Analysis: Key challenges for Southern Sudan after split
Listen Juba (Alshahid) – The release of referendum results for Southern Sudan’s historic independence showing that 98.83 percent voted for secession means formal independence is scheduled for 9 July 2011, but key challenges still remain to be negotiated. These issues, observers say, must now be hammered out by the two ruling parties – the north’s [...]
Sudanese president Bashir arrives in southern city
Listen Juba (Alshahid) — Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir landed at the airport in the southern city of Juba on Tuesday, five days before voters in the region decide whether to break away from the rest of the east African nation. Al-Bashir is there to inspect the referendum process and meet with other senior officials in [...]
Regional security, landscape will change forever after Sudan poll
Listen By ASUMAN BISIIKA -On January 9, the people of Southern Sudan will vote in a referendum that will determine whether they become an independent state. Observers say that whichever way the vote goes, there will be far-reaching ramifications for the people of both North and Southern Sudan, as well as the entire region. The [...]
Kenya: Experts welcome counter-human trafficking law
Listen Mombasa-Nairobi (Alshahid) – Counter-trafficking specialists say a law recently passed in Kenya which, for the first time, legally defines and recognizes trafficking in persons as a crime, will help protect the vulnerable and assist survivors, while serving as a deterrent to perpetrators. “This legislation represents a significant new tool for Kenya in counter-trafficking law [...]
ICC Ocampo defends Kenya President and PM over election violence
Listen Nairobi (Alshaid) –The Chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Mr Louis Moreno Ocampo has defended Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga over the post-election violence investigations. In a veiled defence of the two principals, Ocampo said his investigations “were not about elections or parties” “We shall forward for prosecution [...]
Southern Sudan extends referendum registration deadline
Listen Juba (Alshahid) -Southern Sudan has given potential voters an extra week to register for January’s referendum on possible independence. The authorities said moving the deadline to 8 December would not affect the vote, scheduled for 9 January. The referendum is a consequence of a peace deal that ended a two-decade long civil war between [...]
Hizbul Islam faction ends agreement with Somalia govt
Listen Mogadishu (Alshahid) – Sheik Yusuf Mohamed Siad (Inda’adde), former state minister of the transitional government (TFG) of Somalia and now a leader of Hizbul Islam faction that recently joined the TFG has Wednesday held a press conference to formally denounce the deal signed with the government. “As troops and policy, we are no longer [...]
Somalia: Establishing the Federal System and Moving the Capital City, Mogadishu
Listen The draft constitution issued by the Independent Federal Commission on July 30, 2010 is flawed but the Commission continues running advertisements through different Media outlets to promote and condition the Somalia people. The draft raises many questions without answers and it is contentious and controversial and it is the product of Sharif Hassan Sheikh [...]
Somalia New PM opposes clan power-sharing deal
Listen Mogadishu (Alshahid) -Somalia’s newly appointed interim Prime Minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo,” has opposed the 4.5 clan power sharing system instead favouring a 5-clan system, Radio Garowe reports. Mr. Farmajo who spoke with a representative of women from Banadir region where Mogadishu is located claimed his work is to bring peace and security in [...]
South Sudan rejects Libya’s Gaddafi warning on independence vote
Listen Juba (Alshahid) – Southern Sudan has rejected Muammar Gaddafi’s warning that a vote for independence next year could destabilise the rest of Africa. Southern Sudan Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told the BBC that Africa had not broken up when Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993. He said the people’s choice should [...]