Khartoum, May 9 – The Assistant of the President of the Republic, Musa Mohamed Ahmed, Sunday briefed the visiting Eritrean delegation, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Osman Saleh, on the latest developments in Sudan and the implementation of East Sudan Peace Agreement

Musa affirmed in a statement to SUNA after the meeting the important role being played by Eritrea as a mediator of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement. Musa said that the meeting reviewed outcome of the elections in Sudan as well as Eritrea’s contribution to the unity of Sudan and the plans for the coming period

He said that the meeting touched on the progress of the relations between Sudan and Eritrea and means of consolidating them further.

KHARTOUM, April 27 (SUNA) — Sudan’s President Omer Al-Bashir has addressed the Sudanese people following the announcement by the National Elections Commission of his re-election, which was held in accordance with the country’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

In his address to the nation last Thursday, he described the election process as characterized by seriousness, freedom and the commitment to the practice of constitutional rights. The elections were not marred by violence, clashes or confrontations, he noted, stressing that the success of the elections was a victory for all the Sudanese people.

President Al-Bashir asserted his commitment to practise his powers and responsibilities as the president of all the Sudanese nation.

He lauded the role played by the National Elections Commission, and its chairman, Abil Alier, for their patience, persistence, good preparations and efforts to implement one of the most important pillars of the CPA and to hold the large and expensive elections, despite the technical and logistic challenges that faced it, emphasizing that the National Elections Commission had carried out its task with a honesty which was a source of honour all the Sudanese people.

President Al-Bashir thanked the international community for their donation of materials, in kind and administrative support for accomplishment of the historic elections in Sudan which was monitored closely by international and national observers, appreciating the support extended by all the organizations and Sudan fiends world-wide.

President Al-Bashir said that the international media had conducted intensive coverage of the elections in Sudan and was able to be informed about aspects of the election process and to be a witness of its smoothness and lacking to any aspect of violence or undermining of social peace.

He reiterated his commitment to live up to his responsibilities to lead the country with wisdom and to protect its stability and entity. The recent elections provided a good opportunity to all the Sudanese people with their different parties and orientations to express their views and to choose and offer their confidence to their candidates.

President Al-Bashir congratulated the people of his National Congress party who surpassed on of the biggest examinations by winning most of the election constituencies at all levels and obtained the confidence of the majority of the people of Sudan.

He also congratulated all the national political forces who contributed to bolstering the democratic progress in the country. He pointed out that the National Congress will maintain contacts, dialogue and consultations with all forces for establishing a national partnership toward confronting the challenges.

President Al-Bashir affirmed the keenness for holding the referendum on the future of south Sudan in the fixed time, as stipulated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) as well as completing realization of peace in Darfur in western Sudan.

CAIRO, (The National), Mad Bradley – Despite a lack of agreement from Egypt and Sudan, seven of the nine countries that share the Nile River basin will proceed with plans to create a permanent negotiating body for determining the equitable use of the world’s longest river, African water ministers have said.

Water and irrigation ministers from seven up-river African nations said they hope to finalise negotiations on the Co-operative Framework Agreement next month, with or without agreement from down-river nations Egypt and Sudan.

The plans follow failed negotiations last week in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, between the nine countries of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), a World Bank-funded programme that seeks to establish a diplomatic protocol for evaluating the fair use of the river for agricultural and energy projects.

The impasse between up-river and down-river countries has led to more than a decade of delays in forming the framework agreement, which supporters say could become an example of international co-operation for the fair use of water resources in the impoverished and conflict-prone region of north-eastern Africa.

A spokesman for the Ethiopian government accused Egypt on Tuesday of “delaying” negotiations, according to the Bloomberg news agency.

But Egypt, which is where the river flows into the Mediterranean, and Sudan say such an agreement could threaten their “historical rights” to secure sources of water. Their position downstream renders them particularly vulnerable to changes in water availability caused by up-river development projects, they said.

Egyptian water officials said if up-river nations exclude them from the agreement, it could spell the end of negotiations on equitable water-sharing for the entire river basin.

“Egypt’s share of the Nile’s water is a historic right that Egypt has defended throughout its history,” said Mohammed Allam, Egypt’s minister of water resources and irrigation, to a parliamentary session on Monday, according to Agence France-Presse. “If the Nile basin countries unilaterally signed the agreement it would be considered the announcement of the Nile Basin Initiative’s death.”

Egypt and Sudan’s historical claims to the Nile’s water stem from two past treaties that did not include signatures from the other Nile basin states. The latest treaty, which was signed between Egypt and Sudan in 1959, gave the Egyptian government rights over 55.5 billion cubic metres of water annually out of the 84 billion cubic metres that reach Egypt’s High Aswan Dam each year.

Although all of the countries have agreed on most of the terms of the framework, Egypt and Sudan have insisted that the agreement should include guarantees of the “historical rights” to which upper riparian states were never a party.

“We are not party to that agreement and we don’t recognise it,” said Teferra Beyene, the head of trans-boundary river affairs for Ethiopia’s ministry of water resources, of the 1959 treaty between Egypt and Sudan. “We don’t know of such a thing called historical rights. After all this is going to be a new covenant, a new agreement among the riparian countries.”

Egyptian diplomats urged negotiators to proceed directly towards the formation of a Nile River Basin Commission instead of first negotiating the terms of the framework agreement. The commission would act as a deliberative body and would make its decisions by a consensus of all the riparian states.

Egyptian officials say that unlike upper riparian states such as Ethiopia, whose rainy highlands provide an estimated 85 per cent of the Nile’s waters, projects on the Egyptian section of the river have no impact on countries further downstream.

“Our Egyptian water comes from the geography of the river and they can’t control that,” said Abd el Ati el Shafei, the chairman of the Nile Guards and Environment Protection Association.

Mr el Shafei said the Nile water that reaches Egypt only constitutes around five per cent of the Nile River’s total reserves of 1,600 billion cubic metres. And with its large and growing population that dwarfs those of other Nile Basin states, with the exception of Ethiopia, Egypt’s need for water security is particularly acute. “They don’t need the water that runs into Egypt and we didn’t take it from them by force,” Mr el Shafei said.

But as the countries of the Nile basin bicker over who is responsible for the stalled negotiations, the impasse continues to delay the creation of a permanent body that might arbitrate such disputes. Hani Raslan, the director of the Sudan and Nile basin studies programme at the semi-official Al Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, said he does not expect any serious decisions on a co-operative agreement within the next 20 years.

“These countries are small and fragile, they have many crises, and they act with Egypt like maybe they think they are superpowers,” Mr Raslan said. “That is not real. Egypt must have the right to do anything to protect its people.”

Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, an international leader in sustainable development, today announced that it is expanding the land size of its landmark Mushaireb mixed-use community development located in downtown Khartoum through the acquisition of an additional 58,000 sqm of land, resulting in a total 206,000 sqm for the project.

The expansion was announced at a signing ceremony for the new land purchase at Qatari Diar’s Lusail headquarters in Doha today, presided by Eng. Mohammed bin Ali Al Hedfa, Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatari Diar, and a representative from the Sudanese government, HE Mohammed Abdul Wahab Othman, Minister of Planning and Urban Development.

Eng. Mohammed bin Ali Al Hedfa, Group CEO of Qatari Diar, commented on the announcement:

“The expansion of our Mushaireb development in Sudan reflects Qatari Diar’s deep commitment to establishing the best possible mixed-use real estate development, with an emphasis on sustainable development, for the people of Sudan. We see strong potential for the country’s long-term growth, and we are proud to be helping to improve the business, tourist, and residential opportunities and infrastructure in Sudan. Through our expansion of Mushaireb will be creating a unique environment where Sudanese heritage meets modern luxury. We look forward to continuing progress as our work on the site continues.”

In November of 2009, Qatari Diar unveiled revised master plans for Mushaireb at a press conference in Khartoum, and construction work on Phase-1 of Mushaireb began in 2009. The development has already proven to be a desirable location for investors seeking prime real estate in the heart of Khartoum.

Mushaireb will be one of Khartoum’s most distinguished developments, offering a new distinct luxurious integrated facility that will elevate the level of future Khartoum real estate projects.

This mixed-use development is situated on a prime location in downtown Khartoum with views along the Nile, conveniently just 20 minutes from Khartoum’s airport.

Mushaireb will mix traditional architecture within an urban landscape, and will include a 5-star hotel, 8 residential and retail towers, and office space. As part of the project, Qatari Diar will also undertake a redevelopment of the majestic waterfront corniche area along the Nile into a family-friendly entertainment area.

HE the Minister of Planning and Urban Development, Eng. Mohammed Abdul Wahab Othman stated: “This announcement represents the strong bond between the people of Sudan and Qatar. Mushaireb is an exciting and prestigious project that will revitalize downtown Khartoum and provide vibrant new business, residential, tourist, and commercial opportunities to the city. We look forward to continuing to find new ways to work with Qatari Diar and the Qatar people in all avenues to encourage the prosperous development of Sudan.”

Launched in 2004, Qatari Diar is wholly-owned by the Qatar Investment Authority and currently has more than 35 real estate development projects active in more than 20 countries around the world. Qatari Diar’s unique vision of sustainable development places community and local traditions at the forefront. It creates distinguished property developments with local culture and lifestyle experience to attract tourism and residents generating sustainable and tangible socio-economic benefits.

About Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company:

Wholly owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company was established in December 2004 to support Qatar’s growing economy and to co-ordinate the country’s real estate development priorities. Qatari Diar is currently involved in more than 35 projects in more than 20 countries around the world, including Qatar, Morocco, France, Oman, Egypt, Djibouti, and Eritrea.

Qatari Diar is becoming established as one of the world’s most trusted and respected real estate companies because of its commitment to quality, local community, partnership and hallmark sustainability.

Qatari Diar’s hallmark vision of sustainable development places community and local traditions at the forefront. The Company aims to create and manage property investments and developments which not only comply with the best international standards, but which also strongly reflect local culture and values. As a result, Qatari Diar’s projects deliver a distinctive and sustainable social, economic and environmental benefit to the community. In addition, Qatari Diar often enables local and international developers and investors to partner in its projects, and to work together in exploring other opportunities, both locally and internationally.

For further information, kindly contact:

John Watts – Brown Lloyd James

+974 687 6682

UNMIS, 09 April 2010 - Newly appointed UNMIS Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Haile Menkerios made a three-day familiarization tour of Southern Sudan beginning 29 March.

The SRSG was in the south to orient himself with the humanitarian and security situation, progress on preparations for upcoming elections and the work of UNMIS as well as other UN agencies in Southern Sudan.

Mr. Menkerios was making his first visit to the region since he assumed duties as UN special envoy to Sudan in March.

Accompanied by UNMIS Regional Coordinator for Southern Sudan David Gressly, the SRSG met with Government of Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba, before departing for Western Bahr El-Ghazal, Warrap, Unity, and Upper Nile states.

In a meeting with Lieut. Gen. Salva Mathok, Warrap State caretaker governor during the election period, in the capital Kuajok, Mr. Menkerios said he was there to learn about challenges the state was facing and see areas UNMIS could support.

Noting that his state was one of the least developed in Southern Sudan, Lt. Gen. Mathok said it had been plagued by tribal clashes, food insecurity caused by drought, cattle raiding and a shortage of police.

Pointing to seasonal Dinka-Messeriya conflicts involving grazing and watering points, SRSG Menkerios urged the governors of Warrap and Unity to seek peaceful means of resolving tribal friction, rather than resorting to violence.

As part of its mandate, UNMIS was keen to assist in capacity building of local institutions, so that services needed by the community could be delivered, the SRSG said.

While in Kuajok, Mr. Menkerios also visited the police training centre and met with UN police advisors, who are currently training local law enforcers there, and the recently established Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) office, before departing for Western Bahr El-Ghazal State.

Speaking to staff in Western Bahr El-Ghazal’s capital Wau, the SRSG said UNMIS would continue to assist the Sudanese in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He encouraged staff members to continue their commitment to fulfil the mission’s mandate in Sudan.

“Your contributions have an enormous impact on the future of the country,” Mr. Menkerios said.

Haile Menkerios

The new head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reiterated today his call for the national elections to be carried out next month as scheduled, but stressed that any decision to delay should be made entirely by Government officials and the electoral institution.

“Elections need to take place according to timelines subscribed by the CPA [Comprehensive Peace Agreement], and they have to be conducted in a conducive atmosphere to ensure a free and fair process,” said Haile Menkerios today in Khartoum, in his first press conference since becoming the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of UNMIS.

“The CPA, however, is an agreement by the two Parties. And should the two Parties decide whether to have the elections on time or should they want to postpone them for a time, it is up to them,” the Special Representative added.

He also told reporters that it was his understanding that the presidency would meet on Tuesday to review a request by political parties for postponement of the elections currently scheduled to take place from 11 to 13 April.

The national elections, the first of their kind in 24 years, are seen as a benchmark in the implementation of the peace agreement, which was signed in 2005 to end the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan.

Voters will be able to choose a national president, a southern president, local and national assemblies, and governors.

The next major benchmark in implementation of the CPA would be a referendum next year on southern secession.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Menkerios stressed that the elections are a Sudanese process led by the governments and the National Elections Commission (NEC), with the UN providing only technical assistance and limited logistical support – as mandated by the Security Council – to the authorities staging the ballot.

“The election in all its aspects is a totally nationally owned process,” he said.

UNMIS, in cooperation with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and donors, has provided technical assistance in voter registration through its Electoral Assistance Division, and advice on operational planning.

The UN mission has also been involved in intensive election security training, instructing almost 24,000 police officers, close to 17,000 in the north and over 7,000 in the south.

“While the responsibility to provide security during elections lies with the Governments of National Unity, and the Government of Southern Sudan in its area, our peacekeeping forces will also assist in enhancing security in areas where threats of armed confrontation may exist,” Mr. Menkerios said.

Mr. Menkerios also stressed that the UN does not have a monitoring role in the elections. That role will be filled by various independent observer groups, both international and national, accredited by the NEC that will perform monitoring functions and report accordingly.

When asked what he thought of the decision to print electoral ballots at the National Printing Press in Khartoum, which is being criticized by some opposition activists, Mr. Menkerios said that decision rests solely with the NEC.

As well as UNMIS, the UN is involved in another peacekeeping operation in the country. (UNAMID) is a joint operation with the African Union in Darfur, the western region of Sudan.

Oil Rig

Saudi state-owned Aramco has been administering a tender for a seismic survey of Saudi territorial waters in the Red Sea. Industry sources said European companies have submitted bids to survey 14,000 square kilometers in a project worth up to $200 million.

Some of the bidders were identified as Norway’s Petroleum Geo-Services, the Netherlands’s Fugro and Britain’s WesternGeco. Aramco has been preparing to begin drilling for energy reserves in the Red Sea in 2012.

The sources said Aramco has deemed the Red Sea the next major source for crude oil and natural gas for the Saudi kingdom. Saudi Arabia has reached a capacity to produce 12.5 million barrels of oil per day.

Exploration activities are taking place across the red sea region. Sudan has recently started drilling its first overseas offshore exploration well in the Red Sea Basin off Sudan with the help of the state China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

The well falls in Area 15 under the franchise of the Red Sea Petroleum Operating Co., a consortium of five firms including the CNPC, Malaysia’s state oil firm Petronas, Sudan’s state oil firm Sudapet, Nigeria’s Express Petroleum and Sudanese firm High Tech Group. Petronas and CNPC each have a 35 percent interest in the block 15.

According to the Sudanese minister of Energy and Mining the results from prospecting for oil and gas in the Red Sea are positive.

Tokar-1 is one of two exploration wells in Block 15, located some 130 kilometers southeast of Port Sudan. The CNPC and its partners plan to complete drilling in six months. The wells have a designed drilling depth of 3,700 meters, and water depths of 38 meters and 52 meters respectively.

KHARTOUM, March 23  – According to Sudanese News Agencies, a visiting delegation from the European Union (EU) assigned to participate in the monitoring of Sudan’s elections next month has been briefed on the security plans worked out by the Khartoum State’s Police to ensure security for the polls.

The briefing was given when the Director of the Emergency and Operations Department of Khartoum State Police, General Al-Tayeb Babiker, met here Monday with the EU delegation. He briefed the delegation on the election security plans for all the candidates and political organizations.

The head of the delegation said that their views concentrated on the technical requirements for the elections process, indicating that they would not interfere in the elections.

In mid-March the European Commission announced that Véronique de Keyser, Member of the European Parliament, will lead 130 EU observers to assess pre-election preparations and campaign all over Sudan, voting, counting and tabulation of the results of the Election Days, as well as the post-election period.

To do so a first Team of experts arrived in the country at the end of February. The experts will soon be joined by a first wave of Long Term Observers (LTOs) and a second wave of Short Term Observers (STOs). In addition, the mission will be reinforced by a delegation of Members of the European Parliament for the election period.

The EU EOM does not present partial conclusions on Election-Day but comprehensive recommendations, based on exhaustive facts and information, once the entire process is over.

Therefore, the mission will stay in the country after the elections in order to present its first conclusions once the post election period is closed. The EU EOM is the largest international observer group in Sudan for these elections. The EU also contributed financially to their preparation.

Following the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, an amount of €500m was provided by the EU in development aid in addition to €640m in humanitarian aid since 2003.

The Sudanese government has signed a framework peace accord with a small Darfur rebel group, officials have said.

The three-month ceasefire agreement, signed with the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) on Thursday in Doha, the Qatari capital, came as talks with the larger Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) stalled.

Ali Osman Taha, the Sudanese vice-president who attended the signing of the Qatari-sponsored agreement, said: “This is an important step which will give momentum to peace efforts in Darfur.”

Qatar has been mediating between various Darfur groups and the government in Khartoum with a view to finding a lasting peace in Sudan’s western region.

Jem dismisses deal

As the signing ceremony got under way, Jem dismissed the deal saying the LJM had no military force on the ground.

But Al-Tahir al-Feki, a Jem senior official, told the Reuters news agency that his movement would not immediately act on its threat to walk out of Doha talks in protest at the deal. ”The ceasefire is meaningless. It is a ceasefire without any fire,” he said, speaking just before the signing.

“We’ll not leave Doha. We can’t respond now in a reflex reaction. We’ll see how it [the new accord] goes.”

Tijani Seisi, leader of the LJM – a newly formed umbrella group of 10 movements – that signed the framework deal paving the way for further talks, told Al Jazeera the peace deal will “underpin confidence between the two parties in order to move into the peace process”.

“There is a need to unite all these movements because peace will only be achieved if everybody is involved. But the Jem movement does not want to recognise the existence of the other factions on the ground,” he said.

Sudan and the Jem signed a pact in Doha last month, seen as a major step towards bringing peace to Darfur, but it has since run into difficulty. Omar al-Saleh, Al Jazeera’s correspondent at the talks in Doha, said: “What we witnessed today is a framework agreement with the government of Sudan and the ceasefire for three months.

“This is the important thing. The breakthrough came last month when 10 rebel groups decided to join forces and they called themselves the Liberation and Justice Movement.”

But the Sudan Liberation Army, a major faction led by Abdelwahid Nur, has so far refused to have any negotiations with the government.

Earlier this month it clashed with the army in the fertile Jebel Marra plateau in the heart of Darfur.

On Wednesday, Sudanese authorities re-arrested 15 members of Jem after releasing them following a truce with the group. Adam Bakr, the lawyer representing the rebels, said they were arrested when they went to Al-Fashir, the capital of north Darfur.

Our correspondent said one of the important things at the signing ceremony was the presence of some regional players like the foreign ministers of Eritrea and Chad.

Chad and Eritrea have been accused in the past of aiding rebel groups fighting Sudan. Qatar’s diplomatic efforts to find peace in Darfur have been complemented by Western powerful countries.

US appeal

Scott Gration, the US envoy to Sudan, urged all parties to the Darfur conflict to seize the “little window” for a peace agreement before presidential, parliamentary and state elections next month.

“If we can get a jump on a Darfur peace agreement, then we should, because there’s going to be a lot of things keeping us from focusing on Darfur,” Gration told reporters in Nairobi last week before he travelled to Doha.

“The framework agreement “has to be turned into a more formalised agreement … If there is going to be a comprehensive and lasting peace in Darfur, all rebel groups need to be involved.”

The conflict in Darfur has pitched ethnic African tribesmen against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government, claiming up to 300,000 lives – from the fighting as well as famine and disease – and displacing 2.7 million people, according to the UN.

Sudan, whose president Omar al-Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes in Darfur, disputes the toll and says only 10,000 have died. Source: (Aljazeera)

Russian Envoy

SUNA News Agency reports that Sudanese Minister of Energy and Mining Al-Zubair Ahmed Al-Hassan Thursday received the Russian envoy for Sudan, Mikhail Margelov.

Both discussed ways of enhancing the economic co-operation between Sudan and Russia in the fields of energy, mining, petroleum and infrastructures in the field of processing industry and petro-chemicals. Present at the meeting were representatives of a number of Russian companies.

The minister welcomed the desire of the Russian side to consolidate its economic relations with Sudan, affirming Sudan’s readiness to engage in real partnership with Russia and to enable the Russian companies to operate in Sudan.

Meanwhile, representative of the Russian companies expressed their desire to establish investment projects in the oil, mining, gold and electricity power sectors in Sudan.

Both countries reviewed means for boosting the Sudanese – Russian bilateral relations and to consolidate them further.

The meeting, which was attended by the Russian Ambassador to Sudan, and a number of the representatives of the Russian companies in Sudan discussed horizons of investment in the fields of energy, oil, electricity, petro-chemical industries and heavy industry.

Doha

DOHA, Feb 24 (SUNA) — The Grand Hall of the Sheraton Hotel in Doha on Tuesday evening was thevenue for the signing of the framework agreement for a ceasefire in Dafur in western Sudan between the government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

The signing took place amidst a high-level regional and international presence led by the President of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, President Idress Debby of Chad, President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea and Dr Khalil Ibrahim, the JEM Chairman.

It was also attended by Djibril Bassoule, the joint mediator for Dafur, and Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations to UNAMID, and representatives of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and other countries as well as representatives of the Arab League and the AU.

Dr Amin Hassan Omar signed on behalf of the government of the Sudan while Ahmad Tagad signed for the JEM, a rebel group involved in the Dafur conflict. The two sides shook hands and exchanged documents following the signing of the framework agreement.

The framework agreement is considered the first step towards the achievement of comprehensive and lasting peace in Darfur and it was well received by the international and regional communities as well as international organizations and relevant bodies concerned with peace in the region.

The Qatari government, its people and leadership played an important role, as mediator in the peace talks, a role highly appreciated by all concerned parties to the deal, with all parties nodding to the wise intelligent and informed role they played in the negotiations.

Chad’s President Idress Debby equally played an important role through his hosting of the initial signing and also showed the transformation in the Sudanese-Chadian relationship.

The government delegation to the event included a number of senior officials, representatives of the parties to Sudan’s government of national unity, civil society representatives, leaders from Darfur and members of the Sudan People’s Forum.

On the side of Justice and Equality Movement, those who attended the ceremony included the senior leaders of the movement who flew to Doha for the event.

The JEM declared a cease-fire as of the midnight of Tuesday as part of the implementation of the framework agreement.

JEM Chairman Dr. Khalil Ibrahim said at the signing ceremony that the agreement wais a step forward in the peace process and paved the way for negotiations for realizing peace in Darfur.

He added that the JEM was committed to the implementation of all items of the agreement, stating that the path for peace still needed great efforts, and that both parties should be ready to make concessions so that comprehensive peace in Darfur could be achieved.

Dr. Ibrahim called on the armed groups to establish a unity and partnership among them for the interest of the people and the homeland, a partnership of no loser or winner.

He called on the Emir of Qatar to sponsor the implementation of the agreement, expressing his appreciation of the great efforts being exerted by Qatar and its leader, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani.

He also thanked the Emir of Qatar for his generous donation for the rehabilitation and development in Darfur.

Dr. Khalil Ibrahim also praised the role being played by Chad, Libya, the Arab League, the African Union and the joint mediation team, led by Qatar, for realizing peace in Darfur.

Djibril Bassole welcomed the framework agreement and described it as a positive step for the comprehensive solution for Darfur issue. He appreciated the efforts exerted by all parties for the signing of the agreement by the government and the JEM.

Bassole said that the agreement paves the way for beginning the negotiations in Doha for realization of comprehensive peace in Darfur.

AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping reiterated the commitment of the African Union to help Sudan and all parties to implement all clauses of the framework agreement to bolster peace and development all over Sudan.

Ping, who described the agreement as a landmark step in peace process and a real addition to the accomplishments in this regard, urged parties in the agreement to be committed to the implementation of all clauses of the agreement.

This accomplishment would be added to the accomplishments of Africa and assured the capability of the African people to overcome their differences without foreign intervention, he added.

President Deby affirmed the commitment of Chad to co-operate with the concerned parties to boost the implementation all the items of the agreement and said that Chad would work out a plan to guarantee implementation of the agreement.

He said Chad would exert efforts toward making all the Darfurian movements and Sudan’s government sign similar agreements. He said the role of Chad was a duty that was necessitated by the fact that Chad and Sudan are neighbours.

He referred to the suffering of Chad and Sudan from the armed movements and the clashes at the joint border area, adding that there would be no return to that past.

Sudan – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched an information campaign in Sudan on the risks of irregular migration as part of a broader effort to tackle key migration issues in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

The campaign, which will target seven states in eastern Sudan, will be implemented as part of an Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) programme to address gaps in migration management in the IGAD region. It aims to inform irregular migrants and potential migrants of the risks they face on their journey to Europe and the Middle East.

With more than 7,600 kms of land borders, 853 kms of coastline and nine neighbours, Sudan lies in the middle of the East African route to the Mediterranean. It is one of the three main routes used by mainly Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali irregular migrants en route to Europe via Libya and Egypt as they seek to escape poverty, conflict and increasing environmental degradation at home.

Sudan is also a country of origin and destination for irregular migrants. More than 100,000 refugees from the Horn of Africa are currently being hosted in camps in Khartoum, Gedaref, Red Sea, Kassala, El Gezira, Sennar and Blue Nile states, with the camps recognized as a source and transit point for flows of both asylum-seekers and economic migrants to, within and through Sudan.

Sudanese nationals seeking a new life abroad using irregular means can often become stranded in transit. All irregular migrants are vulnerable to human trafficking and abuse during their journey, often because of a lack of knowledge about what the journey will actually entail.

Posters and flyers with information and advice are being distributed in Arabic, Amharic and Tigrinya in the seven states. Dialogues are also being held with community leaders in the camps. The campaign, funded by the European Commission, is also using radio and other means to reach irregular migrants and potential Sudanese migrants with materials based on true-life stories designed to target specific ethnic groups, cultures and motives for migrating.

As well as highlighting the risks of irregular migration, campaign materials will inform migrants and potential migrants on the requirements and opportunities for regular migration. This will include information about how to obtain travel documents, work permits and visas, and and about the immigration laws of host countries.

Implemented in collaboration with the Immigration and Passport Department of the Ministry of Interior and the Sudanese Commission for Refugees, the campaign is a step towards a more established response to combating human smuggling and human trafficking in the country by building the government’s capacities on migration issues.