Sudan

15 June 2008 -- Officials in Sudan say a joint north-south military force will begin deploying to the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei on Monday.

The commander of the new force, Valentino Tokmac, says the force will have equal numbers of troops from the Sudanese army and from the southern former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army. He said the force will number more than 600 troops.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and southern leader Salva Kiir agreed last week to replace northern and southern troops in the town with a new integrated unit.

The two also agreed to seek international arbitration to settle the dispute over Abyei and to give the United Nations free access to the area for the first time.    » read more »

23 May 2008 -- Amnesty International is gravely concerned by the Sudanese security forces’ crackdown following the incursion into Khartoum, by an armed group. The crackdown has been characterized by serious human rights violations including hundreds of arbitrary arrests, cases of ill-treatment, as well as extra-judicial executions. These violations have mostly been targeted at Darfuris.

An exhibition of weapons and military hardware captured during the Darfur rebel attack on Omdurman on May 10/11: The show took place in the grounds of the Khalifa's mosque in Omdurman. Photo by Andrew Heavens (CC)    » read more »

Region Needs Peacekeeping Forces, Helicopters to Help End the Genocide

May 22, 2008 -- Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) today sent a letter to President Bush urging him to take definitive action in Darfur. Senator Specter joined with 29 colleagues in the U.S. Senate in appealing to the President to “use all the power of the White House to ensure that (his) legacy includes definitive action in Darfur.”

Rebel vehicles in Sudan: Photo by Andrew Heavens (CC)    » read more »

Document shows that U.S. could also offer removal from state sponsors of terrorism list to Sudan in exchange for allowing some peacekeepers into Darfur region

April 21, 2008 -- WASHINGTON — Last week, the New York Times reported on a Bush administration document showing that it could offer normalized relations with the Sudanese regime and removal from the state sponsors of terrorism list if Khartoum allows Thai and Nepalese peacekeepers into the Darfur region.    » read more »

Chicago, IL -- April 18, 2008 -- "I am deeply concerned by reports that the Bush Administration is negotiating a normalization of relations with the Government of Sudan that would include removing it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This would reportedly be in exchange for Khartoum's agreement to allow Thai and Nepalese troops to participate in the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Barack Obama speaks at Darfur Rally, April 2006: Photo by Toucanradio (CC)

This reckless and cynical initiative would reward a regime in Khartoum that has a record of failing to live up to its commitments.    » read more »

Bipartisan resolution calls for comprehensive peace process to end violence

April 15, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed a resolution authored by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, calling on governments, multinational bodies, and non-state actors in Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Sudan to implement a comprehensive peace process to end the violence.

Women by White Nile, Khartoum, Sudan: Photo by Arne Hoel / World Bank (CC)    » read more »

13 February 2008 -- U.S. film director Stephen Spielberg has stepped down as artistic consultant to the Beijing Olympics due to China's policy on Sudan and the conflict in Darfur.

Spielberg said his conscience will not allow him to continue in the position because he believes China has not been active enough in resolving the crisis in Darfur.

Human Rights Watch says Spielberg's decision should prompt other influential people to press China to reform.    » read more »