January 25 - February 5, 2015

Sudanese and South African relations

State owned Media

“Sudan: Beshir, Zuma Review Bilateral Relations, Regional, International Issues” Sudanow: Sudan news agency SUNA, 1st February 2015

• President Omar al-Beshir and South African President Jacob Zuma supported cooperation of sub-regional African organizations
  
• Their meeting clarified they would allow access for the UN humanitarian work and support their missions
  
• Cooperative commission between the two countries to bring peace to the area to resolve the growing urgency of the conflict in South Sudan.
  
• Support a world of "equality and fairness"
  
• Proposed to continue the process of decolonization in a pan-African union
• Use joint effort to combat and support terrorist activity

Refugee crisis in North Darfur

Private independent sources

“Nearly 18,000 newly displaced need aid in Um Baru, North Darfur” Radio Dabanga, February 3rd 2015

• Local MP Source in Um Baru reports violent activity and rising refugee crisis.
  
• Since January 8th: Sudanese military forces have been aerial bombing and completing routine sieges on the displacement camps.
  
• Justify activity by trying to find and condemn suspected rebel groups
• Local authorities have informed the presidential government that there is no such activity in the displacement camps.
  
• 17,743 refugees arrived at the safety zone so far from various theaters from conflict.
  
• OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) UN office have asked to expland their work in the area to provide sufficient aid.
  
• 28th January: UNICEF supplies delivered successfully.

Attacks on World Food Program (WFP) relief effort

“Lubomir Gelev, the captain of a UN helicopter forced down by SPLA-N rebels had no idea he was flying over a war zone. “ Nuba Reports, NGO, 2 nd February 2015

• Gelev experienced pilot on a routine flight for maintenance. Flight path had been approved from Sudanese authorities.
  
• Plane shot down and Gelev made an emergency landing in unknown territory. SPLAN-N rebels take responsibility for the attack.
  
• SPLA-N describe there are regular government bombings on civilians areas which makes every aerial object a suspect
  
• Since December there have been approximately 450 bombs dropped on this theater of conflict.
  
• Recent bombings include the targeting of relief group MSF clinics providing crucial medical aid to refugees.
  
• This Rebel territory/war ground is not known to local authorities or the company Gelev works for which is based in Darfur
• WFP confirmed intent of flight to rebels and negotiated an exit plan for the crew of the helicopter.
  
• Rebels negotiated UN plane to come collect them. However, the Sudanese government denied this claim and didn’t recognize this area as a war zone. By doing this it puts full responsibility on the rebel group.
  
• Yida, South Sudan camp where the crew are recovered by WFP. Crew saw the consequences of conflict zones like this as the Yida refugee camps population has risen to 70,000.
  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU9vswz0xGk

Increasing Censorship

Private independent sources

“Print-run of Akhir Lahza seized in Sudan’s capital Radio Dabanga, February 3rd 2015

• NSSI start censoring all Sudanese media and prohibiting certain publications. Centralize news output to that of the state.
  
• Pro-government publications have been seized too in a total crackdown.
  
• Alternative ideas or perspectives to the Al Bashir regime are banned, limiting independent press
  
• Direct act of violence against cultural property and freedom of speech legislations.

Sudan and South Sudan conflicts merge

“Sudan and South Sudan’s Merging Conflicts” Crisis Group, NGO, 29h January 2015

• Anti-government forces in South Sudan supported by groups in Khartoum
• The main theatres for conflict are in the Blue Nile, Darfur and south Kordofan regions
  
• Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) collaborating with south Sudan groups and receiving aid from these organizations
  
• Since the conflict began there are approximately 50,000 dead and two million displaced in these regions.
  
• There has been intervention from Uganada who have supported south Sudan which has increased regional tensions between traditional allies Uganada and Sudan
  
• Khartoum one of the main politic centers have supported Sudanese rebel groups which are cooperatives of south Sudan anti-government movements.
  
• Juba has become a central point in the conflict and nuer politicians are creating conflict between competing ethnic groups.
• The Nuer groups have pushed divisions with Dinka and also Darfurians
  
• The oil reserves of South Sudan are being used by Kiir to finance the conflict. A large debt has been created through the financing future production of oil.
  
• The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and eight trade cooperative of Africa has narrowed its focus on Kiir and Machar who have been agitating the situation in South Sudan
  
• Author pushes resolutions which involve several groups
  
  • The UN suggests the agenda has to be pushed through China and the US as members of the Security Council as they have regional ties in the area.
    
  • The AU (African Union) based in Addis Ababa have ignored the growing tensions in this region between countries
    
• Contains certain recommendations with proposed action for: China, U.S., IGAD, and the AU to create peaceful dynamic