South Sudan: endless war
Two years after independence South Sudan broke apart, and since December 2013 it has faced the horrors of civil war.
Two years after independence South Sudan broke apart, and since December 2013 it has faced the horrors of civil war.
Elections in Sudan Summary: President Bashir, in power for twenty-five years, will be re-elected. Sudan weakened by the separation of South Sudan in 2011, but untouched by reform. ICC indictment over Darfur ineffective.
An Arab army Summary: the Saudi-led operations in Yemen, if successful, could set the pattern for the joint Arab force for which the Arab League has called. But many problems, and the odds are against it.
FloggingRaif Badawi, a Saudi Arabian blogger accused of insulting Islam, has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes, a large fine, and ten years in jail. The flogging is to be carried out weekly and he received fifty lashes this week.
Sudan Following the independence of South Sudan in 2011 Sudan’s political and economic problems remain intractable. According to a Reuters report South Sudan took with it three quarters of the oil, the main source of foreign currency, and inflation is around 40%.
FGM The UK House of Commons home affairs committee has published a report on female genital mutilation (FGM), sometimes known as female circumcision.
Sudan Since the independence of South Sudan international news coverage has concentrated on conflict between North and South; on 5 April the President of South Sudan visited Khartoum for talks on security and other bilateral issues.
South Sudan Fighting broke out in Juba on 15 December 2013 between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebels allied to his sacked deputy Riek Machar and has spread to much of the country.
South Sudan: lurching into civil war South Sudan is on the geographical fringe of the WAND area of interest, and after two and a half years of independence it is not clear how closely its affairs will be linked with those of the Arab world.
Sinai: trafficking, torture, kidnapping In recent postings about Egypt we have referred to lawlessness in Northern Sinai, Egyptian territory adjoining Israel and Gaza.