Category Archives: Sudan

UK calls for restraint after gunning down of Abyei tribal leader

Posted on May 6, 2013 by
Kual Deng Majok, the chief of the Dinka ethnic group who was gunned down over the weekend.

The United Kingdom is calling for restraint following the killing of a prominent tribal leader in the disputed Sudanese territory of Abyei during an incident involving a rival Arab militia. Kual Deng Majok, the chief of the Dinka ethnic group, was killed during a stand-off between the Arab Misseriya militia and UN peacekeepers. There were also reports of UN forces being wounded. Oil-rich Abyei abuts both Sudan and South Sudan – which seceded in 2011 – and is claimed by the two countries. The conflict is rooted in a dispute over land between farmers of the pro-South Sudan Dinka Ngok people and cattle-herding Misseriya Arab nomads in the north. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Sudan | Leave a comment

Sudan talks off to a good start in Addis Ababa

Posted on September 24, 2012 by

The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have held direct talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa aimed at resolving long-running disputes. Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir met for almost two hours late on Sunday ahead of long-delayed talks. A BBC correspondent in Addis Ababa said very little information had filtered out from Sunday night’s direct talks. Afterwards, the two men appeared together, smiling and looking relaxed. Mr Kiir told South Sudanese state media he hoped for a “celebration” after meeting Mr Bashir. Previously, spokesmen for both negotiating teams said substantial progress had been made on many of the issues. The main summit, which … Continue reading →

Posted in South Sudan, Sudan | Leave a comment

AU summit moved to Addis as Banda refuses to back down

Posted on June 13, 2012 by

By Henry D Gombya The African Union has been forced to move its July summit from the Malawian capital Lilongwe to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital,  after Africa’s only second female head of state vowed to arrest Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. Malawian President Joyce Banda who came to power in April this year following the sudden death from a heart attack of President Bingu wa Mutharika, is struggling to restore diplomatic relations with Western countries that Mutharika had severely damaged, especially when he expelled the British ambassador following the diplomat’s criticism of the Malawian leader in leaked … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Malawi, Sudan | Leave a comment

African Union in disarray as Sudan and Malawi ‘lock horns’

Posted on June 9, 2012 by

By Henry D Gombya This year’s African Union (AU) summit due to be held in Malawi next month has been thrown into disarray after Malawian President Joyce Banda insisted her country would rather not host the summit if Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir were to attend. Soon after coming to power following the death in office of President Bingu wa Mutharika, Mrs Banda made it clear that as a state party to the Rome Statute, Gen Bashir who for the last two years has been dodging an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) that want to try him for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, would not be … Continue reading →

Posted in Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan | Leave a comment

Sudan demands this year’s AU summit be moved from Malawi

Posted on June 8, 2012 by

The BBC is reporting that Sudan has demanded that next month’s African Union (AU) meeting be moved from Malawi and held at the AU headquarters following Malawian President Banda indicating that Sudanese leader Gen Omar al-Bashir is not welcome to Malawi. Sudan’s foreign ministry was quoted as saying that the meeting was of the “upmost importance” and that Mr Bashir’s presence was required. Gen Bashir is wanted in The Hague after being indicted for war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He denies the allegations. Now Sudan is insisting that its leader must take part in the summit, due on 9-16 July, because the agenda includes the … Continue reading →

Posted in Malawi, Sudan | Leave a comment