Darfur peace talks to resume before end of May, Qatari minister(ST)
Darfur peace talks will resume during the last week of the current month of May, announced today the Qatari state foreign minister following a meeting held in Doha with the Sudanese government delegation.
Amin Hassan Omer, the head of the Sudanese government delegation arrived yesterday to the Qatari capital Doha. He met on Sunday with the state minister Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmud, and the African Union-United Nations Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole to discuss the resumption of the peace negotiations.
“Darfur peace negotiations will resume in Doha before the end of May, particularly in the last week of the current month,” Al-Mahmud told reporters following the meeting. He further said that the Sudanese delegation had reaffirmed government’s commitment to the peace process.
The minister said mediation discussed with the Sudanese delegation, the agenda of the forthcoming negotiations, and will issue an invitation to the concerned parties, including the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to restart negotiations.
Al-Mahmud also echoed a call launched by the chief mediator urging the two parties to observe the cessation of hostilities agreement inked in Doha on February 23. He added that the political solution is the only possible option to end the seven year conflict.
Asked wither the Egyptian government seeks to create an alternative venue for the peace process, the minister said Egypt is a member of a joint African Arab ministerial committee that had chosen Doha as venue for peace talks to achieve in Darfur .
He further said that JEM rebels also reiterated their commitment to Doha as host country for the peace process.


Bahrain to Host Juba-2 Conference Supporting South Sudan
(SV)
Kingdom of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa has welcomed convening of a conference for rehabilitation of South Sudan under the theme of, “Juba-2” to be organized by the Arab League (AL) on a date now subject to consultation among participants.


In a statement yesterday to the Bahraini Arabic Daily, “Alwasat”, Bahraini State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nazar Albharna, reported that the Bahraini proposal had been initiated by the AL and got incorporated in the agenda of the Fourth session of the Ministerial meeting of the Arab-Sino Cooperation Forum organized under the theme of “Enhancement of Comprehensive Cooperation and Realization of Common Development”.
The forum emphasizes looking into means of continued advancement of the Arab-Sino relationships, undertaking of periodic political consultations on regional and international issues of common interests.
Albharna noted that China could be an effective participant in the conference targeting support of South Sudan.
AL Deputy Secretary General, Ahmed Bin Hali, reported that, following the  conference of “ Juba-1”  it recently organized, the League was preparing for “Juba-2” in Bahrain. He was quoted to have stated that the coming summit in Bahrain would emphasize motivation of Arab investments in the South Sudan through presentation of potentials in that regard.
Hali reported that the AL was then embarking on implementing the resolutions of Juba-1 that targets setting environments conducive to voting for Sudan unity in the upcoming South Sudan self-determination referendum.
He had previously cautioned against the risk of Sudan partitioning, saying, “Division of the Sudan would weaken Africa and adversely impact the whole region, particularly, states in the proximity of Sudan, urging preservation of Sudan territorial integrity through the upcoming referendum. He noted that the Arab League would strive, in collaboration with other organizations participant to Bahrain conference, to render the referendum outcome favorable to Sudan unity, adding that it would respect the choice of southerners either way.
Winding up his statement to Sudan Vision, the Deputy Secretary General said the conference in Bahrain would have a remarkable role in the development of the south and enhancement of its ties with the north in a fashion that would render unity appealing. He appreciated the Sudan Government and the NCP’s strive to reach an attractive unity. He said, “We support the statements made by President Al Bashir and other high-ranking officials in favor of unity and development of the southern region."



Chinese government funds strategic road to link Darfur with Khartoum
(Mirayafm)
North Darfur has resumed work on the Western Ingas road in Al Fashir, Unkadada section. The road is viewed to be strategically important as it connects Darfur with the federal capital of Sudan, Khartoum. The 167 kilometer road has been funded by the Chinese government, estimated at a cost of US 96 million dollars.
Radio Miraya's correspondent spoke to the assistant of the Engineer in-Charge of the Western Ingas road in Al Fashir Umkadada section, Rahmtallah Abdallah, who stated that work on the road resumed on Sunday May 16 after a temporary halt in operations for engineers to study previous layouts and for the drainage system to conform with international standards.
In a statement to Radio Miraya, he said that the paving process commences mid 2010 and that the time frame for the project is 30 months. However, the construction teams hopes that work can be completed ahead of the targeted time frame.
Abdallah pointed out that the companies implementing this project include Polo and the Chinese Railway Company in addition to other national company's like Danfodia, Afropore, Alrayan, and the North Darfur engineering unit.
The project is supervised by National Roads Corporation.


SEN-SAD Culture Ministers Praise Sudan Elections
(SUNA)
Sahel–Sahara Community Ministers of Culture held a meeting in the Capital of Central Africa, Bangui in the period 11- 12 of current month.  Sudan delegation was headed by her Ambassador to Libya Mohammed Amin Abdullah Alkarib
and Permanent Representative to the CEN-SAD, in the membership of Sudan’s Ambassador to Central African Republic, Omar Saleh Abu Bakr, and Plenipotentiary, Amer Abdul Rauf. 
In a press statement to SUNA, Alkarib reported that he had briefed the ministers on the recent Sudanese elections, which was characterized by integrity and transparency as certified by regional and international organizations, in the forefront, the African Union, United Nations, Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The ambassador said that the election was supervised by an independent and authorized  commission, praising cooperation in all fields of cultural relations among member countries and urging them to activate the protocols signed in that regard. The Sudan delegation proposed funding of common culture projects by the regional financial institutions such as CEN-SAD and the African Development Banks. 
He further reported that the social report of the meeting had commended the national elections in the Sudan and conveyed ministers’ congratulations to the President elect, Omar Al Bashir on his victory.
The Central African Republic President Francois Bozize inaugurated the meeting in the presence of the Secretary General of the Community, Azhari Al Medani  and  sent  a message  of gratitude to each of the CAR and Libyan  Presidents.

Kiir casts doubts on negotiations with renegade general
(ST)
Salva Kiir Mayardit, South Sudan President-elect, has casted doubt on GOSS willingness to negotiate with George Athor Deng, the defeated Jonglei State gubernatorial candidate in April elections.
Many voices in southern Sudan called on the regional government to seek peaceful means to end the rebellion of General Athor in order to preserve peace and security in the semi-autonomous region which will hold a referendum on self determination next January.
The UN Mission in Sudan proposed to broker a negotiated settlement to the conflict. Athor welcomed the move but Southern Sudan government pledged to make further consultations and review the situation before to give its final decision to the UN body.
Speaking during the 27th Anniversary of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in Juba on Sunday, Salva Kiir denounced Athor decision to address his grievances through violence.
Salva Kiir said no amount of threats can force him to accept war but pledged to defend security of civilians. He cited several attempts to return the country to war including Malakal incidents were SPLA had been attacked by militias groups affiliated to Khartoum "but we say no to war. Yes to peace," he repeated.
Commenting on George Athor’s activities after wallowing to rebellion with SPLA after his defeat in Jonglei elections last month, Kiir said "What brother (George) Athor is doing is not good."
President Kiir, however, added that doors are open for Mr. Athor should he cease hostilities and return to the SPLA.
It remains unclear whether the Government of Southern Sudan will engage in talks or continue military action to quell insecurity in Jonglei which witnessed last year a series of cattle raids and tribal attacks.
George Athor Deng, a former deputy chief of Staff in South Sudan army, has repeatedly called for peace talks to end clashes between his forces and regional army and the dissolution of the recently elected government of Southern Sudan. Mr. Athor is also demanding resignation of Jonglei Governor-elect Kuol Manyang Juuk alongside threats to attack Bor town, the state capital.


SPLM Contradictory Statements, Unity Predominant Option
(Opinion)
In the news, GoSS Presidential Affairs Minister, Dr. Luka Biong said that GoSS will continue sharing the oil revenues with the central government in the north whether the south separates to form its independent state or otherwise.
What is strange is that before Biong's statements, the SPLM Secretary-General, Pagan Amum came out with a statement which contradicts with what the Minister's says. He said that his movement will not accept sharing Sudan's foreign debts with the north if southern Sudan opted to secession.
It is important here to recognize the lack of harmony in the two statements.
According to Dr. Luka Biong statement the South will be keen to get its oil revenue in full, and according to Amum the South will not be ready to settle Sudan's foreign debts if the region opted to secession.
In other words, the South will be granted the right of taking the oil revenues and at the same time avoiding the obligations of the foreign debts which concern the whole Sudanese country from Nimule to Halfa and from Port Sudan to Al-Gineina.
It goes without saying that the loans and debts of the country were taken on behalf of the Sudan and not for the benefit of this region or that, as it represents the debts of the central government in Khartoum which was running the political and executive activity since the year 1971 and not in 1989 when the Salvation regime came to power.
The foreign debts started even before Addis Ababa Agreement with tremendous growth up to this moment.
It seems that Amum has forgotten the huge development projects executed in the south since the May regime after the signature of the Addis Ababa Agreement and for more than ten years up to 1983.
Amum also forgot that the SPLA is the party that fired the first bullet in the civil war a matter that forced the central government to defend the nation.
Irrespective of the two contradictory statements of the two SPLM leaders, agitation of such critical issues is not wise; as such issues are the ones which will be included on top of the agendas during the talks between the two partners in dealing with the results of the referendum being in favour of unity of secession.
The stances of Amum are very radical as he thinks that the north is the only party to shoulder the shortcomings of the south.
It is now five years since the signature of the CPA during which the GoSS received about US$7 billion, so the question that Amum should ask is, instead of airing such strange statements,  where were those billions of dollars and what did GoSS do with it?