Page 17 - The Nile Explorer Magazine 011

popular pro-democracy uprising. The
Juba agreements are therefore a major
achievement towards the realization of
the transitional government objective.
Tensions in Sudan were particularly
heightened by economic hardship,
especially after the 2011 secession of
South Sudan which deprived the north of
three-quarters of its oil reserves. This is
besides the multiple civil wars that have
raged in the country since independence
in 1956, including the 1983-2005 war
that led to the secession of the south.
The devastating war in Darfur from
2003 left at least 300,000 people dead
and 2.5 million displaced in its early
years, according to the United Nations.
That progress is being made in Sudan’s
transition to a democratic government is
not doubt, but the process could relapse
without international support and
guidance, a U.N. investigator warned.
The U.N. independent expert on human
rights in Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, said
that since his report last year, there have
been some welcome developments and
efforts by the transitional government to
address systemic human rights and rule-
of-law concerns in the African country.
Nononsi also raised concerns that the
budding democracy could be going
off the rails, pointing to a decision to
dismiss more than 350 judges and legal
advisers. He said the dismissal was a
troubling violation to the independence
of the judiciary.
Also troubling to Nononsi: an apparent
erosion of Sudan’s civic space. He cited
the recent arrest of 11 Sudanese artists
who were sentenced to two months
in prison on charges of being a public
nuisance for chanting at a police station.
“Moreover, there are serious allegations
of ill treatment of the artists during
Map of Sudan and South Sudan 30 companies owned or controlled by their arrest and detention, as well as
the Government of Sudan. concerns over the administration of
to restrictions on foreign assistance; As the country opens a new page, with justice. … Long-standing discrimination
a ban on defense exports and sales; a peace agreements that could see their and inequality continue to plague
Congressional notification requirement integration into the country’s military, Sudanese society, negatively affecting
for certain exports of dual use items; there is also urgent need to allow space the enjoyment of economic, social and
directed votes on international financial for a vibrant civil society, plural political cultural rights,” he said.
institution assistance; restrictions on environment and new social forces. Sudan’s ambassador to the U.N. in
debt reduction; and miscellaneous other Sudan has a unique opportunity to Geneva, Ali Ibn Mahmoud, is quoted
restrictions. embrace democratic transition and equal saying the transitional government
On May 29, 2007, responding to citizenship. If this opening is wasted, the has made progress in reaching a global
Sudanese President Bashir’s continued country could be plunged into further sustainable peace agreement, referring
refusal to honor his commitments to chaos or revert to military dictatorship. to the October, Juba agreements.
end the violence in Darfur, President Ending Sudan’s internal conflicts has The ambassador said Sudan’s government
Bush ordered the U.S. Department of been a top priority of the power-sharing is ready to cooperate with U.N. and
the Treasury to block the assets of three government in power since last year’s human rights mechanisms, and seeks
Sudanese individuals and one company military overthrow of al-Bashir amid a to protect and promote human rights
involved in the violence and to sanction universally.

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