Migration<br /><br />GENEVA, July 26, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Migration experts are meeting this week in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to discuss how Africa and the European Union can benefit from organized labour migration.<br /><br /><br />The conference which opened yesterday, 25 July, 2011, has been organized by the IOM through funds from the EU's AENEAS 2006 programme, which provides financial and technical support for countries on migration and asylum. It is attended by officials from EU, Africa and Canada as well as major international bodies, such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Commission (SADEC)<br /><br /><br />The conference builds on a previous event which took place in 2008, during which IOM with funds from the AENEAS 2006 programme, launched a Labour Migration Project for West Africa (LAMIWA). The project aimed at reversing the negative trends of increased irregular migrations from Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal to Europe, with Libya as the main transit country.<br /><br /><br />The conference is assessing the overall benefits of the LAMIWA programme on the participating countries, namely Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Italy. It also aims to gain understanding of different approaches taken by regional bodies to labour mobility.<br /><br /><br />One of the key areas for discussion is circular migration - a scheme whereby migrant workers from Africa enter the European labour market for a limited period of time in line with specific country entry quotas and then return home once their contracts are over.<br /><br /><br />This scheme will benefit migrants and both origin and the host countries. The countries of origin will benefit from the skills and knowledge acquired by the migrant workers, technology transfer, unemployment reduction and the remittances. Host countries will have access to migrant workers willing to fill short-term labour market needs.<br /><br /><br />Through LAMIWA project, a pilot scheme for circular migration scheme is taking place between Ghana and Italy. As part of the scheme, an initial group of twenty selected Ghanaian migrant workers will depart later this week for Italy where they will spend three months working in the agricultural sector. IOM will provide pre-departure counselling, including information on contract and working conditions as well as return and reintegration assistance in Ghana upon completion of the contract.<br /><br /><br />Apart from initiating circular migration scheme between Ghana and Italy, the funds provided by EU's AENEAS 2006 programme, have enabled IOM to provide assistance to the governments of Ghana and Nigeria in drafting labour migration policies, and support for the two governments' efforts to reduce irregular migration in the region.<br /><br /><br />In addition, AENEAS 2006 funding facilitated IOM to conduct national assessment of labour migration policies, legislation and practices in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Libya.<br /><br /><br />Source: International Office of Migration (IOM)<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time</strong></div><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div><strong></strong><strong>26 Jul 2011</strong></div><div><br /></div><div>05:37 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4682106"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4682106"> Experts to validate report of study on equivalence of certificates in ECOWAS region</a></div><div><br /></div><div> 05:23 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4682105"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4682105"> IMF Statement on South Sudan</a></div><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div>16:01 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4681427"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4681427">Sudan / Another woman journalist jailed for reporting rape allegations</a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>15:52 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4681424"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4681424">Minister Oda reiterates Canada's support to South Sudan</a></div><div><br /></div><div>11:00 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4680920"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4680920">Resort Developers Sue Credit Suisse For Up To $7.5 Billion</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><strong>25 Jul 2011</strong></div><div><br /></div><div>16:18 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4681431"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4681431">Nigeria security forces in random killing following bomb blast</a></div><div><br /></div><div>11:00 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4680928"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4680928">Baker Hughes Announces Second Quarter Results</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><strong>22 Jul 2011</strong></div><div><br /></div><div>08:57 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679222"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679222">IFJ and FAJ Hold Conference on the Welfare of African Journalists in Nigeria</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div> 15:59 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679571"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679571"> UN experts alarmed over reports of atrocities in Southern Kordofan region of Sudan</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 13:49 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679518"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679518"> Conflict in South Kordofan / The International Community Must Take Action Now / The Parties Must Immediately Put an End to Serious Violations</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 13:22 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679513"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679513"> Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 09:45 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679318"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679318"> World Bank Applauds Action by the UK Serious Fraud Office in Relation to Bribery Charges Against Macmillan Publishers Limited In An Education Project in Sudan / The announcement highlights the World Bank's commitment to working with enforcement agencies worldwide to advance global action against corruption in development projects</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 08:40 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679292"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679292"> Thousands Of Stranded South Sudanese Returnees Desperate For Assistance To Reach Final Destination</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 08:10 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679274"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679274"> UN Security Council press statement on Lord's Resistance Army</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 07:01 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679110"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679110"> Opportunities and Challenges for the Republic of South Sudan</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 06:57 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679109"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4679109"> President of the General Assembly of the United Nations Joseph Deiss meets with President Jacob Zuma</a></div><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>20 Jul 2011</strong></div><div><br /></div><div> 08:41 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4676622"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4676622"> ICC reaches out to the Sudanese diaspora in Dublin, Ireland</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 08:36 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4676621"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4676621"> Famine in Somalia: FAO launches appeal to avert regional disaster / International emergency meeting to mobilize support</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 05:35 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4676595"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4676595"> Briefing on the Current Situation in the Horn of Africa</a></div><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>19 Jul 2011</strong></div><div><br /></div><div> 15:12 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4675874"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4675874"> Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 14:14 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4675269"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4675269"> Drought Related Migration on the Increase in the Horn of Africa</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> 04:11 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4675084"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4675084"> Libya: medical services in Nefusa mountains struggling</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-45631912393364089402011-07-08T12:05:00.001-07:002011-07-08T12:05:44.998-07:00GI-NET/SDC hails South Sudan Independence and calls for end to S. Kordofan Violence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw1PKgpI_dvLJ6KdNhWQZN0rwbxwZpe48UHm0gIAf1vnyBntg4O5XgeYzy3U9tkO1rn7lYcgIrpcaGd5kjdrPmX_xLbA2cq-b7h9InVlJzzZtFEFwOSsh5wv6Qv02a5XlF7SQsw/s1600/South+Sudan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw1PKgpI_dvLJ6KdNhWQZN0rwbxwZpe48UHm0gIAf1vnyBntg4O5XgeYzy3U9tkO1rn7lYcgIrpcaGd5kjdrPmX_xLbA2cq-b7h9InVlJzzZtFEFwOSsh5wv6Qv02a5XlF7SQsw/s400/South+Sudan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627053134586600418" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKk8REV7Csw6E78uF4gfNk0ynHEQQExXjBHel_WzjhXj5PhdGZaUj4tVoCs-smwwbW9R2VMfEI9mdtxqCJ6E6uznswhyphenhyphen6Hfk6G12Kd4kJwcwVcjpKrflV42s_PV4h7zaBSf3-/s1600/GI.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKk8REV7Csw6E78uF4gfNk0ynHEQQExXjBHel_WzjhXj5PhdGZaUj4tVoCs-smwwbW9R2VMfEI9mdtxqCJ6E6uznswhyphenhyphen6Hfk6G12Kd4kJwcwVcjpKrflV42s_PV4h7zaBSf3-/s400/GI.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627057516295249026" /></a><br /><br />GI-NET/SDC CONGRATULATES SOUTH SUDAN, URGES STRONGER U.S. LEADERSHIP FOR PEACE IN VULNERABLE REGION<br /><br />(Juba, South Sudan) – Tom Andrews, President of Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition issued the following statement from Juba in recognition of Independence Day for the Republic of South Sudan:<br /><br />“On behalf of our organization’s activist members and partner organizations, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of South Sudan and its people as the country celebrates its independence and the world’s newest nation.<br /><br />“We pay tribute to those whose actions and advocacy compelled the world’s attention and international engagement that led to the signing of the historic 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and ultimately, South Sudan’s independence. South Sudanese civil society leaders, faith organizations and individuals – joined by vibrant faith communities and activists in the United States and around the world – made it impossible for the world to continue ignoring decades of indescribable human loss and suffering.<br /><br />“Activists in the United States and around the globe raised their voices again to compel U.S. and international involvement when the January referendum for independence was in jeopardy. And we must continue to speak out and call for international support for peace in this vulnerable nation and region.<br /><br />“Even today, as we celebrate South Sudan’s independence, north Sudan’s military is attacking civilians in South Kordofan and blockading delivery of life-saving food, water, medicine and fuel. The Khartoum regime also continues to target civilians and block progress toward peace in Darfur. We call on the Obama administration to issue tough economic sanctions against north Sudan’s president Bashir and his cronies, to issue a call for an international investigation of the crimes against civilians that are being committed throughout in Sudan, and to declare support for an expanded UN protection force in the contentious border region to save the lives of those who are being targeted by the Khartoum regime.”<br /><br />###<br /><br />The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network merged to create a more powerful voice dedicated to preventing and stopping large-scale, deliberate atrocities against civilians. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities such as Congo and Burma. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $2 trillion in assets under management.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />~ Ann Brown Communications<br /><br />301-633-4193 <div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCAOkAhdtyH7YBfX8913jnGZ8QmPf6UI9bZ8qVGKEccfsXt8cdyOFBP5hOCzW6yvPS2Xjhv4HI4atYLTghYrgT15sQQ3IKW5KdpUyLV_NPDMxKe7DcTq6O4_hbTUXJG0CVvzqPQ/s1600/South+Sudan+Flag.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCAOkAhdtyH7YBfX8913jnGZ8QmPf6UI9bZ8qVGKEccfsXt8cdyOFBP5hOCzW6yvPS2Xjhv4HI4atYLTghYrgT15sQQ3IKW5KdpUyLV_NPDMxKe7DcTq6O4_hbTUXJG0CVvzqPQ/s400/South+Sudan+Flag.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627053139055638578" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>IMPORTANT NOTE:</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; "><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; ">A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Sudanese_independence_referendum,_2011" title="Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">referendum on independence for Southern Sudan</a> was held in January 2011, with 98.83% of the electorate opting for secession. The<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Sudan" title="President of Sudan" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">President of Sudan</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_al-Bashir" title="Omar al-Bashir" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Omar al-Bashir</a>, accepted the results and issued a Republican Decree confirming the outcome of the referendum.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Sudan#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup>Southern Sudan will formally declare its independence from the north on Saturday 9 July 2011, creating Africa’s newest nation</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 10px;">.</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">In April 2011, President Omar Al-Bashir stated that he would not recognise the independence of South Sudan if its government claims the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyei" title="Abyei" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Abyei</a> region, which is part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Kordofan" title="South Kordofan" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">South Kordofan</a> state in northern Sudan. The two sides clashed over the region in May, which resulted in its seizure by the north.</p></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-21732810367081264892011-06-17T08:48:00.000-07:002011-06-17T09:02:01.711-07:00China must arrest Sudanese President<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaokSwvyO2ud0JWg-VDy8Vr5o9tMrpHovvqyg_JdHaZTDl8yEPuR4yOzFF3niDDROWO-GjwGGUODzwtXGJ2AcCsemo3xOvqbYR-C6FDcLEI_SsfBemnlWpVIXolP-Qa2uoOTqZ/s1600/China+and+Sudan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 379px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaokSwvyO2ud0JWg-VDy8Vr5o9tMrpHovvqyg_JdHaZTDl8yEPuR4yOzFF3niDDROWO-GjwGGUODzwtXGJ2AcCsemo3xOvqbYR-C6FDcLEI_SsfBemnlWpVIXolP-Qa2uoOTqZ/s400/China+and+Sudan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619218736284405906" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Chinese President Hu Jintao and Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir</span><br /><br />17 Jun 2011 12:42 Africa/Lagos<br /><br /><br />China must arrest Sudanese President<br /><br />LONDON, June 17, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chinese government should immediately withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and arrest him if he travels to Beijing, Amnesty International said today.<br /><br />Omar Al-Bashir is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and other high-ranking officials as part of a visit from 27-30 June<br /><br />The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants for Omar Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The warrants, issued in 2009 and 2010, charge him with criminal responsibility on 10 counts, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape.<br /><br />“If China welcomes Omar Al-Bashir it will become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of genocide”, said Catherine Baber, Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International. “China should not allow Omar Al-Bashir to enter its territory, and must arrest him if he turns up.”<br /><br />Although China is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, it is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which decided in 2005 to refer the situation in Darfur – since 1 July 2002 – to the ICC Prosecutor.<br /><br />The resulting resolution –which China had the power to veto but did not – urges all states to cooperate fully with the ICC.<br /><br />All states have a shared responsibility to ensure that persons suspected of genocide and crimes against humanity are investigated. Where there is sufficient admissible evidence, suspects must be prosecuted in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.<br /><br />“If China provides a safe haven for Al-Bashir thousands of victims in Africa will perceive China as an accomplice to crimes under international law”, Catherine Baber said.<br /><br />Read More<br /><br />Malaysia: Arrest Sudanese President wanted for war crimes (Public statement, 13 June 2011)<br /><br />Djibouti refuses to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir (Public statement, 9 May 2011)<br /><br />Central African Republic must arrest Omar al-Bashir during visit (Public statement, 1 December 2010)<br /><br />Kenya refuses to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir (Public statement, 27 August 2010)<br /><br /><br />Source: Amnesty International<br /><br /><a href="http://www.uyghuramerican.org/articles/863/1/Chinas-Darfur-Policy/index.html">CLICK TO SEE DETAILS OF CHINA'S DARFUR POLICY</a>.<br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Top News</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>12:42 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4646599"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4646599"> China must arrest Sudanese President</a> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><!-- End Include -->12:42 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4646604"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4646604"> Sexual Violence in Libya, the Middle East and North Africa</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4646836">Shutting Down U.S. Nuclear Plants Would Have Daunting Effect on Economy and Environment, Says Carnegie Mellon Expert</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4646810">The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. Increases</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4646811">Employers Deeply Distressed by Many Aspects of Health Reform Law, Lockton Survey Shows</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4646637">U.S. Mayors Announce Call to End Afghanistan War & Invest in Job Creation</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4646713">U.S. and Russian CEOs Meet with President Medvedev to Support Russia's WTO Accession</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?packageid=1031257">Father's Day</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><strong>15 Jun 2011</strong> <div><br /></div><div> 14:00 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4643880"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4643880"> China Precision Steel Signs New Contract with Puyat Steel</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->14:00 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4643890"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4643890"> China Precision Steel Announces Change of Board of Directors</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->13:06 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4643598"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4643598"> Africa opens another chapter in fight against human trafficking</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->05:32 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4643404"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4643404"> Safe Evacuation of Hundreds More Migrants and Wounded from Misrata Amidst Renewed Shelling</a><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-46120713304527307102011-05-21T02:19:00.000-07:002011-05-21T02:32:39.768-07:00Human Rights Groups Condemn Recent Attacks in Darfur<span style="font-weight:bold;">Human Rights Groups Condemn Recent Attacks and Humanitarian Aid Restrictions in Darfur</span><br /><br /><br />Washington, D.C. – Sudan Now, a group of human rights and anti-genocide organizations, today called on the Obama Administration to condemn the Government of Sudan for conducting air strikes against civilians in Darfur and preventing humanitarian assistance from accessing the affected sites. The administration should demand that access for humanitarian groups and peacekeepers be restored immediately, the Sudan coalition said. <br /><br />The air attacks were the second in three days conducted by the Government of Sudan and were followed by the denial of access for humanitarian groups and peacekeepers for nearly all of South Darfur, including two of the largest displacement camps in the world.<br /><br />“The U.S. government has offered a roadmap to normalization of relations with Khartoum, with the hope that these incentives could lead to a peaceful transition to independence of South Sudan as well as progress toward peace in Darfur. The latest egregious acts of bombing civilians and denying UN access should give immediate pause to offers of normalization. President Obama should make it clear to the Sudanese government that while the United States is willing to offer a way forward, there are certain acts that are unacceptable under any circumstances.” stated Mark Hanis, President and Co-Founder of Genocide Intervention Network / Save Darfur Coalition.<br /><br />“Restrictions on humanitarian access are immoral and totally unacceptable,” said Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service. “The path towards peace is undermined when violence continues to be perpetrated and vital supplies and service are not permitted to reach those who rely on them for survival. I expect the United States Government and the international community to stand firm and send a strong message that these behaviors must end.”<br /><br />“Although we repeatedly hear about how the Sudanese government is increasing access for peacekeepers and humanitarians in Darfur, invariably they revert to bombing civilians and cutting off access to aid,” said Enough Executive Director John Bradshaw. “Unless the international community imposes a clear cost for this egregious behavior, it will keep recurring.”<br /><br />####<br /><br />Sudan Now is a campaign led by a group of anti-genocide and human rights advocacy organizations committed to bringing meaningful and lasting peace to Sudan and encouraging strong American leadership and action to achieve this goal. The campaign challenges President Obama and top U.S. administration officials to live up to their promises to take strong and immediate action to help end the international crisis in Sudan and bring a lasting peace to Sudan’s people. Organizations participating in the campaign include Humanity United, the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress, Genocide Intervention Network, American Jewish World Service, Stop Genocide Now, and Investors Against Genocide.<br /><br /><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time</strong><div><b><br /></b></div><div><strong></strong><b><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time </strong></b></div><div><b><strong><br /></strong></b></div><div><b><strong></strong><strong>20 May 2011</strong> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> 20:37 </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619722"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619722">25 African Photographers compete in Spain for Photoafrica awards</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><!-- End Include -->14:39 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619540"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619540"> 2nd AFRICA-INDIA FORUM SUMMIT / Shared Vision at the Center of Second Africa- India Forum Summit</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><!-- End Include -->14:31 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619526"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619526"> UN Secretary-General Appoints Margaret Vogt of Nigeria as his Special Representative to the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office</a><br /></b><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div>14:20 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619535"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619535"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>19 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div> 17:40 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618423"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618423"> List of accredited media and organizations for the African Development Bank Pre-Annual Meetings Virtual Press Conference held on Thursday, 19 May from 3 – 4 p.m. in Tunis.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->16:39 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618375"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618375"> U.S. Engagement and Recent Visits to Sudan</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>18 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div> 20:52 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4617312"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4617312"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->20:14 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4617288"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4617288"> Special Sudan Briefing with Special Envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>17 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div> 21:20 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4616070"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4616070"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->17:56 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615790"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615790"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->17:44 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615832"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615832"> UNAMID Chief deeply troubled over recent air strikes in South Darfur</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>16 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div> 16:32 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4614212"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4614212"> Ms. Aïchatou Mindaoudou Souleymane of Niger appointed as the Deputy Joint Special Representative (Political) in the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)</a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-88646772787576600782011-01-11T11:38:00.000-08:002011-01-11T11:41:45.730-08:00Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief10 Jan 2011 13:28 Africa/Lagos<br /><br /><br />Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief<br /><br />EL FASHER (DARFUR), January 10, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Daily Media Brief / 2011-01-09<br /><br /><br />Update on security situation<br /><br />UNAMID reports that on 7 January, a Sudanese national working for CARE International was killed by unknown assailants in an apparent robbery in Graida, a town located roughly 80 kilometers southeast of Nyala, South Darfur. Government authorities are investigating the matter.<br /><br /><br />Deliveries of food aid have reached newly displaced persons in Shangil Tobaya, North Darfur, after fighting between rebel movements and government troops caused mass displacements in North and South Darfur.<br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, as voting begins on South Sudan's self-determination, Darfur's 20 polling centers have reported no significant security incidents. Over 23,000 South Sudanese are registered to cast their ballots in the region.<br /><br /><br />UNAMID patrols<br /><br />UNAMID military conducted 108 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night and humanitarian escort patrols covering 70 villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.<br /><br /><br />UNAMID police advisors conducted 94 patrols in villages and IDP camps.<br /><br /><br /><br />Source: United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)<br /><br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>10 Jan 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:38</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497236"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497236"> Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the eve of Southern Sudan's Referendum on self-determination, 9-15 January 2011</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:30</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497191"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497191"> EAC referendum observer mission in Southern Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:28</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497202"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497202"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:26</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497234"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497234"> Joint Statement of the International referendum observation missions in the Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:19</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497221"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497221"> Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Sudan / Start of the Southern Sudan referendum</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:13</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497201"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497201"> Secretary Clinton on Start of Southern Sudan Referendum</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:11</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497200"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497200"> Ambassador Rice on Start of Voting in Southern Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:07</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497238"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4497238"> President Obama on Start of Voting in Southern Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>9 Jan 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">17:02</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4496524"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4496524"> Sudan Honors its Commitment: Historic Referendum on Schedule</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"><strong>7 Jan 2011</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">18:08</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495758"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495758"> Italian Foreign Minister Frattini meets with his Sudanese counterpart Ali Ahmed Kharti.</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">17:42</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495783"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495783"> MTV Joins with George Clooney, Google, the United Nations and Others to Help Deter War in Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">14:20</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495743"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495743"> UN Security Council Press Statement on Southern Sudan Referendum</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">14:09</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495690"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495690"> Rwanda / Prosecutor requests 33 and 12 years in jail for two women journalists</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">13:01</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495709"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495709"> Near-verbatim Transcript of the Press Conference by Mr. David Gressly the Regional Coordinator for Southern Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">12:54</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495726"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495726"> USA / Media Note on Special Envoy Gration's Travel to Sudan</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">12:47</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495703"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495703"> Communiqué by the Afro Arab Ministerial Committee on Darfur</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">04:59</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495706"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495706"> Darfur / UNAMID Joint Special Representative Addresses Mission Staff, Sets Priorities for 2011</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">04:57</td> <td align="left"> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495725"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4495725"> UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay urges authorities to respect citizens' rights before, during and after Sudan referendum</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-4085651401873530142011-01-10T09:08:00.000-08:002011-01-10T09:40:50.469-08:00Dear Aisha, It started yesterday in Juba<object id="swfclipV4600417" width="421" height="316" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/cube.swf?a=V4600417&m=1625196"><param name="movie" value="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/cube.swf?a=V4600417&m=1625196"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="base" value="." /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/></object><br /><br /><br />Dear Aisha,<br />It started yesterday. <br />One of the most prophetic Sundays in Southern Sudan, but will the skies no longer be gloomy in Darfur?<br />I know that David must be happy for you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2LvKptlTbJor2e85MTQlUdE-feDH8jWS6UT_S5FYitmGunzWAELiqPKiIvt5fHEJXXZg9HM_QZhFPTBrF4cFWvL54_D6y1s3Bm1iVnRsB70hj5OVRURAZ_nlWvqN4R81Nk-I/s1600/Halima+Bashir.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2LvKptlTbJor2e85MTQlUdE-feDH8jWS6UT_S5FYitmGunzWAELiqPKiIvt5fHEJXXZg9HM_QZhFPTBrF4cFWvL54_D6y1s3Bm1iVnRsB70hj5OVRURAZ_nlWvqN4R81Nk-I/s400/Halima+Bashir.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560613459143828434" /></a><br /><br /><br />The lanky Senator John Kerry and George “the debonair” Clooney were there. They flew all the way from America to witness the making of history. The week-long independence referendum to free your people of the south from the shackles Khartoum. They joined the crowds sweating in the heat of the Sunday sun. January 9, 2011, will be an unforgettable day in the history of southern Sudan.<br /><br /><br />Nobody seemed tired of standing in the long queues as they were waiting to cast their votes in the last leg of the long march to freedom. <br />The harrowing nightmares of the horrifying and terrifying years of the rampaging devils on horsebacks will no longer haunt your people?<br /><br /><br />Dr. Halima Bashir will no more drink from the pool of the <a href="http://thedarfurblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/tears-of-desert-are-tears-of-blood-in.html">tears of the desert</a> and the sleepless nights of Daoud Hari <a href="http://thedarfurblog.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Translator">The Translator</a> of the years of the wrath of the Janjaweed of Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir will no longer linger?<br /><br /><br />For the vultures will no longer be overfed with the carcasses of your people littering the ravine of Jebel Marra, because their corpses will no longer be left unburied.<br /><br /><br />“This is the moment the people have been waiting for,” said Southern president Salva Kiir as he was rejoicing in Juba yesterday.<br /><br /><br />Omar Bashir is kicking and cursing, because he has lost the battle and his northern region will be dependent on the over 75% of oil in the south and hoping he will not siphon it as it passes the northern pipeline to the sea.<br /><br /><br />But will the referendum will bring succor to Darfur?<br />Not until the rest of the world can read the secret letters from Darfur.<br />The testimonies of the agonies of the bereaved ones who have been scarred for life from the Massaleet to the Zagawa communities in the land of the Fur<br /><br /><br />May the overflowing joys of the new dawn wash away the ashes of the sorrows of the past. For the people of Juba shall be redeemed like the children of Judah.<br /> <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. <br /><br />Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: <br /><br />But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. <br /><br />Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. <br /><br />Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. <br /> <br />Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. <br />And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. <br /> <br />And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. <br />And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. <br /> And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.</span><br /><br />~ Joel 2:18-27 (King James Version)<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-9770751860141846902010-07-01T04:40:00.000-07:002010-07-01T04:42:45.888-07:00Sudan / Widespread Abuses Bode Ill for Referendum / Hold Security Forces Accountable for Violations in April 2010 Elections30 Jun 2010 19:55 Africa/Lagos <br /> <br /><br />Sudan / Widespread Abuses Bode Ill for Referendum / Hold Security Forces Accountable for Violations in April 2010 Elections <br /><br /><br />KARTHOUM, June 30, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Both national and southern Sudanese authorities should investigate human rights abuses connected to its April 2010 elections and bring to justice those responsible, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Addressing the abuses is especially important as the country prepares for a referendum on self-determination in Southern Sudan, Human Rights Watch said.<br /><br />The 32-page report, “Democracy on Hold: Rights Violations in the April 2010 Elections,” documents numerous rights violations across Sudan by both northern and southern authorities in the period leading up to, during, and following the April elections. These abuses include restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, particularly in northern Sudan, and widespread intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and physical violence against monitors and opponents of the incumbent parties by Sudanese security forces across the country. The report is based on research carried out between November 2009 and April 2010 in Khartoum and Southern Sudan. <br /><br />“The national elections were an important milestone of the 2005 peace agreement, which was meant to pave the way forward for Sudan,” said Rona Peligal, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “But pushing the elections-related abuses under the rug would not bode well for the referendum coming up in January.” <br /><br />The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended 22 years of civil war between northern and southern forces, called for Sudan to hold national elections and a referendum on southern self-determination. Southern Sudanese, including more than 1.5 million southerners living in Khartoum and northern states, will decide in the January 2011 vote whether to secede from the north. <br /><br />Human Rights Watch called on the national unity government to enact genuine reforms called for in the peace agreement, including improvements to the national security apparatus. The national security law currently grants broad powers of search, seizure, and arrest, and allows for detention without judicial review for up to four and a half months, in violation of international law. <br /><br />Human Rights Watch found that in the months leading up to the April elections the ruling National Congress Party suppressed peaceful assembly by opposition party members in the north and prevented free association and speech. During election week, there were fewer cases of such restrictions, but several cases of harassment, intimidation, and arrest of opposition members and elections observers. <br /><br />In Southern Sudan, Human Rights Watch documented widespread intimidation, arbitrary arrest, detention, and mistreatment of opponents of the southern ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), as well as of election observers and voters, throughout the elections process in several southern states. <br /><br />In addition to these rights violations, serious irregularities in the conduct of the election – such as multiple voting, ballot-stuffing, and other acts of fraud – undermined their legitimacy. <br /><br /><br />On April 26, the elections commission declared both ruling parties the winners in their regions following the vote-counting. Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, was re-elected president of the national unity government. <br /><br />In the weeks following the April elections, Human Rights Watch documented a worsening human rights situation across Sudan, with renewed repression in the north, incidents of elections-related violence in the south, and ongoing conflict in Darfur. <br /><br />Human Rights Watch also called on Sudan to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, as required under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1593. <br /><br />“The elections were supposed to help expand democracy in Sudan, but they have had the opposite effect,” Peligal said. “The electoral victory has essentially emboldened the ruling parties, particularly in the north, to crack down on opponents, activists, and journalists.” <br /><br />The post-election crackdown in Khartoum included the May 15 arrest and detention of the opposition figure Hassan al-Turabi and of journalists, the arrest of Darfuri students, and the resumption of pre-print censorship leading to the suspension of three newspapers. <br /><br />In early June, security forces violently repressed a peaceful demonstration by Sudanese doctors striking for better wages and working conditions, and detained six doctors without charge until June 24, when the doctors called off the strike. Two of them were subjected to physical mistreatment by national security officials. <br /><br />In Southern Sudan, simmering disputes over election results between the ruling party and independent candidates have led to clashes between armed forces. In Jonglei state, for example, forces loyal to General George Athor, who unsuccessfully ran for state governor, have clashed with the southern army on multiple occasions since the results were announced. Vote-rigging and intimidation during the elections have led to anger and frustration in the south. <br /><br />In Darfur, where many communities boycotted the elections process, the Sudanese government continues to carry out armed attacks on rebel factions and civilians, using both aerial bombs and ground forces. In May, this violence caused the highest death tolls in two years. <br /><br />“Democracy on Hold” also examines the reaction of the international community to the widespread abuses during the elections. The report highlights how political considerations related to efforts to carry out the 2005 agreement, in particular the referendum, have made many international actors reluctant to criticize Sudan's human rights record. <br /><br />“Sudan's international partners have a critical role to play in urging Sudanese authorities to end impunity for abuses,” Peligal said. “Timid silence on their part will both jeopardize the prospects for a peaceful and meaningful referendum and derail the democratic transformation envisioned by the peace agreement.” <br /><br />Source: Human Right Watch (HRW)<br /> <br /> <br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Hot Topics</strong></span><br /><a class="greybg" href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?packageid=1027097">Fourth of July</a><br /><a class="greybg" href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4315224">Dow Jones Economic Sentiment Indicator Continues Modest Climb, Foreshadowing Steady Economy Improvement</a><br /><a class="greybg" href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4315244">Online Job Demand Basically Unchanged in June, The Conference Board Reports</a><br /><a class="greybg" href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4315214">Restaurant Industry Outlook Softened in May as Restaurant Performance Index Fell Below 100</a><br /><a class="greybg" href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4314912">IBM Global Commuter Pain Study Reveals Traffic Crisis in Key International Cities</a><br /><a class="greybg" href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4314932">Only Three in Ten Americans Expect the Economy to Improve in Coming Year</a><br /><a class="greybg" href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4315516">Queen for a Day - Queen's July 6th Visit to New York Prompts Royal Fever</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-64115746202770984172010-02-24T04:29:00.000-08:002010-02-24T04:35:50.293-08:00Ibrahim Gambari Speaks at the Ceremony to end the conflict in Darfur24 Feb 2010 12:37 Africa/Lagos <br /> <br />Speech delivered by UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari at the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement to end the conflict in Darfur <br /><br /><br />KARTHOUM, February 24, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Speech delivered by UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari at the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement to end the conflict in Darfur : <br /><br />Your Highness, the Emir of Qatar, <br /><br />Your Excellency, President Omar al-Bashir of the Republic of the Sudan, <br /><br />Your Excellency, President Idriss Deby of the Republic of Chad, <br /><br />Your Excellency, Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, <br /><br />Distinguished Ministers, Special Envoys, <br /><br /><br />Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, <br /><br />Ladies and Gentlemen, <br /><br />It is indeed a great honor and privilege for me to participate at this auspicious occasion of the formal signing of the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement. As the new AU and UN Joint Special Representative for the UN-African Union Mission in Sudan (UNAMID), I wish on behalf of my two organizations – the African Union and the United Nations – welcome the Framework Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan. We consider this a very important concrete step towards an inclusive and comprehensive peace agreement for Darfur on the basis of formal negotiations on the root causes of the conflict. <br /><br />Since my assumption of duties in Darfur exactly a month ago, I have in all my meetings with all Sudanese stakeholders including His Excellency President Bashir, as well as in a phone conversation with Dr. Khalil Ibrahim indicated that two of my major priorities as the new Joint Special Representative are to pro-actively support the Mediation with a view to a speedy conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement; and to enhance and facilitate the security not only of UNAMID and humanitarian personnel, but equally the security and protection of the civilian populations of Darfur. The developments of the past few days and the ceremony we are witnessing here today are a testimony that we are on the right track, although there are many other steps we all need to take towards an all-inclusive comprehensive peace agreement. <br /><br />I wish to seize this opportunity to congratulate the leadership of the Government of Sudan and that of the JEM for taking this important decision on behalf of their people. It is my hope that very soon; on-going efforts will materialize in similar accords with the other movements as soon as possible. <br /><br />I also wish to express appreciation and thanks to [my two brothers], Minister Mahmoud and JCM Bassole for their continuing relentless efforts in the search for peace and stability in Darfur. I wish them similar successes such as this in the coming days and weeks, and they can continue to count on my full support and active encouragement. <br /><br />Let me conclude my remarks by reassuring both the Government of Sudan and the JEM that UNAMID stands ready to support them as determined appropriate and relevant in the implementation of the provisions of the Framework Agreement and in subsequent negotiations and conclusion of a comprehensive and all-inclusive peace agreement. <br /><br />Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you all for your attention. <br /><br /><br />Source: United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)<br /> <br /> <br /><br />Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time<br />24 Feb 2010<br />12:37<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4191202"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4191202">Speech delivered by UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari at the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement to end the conflict in Darfur</a><br />12:21<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4191177"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4191177">UNAMID welcomes Government of the Sudan, JEM move toward peace</a><br />23 Feb 2010<br />18:35<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4190488"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4190488">UK 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href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4188148">Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a><br />19 Feb 2010<br />15:00<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4187363"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4187363">Activists Nationwide Call On US Government to Withhold Support for Sham Sudanese Elections</a><br />10:33<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4187222"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4187222">Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a><br />10:30<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4187206"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4187206">Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a><br />18 Feb 2010<br />18:19<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4186432"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4186432">Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Darfur – attack on UNAMID peacekeepers in South Darfur</a><br />17 Feb 2010<br />19:02<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4185435"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4185435">African Union Commission Chairperson Ping holds press conference on recent achievments by the commission</a> <br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-8909444939518848522009-08-21T03:01:00.000-07:002009-08-21T03:04:02.928-07:00Sudan / UNAMID holds first round table meeting with signatories to Darfur Peace Agreement20 Aug 2009 16:20 Africa/Lagos <br /> <br />Sudan / UNAMID holds first round table meeting with signatories to Darfur Peace Agreement <br /><br />EL FASHER (DARFUR), August 20, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) yesterday convened a Round Table meeting of the Parties and Partners of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) on the implementation of the DPA chaired by UNAMID Joint Special representative (JSR), Mr. Rodolphe Adada<br /><br />In his opening remarks, Mr. Adada stated that the meeting was convened primarily to provide the needed forum for the parties to the DPA including the signatories of the Declaration of commitment (DOC) to take stock and build a common understanding on issues related to DPA implementation, including challenges, and charged participants to seek to define responsibilities and roles, in so far as the implementation of the Agreement is concerned. <br /><br />The JSR commended the signatories and participants for their commitment to dialogue, peace, reconciliation and development which he said led to the historic choice in Abuja, and subsequently paved the way and laid the foundation for the deployment of the Hybrid Operation in Darfur, adding that despite numerous challenges, UNAMID has, in accordance with its mandate, achieved significant success in the areas of protection of civilians, support to aid agencies in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, confidence and capacity building, as well as reconciliation and conflict prevention at local levels. <br /><br />Mr. Adada underscored the role of the DPA Partners in the implementation of the Agreement and strongly called on them to re-activate the Darfur Joint Assessment Mission (D JAM) and finalize assessment particularly in areas where security could be guaranteed by UNAMID, adding “the Mission stands ready to provide whatever assistance is needed to move the D JAM process forward…those who embraced peace deserve to reap its dividends”, he concluded. <br /><br />He urged all parties to support the ongoing peace process in order to succeed, “because that is the only way to go in order to give a new lease of life to the DPA and, by extension, to the people of Darfur”. <br /><br />The participants welcomed the round table meeting and agreed that progress has been achieved in the implementation of the DPA. They however observed that a lot remains to be done to achieve full implementation, in particular as regards incorporation of the DPA into the interim National Constitution. <br /><br />In expressing full commitment to the continuous implementation of the DPA, the participants called upon the international community to play a more active role in the implementation of the DPA. In particular, the parties requested the international community to re-activate the Darfur Joint Assessment Mission. Participants called upon UNAMID to play a stronger role in supporting effective implementation of the DPA as per its mandate. The meeting also agreed that the parties to the DPA have a crucial role to play in galvanizing the peace process. <br /><br />The meeting further agreed that a mechanism be set up to monitor and assess the status of implementation of the DPA, including identification of remaining gaps and challenges that impede the implementation process and recommendation of appropriate measures. <br /><br /><br />Participants from the DPA parties included the Government team led by Dr. Omar Adam Rahamat from the Presidency, SLM (MM) led by Mr. Mini Minawi, and signatories of the Declaration of Commitment to the DPA, including (SLM Free Will), JEM (Peace Wing), SLM (Mother), and the popular Forces for Rights and Democracy (PFRD). The participating DPA Partners included representatives of the African Union, European Union, League of Arab States, Egypt, The Netherlands, Nigeria, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The Joint Mediation was represented by Deputy JCM Azouz Ennifar.<br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-6489587772457003592008-10-03T06:20:00.002-07:002008-10-03T06:37:03.429-07:00Tears of the Desert are Tears of Blood in Darfur<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345506251?tag=kissrose-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0345506251&adid=14XM58ABV4A1DX67YT6T&"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsMslvnSZouuH_KfrhupYatstR4XKT9k35hPNP1ySOyJaE2e7zWfeeVHbsD0wEKlk1tPwYjS018XVU_DIb9WwaaaOOSCSmu_dXv-i_Bkkn24aZy8fMq1aAK90LzyAeFVRVLwm/s400/Tears+of+the+Desert.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252920800302923634" /></a><br /><br />Come here my love,<br />I have a song for you.<br />Come here my love,<br />I have a dream for you…<br /><br />With such beautiful and soulful words of innate passion, Halima Bashir, MD, begins the lucid prose of her vivid memory of the poetic beauty of her childhood and Zaghawa family in Darfur in her unforgettable war memoir <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345506251?tag=kissrose-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0345506251&adid=14XM58ABV4A1DX67YT6T&">Tears of the Desert</a>, but we are soon gripped by the gory horrors of her picturesque true life story as a ruthless Sudanese soldier stabbed a knife into her thigh as she kicked him in his groin in her desperate resistance against being raped by these devilish Sudanese soldiers on rampage in Darfur.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=kissrose-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0345506251&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Here is an excerpt from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345506251?tag=kissrose-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0345506251&adid=14XM58ABV4A1DX67YT6T&">Tears of the Desert</a>, and reading the rest of the memoir would be more beneficial.<br /><br />CHAPTER ONE<br /><br />The Naming<br /><br />Come here my love,<br />I have a song for you.<br />Come here my love,<br />I have a dream for you. . .<br /><br />I sing-whisper this lullaby to my boy, my tiny child, as I rock him to sleep in my arms. Outside the window of our cell-like apartment the London traffic roars by. But here we are safe, he and I, this little sleepy miracle that I clutch to myself with a desperate joy in my heart. And as I sing, inside my head I am transported home, home to my beloved Africa.<br /><br />Come here my love,<br />I have a kiss for you.<br />Come here my love. . .<br /><br />This is the lullaby that my kind and gentle mother used to sing to me, of an evening by the fireside. This is the lullaby that my fierce Grandma Sumah would sing, on those warm African nights when she allowed herself to relax a little, and for her inner love to shine through. And this is the lullaby that my wonderful, funny, clever father would murmur in my ear, as he rocked me on his lap and ran his fingers through my hair.<br /><br />Come here my love,<br />I have a smile for you. . .<br /><br />As I sing this song I am in Africa again, enveloped in the loving warmth and security of my family. As I sing this song I am with my tribe again, the Zaghawa, a fierce, warlike black African people who are the most generous and open when welcoming strangers. I am back in the hot, spicy, dry desert air of my village, a child dressed only in dust and happiness, and all in my life is wondrous and good.<br />I am in my home, with my family, with my people, in my village, in Darfur.<br />Darfur. I know to you this must be a word soaked in suffering and blood. A name that conjures up terrible images of a dark horror and an evil without end. Pain and cruelty on a magnitude inconceivable in most of the civilized world. But to me Darfur means something quite different: It was and is that irreplaceable, unfathomable joy that is home.<br /><br />Come here my love,<br />I have a home for you. . .<br /><br />I sing this song for my little boy who is not yet one year old, and reflect upon the miracle of his birth—for it gave me the spirit and the will to live. Without you, I tell his shining, sleepy eyes, I would have killed myself from the horror and shame of it all. The darkness would have overcome me, dragged me down into its eager drowning.<br />We Zaghawa are a fierce, warlike people, and death—violent and bloody and at one's own hand—is far preferable to dishonor and shame. It has always been thus for my tribe.<br /><br />Come here my love,<br />I have a hug for you. . .<br /><br />"You know what rape is?" The face is a mask of hatred—eyes close to mine, his soldier's breath stinking. "You think because you are a doctor you really know what rape is?"<br />A second soldier lunges at me, pinning me to the floor. "We'll show you what rape is, you black dog. . ."<br />"You think you can talk to the foreigners about rape!" a third screams. "Let me tell you—you know nothing. But in rape we are expert teachers.. ."<br />"And when we are finished with you we might just let you live," the first one spits out. "Then you can go and tell the world. . ."<br />I try to block out the memory of it all, but sometimes it is not possible, and it comes crowding in on me, dark and suffocating, putrid and evil. I can still see their faces, even now, as if it were only yesterday. Bloodshot eyes, inflamed with hatred and lust. Graying stubble. Unclean breath, the reek of days-old sweat and unwashed uniforms. A flashing blade as one tries to cut my trousers off of me. I kick out, fiercely, aiming for his groin. He cries out in pain, recovers himself, and stabs the knife into my thigh. I feel the agony of that knife thrust, and a dead weight bearing down on my bound hands.<br /><br />Come here my love,<br />I have a life for you. . .<br /><br />I hug my little boy close to my pounding, fearful heart. It is you who gave me life, the will to live, the spirit to go on. And because of you—and the countless other women and children who never made it through the horror alive—I am going to sit at this desk in our tiny apartment while you peacefully sleep, and I am going to start to write my story. <br /><br />Come here my love,<br />I have a story for you. . .<br /><br />My name is Halima. It is an important name and you must remember it. It is important because my father gave it to me seven days after I was born, in the village naming ceremony. In a sense my father saw into the future, for he named me after who and what I was to become.<br /><br />I was my father's firstborn child, and I was his favorite. I know all children say this, but I had an especially close bond with my father. For the first five years of my life I was an only child. I used to long for a brother or sister to play with. But I also knew that when one came along I'd have to share my parents with them, which was the last thing on earth that I wanted to do.<br /><br />Whenever my father was home I would always be sitting at his side listening to his stories. He'd tell me about the legends of our tribe, the Zatghawa, or about the lineage of our family, which was descended from a long line of tribal chiefs. Or he'd tell me about his work buying and selling cattle, goats, and camels, and about his travels across the deserts and mountains of Darfur.<br /><br />One day when I was very young we were lying on some rugs by the fireside in the center of our home. In each corner of our fenced compound there was a thatched, circular mud hut: one for the women, one for the men, one for my parents, and one for visitors. And in the middle was a thatched wooden shelter with open sides. Here we gathered each evening, lounging around the fire and gazing up at the bright stars, talking, talking and laughing.<br /><br />My father was playing a game with me. It is just like the "This little piggy went to market" game that Westerners play with their children. He took my left hand in his, and traced a circle in my palm: "The camel's home," he announced, gazing into my eyes. Then he traced a similar pattern on my forearm: "The cow's home." Then higher up: "The sheep's home. . ." Of course, we'd played this game many times before, and I knew what was coming. I was giggling and trying to pull my arm away to escape.<br />"The chicken's home. . ." he continued, tracing a chicken coop at the top of my arm. And then, as I desperately tried to squidge myself up into a ball, he made a lunge for my armpit. "And who is this home for?!"<br /><br />We fell about laughing, as he tickled me and I tried to fight him off. When we tired of the game we leaned back on the rugs, losing our thoughts in the dark night sky.<br />"You—you're my favorite little girl," my father murmured, as he stroked my hair. "You brought such luck to our family."<br />"But why am I so lucky, abba?" I asked him. Abba is "Daddy" in our Zaghawa language. I was at that age when I always wanted to know "why."<br />My father went on to tell me the story of my naming ceremony. In our tribe each child's name must be announced within seven days of birth. My mother and father were so proud of their firstborn that they invited everyone to the naming ceremony. My father was a relatively rich man in our village, as he owned many cattle, sheep, and goats, and dozens of prized camels. My father slaughtered several animals and a feast was prepared for all.<br /><br />My mother was resting after the birth, and would do so for forty days, as was our tradition. So my fearsome Grandma Boheda rounded up some of the village women to help cook. There were trays piled high with kissra, a flat, sorghum pancake cooked on a metal plate over an open fire. There were cauldrons overflowing with acidah, a thick maize mash. There were bowls piled high with fresh salad, garnished with sesame oil and lemon juice. And there was lots of smoked cattle and goat meat, with hot, spicy sauces.<br /><br />On the morning of my naming, people came bearing gifts of food or little presents. The women were dressed in topes, long robes of a fine, chiffon material, decorated with all the colors of the rainbow. The unmarried girls wore the brightest, with flame red, fire orange, and sunset pink designs. And the men looked magnificent in their white robes that swathed the body from head to toe, topped off by a twisted white turban, an immah.<br />"You were lying inside the hut," my father told me. "A tiny baby at your mother's side. A stream of people came in to see you. But Grandma Sumah was there, and you know what she's like.. .. She had your face covered. 'Please can we see the baby's face?' people kept asking. But Grandma just scowled at them and muttered something about protecting you from the Evil Eye."<br /><br />The Evil Eye is a curse that all Zaghawa—and many other Muslims—believe in with fervor. With my mother resting, Grandma Sumah was looking after me, and she was very superstitious. She didn't want anyone looking at me too closely, just in case they had bad intentions and gave me the Evil Eye.<br />"She's so beautiful—what name have you chosen?" people kept asking. But Grandma just gave an even darker scowl, and refused to breathe a word.<br /><br />My father had issued strict instructions. He wasn't prepared to announce my name until a very special person was present—the traditional medicine woman of our village. When she arrived, my father led her to the center of our house. "I'm calling my firstborn child Halima, after you," he announced. Then he took the medicine woman into the hut so she could bless me.<br />"But why did you name me after her, abba?" I asked my father. The tradition in our tribe is to name your children after their grandparents. I'd always wondered where my name had come from.<br />"Ah, well, that's a long story," my father replied, his eyes laughing in the warm glow of the firelight. "And it's getting close to your bedtime.. ."<br />I knew he was teasing me, and I begged him to tell me the story. Eventually, as was nearly always the case, he relented.<br />"At first I thought about calling you Sumah, after Grandma," my father continued. "But she refused to let me. . ." My father rolled his eyes at me, and I giggled. We both knew what Grandma was like: She'd never agree to anything if she could help it. "And then I remembered a promise that I had made when I was a young man. One day I was out on a camel rounding up cattle. The camel stumbled in a dry riverbed and I had fallen. Some villagers found me lying unconscious, and they were convinced that I was near death. . ."<br />"But you couldn't die, abba," I objected. "Surely you couldn't?"<br />My father chuckled. "Well, nothing they could do would wake me. All the herbs and medicines failed to stir me. They cut me open here." My father revealed a thick white scar running around his neck. "They wanted to bleed me and let the infection run out, but it didn't work. Even the hijabs that the Fakirs prepared didn't help. . ."<br /><br />Click here to order for the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345506251?tag=kissrose-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0345506251&adid=14XM58ABV4A1DX67YT6T&">Tears of the Desert,: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur</a>. <br /> <br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-91185662349423867272008-07-14T09:31:00.000-07:002008-07-14T09:53:57.957-07:00International Criminal Court (ICC) Indicts President Umar al-Bashir for Crimes Against Humanity in Darfur<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkexYSDJzeYz7_2PQ42P0Uc6ITxvVqJG5mINtBYLF9uezNOxQ4eN-Zpq2wYKa-uOH2ui-Bo-Svxl0YFq7eCv8OULKEi47aOCejq5bfqCb2MPfBPL2dXJ24vZzuQYG_Jlz3CiT/s1600-h/Omar+Hassan+al-Bashir.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222913511550427762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkexYSDJzeYz7_2PQ42P0Uc6ITxvVqJG5mINtBYLF9uezNOxQ4eN-Zpq2wYKa-uOH2ui-Bo-Svxl0YFq7eCv8OULKEi47aOCejq5bfqCb2MPfBPL2dXJ24vZzuQYG_Jlz3CiT/s400/Omar+Hassan+al-Bashir.jpg" border="0" /></a> President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan<br /><br />President Omar al-Bashir was indicted by the <a title="International Criminal Court" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/themes/?Theme=International+Criminal+Court">International Criminal Court (ICC)</a> on Monday July 14, 2008, on charges of crimes against humanity.<br />Sudan alerted the <a title="United Nations" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/themes/?Theme=United+Nations">U.N.</a> that the indictment could jeopardize the peace process on the resolution of the Darfur crisis.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SOIA6wqYl6dKgdip105MxhgIAVB4gp1vMuAVKYtIGL4bKYUuKWNMgF81k2jGrKbSTp4phO2braR0kAXKvoBxI6Id_KYIvLt5hj9dN27U8q0OB73ZzitzqjGlAc1YxpeVD50s/s1600-h/sudan_genocide_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222913517338904770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SOIA6wqYl6dKgdip105MxhgIAVB4gp1vMuAVKYtIGL4bKYUuKWNMgF81k2jGrKbSTp4phO2braR0kAXKvoBxI6Id_KYIvLt5hj9dN27U8q0OB73ZzitzqjGlAc1YxpeVD50s/s400/sudan_genocide_2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The <a title="International Criminal Court" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/themes/?Theme=International+Criminal+Court">International Criminal Court (ICC)</a> in The Hague found President Bashir guilty of the murder and rape committed by the Sudanese government troops and their militias against the people of Darfur. The ICC sought for the warrant to arrest President Umar al-Bashir for trial. </p><p>Related reports:<br />14 Jul 2008<br />15:16,<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3775521"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3775521">USAID Memorial Ceremony Planned</a><br />12 Jul 2008<br />00:49<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3774776"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3774776">Embassy of Sudan: Ocampo's Political Pursuits Jeopardize Peace </a><br />11 Jul 2008<br />23:30<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3774761"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3774761">Ros-Lehtinen Condemns UN Failure to Pass Resolution on Zimbabwe</a><br />10 Jul 2008<br />20:27<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3774008"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3774008">Donation Helps Expand Water Well Work in Darfur </a><br />9 Jul 2008<br />21:52<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3773121"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3773121">USAID Memorial Ceremony Planned</a><br />09:56<br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3772326"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=3772326">National Elections Act: A Milestone Towards Peace And Democracy </a></p><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-7338634450303670062008-07-12T06:04:00.001-07:002008-07-12T06:08:51.273-07:00Embassy of Sudan: Ocampo's Political Pursuits Jeopardize Peace12 Jul 2008 00:49 Africa/Lagos<br /> <br /><br />Embassy of Sudan: Ocampo's Political Pursuits Jeopardize Peace<br /><br />WASHINGTON, July 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- <br /><br />The International Criminal Court's prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo recently addressed the United Nations where he urged the Security Council to exert pressure on the Government of Sudan to extradite two individuals who the court has charged with crimes against humanity, accusing them of orchestrating violence in Darfur by arming and recruiting militias. In his statement, the prosecutor sought to implicate and sweepingly condemn the entire Government, alleging that high-ranked officials were involved in carrying out atrocities in Darfur and that he will shortly release names. His case rested on rather dubious speculation, claiming that the scale of the crisis suggested a co-ordination at the highest levels of the state apparatus.<br /><br />While recognizing and appreciating the Court's proclaimed ideals and values towards human rights and its concern for the suffering citizens in Darfur, Sudan is disappointed and denounces very much the unwarranted and incendiary remarks made then by the Prosecutor and condemns strongly any motion the court may make to insist on these grossly offensive allegations.<br /><br />There is no question that war criminals must face justice, and Sudan has its national Supreme Court supported by a strong constitutionally-backed judicial system that upholds the highest principles of justice. It has in the past prosecuted those identified to have committed crimes against humanity in Darfur and shall continue to do so wherever in Sudan similar crimes may occur. It can exercise justice within its territory far better than the ICC ever could. The Court's jurisdiction is confined to its 106 member states that have ratified the Rome statute. Sudan is not one of its constituencies. It has full confidence in its own institutions and is not looking to outsource its responsibility, especially not to a double standard entity whose integrity has seriously suffered.<br /><br />Many, including the U.S., India, and China are non-signatories, which means any of their citizens found guilty of crimes that may fall within the scope of the Court's mandate will face justice domestically. Some of these countries have gone as far as to adopt measures that would allow the use of force to retrieve nationals detained by the Court. Ocampo would not dare pursue anyone in those territories.<br /><br />This fact is worrisome and unfortunate for it renders the ICC as a body that can only pursue cases selectively. Its credibility as an objective and impartial body is instantly shattered. Its case against Sudan is only an exercise of flexing muscles by picking on those it perceives as easy prey, those whose sovereignty, integrity and authority it can violate and override without international fuss. And indeed, this is highlighted by the fact that its pursuits to date are all located in Africa when the world knows very well that equally egregious if not worse crimes are being committed outside the black continent. This is a reality that exposes the court as a tool of the more powerful countries and also typifies and perpetuates the appalling and misguided notion that Africans are incapable of solving their own problems.<br /><br />This same condescending and paternalistic attitude was also the root of the plot revealed boastfully by their very own spokesperson to kidnap Sudan's state minister for Humanitarian Affairs. Though it failed, the plan was to commence during the minister's flight to Saudi Arabia on his way to perform the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca, where the Court would hijack the plane and redirect its course to where their suspect can be detained. The same Court whose sole existence is to render justice where it's not observed has now so easily resorted to terroristic means. The stunt, so characteristic of a thug, of a criminal, circumvents all moral principles and raises the question as to the justice the court is ululating and advocating for.<br /><br />The announcement, should it take place as expected, cannot be perceived as anything else but an attempt to undermine progress made in Sudan. With the recent appointment of a new envoy to lead the mediation process between the Government and the dozens of rebels in Darfur, the resolution of the Abyei deadlock, and the passing of the elections bill that would ensure the country's transition to democracy, how else can such a gesture be construed but as a strike against these milestones?<br /><br />It would simply be an encouragement to the rebels who on Wednesday carried out a devastating attack that killed 7 and wounded 22 AU-UN peacekeeping forces, an incident that must be fully condemned and for which strong punitive measures towards the perpetrators must be adopted. This passive policy that the international community has long espoused has enabled rampant banditry in the region as rebels are increasingly emboldened by the world's reluctance to join Sudan in holding them accountable for their crimes. This was not their first attack on the international force. In October last year the rebels assaulted the UNAMID base in Haskanita, killing 7 peacekeepers and wounding several others. This incident passed without scrutiny from the same people who're now claiming to be in pursuit of justice.<br /><br />Sudan is calling and reaching out to all peace-loving nations to support efforts currently underway to bring about peace and stability in its troubled region. Security for our citizens is a chief concern and Ocampo's conduct is counter to this agenda. In his bid to build a profile for the nascent Court under the pretext of pursuit of justice, he should be cautious that his actions do not contribute to the suffering of our people.<br /><br />CONTACT: Embassy of the Republic of Sudan, Information office, +1-202-338-8565, +1-202-667-2406<br /><br />Source: Embassy of Sudan<br /><br />CONTACT: Embassy of Republic of Sudan, Information office,<br />+1-202-338-8565, +1-202-667-2406<br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20193492.post-77405324992797297762008-06-20T05:34:00.000-07:002008-06-20T05:34:00.386-07:00Darfur and Its Impact on Sudan and the Region<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-19-2008/0004835952&EDATE=">Darfur and Its Impact on Sudan and the Region</a><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05034754267261591802noreply@blogger.com0