U.S. and European media

November 3, 2022

Reuters: Political deadlock threatens Sudan's 2010 elections. Sudanese began registering this month for their first multi-party elections in 24 years, but major obstacles to the vote remain. Sudan analysts say the NCP lacks the political will and the SPLM lacks the capacity to implement the agreement which enshrines democratic transformation, elections and gives the south a vote on independence in 2011.  With elections five months away, relations between the former foes are at an all-time low, especially after SPLM leader Salva Kiir told southerners that a vote for unity would make them second-class citizens. The main outstanding problems include democratic laws, census, border, southern violence, Darfur, and elections.

AFP: Carter Centre criticizes Sudan over poll arrangements.  The US-based Carter Centre, which has been charged with monitoring preparations for Sudanese elections next April, criticized the Khartoum authorities on Tuesday for impeding poll observers.  The Carter Centre "expressed concerns about the obstacles facing election observers, including delays in finalizing their accreditation procedures and delays in election preparations, as well as continued reports of harassment of political party and civil society activity."  Sudanese began registering on Sunday for the country's first presidential, parliamentary and regional elections in 24 years.  The Carter Centre in a statement said that the government needed to do more to inform the 20 million eligible voters about the registration process, particularly in the provinces.

World Defense Review: Climate Change and Security in Africa.  Broadly speaking, the challenges arising from access to water will only multiply--a observation that should come as no surprise given that the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) post-conflict environmental assessment for Sudan, published in mid-2007, already made the argument that there were "complex but clear linkages exist between environmental problems and the ongoing conflict" in Darfur. In fact, the report insisted that "indeed, climate change, land degradation and the resulting competition over scarce natural resources are among the root causes as well as the consequences of the violence and grave humanitarian situation in the region."

UN News Centre: Darfur: joint African-UN force takes part in ceremony aimed at reducing ethnic tensions.  The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur has participated in a reconciliation ceremony in the north of the region that is aimed at halting a spate of recent inter-tribal clashes that have killed at least two dozen people. Yesterday UNAMID military officials, joined by a mediation committee of umdahs (local leaders) and a general from the Minni Minawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), met with community leaders from local tribes to urge them to exercise restraint.  After the talks the Zaghawas apologized for the killing and a peace agreement was signed by the two tribes to avert the threat of possible reprisals or the Tengurs joining forces with the Birgids to launch future attacks on the Zaghawas.  UNAMID has attributed the recent fighting to disputes over access to water, a particularly precious commodity in Darfur, an arid and landlocked region. The mission sent an assessment team to the area last week comprising military officers, police officers and humanitarian, human rights, security, civil affairs and protection officials.

The Darfur Daily News is a service of the Save Darfur Coalition. To subscribe to the Daily News, please email [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact Ashley Roberts at (202) 478-6181, or [email protected].