African Media Coverage

June 1-15, 2008

SOUTH AFRICA: IOL
“S Sudan accuses Khartoum of sending troops”
Published: June 3, 2023

South Sudan's leader accused the northern government on Tuesday of reinforcing troops in the disputed oil town of Abyei, raising tensions as UN Security Council envoys flew in to shore up a north-south peace deal.

Clashes in Abyei last month increased fears of a return to all out war between the northern government and the south, which signed a peace agreement in 2005 to end two decades of civil war.

The Security Council envoys, who flew into the southern capital Juba on a tour of African hotspots, discussed Abyei with South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir and will also hold talks with President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's government in Khartoum.

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NIGERIA: The Guardian
“World court prosecutor presses Security Council on Darfur suspects”
Published: June 6, 2023

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Moreno Ocampo has pleaded with the United Nations (UN) Security Council to demand that Khartoum arrest Darfur war crimes suspects Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kosheib.

"I ask the Security Council to send a strong message to the government of Sudan ... requesting that they arrest (Sudanese secretary of state for humanitarian affairs) Ahmed Haroun and (Janjaweed militia leader) Ali Kosheib," he told the 15-member council.

The ICC in May 2006, issued arrest warrants for Haroun and Kosheib, who face a long list of charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Sudan has refused to hand them over and does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICC.

Ocampo, according to Agence France Presse (AFP), said that at the council's request, his office would present "new evidence exposing the facts and identifying those most responsible for the "massive crimes" being perpetrated in Darfur.

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ANGOLA: Angola Press
“UN agency cuts flights to Darfur”
Published: June 11, 2023

The UN World Food Programme is cutting air services to Darfur, reducing the ability of 14,000 aid workers to travel to the Sudanese region.

The agency said it was cutting one of six helicopters with immediate effect, and two aeroplanes on 19 June.

The WFP said it needed $20m (£10m) by 15 June to avoid some of the cuts and maintain a full service.

Meanwhile, Sudan`s government has said it wants global police agency Interpol to arrest 20 Darfuri rebel leaders.

The men are wanted for their alleged role in an attack near the capital, Khartoum, last month.

Read the entire article here.