ICRC Workers Abducted In Sudan, Chad

From a press release by the I.C.R.C....

Two ICRC staff members were abducted in the past weeks: Gauthier Lefèvre was abducted in West Darfur, Sudan, on 22 October, and Laurent Maurice was abducted in eastern Chad on 9 November. The ICRC's head of operations for East Africa, Daniel Duvillard, speaks about how the organization is dealing with these crises.

What is the latest information you have on Gauthier and Laurent?

We have managed to have phone contacts with the abductors of both of our staff. We also managed to speak directly with Gauthier and Laurent. They both say that they are in good health. That is already reassuring under the circumstances. At this point we do not know if there is a link between the two incidents, but we are obviously shocked and very sad. We appreciate how difficult the situation is for Gauthier's and Laurent's families and friends. We are in regular contact with them, and we are doing everything we can to give them the support they need.

Who is behind the abductions? Have there been ransom demands?

We don't know exactly who is behind the abductions or what their motives are, and we don't want to speculate. We did receive a ransom demand for Gauthier but, as a matter of policy, the ICRC does not pay out ransom money. The ICRC will continue to do its best through its regular channels of communication to bring about Gauthier's and Laurent's release.

The A.F.P. wrote a story based on the release.

GENEVA — The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of two agency staff kidnapped in recent weeks in Sudan and neighbouring Chad.

Carter Center Criticizes Sudan Over Election

From the AP...

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Permit delays, lack of funds and security intimidation are obstructing international and local observers from monitoring registration for Sudan's first ever nationwide elections, former President Jimmy Carter's foundation said on Tuesday.

These and other hindrances could diminish the ability of the center — the only international group Sudan invited to monitor the process — to verify the vote's fairness, the group said.

Sudan is holding its first parliamentary and presidential elections in all regions of the war-torn country next April. The elections are a key part of the 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of north-south civil war. Two million people died in the war, which devastated the country's oil-rich south.

Authorities have asked the Atlanta-based center to monitor the balloting, for which voter registration started Sunday.

"These elections are supposed to represent a new event in Sudan's history," said Aly Verjee, a Carter Center spokesman.

The A.F.P. has a much more concise lead...

KHARTOUM — The US-based Carter Centre, which has been charged with monitoring preparations for Sudanese elections next April, criticised the Khartoum authorities on Tuesday for impeding poll observers.

Obama Renews Sanctions On The Sudan

WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama renewed sanctions on Sudan, a week after unveiling a new policy of pressure and incentives toward the Khartoum government aimed at settling the simmering conflict.

Reuters gives us a similar lead with a key difference...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama formally renewed U.S. sanctions on Sudan on Tuesday under his new strategy of keeping up pressure while offering incentives to the Khartoum government.

Reuters puts some more emphasis on the *formal* renewal. Got to love the Washington process.

Obama Unveils Strategy On The Sudan

Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- The Obama administration set out an approach to Sudan today that directs attention toward a fragile peace deal holding together the northern and southern halves of the country while pushing for an end to violence in Darfur.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, and U.S. envoy Scott Gration jointly announced after months of internal deliberations what they described as a new policy rooted in diplomatic engagement.

As if President Barack Obama's involvement isn't reason enough for this to be a big story, Bloomberg name drops even more Washington big shots. AllAfrica.com, however, goes for a more internationally-accessible angle.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton unveiled a "comprehensive" U.S. policy for resolving the conflicts in Sudan, focused on ending human rights abuses and genocide in the Darfur region, fully implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and ensuring Sudan does not become a haven for violent extremists.

Sudan Sentences Diplomat Killers To Death

From VOA News...

A court in Sudan has upheld the death sentence of four Islamists convicted in June of killing an American diplomat and his Sudanese driver in January 2008.

BBC NEWS gets a bit more detailed in the lead of its piece...

A Sudanese court has upheld a death sentence against four Islamists who shot dead a US envoy on 1 January 2008.

Interesting how the murderers are identified as "Islamists" instead of, say "religious radicals." But by now it's a given that all Muslims are radicals, right? I kid.

UN To Sudan: Stop The Violence

From the A.F.P....

WASHINGTON — Envoys from the UN Security Council's top powers have called on Sudan's feuding parties to urgently implement a 2005 peace accord and prepare for 2010 elections.

The UN elaborates in its direct report...

7 October 2009 – Significant challenges remain to the return of displaced people in southern Sudan following the 2005 peace accord between the Government and separatists, particularly this year’s inter-ethnic violence, a senior United Nations refugee official warned today.

About This Site

This blog takes a look at the violence in the Sudan, through the eyes of the world's news media.  I'll try to get multiple reports on each development and compare the different reports.