U.S. and European media

October 19, 2022

ABC News: Darfur Groups Wary About President Obama's New Sudan Policy.  Human rights organizations focused on curbing the genocide in Darfur reacted warily towards the Obama administration's new stance towards the government of Sudan, to be announced on Monday by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The new strategy of engaging Khartoum constitutes a change from the policy held by President George W. Bush, as well as the campaign rhetoric voiced by then-candidate Obama one year ago. U.S. officials acknowledge the reaction from human rights groups has been mixed. Officials from the groups largely agree with the Obama administration's goals to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended the civil war and, among other provisions, provides for a Southern Sudanese referendum in 2011; and to negotiate a peace treaty that will end the crisis in Darfur and allow the Sudanese people to return to their homes.  Their concern is that history suggests that the government of Sudan responds only to pressure, and they worry President Obama's Special Envoy to the Sudan, Maj. Gen. Scott Gration (ret.) has been reluctant to apply that pressure.

AFP: Clinton to unveil US Sudan policy.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday will unveil a new US policy toward Sudan that deepens engagement but steps up pressure on Khartoum on human rights.  Clinton, accompanied by US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration to hold a 1300 GMT briefing at the State Department announcing details of the program, according to a press release Sunday.  The New York Times reported last week that the policy shift will include dialogue with Sudan's leadership and firm deadlines on fulfilling promises made under a 2005 deal with rebels from southern Sudan.  President Barack Obama's administration began a review of its Sudan policy in March, but faces a complicated situation that includes ongoing tension over a 2005 peace agreement between Khartoum and southern Sudan that has not been fully implemented.

AP: First Darfur case to reach Hague tribunal begins.  Prosecutors accused a Sudanese rebel leader Monday of planning an attack that killed 12 African peacekeepers, in the first Darfur case to reach an international tribunal. The charges against Bahr Idriss Abu Garda came at a hearing to establish whether prosecutors of the International Criminal Court have enough evidence to warrant a trial. Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said Abu Garda, 46, ordered an attack on African Union peacekeepers because he was hoping it would win his breakaway rebel faction a spot at peace talks scheduled for the following month in Libya.

AFP: Freed Sudan aid workers long for home after ordeal. Two female aid workers arrived in Khartoum on Monday exhausted and eager to go home after surviving nightmare experiences such as mock executions during 107 days of gruelling captivity in Darfur.  A gang of armed men kidnapped Irishwoman Sharon Commins, 33, and Ugandan Hilda Kawuki, 42, on July 3 from a compound run by Irish relief group GOAL in the North Darfur town of Kutum.  "We are very happy to be here," Commins said as she walked on the tarmac of Khartoum airport.

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].