UN Feb. 4 Bulletin on Sudan

UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES


  

联合国
NACIONES UNIDAS
United Nations Sudan Bulletin
4 February
Highlights:
· Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Sudan.
· Appointments of leaders of SLM factions to governmental posts.
· UN, GNU and GoSS launched a joint return operation for IDPs in the North.
General:
· On 2 and 3 February, Chinese President Hu Jintao made an official visit to Sudan.
Media reported that President Hu encouraged President Bashir to co-operate with the UN in
finding a solution to the conflict in Darfur. A Chinese official news agency reported that
President Hu proposed a four-point approach which will respect Sudan's sovereignty while
acknowledging a constructive role for the AU and UN. In press statements after the
meeting, President Bashir praised China's treatment of Sudan, describing it as "more fair"
than that of Western countries. Hu also met separately with FVP Salva Kiir and VP Taha.
Media reported that he encouraged FVP Kiir to visit China.
· On 2 February, Presidents Hu and Bashir signed seven bilateral accords and contracts,
under which China undertook to build schools and a new presidential palace in Sudan,
provide 5.2 million USD of humanitarian assistance to Darfur, reduce import tariffs on 44
Sudanese commodities, and provide various grants and loans as well as cancel about 19
million USD of debt. President Hu also visited the Khartoum Oil Refinery in Al-Jaili which
is a joint project of Sudan and the China National Petroleum Corporation. On 3 February,
President Hu left Sudan for Zambia.
· On 3 February, President Bashir met with his two deputies and reviewed the status of
CPA implementation and the establishment of the Darfur Interim Authority. During the
meeting, the Presidency approved the Political Parties and the Civil Service Acts. Following
the meeting, State Minister for the Presidency Telar Deng (SPLM) said that the Presidency
would work to designate the Commission on the Rights of Non-Muslims in the National
Capital soon. The Presidential Press Secretary stated that the Presidency will reconvene on
6 February to hear a briefing by the Joint Defence Board on military and security issues. It
will also review reports on the work of the North-South technical border committee, roll-out
of the new currency and implementation of donors' Oslo pledges.
· On 3 February, the President issued a number of decrees appointing some members of
the Darfur Transitional Regional Authority, including Prof. Abdel Rahman Musa (SLM
Free Will) as State Minister in the Council of Ministers and Ibrahim Mahmoud Madibo
(SLM Peace Wing) as head of Darfur Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Commission.
Twelve seats of the National Assembly were also allocated for DPA signatories.
· On 1 February, Sudanese authorities closed an independent local paper "Al-Sudani"
because it had illegally published an article on the murder case of newspaper editor
Mohamed Taha while the case is still under investigation. Al-Sudani's editor-in-chief
Mahjoub Erwa lodged an appeal against the decision with the Ministry of Justice.
· On 3 February, Minister of Social Welfare, Women and Children's Affairs Samiya
Ahmed Mohamed stated that she expects an increase in voluntary return of IDPs in Darfur
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over the coming months, and that the Ministry will mount a series of projects to support
such returns.
· On 3 February, Minister of Foreign Affairs Akol issued a decree appointing 60
individuals from Southern Sudan to civil service positions in his ministry.
· On 3 February, SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum denied a split between
"Garang" and "Kiir" wings of the party, stating that the SPLM would not be shaken by
media campaigns intended to sow division among its rank and file. Meanwhile local media
reported that SPLM sources said that the movement would convene an expanded meeting of
its political bureau on 15 February to discuss a number of key issues relating to SPLM's
relationship with the NCP and other political parties.
· On 3 February, according to local media, Eastern Front Chairman Musa Mohamed
Ahmed issued directives from Asmara dissolving the "Eastern Front" registered last week
by the Political Parties Registrar in Khartoum.
Khartoum and Northern Sudan
Returns:
· On 3 February, the first convoy of joint return operations by the UN, IOM, GNU and
GoSS, some 300 IDPs left Dar El Salam camp in Khartoum. The joint operation for 2007 is
targeting 150,000 IDPs returning to their places of origin in southern Sudan and South
Kordofan from Khartoum and other Northern States.
North Darfur
Security:
· Sources said that, on 1 February, two helicopter gunships and an Antonov plane
bombed Dirbat and Katur village.
· On 3 February, eight persons in civilian clothes robbed an INGO vehicle parked in the
INGO’ compound in Abu Shouk IDP Camp. Later the vehicle was observed moving from
Abu Shouk market to the south east of El Fasher.
· Reports indicate that, on 2 February, a GoS police with seven vehicles raided the SLA
Office in Tawilla, destroyed the office and pulled down the SLA/MM flag. In retaliation,
the SLA closed down the Police water well. On 3 February, SLA/MM reinforced their
troops in Tawila with 14 vehicles moved from Abu Zerega, 35 kilometer south of El Fasher.
South Darfur
Security:
· Tension rose when a group of IDPs in Kalma Camp stole a camel belonging to Arab
nomads and took it to Kalma Camp on 1 February. The next day, heavily armed Arab
nomads tried to enter the Camp, but the GoS Police station intervened and the camel was
retrieved peacefully.
West Darfur
Security:
· On 2 February, unknown persons reportedly killed a male IDP inside his house at
Hamadiya IDP Camp and fled.
Southern Sudan
Security:
· On 2 February, several gunshots were heard near the vicinity of SAF barracks in
Malakal, reportedly resulting from an argument between two soldiers. No injuries reported.
Both soldiers were detained for investigation.
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Civil Affairs:
· On 2 February, UNMIS was informed that the Governor of Jonglei State dismissed
the Deputy Governor and the Commissioners of Nuirol and Pibor Counties.
Returns:
· On 3 February, an IOM barge carrying over 320 Bor Dinka IDPs arrived at Bor,
Jonglei State. The barge left Juba on 2 February and was led by a speed boat with armed
SPLA in order to avoid such incident occurred on 26 January in which a barge was shot at
by SPLA soldiers at a new checkpoint. The 320 IDPs will initially be housed at the Bor way
station before being transported to their final destinations.
Humanitarian:
· As of 1 February, a total of 780 cases of meningitis have been reported in eight
Southern States. In Lakes State, 105 cases of meningitis including 35 deaths. Meanwhile,
the vaccination campaign in Kajo Keji, Central Equatoria State almost completed. 50,000
vaccines became available for Warrap State. The Ministry of Health in Western Bahr El-
Ghazal State will embark on a meningitis vaccination campaign in the affected areas in the
state such as Mapel and Atedo Masna Bira.
Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan
Civil Affairs:
· On 1 February, UNMIS in Kadugli met with SPLM politicians as part of UN effort to
implement recommendations made by 40 tribal leaders during the Dilling conflictresolution
conference on 22 January, in which UNMIS was requested to form a committee
to go and sensitize communities to end conflicts. The SPLM agreed to appoint 20 members
to meet with NCP politicians to convene such reconciliation meetings.
Safety of Personnel: NSTR
Restriction of Movement: NSTR
Casualties: No Casualties reported
Bulletins generally sum up the main events, incidents and developments on the ground in the various
areas of UNMIS operation in Sudan. As public records of occurrences, the reports include statements
and accounts from a wide range of sources and witnesses such as the internally displaced persons
(IDPs), refugees, representatives of the Government, rebel movements, non-governmental
organizations and others. As such, statements and accounts cited in the Bulletin and quoted from such
individuals do not necessarily reflect the views of UNMIS.
Unified Mission Analysis Centre (UMAC)
United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
Khartoum
Sudan
Please direct enquiries to umac@un.org
http://www.unmis.org/english/2007Docs/UMAC-Bulletin-feb04.pdf