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Sudan

United Nations Sudan Situation Report 10 Jul 2006

Unified Mission Analysis Centre (UMAC)
United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
Khartoum, Sudan

Political
On 9 July, a high-level SLM-Minnawi delegation arrived in Khartoum. The delegation includes Deputy Chairman Dr El Rayih Mahmoud, Secretary-General Mustafa Tirab and Commander in Chief Juma Hagar. The delegation will discuss the DPA implementation. On arrival, the party confirmed that they would also submit SLM-Minawi nominees for the position of Senior Assistant to the President. Comment: Local Arab papers speculate that the SLM-Minnawi nominee for the position of Presidential Adviser will be Minni Minnawi himself.

A high level Chadian delegation led by Foreign Minister Ahmed Alami is expected in Khartoum on 10 July, according to local press. The delegation is expected to discuss ways to halt the deterioration in relations between Chad and Sudan, including the Tripoli Agreement framework.

UNMIS Police:

UN Police visited Galdora (Malakal) and inspected four 82 mm Mortar shells, one 60 mm mortar shell and one empty machine gun cartridge which were found in the area. To prevent any possible accident, the local authorities were advised to place a warning sign around the suspected area. UNMIS' mine action team will follow up.

Khartoum and Northern Sudan

Human Rights:

On 9 July, Dr. Najib Najmeldin, a human rights activist as AMAL's director/ Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT's) coordinator in Sudan was arrested by National Security. Later that day, he was transferred to the State Security Prosecution Office and charged with Articles 66 (publishing false news), 69 (public disorder), 77 (disturbance of the peace) and 159 (defamation) of the Criminal Act 1991 and Article 37 of the Press Act 2004. He was then released on bail. The case against Dr Najib was instigated on 12 September after SOAT published reports stating that many individuals arrested in the wake of the Garang violence were sentenced without trial; the complainant is the Judiciary. It is not known why it has taken the authorities some 10 months to arrest him. However, the proper procedure with offences is to be brought before the Press Prosecutor and not the State Security Prosecution.

On 8 July, the Sudanese Press Council executed a one-day ban against Al Sudani daily newspaper as announced by them on 2 July. This decision was in response to an article, published about two weeks ago, criticizing the president over his opposition to deploy UN troops in Darfur. The editor-in-chief, Marjoub Arwa, was summoned to appear before the Council complaints committee which informed him that criticising the President was an infringement of the Press and Printed Press Materials Act and carried a 7- day printing ban as a maximum penalty. On 6 July, Arwa unsuccessfully appealed against the one-day ban.

On 8 July, the outcome of the socio-economic survey which commenced in Amri on 5 June was circulated by the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mowlana Zumrawe. The Amri Community protested against the announcement of the survey on 22 April, resulting in three civilian deaths and several injuries when government sources opened fire on the unarmed residents. Mowlana Zumrawe was scheduled to consult with the Committee of the Affected Amri Community (the Committee) in Amri on 8 July, but instead sent the legal advisor to the Ministry of Justice to submit the results to the 12 affected localities. This irregular procedure prompted residents of the affected community to detain some government officials who were distributing the results to the localities without proper consultation. The government officials were released later in the day when members of the Committee arrived.

Gender:

On 9 July, UNMIS met an AMIS Ambassador and AMIS Senior Gender Advisor to discuss the issue of gender not adequately incorporated in the DPA. Future collaboration will include gender sensitization training for AU military personnel, and gender-based violence (GBV) issues.

North Darfur

Security:

On 9 July, unconfirmed reports from a G-19 source indicate that the SLA/MM (Minnawi) faction allegedly attacked Baashima and Tima (25 km Northwest of Um Sidir). Um Sidir was captured by SLA/MM rebels on 8 July (Sit Rep 9 July). However, SLA/MM faction failed to keep Basshima and Tima under control and is under G-19 control.

Ongoing fighting was reported in Birmaza (G-19 controlled) since its attack by SLA/MM rebels on 8 July (Sit Rep 9 July).

Protection:

Following attacks by the SLA/MM on the villages located West of Tabit, 190 new families arrived in Zam Zam camp. Also, 70 families formerly resident of Zam Zam who had moved back to their villages were re-displaced into the camp following the same attacks.

Reportedly, since 6 July, 500 new arrivals from villages around Tina and Tabra moved into the IDP camp adjacent to the AMIS compound in Tawilla. In addition, up to 2,500 new arrivals in Argo camp (Tawilla) were reported following the attacks on villages south of Tawilla also by SLA/MM forces (Sit Rep 9 July).

Civil Affairs:

On 9 July, approximately 300 families who fled from the recent violence in Korma, Bandagu, Korongol, Hila Barti, Shoba, Dekare, Takbar, West Kartame, and Bilala where reportedly 55 people died, arrived in El Salam and Abu Shouk IDP Camps (El Fasher) according to the INGO Abu Shouk Camp Coordinator. The families are mainly from the Fur, Barti, and Tunjor tribes, with some Zaghawas. Two thousand more families are expected to arrive in the coming days. Sources have also confirmed that there are noticeable tensions in the camps between the Fur and Zaghawa tribes, which may lead to further escalation of the problem. Moreover, according to UNJLC, the camps may not be in a position to handle this influx.

South Darfur

Humanitarian:

Following the chlorination campaign in Nyala about 62% of water resources were covered. The media was used to send messages of the campaign to the community. As of mid May, the inistry of Health reported 229 cases of acute watery diarrhea in South Darfur.

Civil Affairs:

On 8 July, the State Legislature of South Darfur passed a resolution endorsing the DPA. The meeting, which was attended by the Wali of South Darfur and all State Legislators, endorsed the DPA it in its entirety, and agreed to increase the number of State Ministers from eight to 10, the additional two ministerial positions will be given to SLA. They decided to increase the number of State Legislators from 48 to 71, whereby 21 seats will be given to the SLA, while four more seats will go to the NCP. Reports indicate that other parties in the GNU objected to the additional NCP seats, but with its majority in the State Legislature, the NCP seats were approved.

West Darfur:

Humanitarian:

Following SUDO's registration at the Khartoum level, HAC informed OCHA that SUDO can resume its activities in the health, nutrition, and education, water and sanitation sectors for a one month period but is not allowed to work in the areas of protection and peace building.

An INGO distributed Non-Food Items (NFIs) to about 30,000 IDPS in most of the Jebel Marra areas except Rockero.

Southern Sudan: NSTR

Eastern Sudan: NSTR

Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan: NSTR

Restriction of Movement: NSTR

Safety of Personnel: NSTR

Casualties: No casualties reported

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