UK to fund relocation of ICC witnesses

UK to fund relocation of ICC witnesses
Source: Capital FM - www.capitalfm.co.ke
Author: Anthony Kagiri
Date: Friday, 26 November 2010

THE HAGUE, Nov 26 - Britain has donated Sh25.3 million to a special fund of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for relocations of witnesses at risk from Kenya.

A statement posted on the ICC website on Friday said the money would be given to countries willing to host the witnesses but are not in a position to finance such support.

It also seeks to foster regional solutions for the relocation of witnesses at risk, thereby reducing the impact of transfers on their life.

"This donation constitutes an important gesture towards the victims and witnesses of post-election violence in Kenya, and towards international justice and the common fight against impunity," the statement said.

The court added that the witness protection programme should help encourage witnesses to be more confident in contributing to the investigation, assisting the goal of accountability that the victims and others have been campaigning for.

"Using such arrangements, the court also seeks to galvanise cooperation partners into strengthening national capacity to protect witnesses in such regional states."

The court is investigating the deadly 2008 post election violence that led to over 1,333 deaths and displacement of over 600,000 people. ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said he will be presenting cases against six individuals to the ICC judges by end of next month.

The grant comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the housing of the witnesses by the State-run Kenya National Commission on Human rights with two of its witnesses saying that they were bribed by the commission to implicate Eldoret North MP William Ruto. This was preceded by claims that some suspects had attempted to compromise witnesses and investigators.

However in the statement, the court said it remains concerned about continuing reports of witness intimidation and official interference.

"Those who attempt to subvert the search for justice should be aware that they also could find themselves accountable for their actions in The Hague," said the statement.

The cooperation agreement was signed by Paul Arkwright, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Registrar of the Court, Silvana Arbia.

Before signing the Understanding, the Registrar noted that "by making a substantial donation to the Special Fund, the United Kingdom stands as an example to other States' willingness to support victims and witnesses who are at risk on account of their interaction with the Court".

The Ambassador stated that "The UK supports the court's work, with the Kenyan Government, to promote justice for the many victims of the post-election violence.

As the court was getting the assistance Kenya reiterated its commitment to fully cooperating with the International Criminal Court to facilitate its mandate in the country.

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti who is the chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee coordinating ICC matters outlined key steps the State has taken to facilitate the court's work including appointing a designated judge to facilitate the recording of statement from Provincial Commissioners and Police chiefs. Others include facilitating the establishment of an ICC office in the country, handing over of documents, reports and minutes and the gazetting of regulations or the implementation of the International Crimes Act.

"The Office of Prosecutor has continually expressed satisfaction with the level of the government's cooperation," he said.

The court's statement vindicated Prof Saitoti's view saying: "We welcome the Kenyan Government's cooperation with the Court on this case."

Sudan's north accuses south of aiding Darfur rebels

ACCORDING to the below copied report from Reuters, Abdel Wahid Al-Nur, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), one of Darfur's main rebel groups, will visit the southern Sudan capital Juba in the coming days, his spokesman said, and other rebel leaders have visited or reside there.

Mandour al-Mahdi, a senior official from the northern National Congress Party, told Reuters that the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had moved its forces to the south to receive training.

"If you are accommodating these forces in the south, you are supplying these forces with weapons, logistics, petrol and cars ... we think that this is a declaration of war against the north of the country," Mahdi said.

Reportedly, earlier this month the north accidentally bombed the south while fighting the JEM near the north-south border.

Full story below.

Sudan's north accuses south of aiding rebels
Source: Reuters - af.reuters.com
Date: Wednesday, 24 November 2010 12:19pm GMT

(Khartoum, Sudan) - Sudan's north said on Wednesday the semi-autonomous south of the country had declared war by supporting anti-government rebels from Darfur, just weeks ahead of a referendum on southern independence.

Sudan's north-south civil war ended in 2005 with a peace deal that shared wealth and power, enshrined democratic transformation and allowed southerners to vote in a January 9 plebiscite which most expect to result in secession.

Sudan's separate rebellion in Darfur -- which is part of the north -- began in early 2003 and numerous truces have failed to stem violence there. The International Criminal Court has indicted President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes there.

"If you are accommodating these forces in the south, you are supplying these forces with weapons, logistics, petrol and cars ... we think that this is a declaration of war against the north of the country," Mandour al-Mahdi, a senior official from the northern National Congress Party, told Reuters.

Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur, leader of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), one of Darfur's main rebel groups, will visit the southern capital Juba in the coming days, his spokesman said, and other rebel leaders have visited or reside there.

Mahdi said the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had moved its forces to the south to receive training. Earlier this month the north accidentally bombed the south while fighting the JEM near the north-south border.

South Sudan's army was not immediately available for comment but denies aiding rebels from Darfur. The south has in the past hosted unity talks between the fractious rebels to try to help move the Darfur peace process forward. If the south separates, Darfur will remain part of the north.

The dispute marks a low point in north-south relations which have been tense in the build up to the plebiscite. Talks on resolving the status of the disputed Abyei region are deadlocked and little progress has been made on defining citizenship, the border or other post-referendum issues.

Mahdi said the south's support for Darfur rebels was affecting talks covering security arrangements after the referendum.

"They should expel these forces out of south Sudan ... overall I hope that we reach a settlement of this issue so as not to affect the referendum," he said.

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Officials: Sudan bombing won't renew conflict
Source: The Associated Press (AP) / www.guardian.co.uk
Author: Maggie Flick
Date: Saturday, 13 November 2010

(Malakal, S. Sudan) - A bombing on the disputed north-south border of Sudan heightened concerns of renewed conflict in the region, but a Southern Sudan army official says the attack was aimed at rebels, not the south, and observers doubt this one incident would lead to anything more serious.

Sudan has been high on the U.S. foreign policy agenda, with top officials working to ensure a January referendum that could split Africa's biggest country into two is held on time. They are also working to avoid renewed conflict between north and south Sudan, who more than five years ago ended a decades-long war.

The borders of Northern Bahr Gazal and Southern Darfur, where the bombing occurred, are in dispute and the 2005 peace deal required the border between Southern Sudan and the north be demarcated. That exercise, however, has also been fraught with delays.

Col. Philip Aguer, spokesman for the Sudan People's Liberation Army, which protects oil-rich Southern Sudan, said Saturday that north Sudan's military bombed a disputed north-south border area but the attack was not meant for the south.

Both parts of Sudan are allowed to keep separate armies under a 2005 peace deal that ended their 21-year war.

Aguer said north Sudan military officers consulted with their southern counterparts through a joint military panel after the Friday bombing by an Antonov plane and determined the bombs were launched in the north, but landed in Southern Sudan territory close by. The panel, called the Joint Defense Board, is part of the 2005 peace deal and is meant to help avoid misunderstandings between the armies of the north and the south.

"The bomb fell in our territory by mistake and the SAF (Sudan Armed Forces) admitted it was not intentional," said Aguer. He said the bombing took place in Northern Bahr Gazal State, located in the southwest of the country and part of Southern Sudan, but would not give a precise location. Aguer said there were casualties but declined to give details.

The top U.N. official in Southern Sudan, David Gressly, said casualties are in the single digits and a U.N. team is going to the area to assess the situation

Lazaro Sumbeiywo, the Kenyan retired general who mediated the 2005 peace deal, said that since signing the agreement, north and south had only fought once, in 2008, in a dispute over the oil-rich area of Abyei.

Sumbeiywo declined to comment on the Friday incident but said when he went to assess the general situation in Southern Sudan two weeks ago, he did not find the semiautonomous region tense.

"In the sense that both parties need each other. The south has the oil and the north has the pipeline. How do you kill the conveyor and expect to get anything?" Sumbeiywo told The Associated Press.

The Obama administration, however, is worried conflict may be renewed because of the referendum on Southern Sudan's independence scheduled for January.

Officials have said the White House holds at least three meetings a week on Sudan in an effort to avoid a new outbreak of violence and President Barack Obama gets a daily briefings on the situation.

Last weekend, Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Sudanese leaders and presented them with a proposal from the Obama administration to remove Sudan from the terrorist list. The proposal is in addition to one made in September offering a range of incentives, including possible restoration of full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Sudan.

The U.S. offers follow conflicting statements from members of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's government that they may or may not recognize the referendum's results. It is widely expected that Southerners will vote in favor of separation come January.

Southerners fought a two-decade civil war against the Muslim, northern-dominated central government in which 2 million people died and more than a million headed north to escape the fighting. The independence referendum will be the culmination of the six-year transitional period that was part of the 2005 peace deal that ended that 20-year north-south conflict.

Aguer said that the north's military said they were targeting members of the Justice and Equality Movement rebel group, which has bases in Southern Darfur state bordering Northern Bahr Gazal. JEM is the most powerful of the Darfur rebel groups and has been fighting a rebellion in western Sudan's since 2003.

Several other rebel groups in the region have signed peace deals with the Sudanese government, but JEM remains one of the holdout groups.

On Thursday, the government's news agency reported that Sudan's intelligence chief called on Southern Sudan to arrest Darfur rebels hiding in the semiautonomous region. The agency also reported that National Security and Intelligence Service chief Lt. Gen. Mohammed Atta Almawla said some Darfur rebel leaders were in Northern Bahr Gazal state and two main towns in Southern Sudan. The report did not say which group the rebels belonged to.

Sudan: SLM’s Al-Nur arrives in Kenya - Darfur’s Minnawi distances himself from security arrangements accord? (Update 2)

NOTE to self. In my view, France-based Sudan Tribune and Netherlands-based Radio Dabanga* come across as anti- Arab, anti-Northern Sudanese and anti-Northern Government. Their websites seem to serve as megaphones for rebel news reports and other anti-Northern Sudanese propaganda. To be fair, the people behind the websites appear to work very hard and probably (but mistakingly) believe that the news they are broadcasting is unbiased and in the best interests of the Sudanese (except for the Northerners, which I think is grossly unfair, biased and racist, especially considering the fact that Radio Dabanga claims to promote professional and unbiased journalism). So far, I have been unable to verify the following reports published at Sudan Tribune and Radio Dabanga (reportedly run by Darfuris for Darfuris) but am filing them here for future reference along with several related reports for future reference.

*Excerpts from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, re Radio Dabanga:

Reporting
Radio Dabanga reports from inside Sudan and elsewhere. It produces independent news and relevant information for people of Darfur, including internally displaced persons and refugees. The editorial team operates out of facilities at Radio Netherlands Worldwide, a public radio and television network based in the city of Hilversum [1]. The radio station maintains correspondents in the field. Audience participation is another important source of information since listeners call the radio studios in Hilversum with their own stories and tips. Audience research conducted from September to October 2009 found that next to the state-run Radio Omdurman, Radio Dabanga was the most listened to radio station in all of Darfur [2].

Supporters
Radio Dabanga is a project of the Radio Darfur Network, a coalition of Sudanese journalists and international (media) development organizations, supported by a consortium of international donors, humanitarian organizations and local NGOs. Radio Dabanga is conceived, operated and facilitated by Press Now in the Netherlands [3]. The NGO Press Now maintains an informational website for its Dutch supporters and an educational website (in Dutch) featuring a game "On the Ground Reporter" about Radio Dabanga, with the aim of teaching about Darfur and efforts to support journalism there.

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SLM’s Al-Nur arrives in Kenya for consultations on peace in Darfur
Source: Sudan Tribune - www.sudantribune.com
Date: Monday, 22 November 2010

(Khartoum, Sudan) - Rebel leader Abdel Wahid Al-Nur arrived Sunday evening in the Kenyan capital Nairobi days before a consultative meeting on peace in Darfur he plans to hold in Paris.



Abdel Wahid Al-Nur

Speaking from Nairobi, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) told Sudan Tribune that he came to Nairobi because he needs to conduct wide consultations with many members from his group who cannot take part in the SLM leadership meeting.

"The discussions I have to hold here and in another African capital aim mainly to prepare Paris meeting," Nur said. "One can understand easily that all the leading members of the Movement cannot be there," he stressed.

Last week a SLM spokesperson and a IDPs representative told Sudan Tribune that consultations have been kicked off inside Sudan and abroad under the leadership of the SLM’s chairman and urged regional and international support to their efforts for peace in the restive region of Darfur.

The rebel leader who is based in Paris said he will return very soon to the French capital to achieve the ongoing preparations for a gathering that will debate on ways to reach a peaceful settlement to the seven year conflict in Darfur.

Abdel Wahid is the founder the first armed movement, SLM, which rebelled in February 2003. He refused to engage peace talks with the Sudanese government since the failure of Abuja peace talks in May 2006.

The rebel leader says he wants the government to provide security to the civilians in the troubled region by disarming the janjaweed militias and implementing a ceasefire agreement signed in April 2004. He also asks the return of IDPs to their homeland.

Nur, who used to meet regularly with the Joint Chief Mediators, met last July with the Qatari state minister for foreign affairs and pledged to consider the participation of his group in the peace process.

He also holds regular discussions on the need to achieve peace in Darfur with the French officials who recently accepted the organization in Paris of a meeting for the SLM leading figures.

Abdel Wahid said he is "very grateful for the French government’s" support to his efforts for peace in Darfur and allowing him to gather his group in Paris.

"I also call on all those who want to see a genuine and lasting peace in Darfur to support our efforts in this regard," he said. "We are peace lovers and we want a sustainable peace achieving the demands of Darfur people for security and development," he stressed.

He further dismissed reports that his trip to Kenya aims only to conclude new alliance with other rebel groups and Minni Minnawi in order to wage war against Khartoum with the support of southern Sudan ruling party, the SPLM.

"Military solution will not end the conflict," he said.

He continued to say that all his discussions with the head of southern Sudan president and the SPLM leader were only about peace in Darfur. (ST)

Copy of two comments posted at Sudan Tribune:

23 November 04:46, by Anyang
Hello Al-Nur,
You have to keep the necessary pressure on your enemy inorder to win the war no matter how hard and tedious its might be.
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23 November 06:56, by DASODIKO
Nur well done Its a time for the unification of the people of the margin after long been discorded by the centeral governemnts in Khartoum. We must come back to each other, those who are gainst our unification are those who want to steal the resources of our people and at last kick us out of Sudan to bring new settlers to change the social demography and establish Arab-Islamic nation in Sudan, which will be named land of children of Goreesh 2.
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Darfur’s Minnawi distances himself from security arrangements accord
Source: Sudan Tribune - www.sudantribune.com
Date: Tuesday, 23 November 2010

(Khartoum, Sudan) – The head of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) faction Minni Arcua Minnawi announced today his rejection of the security arrangements accord signed with Khartoum last month and accusing the government of seeking to disarm his forces in order to kill the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed in Abuja four years ago.



Sudanese former rebel leader Minni Minawi (AFP)

Minnawi told the independent Al-Sahafa daily by phone from Juba that the Sudanese government has only implemented 15% of the DPA with no progress on power and wealth sharing, Darfur-Darfur dialogue and security arrangements. He added that all these items had to be implemented simultaneously.

He accused the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) headed by president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir of refusing to abide by the terms of the DPA and further stressed that Khartoum is abandoning the peace agreement in favor of its new Darfur strategy.

There was no explanation for why SLM figures signed the security arrangements despite Minnawi’s disapproval.

Minnawi’s announcement drew strong rebuke from Khartoum.

The pro-government Sudanese Media Center (SMC) quoted the commissioner for security arrangements at the executive transitional authority of Darfur Lieutenant General Mohamed Mustafa Al-Dabi as saying that Minnawi has "betrayed" the DPA and is wasting time.

Al-Dabi said that the government is "very serious" about the DPA as evident by his presence in Darfur awaiting Minnawi and his troops to begin implementing the security arrangements.

"If the government wants to blow up the Abuja [Agreement] through the new Darfur strategy or the Doha negotiations as Minni Arcua says then what keeps me in Darfur to enforce the security arrangements?" he asked.

Darfur has been gripped by a civil war since 2003 that has killed 300,000 people and displaced another 2.7 million, according to UN figures. Khartoum says 10,000 people have died in the conflict.

Currently the government is negotiating with the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), an assortment of small dissenting factions cobbled together under Libyan and US auspices and led by Al-Tigani Al-Sissi. The two sides signed a ceasefire agreement last March and are now working on sealing a comprehensive peace accord.

However observers say that LJM has little presence on the ground and peace can only be achieved by bringing in the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) headed by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Khalil Ibrahim. Both movements remain outside the peace talks in Qatar. (ST)

Copy of a comment posted at the article:

23 November 06:58, by Mach Achiek
Dear Darfuris,

Opportunity is in the making, in the event of South independent, you must unite all your ranks and wage a shaken up war to be granted a right for self determination not to become a sovereign state, but to choose either to remain in the North or join the newly independent South.

This strategy if adopted by the remaining Negroes of the North; then the self claimed black Arabs will be left with a small strip of land that exactly resemble Gaza. In this situation, we can unleash Rwanda94 against them overnight and a pure African state shall emerge.
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UPDATE 1 - Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Abdel Wahid Nour expected to arrive in Juba
Source: Radio Miraya FM - www.mirayafm.org
Date: Tuesday, 23 November 2010 21:18. Copy in full:

A highly reliable source from the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel Wahid Mohammed Nour faction has said that Abdel Wahid is expected to arrive in Juba on Tuesday.

Speaking to Radio Miraya, the source said that the visit aims at discussing the future of the SLM with the leadership of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) after separation, adding that the two sides will also discuss Darfur issue.

He added that the SLM is having strategic relations with the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).

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Further Reading

Sudan's ex SLA rebel leader Minni Minnawi signed Darfur Peace Agreement security deal on Saturday, 30 Oct. 2010
Source: Sudan Watch - sudanwatch.blogspot.com
Date: Monday, 01 November 2010
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Nubia America: We can remove the Khartoum regime in ten hours
Source: SUDANJEM.COM website- www.sudanjem.com
Date: Monday, 22 November 2010, 9:40 am.

Arabic to English translation
Nubia America: We can remove the Khartoum regime in ten hours
And the great march in Washington on December 16, will be critical
America: The agencies / approved 15/11/2010

In the framework of the options open to the people of the Nuba Mountains / South Kordofan in the light of the current political and geographical arena of Sudan and the intransigence of the National Congress in the implementation of Brtakul the Nuba Mountains, and even mobilized tens of thousands of armies Almdhudp the latest weapons and the means of movement next to the militias as a violation of a clear and explicit arrangements for security in the province, and work the implementation of the extermination of other ethnic, especially after he fired the Khartoum regime with the people of the region the name of the southern neo-through an official letter was invited to recruit young heart to control them through the military orders, and pressure to displace the intellectuals and educated people of the province, with cut off all means of communication bout with the Diaspora.

After receipt of the fine details of the scheme of National Congress towards the Nuba Mountains held the sons of the Nuba Mountains, around the world and especially in America and Brtania, France, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Canada, Australia and some Arab and African countries a number of calls about the report the fate of the people of the Nuba Mountains as an option or the state of western Sudan, or regime change as fast as they are to maintained by the Taliban and Saddam Hussein to preserve what remains of Sudan, after being assured that the desire of the sons of South Sudan in the separation and independence, as well as could the possibility of half the people of the Nuba Mountains and Darfur and Kordofan and eastern Sudan, Blue Nile and the Nubians and the rest of the marginalized as long as this system continues in power and the extremist mentality.

People of the Nuba Mountains through the big move, which led them in circles in America last October gave the National Congress until mid-December to fulfill the implementation of the peace agreement, including security arrangements and the withdrawal of troops from the province and the elections and the achievement of the popular consultation and the exchange office of the Governor and to bring war criminals to justice global and other issues, and have handed over official letters to the U.S. administration and Congress and the UN and the EU Summit and a number of human rights organizations about it, including the right to self-determination and have the responses were positive and very encouraging.

And in the grand march expected in Washington on December 16, 2010 and which Sttov of Foreign Affairs and the White House and Congress, which will include a large number of people from the Nuba Mountains of all the United States, Canada, and Aruba, and along with interviews important for policymakers and the perpetrators of U.S. decisions, and all groups pressure, will the sons of the Nuba Mountains, the proposal has been discussed before with a number of officials the need for U.S. military intervention direct-flights with specific goals and painted to hit the Khartoum regime, and stressed the readiness of the 2000 youth of the sons of the Nuba Mountains, the Americans training Kqguat especially for landing in the capital Khartoum after air cover over the plan to remove its in less than ten hours, and the alliance with all forces of the margin and Democrats to build a democratic Sudan of values and the human rights internationally recognized, and to provide junta National Congress of the trials of domestic and international, and it is a last resort in light of the intransigence of National Congress and prevarication in the application of all the consensus reached. The continuation of this status quo will lead to a worst Sudan from Somalia. And the sons of the Nuba Mountains said they would not have been fighting in the parties because experience has shown that the problem is and Mspbhe in Khartoum and must be the change from Khartoum. He also noted the sons of the Nuba Mountains countries of the Diaspora that they did not migrate applications in finance or roaming and to reflect the issue but their own people, who sacrificed himself in order to keep the Nuba Mountains, next to the education of their children to carry the banner of struggle until we achieve justice, freedom and democracy.

He also stressed the sons of the Nuba Mountains, the long silence dictated by their wisdom, which are characterized by and is one of the tops of courage possessed by the people of the Nuba Mountains, and here they are sending out a message to those who did not read the history and civilization, and boldly and tournaments the people of the Nuba Mountains or readers mistake or are not in-depth , they read or re-read the history of old and its middle and modern and contemporary, as announced by the sons of the Nuba Mountains the patience and silence within, and here they are Ielnoha Adap either built the rest of the Sudan the foundations of new and re-structuring of the state and its wealth and either the flood. This generation is the strain of the same heroes who founded the country’s shift the great later known as the Sudan and they are able to bring those glory days and as they are descendants of Abdul Latif and wonder, and Almiraoy and Gboc and Joseph Koh, who canceled the concepts of fear and cowardice of the manifesto struggle and killed and their heads held high.

On the other hand that the youth of the mountains that prompted the implementation of the peace agreement did not mean the procedures and elections a sham or fake and discuss the popular consultation to see the center, but must check the expectations required for the people of the Territory all Otnyate colors and nice political calling for international monitoring actors of the electoral process, and perhaps the reality of Blue Nile, fully reflects the total disregard of Khartoum in the implementation of the popular consultation, as the region was elected Governor and Legislative Council, the regional since last April and that the Commission entrusted with the negotiations center around the vision and the demands of the people of the region, but Khartoum has turned a blind eye in the creation of the commission, should be proceed in negotiations with the Office of the Blue Nile.

And on the other hand, called former U.S. envoy to Sudan Andrew Natios last month hit the air if the Khartoum regime’s intransigence in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including the referendum for southern Sudan and Abyei and implementation of Bertokoly Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. Also issued Sen. John Danforth and General Smboy two communities in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in a joint statement several months ago stern warning to the Khartoum government of the seriousness of the partial approach to the peace agreement and ignoring protocols is an important and Brtakul the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile and Abyei. He also urged last week, former U.S. envoy to Sudan, touch U.S. President Obama Pallaivae promise which he promised American voters in May 2008 put an end to genocide, ethnic in Sudan and make Darfur prohibited warplanes government and the implementation of all elements of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and urged him to intervene military and air real-time if called it.

According to analysts, and military and international security that the change of the Khartoum regime militarily would be much easier of the two regimes of Saddam and the Taliban if the system Etsitr on the capital Khartoum just a security and any loss and rally popular support in all regions of Sudan, especially the margin, in addition to the political powers North opposition stands against him in Khartoum and the sites influence the other, as the system is isolated internationally, including from the surrounding countries, whether Arab or African, and all of which have special relations with the West, especially America, and that the unresponsiveness of the system in to bring war criminals to the International Tribunal and non-implementation of the peace treaty, signed by manipulating the issue of Darfur and to repress freedoms, especially press, along with its status as a sponsor of terrorism will make the implementation of the idea to change the international first choice if the situation continues as it is now.

Therefore appealed to the sons and daughters of the Nuba Mountains, USA and Canada all to participate actively in this important historical event, which will open new horizons for the people of the region and puts an end to the genocide planned by the National Congress, and restore the region and its people to signed the historic leadership. Attention is also invited the sons of the Nuba Mountains, each marginalized from the east and Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile and the Nubians of Southern Sudan and all political forces calling for diverse and democratic Sudan to participate in this important event. It also commends the people of the Nuba Mountains, the initiative forces the margin of the signing of a document of a joint work in sync with the grand march, in addition to the approval of many human rights organizations and some activists and pressure groups, the U.S. and some jurists who have expressed their desire to participate actively to support the cause of the people of the Nuba Mountains. As many of you will Aleclat and various media coverage of this important event.
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DARFUR'S JEM CALLS FOR A DECENTRALISED FEDERAL "UNITED STATES OF SUDAN" AS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO SUDAN'S PROBLEMS

#Darfur's JEM calls for a decentralized federal "United States of Sudan" as the only solution to Sudan's problems.
http://bit.ly/bZeIzy (AR)
Source: Twitter - http://twitter.com/simsimt/status/5941388235505665
Date: Saturday, 20 November 2010 via Twitter for iPhone
Author: simsimt Usamah
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http://www.sudanjem.com/2009/archives/37966/ar/
الولايات السودانية المتحدة: المخرج للمشاكل المعقدة
Source: SUDANJEM.COM website - www.sudanjem.com
Date: Saturday 20 November 2010, 11:27 am
Copy in full:

الولايات السودانية المتحدة
المخرج للمشاكل المعقدة

لا يمكن الوصول لبقيتنا ووجهتنا الصحيحة إلأ بالخروج من نفق النفاق السياسي والإعتراف بشجاعة عن العجز والتقصير ، والإبتعاد عن التخبط فى إ رتجال ردود الأفعال الآنـية ، ولابد من إشراك جميع المواطنين فى صنع القرار بمنتهى الحرية والشفافية والتى من شأنها رفع شأو المواطن والمحافظة على الوطن من التقلم والتشرزم وذلك بغض النظر عن الإعتبارات العرقية والدينية والثقافية ، وكل مواطن حــر ما لم يضـر ، هو مواطن صالح سيستجيب للواجبات مادامت حقوقه مستوفاه ، من صحة وتعليم وخدمات وحرية تعبير تؤدي لإصلاح أو كشف فساد رقم مهم فى تنمية البلاد الإيجابية يجب المحافظة عليها والتشجيع عليها مع التحفيز.
ومن المستحيل عمليآ حل مشكلة المشاركة السياسية عن طريق الإنتقائية وتجزئة الديموقراطية فى وطن مثل السودان متباين الأعراق واللهجات والثقافات والأعراف ، ومعظم النقابات والمجالس المحلية والنيابية والنقابية والإتحادات الطلابية واللجان على تباينها مجردة من أي سلطة فعلية ومشاركة واقعية إلا أن تمر بمصفاة البيروقراطية الحاكمة بإسم الديمقراطية أو بإسم الدين وبعدها تمرحل وترحل القرارات ووجهات النظر فماوافق منها قبل وماخالف منها زجر ومنجاهر برأي صائب لايتوافق معهم نكل به 00000000000 أو قُتـل .
كما لم تعد هنالك فائدة تُرجـى بالإستنجاد بالسلطة لحل وحسم المشاكل الناجمة عن التعقيدات فى التباين والتداخل الإجتماعى ، ولذا كان من الضرورى والحتمي الحث والتشجيع لحماية الحريات العامة وخاصة حرية التعبير ، وإستبدال الأطر القديمة والإنفتاح على العالم بروح المصالح المشتركة ومواكبة التطور أفقيآ ورأسيآ ، وقد غابت العوامل الأساسية فى ظل الوضع الحالى ، ومنها على سبيل المثال إفتقاد القدره على الفهم والتفسير فى كل لحظة أين وصل التطور الإجتماعى وما هى التغيرات التى طرأت على المجتمع فى حركته الموضوعية ، وبالتالى ما هى التغيرات التى حدثت فى ميدان العلاقات السياسية وفى وعـى وإستيعاب المواطنين ومدى إرتباطها بالعالم الخارجى وتاثيرها إيجابآ والفوائد التى جنيناها منها وكيفية معالجة السلبيات فى حينها ، وإنطلاقآ من هذا التحليل يتوجب علينا أن نفهم ماهية الحقيقة لمكاننا ودورنا المحلى والإقليمى والدولي وتحديد سياسة سلمية على ضوء تلك النتائج .
إن حياتنا الإجتماعية فى السودان تتطلب وجود منظمات سياسية وإقتصادية وعمالية وإدارية وفنية وإعلامية وزراعية وهندسية وصناعية وتربوية وطبية وعسكرية وتكنولوجية متخصصة ، ومن زبدتها نستخلص المعنى الحقيقى للمشكلات الإجتماعية وأعنى الإجتماعية لأن إنسان السودان هو الهدف والمعني بالتقدم او التخلف الإستقرار أو الإطّراب التوحد أو الإنفصال ، والهدف من ذلك وضع دولة السودان وولاياتها المتحدة فدراليآ على بداية الطريق الديمقراطي الصحيح والذى بدوره يمهد لنمو الإقتصاد مما ينتج عنه تحسن دخل مستوى الطبقة البروتارية وهى الغالبه والمقلوبة على أمرها حتى نصل لمرحلة الإستقرار الإقتصادى والمتنامي كي تلتحم لحمة التعايش السلمى بالتمتع والمشاركة فى السلطة والثروة والقرار ، ولايتمذلك إلا فى ظل نظام سياسى منتخب بحرية ونزاهة ، لتمكين أسس ومبادئ الحرية والعدالة والمساواة على أرضية حكم فدرالى حقيقى .
وجل مشاكل السودان إقتصادية وسياسية ودينية ، ولايمكن حلها إلا بتطبيق النظام الفيدرالى بحيث تكون كل الولايات فى وضعها الحقوقى مستقلة إستقلالآ كاملآ وذاتيآ على أساس اللامركزية إذ تساهم هذه الولايات فى تأليف الإدارة القومية المشتركة فى السلطة الإتحادية المركزية وتمتاز بالصفات الأتـية
1/ ذات دستور وتتمتع بالشخصية الحقوقية وبالسلطة العامة.
2/ تتم الرابطة بين الولايات التى تؤلف إتحادآ فدراليآ بواسطة دستور إتحادى Constitution fedrate
3/ السيادة الخارجية تمثلها حكومة الإتحاد المركزية ويبقى لكل ولاية إتحادية الحق فى ممارسة السيادة الداخلية المطلقة وذلك فى كل النظم السياسية والإدارية والإقتصادية ويتم إنتخاب النواب والحكام والوزراء من غير وصاية أو تدخل أو تعديل من حكومة الإتحاد المركزية .
4/ يحق لكل ولاية عمل دستور وقوانين محلية تتناسب مع طبيعة مجتمع الولاية .
5/ أن تتألف السلطة التشريعية الإتحادية من مجلسين الأول يمثل الولايات بممثلين دائمين فى المركز وبصورة متساوية لهم نفس الحقوق وعليهم نفس الواجبات إزاء الإتحاد ، والمجلس الثاني نيابي ويمثل الشعب عامة فيكون تمثيل جميع الولايات السودانية المتحدة فدراليآ ، أو كونفدراليآ فيه
6/ السلطة القضائية الإتحادية تتجلّى بمحكمة عليا Superme court ، وتكون ذات إختصاص شمولى وداخلى ودستورى كي تفصل فى النزاعات التى تنشأ بين الولايات فى بعضها أو بين الولايات وحكومة المركزويكون لها الحق المطلق والدستورى فى إستدعاء الرئيس أو الوزراء أو النواب فى حال وجود مظالم خاصة أو عامة أو فساد إدارى أو مالى بالنسبة للرئيس والحكام والوزراء وكل من يشغل منصب حساس أو رفيع فى القطاع المدني والعسكري وما يشمل التلاعب بالمال العام وضياع الحقوق بالرشاوي وإستغلال المنصب ، مع رفع كامل الحصانة حتى يكون الحق له أو عليه
7/ ينطلق نظام الإتحاد الفدرالي السوداني إستنادآ على الرئاسي عن طريق الإنتخاب الحر النزيه والذى ينطلق من حيث التقاليد نظام الحكم الإجتماعية والأخلاق السودانية الأصيلةوالقوانين المرعية فيه .
8/ أي نظام حكم يتم بطريقة غير شرعية يعتبر حكمآ باطلآ ويتم وئده فى مهده بالعصيان المدني الشمولي ومحاكمة منفذيه .
9/ بالنسبة للثروة فلكل ولاية الأولوية فى ثروتها بالإكتفاء والتنمية الرأسية ، وفائضميزانية المركز تركز على الولايات الأقل نموآ لإستثمار ثروتها والإعتماد على نفسها فى شكل معونات مالية مستردة بغير فوائد والعائد من أرباح رأس المال يعود للولاية نفسها .
10/ يحق لكل الحكومات الولائية الفدرالية بعقد الصفقات مع الشركات العربية والأجنبية دون إستثناء وخلق قنوات إستقطاب لتدفق رأس المال الأجنبي للإستثمار فى تلك الولاية مع تبسيط قوانين الإستثمار المشجعة والمحفزة للغير .
11/ القاعدة الثابته فى التعيين لتولى المناصب السياسية والإدارية والتشريعية تنطلق من ثلاثة محاور
أ/ الكفآءة
ب/ الترشيح أو الإنتخاب المباشرمن الشعب
ج/ الولأء للوطن
12/ يعد غياب التنظيمات النسائية المتخصصة والتى هى شريحة مهمة وأساسية وحساسة فى تحريك دولاب الحياة برفوفها المتباينة ، يعتبر خسارة عظمى وتأخر للأمـه ، فإذا لم تحوز المرأة على حقوقها كاملة فليس هنالك إذآ مجالآ للحديث عن
الديموقراطية وحقوق النساء الإنسانية للوصول للتطور والمساواة .
13/ لغرب الوطن المنهك والمنتهك حقوقآ مسلوبة لم تؤدى إليهم فى مجالي السلطة والثروة وحريةإتخاذ القرار فى ظل معمعة الحلول الجزئية والمؤقتة ، ونطالب بحق ممارستهم الكاملة لحقوقهم الوطنية والإنسانية من غير وصاية أو إستقطاب أو ضغط ، للخروج من العمليات غير الإنسانية والإنطلاق لرحاب العدل والإيثار والمساواة ، وذلك لخلق أجيال آمنة مؤمنة ومواكبة للحضارة الإنسانية تأثيرآ وتطورآ .
14/ الإهتمام بتنمية الإنسان قبل تنمية الجيوب والنظام .
15/ نؤمن بأن السودان ملئ بالكفآءآت المخلصة من الجنوب والغرب والشرق والشمال فواجب دستوري ووطنى المحافظة عليهم وتكريمهم والإستئناس برأيهم كل فى تخصصه .
16/ أي نظام لم يستطع حل مشاكل السودانيين حلآ سلميآ وعادلآ فهو نظامآ فاشيآ وفاشلآ يجب أن يزول ويسلم كل زول .
17/ ندعو لسيادة القانون وحرية الرأي وإرجاع الحقوق التى سلبت بغير وجه حق لأهلها أو البدل المجزي لحياة كريمة .
18/ لضمان أن يكون جميع السودانيين مشاركين فى الحكم الرئاسى يتم إنتخاب رئيس للسودان كل أربع أو خمس سنوات من ولاية تمثل اهلها ويتم ذلك بالقرعة ، فمثلآ إذا وقعت القرعه للأربع سنوات الأولى على شرق السودان فيتم تعيين الرئيس منها
بترشيح المجلس النيابي ، وتكون القرعة التالية على ثلاثة أو أربع ولايات تمثل الغالبية وذلك على التوالى فتارة رئيس من الجنوب والغرب والشمال والوسط ، وبذا يكون جميع أهل السودان معنيين بتقاسم السلطة والثروة والتعايش السلمى تحت مظلة العدالة الشمولية .
19/ إلغاء عرف عفى الله عما سلف فى نهب المال العام ويتم إسترداده لخزينة الولايات السودانية المتحدة .
20/ والمتوقع فى حالة دفن الرءؤس فى الرمال سنجد السودان تجزأ الى خمس دول بفعل التهشيم والتعتيم، شئنا أم أبينا .
na_313@hotmail.com

تعليقات حول الموضوع

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From SUDANJEM.COM website - www.sudanjem.com
Copy of current About page:

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is a rebel group involved in the Darfur conflict of Sudan. It is led by Khalil Ibrahim. Along with other rebel groups such as the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), they are fighting against the Sudanese National Islamic Front government. The JEM is also a member of the Eastern Front, a rebel coalition formerly active in the east of Sudan along the Eritrean border. After the Eastern Front signed a peace deal with the central government, the JEM lost access to its funding from Eritrea.

The JEM traces its foundation to the writers of the Black Book, a manuscript published in 2000 that details the structural inequity in the country. JEM espouses an Islamist ideology, and the government links the group to Hassan al-Turabi, although leaders of the group and Turabi himself deny the claim.[1] However, al-Turabi blames the government for “aggravating the situation.”

On January 20, 2006, the Justice and Equality Movement declared a merger with the Sudan Liberation Movement, along with other rebel groups, to form the Alliance of Revolutionary Forces of West Sudan. However, the JEM and SLM negotiated as separate groups with peace talks with the government in May 2006.

In October of 2007, the JEM attacked the Defra oilfield in the Kordofan region of Sudan. The Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company, a Chinese-led consortium, controls the field. The next month, a group of 135 Chinese engineers arrived in Darfur to work on the Defra field. Ibrahim told reporters, “We oppose them coming because the Chinese are not interested in human rights. It is just interested in Sudan’s resources.” The JEM claims that the revenue from oil sold to China funds the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militia.[2]

On the morning of December 11, 2007, Khalil Ibrahim claimed that JEM forces fought and defeated Sudanese government troops guarding a Chinese-run oilfield in the Kordofan region. Khartoum officials, however, denied that any oil fields had come under attack. Ibrahim said that the attack was part of a JEM campaign to rid Sudan of Chinese-run oilfields and stated that “[The JEM] want all Chinese companies to leave. They have been warned many times. They should not be there.”[3]

On May 11, 2008 JEM attacked the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. The government declared victory, saying that the attack had been repelled and leading members of the group had been killed, although the JEM said that the attack was successful. Eltahir Elkaki, the General Secretary of JEM’s legislative council, vowed that the war would henceforth be fought across the country, saying that “We haven’t changed our tactics. From the beginning, Jem is a national movement and it has a national agenda.”[4] Khalil Ibrahim declared that “This is just the start of a process and the end is the termination of this regime”.[5]

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UPDATE 2 - Wednesday, 24 November 2010

SLM chief travels to Kenya for meetings on Darfur peace
Source: Radio Dabanga website
Date: Wednesday, 24 November 2010

(NAIROBI) - Abdel Wahed Mohamed Ahmed Al Nur, founder and president of the Sudan Liberation Movement, held consultations with other leaders of his movement in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Al Nur arrived there from Paris at the start of a tour to a number of African capitals, including Juba, to conduct wide-ranging consultations on the peace process and its future for Darfur.

The rebel leader told Radio Dabanga from Nairobi that the goal of the tour is to have meetings and consultation for peace and unity of the movement. He said that the consultations would also involve Sudanese political forces. He said that such meetings would culminate in a consultative meeting to be held in the beinning of next month in Paris.

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Interview: Minawi lashes out at NCP, proposes new Sudan regime
Source: Radio Dabanga website
Date: Wednesday, 24 November 2010

(Juba, S. Sudan) - Minni Arko Minawi, ex-rebel faction leader of the Sudan Liberation Army, lashed out at the National Congress Party and its leadership, describing them as corrupt and racist. The president of the Sudan Liberation Movement and the former chief aide to the president – a position he held as part of a peace deal – said the NCP wants to destroy Sudan and divide it into different states. Minawi called on all Sudanese to bring about the end of the National Congress Party and replace it with a new transitional government to save the Sudan. He proposed that the new government should consist of all parties and said that the task of this interim government would be to solve the problems of Sudan of development, form a new constitution for the country, and organize elections.

Minawi also replied to a group of ex-rebels, claiming to be from his faction, who had announced his ouster earlier this month. Those who issued the statement of his dismissal had already been separated from the movement, he said. They were prompted by their handlers in the National Congress Party and security services, he suggested.

In an effort to implement the security protocols of the Abuja Peace Agreement, SLM officials in El Fasher last month signed a deal with a government committee headed by Lieutenant General Mohamed Al Dabi. However, this week in an interview with the Al Sahafa daily, Minawi said he rejects the deal. He did not explain why his subordinates had signed it. He told Radio Dabanga yesterday that security arrangements should be the last items in the implementation of the Abuja Agreement, and not the reverse. He said the government and its forces did not stop fighting against the movement since the signing of the Abuja Agreement. He said that the movement will stand by idly if the government chooses to go in this direction [of force]. He also described the ‘model villages’ that the Arab League claimed to have set up in Darfur as mere lies.

Minawi was speaking to Radio Dabanga from Juba where he has taken up residence.

Minawi refuses to integrate troops unless by terms of DPA

West Darfur State warns ex-rebel movements to integrate forces

Minawi alleges corruption in Darfur Authority

Sudanese in Kenya register for referendum

REGISTRATION is ongoing for Sudanese nationals residing in Kenya in readiness for the Southern Sudan Referendum.

The exercise organized by the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC), a body independent from the governments of both Sudan and Southern Sudan started on Monday and will continue till 1 December 2010.

Full story below.

Sudanese in Kenya register for referendum
Source: KBC - Kenya Broadcasting Corporation - www.kbc.co.ke
Author: Rose Kamau
Date: Saturday, 20 November 2010

Registration is ongoing for Sudanese nationals residing in Kenya in readiness for the Southern Sudan Referendum.

The exercise organized by the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC), a body independent from the governments of both Sudan and Southern Sudan started on Monday and will continue till 1 December 2010.

The organization has opened six referendum centres and two sub-centres in Dadaab, Eldoret, Kakuma, Kitale, Nairobi and Nakuru.

The SSRC Representative for Kenya, Mr. Achouth Philip Deng who is in the country encouraged eligible voters register in large numbers "to exercise their rights".

"The referendum is a determining event for the people of Southern Sudan; it is an opportunity for us to influence our future. All of the Referendum Centres in Kenya are open. The process is inclusive and progressive," said Deng.

"I believe that the Southern Sudanese population in Kenya will take advantage and come out to register this weekend. I urge all Referendum staff to double efforts to register as many Sudanese as possible, especially students, while they have the chance to be away from their classes," he added.

Deng said the organization has received assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in facilitating the exercise to ensure many Sudanese residents register and participate in the referendum.

Southern Sudan will hold a referendum on whether or not it should remain as a part of Sudan on 9 January 2011.

This is part of the 2005 Naivasha Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M).

A simultaneous referendum will be held in Abyei on whether the region should become part of Southern Sudan.

Kenya's ICJ moves to court to seek Bashir’s arrest

NOTE to self for future reference. Weird timing on ICJ's part. Who is behind it and why? Today, this blog's parent site Sudan Watch has received quite a few visitors searching for news re tanks shipped by MV Faina. Check out Sudan Watch, 19 July 2009 - MV Faina cargo: 100 tanks were ordered by Government of South Sudan - and, at the end of the story, click on FAINA label to view a series of news reports filed 02 October 2008 - 19 February 2010.
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Kenya's ICJ moves to court to seek Bashir's arrest
Source: The East African - www.theeastafrican.co.ke
Author: Jillo Kadida
Date: Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 18:44

Photo: President Al Bashir arrives for the promulgation of Kenya's new constitution at Uhuru Park, Nairobi on August 27, 2010. His visit sparked outrage among Kenyan leaders and the international community. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI

The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists has moved to court seeking a warrant of arrest against Sudan president Omar Al Bashir.

The commission filed a case at the High Court in Nairobi yesterday seeking a provisional arrest warrant against Al Bashir.

Mr Al Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide crimes committed in Sudan. The court also issued two warrants of arrest which have never been effected.

The jurists’ organization says Al Bashir is likely to visit Kenya in November or near future and his presence in the country would be a violation of the law.

ICJ also wants the court to order Ministry of Internal Security to effect the arrest warrant when Al Bashir sets foot in Kenya.

The ICJ Kenyan Chapter blames the Kenya Government for failing to arrest Al Bashir when he visited Kenya on August 27 2010 during the promulgation of the new constitution.

The organization says the Government in utter disregard of its obligation under international law failed to arrest Al Bashir despite the existence of two warrants of arrest issued by ICC.

Last month President Al Bashir was expected to visit Kenya to attend the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) meeting but this was moved at the last minute following fears that he might be arrested.

The meeting was transferred to African Union headquarters in Ethiopia following a letter from the ICC to the government of Kenya.

In its letter the court called for arrest of Mr Al Bashir in the event he turned up for the conference.

A statement from the ICC Registrar, Ms Silvana Arbia, had said: “The International Criminal Court requested the Republic of Kenya to inform the Chamber, no later than 29 October, about any problem which would impede or prevent the arrest and surrender of Omar al-Bashir in the event that he visits the country on 30 October, 2010.”

Yesterday after hearing the case filed by ICJ High Court Judge, Nicholas Ombija directed that the suit papers be served on the Attorney General.

The parties will appear before him for hearing next Tuesday.

Sudan: Why Citizens Should Encourage Sudan Unity and Not Disintegration

The concept of joining ranks and formation of regional and continental blocks is gaining momentum and support throughout the entire world (e.g. the European Union, the Russian Federation and the US), among them the most wealthy and powerful nations.

So why should we turn against this global trend and preach for separation and disintegration of our least developed of African countries into smaller and weaker states, while real empowerment and development lies in unity and more unity?

Full story below.

Sudan: Why Citizens Should Encourage Sudan Unity and Not Disintegration
Source: The Nation (Nairobi) - www.nation.co.ke
Opinion piece by Sonaya Abdelsadig
Date: Friday, 29 October 2010

Nairobi — A recent trend in Kenya and East Africa in general tends to favour the partitioning of Africa's biggest nation into two parts, claiming that the emerging "independent" state in the South should be purely African and Christian and that East Africans should enjoy the oil wealth of Southern Sudan.

Firstly, speaking about independence for Southern Sudan is fallacy because historically, the South has never been a colony to the North, but an integral part and parcel of one country regardless of disparity in development standards resulting from many historical factors and political mistakes committed by various actors.

These errors are being addressed and sorted out in numerous conferences and meetings with one culminating in the signing of the historical Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Nairobi in 2005.

Ethnic and religious diversity was never the cause of the civil war but a mix of multiple factors.

It is misinformation to claim that since East Africa, and especially Kenya, is predominately a Christian society, the views of an estimated 4.3 million Muslims in the country, whose point of view was not taken into consideration in this regard should be ignored.

The same criteria should be applied on South Sudan Muslims.

Somalia, for instance, is an ethnically and religiously unified country; nevertheless that unity did not protect the state against total collapse and continuous bloodshed between brother and sister.

The belief that in order to achieve full benefits from the oil wealth in South Sudan the country should be disintegrated contradicts reality and solid figures.

Since the signing of the CPA in Nairobi that brought an end to hostilities between the warring parties, an estimated number of Kenyans ranging between fifty and seventy thousand, with a sizeable fraction of them in Juba, are working and doing business throughout Southern Sudan and within the unified Sudan, without the slightest objection from the North.

Kenya does not need to disintegrate the million square-mile neighbour in order to sustain her growing benefits.

The number of Kenyan companies and banks operating in the South is the highest outside Kenya and the number is growing at a rapid rate.

The famous Nakumatt Supermarket has announced plans to venture into the region by the end of the year.

The training of civil servants, military personnel and people from other spheres of life is done in Kenya while some Kenyan experts are doing the same on the ground in the South.

To claim that Kenya is not in need of the friendship of the North is to ignore the realities of history, geography and the strategic interests of the Kenyan people as was clearly stated by the esteemed government when justifying the receiving of President Al-Bahsir last August during the promulgation of the new Constitution.

Economically speaking, North Sudan is an important and promising market for Kenyan products and industries with the former currently importing seven per cent of Kenyan tea.

The population in the North is four times that of the South. Great human and financial resources, including vast virgin lands and huge rivers are available, offering big economic prospects for all kinds of investments and business ventures.

The Kenyan Government's stand was strong, logical and straightforward while defining those interests and highlighting the historical role played by Kenya as a custodian, guardian and guarantor to the peace process in Sudan, which culminated in the historical CPA -- a noble role that should be continuous and sustainable till the realisation of the whole agreement, including safeguarding, defending and protecting the sovereignty, integrity and unity of Sudan.

The concept of joining ranks and formation of regional and continental blocks is gaining momentum and support throughout the entire world (e.g. the European Union, the Russian Federation and the US), among them the most wealthy and powerful nations.

So why should we turn against this global trend and preach for separation and disintegration of our least developed of African countries into smaller and weaker states, while real empowerment and development lies in unity and more unity?

Hat tip: Allafrica.com

ICC Ocampo: Violence it is not a ticket to power, but to The Hague

THE ICC is working towards using the Kenyan case as a deterrent to other African countries against use of violence as a means of getting into power.

Already, officials from the ICC have been to Guinea, which is planning its elections, and Cote d'voire to impress upon the leaders to hold peaceful elections.

"Kenya's case is a signal that if you produce massive violence it is not a ticket to power, but to The Hague," the ICC prosecutor said.

Mr Ocampo, however, admitted that he is working against 'strong elements' who still perpetuate the idea that committing atrocities is a way of gaining power.

Full story below.

Kenya: Four to Stand Hague Trial Over Poll Violence This Year
Report by Daily Nation, Nairobi (reprinted at AllAfrica)
Written by Cosmas Butunyi and Peter Leftie
Originally published on Friday, 22 October 2010. Copy in full:

Nairobi — ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said on Friday that at least four ODM and PNU officials would appear before him by the end of the year.

"I will present my first two cases this year against two to three individuals from the two different sides," Mr Ocampo said in an interview with the France24 international news channel.

Mr Ocampo said the cases, which would be based on evidence, could involve senior government officials. The ICC is working towards using the Kenyan case as a deterrent to other African countries against use of violence as a means of getting into power.

Already, officials from the ICC have been to Guinea, which is planning its elections, and Cote d'voire to impress upon the leaders to hold peaceful elections.

"Kenya's case is a signal that if you produce massive violence it is not a ticket to power, but to The Hague," the ICC prosecutor said.

Mr Ocampo, however, admitted that he is working against 'strong elements' who still perpetuate the idea that committing atrocities is a way of gaining power.

On the claims by critics that the ICC has focused more on the continent, instead of its global scope, Mr Ocampo said that he took up some of the cases he is handling, such as Uganda, Congo and the Central African Republic upon invitation by the country's leaders.

Mr Ocampo described the case of Sudan President Omar Al Bashir as the 'most complicated' that he is handling. He added: "When the international community is united, it is part of the solution. When it is divided, it is part of the problem."

Record statements

Meanwhile, top security officials in charge of post-election violence hot spots will have to wait a little longer before they can appear before the ICC investigators, it has emerged.

Lawyers representing PCs, DCs and provincial police bosses on Friday said their clients would only appear before ICC detectives once the rules governing the recording of statements are published and the registry set up.

One of the lawyers, Mr Evans Monari, noted that the advocates will need time to consult with their clients before recording statements after the registry is set up.

He said the lawyers expect to have a meeting with the judge appointed by the government to preside over the recording, Justice Kalpana Rawal. "We expect her to call us for a meeting to discuss house keeping issues," the lawyer stated.

The rules state how evidence from witnesses, in this case the top security chiefs, is to be gathered and how notices summoning them to appear before the ICC detectives are to be made.

Justice Rawal is expected to witness the recording of statements from the security chiefs before certifying and handing them to the Attorney-General.