Darfur News Update by Radio Dabanga (3 – 9 December)
December 9, 2014 (SSNA) — The peace negotiations on South Kordofan and Blue Nile states between the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were suspended on Monday. The adjournment for an indefinite time happened four days after the peace talks on the Darfur conflict were suspended. The Darfuri Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) and the government also reached an impasse. In both negotiation tracks, the government delegations insisted on restricting the talks to reaching a cease-fire in the region, while the rebel parties sought more comprehensive agreements, including solutions for the issues of displacement. The head of the AU mediation team, Thabo Mbeki, decided to suspend the talks on Darfur after the UN Special Envoy for Sudan, Haile Menkerios, met with President Omar Al Bashir one week ago. Yasir Arman, Secretary-General of the SPLM-N, stated to Radio Dabanga from Addis Ababa that the next round may resume at the beginning of next year.
Arman also called for the immediate release of Faroug Abu Eisa, head of the National Consensus Forces (NCF, a coalition of opposition parties), together with a consultant of the SPLM-N, and the chairman of the Sudanese Civil Society Initiative. They were arrested by Sudanese authorities after co-signing the ‘Sudan Call’ with opposition party NUP and the SRF rebel alliance in Addis Ababa on 3 December. The political declaration pledges to unite Sudan’s opposition forces to achieve a democratic transformation of Sudan.
Meanwhile, the fighting between the Sudanese army and SPLM-N forces continues in South Kordofan. The army reported to have repulsed an attack on Balinja, southwest of Kadugli, on Monday, and that it inflicted heavy losses on the rebels’ side. The military spokesman for the SPLM-N has claimed the opposite, after the army reportedly attacked the rebels.
Deadly attacks on Central Darfur camp continue
For more than a week, militiamen have been terrorising the displaced people living in a camp in Zalingei locality, Central Darfur, by killing people, firing over the camp for hours, and robbing camp residents. On Saturday, a committee of notables of Zalingei locality met with leaders of the Hamidiya camp for the displaced, in an attempt to relieve the camp of the attacks. That evening, however, a man was shot inside the camp. Two displaced men were shot dead the day before, in an attack on the market in the camp at 8 pm. Two others were abducted, the coordinator of the Zalingei camps reported to Radio Dabanga on Friday. Houses were raided and people robbed of their belongings. On 30 November, a 12-year-old girl collecting straw outside the camp was raped by two militiamen, a relative of the victim said.
The coordinator explained that after the meeting between the native administration and the camp leaders one of the abducted camp residents was released. “Also a number of militiamen withdrew from around the camp”, where they had lingered. He still urged the UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur to quickly intervene and protect Hamidiya, because the assaults continued. “On Saturday evening, three militiamen wearing military uniforms, stormed the camp’s Centre 8, and fired three bullets at an 18-year-old man […] again terrifying the people.”
More news from Radio Dabanga:
Suicide attempt by Beja veteran foiled in Port Sudan
PORT SUDAN (9 Dec.) – An ex-combatant of the Beja Congress attempted to kill himself inside a government office in the Red Sea state capital of Port Sudan on Monday. Mohamed Ali Shagai had demanded to… FULL STORY
Displaced killed, raped, beaten in South Darfur
BIELEL LOCALITY (9 Dec.) – Militiamen shot dead a resident of El Salam camp for the displaced near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, and injured another on Saturday. On Sunday, two women of the camp were gang… FULL STORY
Sudan Revolutionary Front, Dialogue Committee condemn detentions
ADDIS ABABA / KHARTOUM (8 Dec.) – The chairman of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, Malik Agar, strongly denounced the detention of Faroug Abu Eisa, head of the National Consensus Forces, and Dr Amin Mekki Madani,… FULL STORY
Brother of DRA head killed, hospital guard shot in Central Darfur
CENTRAL DARFUR (8 Dec.) – The elder brother of Dr El Tijani Sese, head of the Darfur Regional Authority, was killed in Zalingei, capital of Central Darfur, on Friday. On the same day, a guard of the… FULL STORY
Sudan, UNDP invest $217 million in wind energy
KHARTOUM (8 Dec.) – Sudan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Electricity and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) agreed on the funding of a long-term wind energy project in the country… FULL STORY
Sudan security confiscates print run of El Mijhar
KHARTOUM (7 Dec.) – The print run of El Mijhar El Siyasi daily newspaper was confiscated by agents of the Sudan Intelligence and Security service (NISS) in Khartoum this morning. According to… FULL STORY
Student killed, women assaulted in North Darfur
KABKABIYA LOCALITY (7 Dec.) – Militiamen shot a secondary school student dead in Sareif Beni Hussein locality, North Darfur, on Thursday. On the same day, eight women were assaulted by gunmen in two… FULL STORY
Elbasri pushes ICC for probe into alleged Unamid cover-up
WASHINGTON (5 Dec.) – The former spokesman for the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Aicha Elbasri, renewed her criticism about the team that investigated claims of… FULL STORY
West Darfur residents flee as herders threaten to attack
KEREINIK (5 Dec.) – Militant herders have threatened the farmers of villages in Kereinik locality, West Darfur, to burn their houses and killing villagers to avenge the deaths of two of their… FULL STORY
‘Sudan Appeal fait accompli for Khartoum regime’: rebel leader
ADDIS ABABA (4 Dec.) – A platform of Sudanese political, civil, and armed opposition groups agreed on a political communiqué entitled Sudan Appeal in Addis Ababa on Wednesday. The signatories will join… FULL STORY
Unamid’s exit from Darfur supported by Russia, opposed by displaced, rebels
KHARTOUM / NORTH DARFUR / ADDIS ABABA (4 Dec.) – Russia supports Sudan’s position on the departure of the UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur. The Darfur displaced and the rebel movements voiced their strong rejection to Unamid… FULL STORY
Sudan: Farmers’ fury at Al Bashir’s accusations of theft
EL GEZIRA (3 Dec.) – President Omar Al Bashir’s allegations that farmers of El Gezira state embezzled agricultural funds have sparked fury and anger among thousands of people in the state. During a… FULL STORY
Herders kill farmer, graze livestock on farms in Central Darfur
CENTRAL DARFUR (3 Dec.) – Militant herders shot dead a displaced farmer in Bindisi locality, Central Darfur, on Monday. Farmers in the adjacent Wadi Salih locality complain about livestock grazing on their… FULL STORY
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