African Media Coverage

January 1-15, 2008

South Africa: Mail & Guardian
“Darfur peace push slowed by splits among rebels”
Published: January 5, 2009      

International mediators pushing for new negotiations on Darfur are being hampered by divisions among Darfur's rebels and by some rebels' hopes that genocide charges will bring down Sudan's president.

The ethnic African rebels, who rose up against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government six years ago, have never been united. But over the past year, factions have multiplied -- up to 30 now by United Nations estimates, divided along tribal, political or personal lines.

Some faction leaders are not communicating with their commanders, and the UN, African and Arab mediators have complained they sometimes don't know whom to talk to.

Now there are fears the conflict could spread beyond Darfur. Sudan's government has sent forces into neighbouring South Kordofan province, claiming Darfur rebels are operating there, and the Justice and Equality Movement, the strongest Darfur rebel faction, has announced a military alliance with armed groups in Kordofan.

Read the article here.

Kenya: The East African
“4 years on, Sudan partners dance to different tunes”
Published: January 10, 2023

Sudan last Friday marked the fourth anniversary of the peace deal that ended the 21-year civil war, but will the peace deal survive the remaining two years of the transitional period?

The parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Nairobi on January 9, 2005, have been able to implement the larger parts of the agreement, such as the government of national unity and the general maintenance of peace.

But sensitive issues such as the Abyei boundary and the oil revenue threaten the peace deal, raising fears the general election may not be held on
schedule this year.

While both partners — the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan Liberation People’s Movement (SPLM)—concur that a return to war would not be in their best interests, the distrust between them has contributed to the slowness in implementation of the peace deal.

The ongoing stockpiling of arms by both partners is not helping matters either.

Read the article here.

South Africa: News 24
“Al-Bashir urged to surrender”
Published: January 12, 2023

Khartoum - An influential opposition leader on Monday called on Sudan's president to hand himself over to the International Criminal Court, saying he should take responsibility for war crimes in Darfur.

The call from Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi was the first significant show of dissent from within Sudan's political system over possible war crimes charges against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

Politicians have previously been united in opposing them.

The global court's chief prosecutor asked judges in July to issue an arrest warrant against Bashir, accusing him of genocide and other war crimes.

The judges are expected to decide within weeks whether Bashir has a case to answer.

Save Sudan from sanctions

Turabi told reporters Bashir should surrender himself to save Sudan from sanctions and political turmoil that would follow if the president defied the court and carried on ruling as a wanted man.

"There is no judicial justice in this country ... As far as we are concerned there is no access to justice except through the international court," Turabi said in the Khartoum headquarters of his opposition Popular Congress Party.

Read the article here.