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
- South Sudan's army says it regained control of Pibor town, in Jonglei State. According to a local official, over 3,000 people have been killed in recent violence there, after some 6,000 armed youths from the Lou Nuer tribe attacked the rival Murle tribe. The Lou Nuer and Murle are engaged in a fierce dispute over cattle. The UN, however, says there is no evidence to support this figure. 60,000 people have fled the area and the UN has launched a major humanitarian operation.
- The US has lifted a ban on US defence exports to South Sudan.
- The UN has expressed concern about malnutrition in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
- Sudan closed the newspaper of the Popular Congress Party, the largest opposition party. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited Libya. Sudan has announced it will be imposing monthly fees on the transit of South Sudanese oil through Sudanese pipelines.
News in detail
South Sudan
AFP: Over 3,000 killed in South Sudan massacre: local official 06 Jan: Over 3,000 people were killed in South Sudan in brutal massacres last week in an explosion of ethnic violence that forced tens of thousands to flee, a local official said on Friday as the UN increased patrols. Read more
Reuters: UN tries to reach 60,000 fleeing South Sudan violence 07 Jan: The United Nations said on Friday it was trying to reach some 60,000 people who have fled tribal violence in a remote area of South Sudan and urgently need food, shelter and medical assistance. Read more
AFP: South Sudan flashpoint town under government control 03 Jan: South Sudan's army on Tuesday reclaimed control of a town destroyed in a bloody cattle vendetta that sent thousands fleeing into the bush and threatened the stability of the world's newest state. Read more
AFP: "No evidence" of mass killings in South Sudan - UN 08 Jan: The UN's top official in South Sudan on Saturday said "no evidence" had been found of reported mass killings, but warned that 60,000 people were in urgent need of aid. Read more
Reuters: Shell eyes possible South Sudan opportunities 04 Jan: Royal Dutch Shell said it is eyeing potential opportunities in South Sudan, which last July broke away from Khartoum, taking with it two-thirds of Sudan's 500,000 barrels per day of oil production. Read more
Reuters: Obama lifts ban on US defence exports to South Sudan 06 Jan: President Barack Obama on Friday lifted US restrictions on defence sales to South Sudan, marking another step to regularise US ties with Africa's newest nation. Read more
Sudan
Reuters: “Sudan will soon see revolution” - Islamist leader Turabi 05 Jan: Opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi said Sudan would soon see an "Arab Spring" popular uprising because President Omar Hassan al-Bashir was unable to overcome an economic crisis and end insurgencies in Darfur and border regions. Read more
Reuters: "Alarming malnutrition" in Sudan conflict zones - UN 04 Jan: The UN has received alarming reports of malnutrition in two Sudanese border states where the army is fighting insurgents, a senior UN official said on Wednesday. Read more
BBC: Sudan's Bashir offers help to Libya during criticised visit 07 Jan: Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has offered to help Libya disarm former rebel groups, on his first day of a visit which has angered rights groups. Read more
Reuters: Sudan shuts Islamist paper in media crackdown 02 Jan: Sudan shut the newspaper of the country's largest Islamist opposition party on Monday, the latest step in a growing crackdown on independent media. Read more
North-South relations
AFP: South Sudan “talking in bad faith” over oil - Bashir 05 Jan: South Sudan is negotiating in bad faith with Khartoum over oil fees and is threatening to "block" a pipeline transporting crude oil, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir said on Wednesday. Read more
