African Media Coverage

June 16-30, 2008

Egypt: Al-Ahram
“Abyei in abeyance”
Published: June 17, 2008

"What do you say to a man who was forced to watch his eight-year-old daughter being raped? Many people in Sudan, in Darfur, demand justice," Luis Moreno-Ocampo, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told Al-Ahram Weekly. He had extensive experience prosecuting abuses by senior military officials in his native Argentina. Moreno-Ocampo was also assistant prosecutor of Argentina's national committee on the disappearance of persons in 1984-85 and the trial of the juntas and military dictatorship 1976-83.

He is passionate about redressing the wrongs suffered by Sudanese people at the hands of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Beshir. He wants to see justice done, he insists.

This is a vexing time for those looking for solutions to the Sudanese crises. The calamitous crash of an Airbus belonging to Sudan Airlines with some 217 passengers on board, which was engulfed in flames during a thunderstorm, comes at a most defining moment in the country's history.

"A thorough investigation into the causes of these recurrent plane crashes is prerequisite," warned an editorial of the Khartoum daily Al-Watan.

Read the entire article here.


Nigeria: The Guardian
“EU threaten sanction against Sudanese aiding Darfur culprits”
Published: June 17, 2008

The European Union (EU) has threatened to impose sanctions against Sudanese who do not co-operate in bringing those accused of war crimes in Darfur to the international court.

"The council stands ready to consider measures against individuals for not co-operating with the ICC (International Criminal Court)" if the UN Security Council resolution which obliges them to do so continues "to be disregarded," EU foreign ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, a joint north-south Sudanese force tasked with preventing a repeat of fighting in the disputed Abyei region will deploy this week a day later than planned, its commander said.

Troops from the Sudanese army and the southern former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army had been set to arrive in the oil-rich area yesterday, but Col. Valentino Tocmac said a lack of planes had forced a delay.

"They will start to go to the area today (Tuesday)," Tocmac told Agence France Presse (AFP).

He said the delay was "not for a specific reason but the flight schedule is full so that's why it's set for tomorrow."

Read the entire article here.

South Africa : The Sunday Times
“Arab panel scolds Darfur silence”
Published: June 21, 2008         

An Arab human rights panel yesterday scolded the Islamic world for its silence on the conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

Darfur not a helpless case
Darfur peacekeepers attacked
Darfur conflict must end: Bush

"The suffering of Muslims in Darfur is as real as that happening in Iraq and Palestine," said the Arab Coalition for Darfur in a statement on the sidelines of an Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting here.

"The Islamic world’s response to the daily killings and suffering of millions of Muslims in Darfur has been largely silent, from both civil society as well as from institutions and majority of Islamic governments," it said.

Read the entire article here.