Following the independence of South Sudan, Insight on Conflict will be producing a weekly round-up of the news. To subscribe to receive the updates via email, please contact joel@insightonconflict.org or complete the form below.
News roundup
- Fighting has broken out in Blue Nile between the North Sudanese army (SAF) and fighters from the southern-aligned SPLM-N party. The SPLM-N say the SAF moved into the state capital, Damazin on Thursday, attacking the governor’s residence and forcing the SPLM-N out. The UN say thousands have fled.
- On Sunday the North banned the SPLM-N and security officials seized their offices. SPLM-N called the actions in Blue Nile a “coup” and vowed to press for regime change for all of North Sudan.
- North Sudan has lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council against South Sudan. They accuse the South of backing rebels in South Kordofan. The South denies this.
- Human rights groups have accused the North of “indiscriminate bombing” of civilians and blocking aid agencies in South Kordofan.
- South Sudan has said it is looking for alternative ways to export oil that bypasses the North.
- South Sudan has announced they intend to move their capital from Juba to Ramciel in Lakes State. The new city will need to be built from scratch and will be completed over the next six years.
- The East African Community will meet next week to discuss admitting North and South Sudan into the organisation.
News in detail
South Sudan
AFP: South Sudan okays cabinet despite protests over cost 01 Sept: South Sudan's ruling party used its huge majority in parliament to approve a new cabinet Wednesday over opposition objections that the number of ministers was beyond the means of the world's newest nation. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jn4zszdOdeD1hqV23L7jv5jx_AeA?docId=CNG.fcb20f0841948ee8d0a56a6f8dbc6279.681
Reuters: South Sudan seeks alternative to North Sudan oil pipeline 01 Sept: South Sudan is exploring alternatives to transporting its oil through North Sudan, as the two countries face a stalemate over dividing up oil revenues, a government official said on Thursday. http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7800FX20110901?sp=true
Reuters: South Sudan central bank says oil revenues flow smoothly 02 Sept: South Sudan has converted more than 75 percent of the currency that was in circulation into new South Sudanese pounds after splitting away from the rest of Sudan in July, the South's newly appointed central bank governor said on Thursday. http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE78100P20110902
Al Jazeera: South Sudan issues own currency 04 Sept: Move unlikely to solve problem faced by new country saddled with $1bn worth of unusable Sudanese notes. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/201194155624761702.html
AFP: South Sudan to move capital to Lakes state 04 Sept: The government of newly-independent South Sudan has decided to relocate its capital from Juba to a more central location in Lakes state, a senior official said on Sunday. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsSqG_DHBuxwMdDKqukEdTYcXIjQ?docId=CNG.baf6915241b5315c221d1e92332ab1a6.161
South Kordofan
Al Jazeera: 'Indiscriminate bombing' in Sudan - report 30 Aug: Amnesty and Human Rights Watch accuse the North Sudanese government of bombing civilians and blocking aid workers in South Kordofan state. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/08/201182913513716397.html
BBC: Sudan takes border clashes to UN 30 Aug: Sudan has lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council, accusing newly independent South Sudan of backing rebels in an oil-rich border region. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14718892
Reuters: South Sudan denies backing South Kordofan rebels 31 Aug: South Sudan on Wednesday denied accusations by Khartoum that it was helping rebels in South Kordofan, Sudan's main oil-producing state, where fighting broke out with government troops in June. http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E7JV27W20110831
AFP: US urges Sudan to adhere to its own ceasefire 31 Aug: The United States called on the Sudanese government on Tuesday to respect its own truce in South Kordofan state after rights groups said Sudanese warplanes heavily bombed the area. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ij3zaOGXXR3dfFhLF39KTs10Q_tQ?docId=CNG.9e34c99182f5659a398b65217766ca17.ac1
AFP: US concerned South Sudan may be aiding rebels 01 Sept: The United States expressed concern on Wednesday that the government of the world's newest nation South Sudan might be supporting rebels in South Kordofan who are battling the Khartoum regime. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g3dn1tXuDI-RuQLLu6xTzqkCm8yQ?docId=CNG.96f9ad25900131336388af4e36e3a985.f31
AFP: Sudan rebels kill 17 civilians: state media 04 Sept: Rebels fighting Sudanese troops in the ethnically divided border state of South Kordofan killed 17 civilians, some of them children, state media reported. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hzi4SO5KtmU1Tw4giEKBOzFqTKcQ?docId=CNG.da21c78ac4ef5250bba175c0bbb5e2fb.561
North Sudan
AFP: North, South Sudan complete currency conversion 01 Sept: South Sudan on Thursday completed the swift circulation of its new currency, a move matched by Khartoum but strengthening the South's formal independence from the north less than two months ago. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g56WQO9pmFFJtJgPKV2MKLqZIIkg?docId=CNG.a724b78e2e84cd84028c7fdda12aa83e.701
Reuters: Sudan says south-aligned group must end operations 04 Sept: Sudan demanded on Sunday that the southern-aligned Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) cease operations in the country, stoking tensions with the newly independent south after fighting flared in border areas. http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E7K40MF20110904?sp=true
Darfur
AFP: Fearful Darfur sheikhs finally leave UN base 29 Aug: Five sheikhs who spent more than a year at a UN base in Darfur saying they feared for their lives left on Monday after an accord with the Sudanese authorities, the UN said. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5je-G0jhCd9-2YIxDHgpN5vbApXdA?docId=CNG.f17dd620575edb02954a7f8f0971f63b.711
Blue Nile
Sudan Tribune: Sudan army attacks SPLA forces and governor’s residence in Blue Nile - SPLM-N 02 Sept: Forces of the Sudanese government on Friday attacked the residence of the Blue Nile state governor, who is also chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N), Malik Agar. http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-army-attacks-SPLM-forces-and,40021
BBC: Blue Nile: Sudan forces battle former SPLM rebels 02 Sept: Fighting has broken out in Sudan's Blue Nile state - the third border area to see clashes since South Sudan's independence in July. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14760824
AFP: UN 'deeply concerned' about new Sudan conflict 04 Sept: The United Nations said on Sunday it is deeply concerned about the latest outbreak of fighting in Sudan's volatile border region, where it reported 16,000 people have fled one town alone. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hEKZpRlSo3IcNoTX_nGfndS1vk3w?docId=CNG.baf6915241b5315c221d1e92332ab1a6.561
BBC: UN says thousands flee fighting in two states 04 Sept: The UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, says fighting has displaced thousands in Sudan's Blue Nile state. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14776814
AFP: Sudan's embattled opposition vows resistance 04 Sept: Sudan's embattled main opposition party vowed Saturday to fight for regime change through armed struggle and mass protests, and called for international support, after clashes erupted in Blue Nile state. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i4lq-GPtCRjmmAitrKcSZVPRV_MQ?docId=CNG.69bf9eeb4d81c1c65f3cf0d6f2e11eb7.161
International
East African: EAC in a fix over two Sudans' bid to join the EAC 03 Sept: Sudan is faced with several tricky options as it chases a tie-up with the EAC with revelations it might have to wait for its bitter rival South Sudan to join before it can be allowed into the regional bloc. http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/EAC+leaders+in+a+fix+as+Khartoum+applies+to+join+ahead+of+Juba/-/2558/1226458/-/7es5h8/-/index.html
