In the ‘one to watch’ category, is a meeting that took place in Khartoum last week of a new governmental body called the National Security Consultancy Commission. The Sudan Tribune reports Bashir saying that the commission’s work is “to develop its work and seal coordination among them [the existing security agencies]”. The first meeting was […]
Archives for 2009
New security commission: A face-saver for Gosh, or something more sinister?
October 26, 2009 by Leave a Comment
In the Totally Random Stuff category
October 26, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Not Sudan related, but a quick plug for a request from a friend who has done some wonderful Darfur advocacy work over the years and is currently a Teach for America teacher in a desperately under-resourced school in Mississippi. His students need books. If you are in a position to help, please read on
Supporting students in Mississippi
October 26, 2009 by
FROM DANIEL MILLENSON [Please contact Daniel directly at the email provided if you want the “wish list” of books he refers to] Dear Friends and Family, As many of you may know, I am currently serving as a 2009 Teach For America corps member in rural Mississippi, teaching 12th grade English and a class of […]
We are failing these women
October 23, 2009 by Leave a Comment
When I was in Khartoum earlier this year, I went to the courtroom where Lubna Hussein was being tried under the Public Order Offense laws for wearing trousers. As readers of this blog will know, the public scrutiny of Lubna’s case was such that the court eventually backed off sentencing her with a flogging, and […]
Bashir’s campaign goes online
October 21, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Check it out: http://www.albashir.sd/e/index.php As part of preparations for his bid to renew his Presidency in the upcoming “democratic” elections of 2010, Bashir has taken his campaign online (complete with a dove of peace floating above his name). Note though, the target audience. Firstly, while Khartoum has a high rate of internet usage, the bulk […]
Working in parallel
October 20, 2009 by Leave a Comment
What I liked most about the Obama administration’s Sudan Policy Review document was something very simple: the clear articulation of three objectives (Darfur, CPA, counter-terrorism) and a commitment not to trade them off against each other. In particular was nice to see the CPA getting equal billing with Darfur (I have a column on this […]
Fudge the analysis, fudge the policy
October 20, 2009 by 1 Comment
I think what surprises me most about the Sudan Policy Review is that a document that contains so many of the basic principles found in any “policy 101” textbook (mix of carrots and sticks, escalating series of responses, verification before acceptance etc.) took so long to be concluded. But the length of time it took […]
Abu Garda at the ICC
October 19, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Lots going on today. At midday Hague time, Darfuri rebel, Abu Garda‘s confirmation of charges hearing began at the ICC. He is the first suspect to appear before the court in any of the Darfur cases. It’s 4.30am where I am, so I’m afraid you’re not getting a summary from me right now, but there […]
Verify, then trust
October 19, 2009 by 2 Comments
“Verify, then trust” seems to be the sentiment of the day – both from the U.S. government towards Khartoum, but also from Darfur activists to the U.S. government. The Obama Administration finally released the results of its long-awaited Sudan Policy Review this morning. As the State Department’s press release puts it: “The strategy is based […]
Time for a truce between Gration & the activists?
A day after all the hype and anticipation of the Sudan Policy Review announcement, I thought I’d share a few thoughts. Staff at Enough , GI-Net and Save Darfur have come out with disciplined, uniformly positive but cautious reactions to the Review (although as pointed out on Sahel blog, John Norris and John Prendergast at […]