JEM calls for release of Dr Khalil Ibrahim Radio Dabanga

• The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) reiterated on Tuesday its appeal for the safe release of its president Dr Khalil Ibrahim who has been detained in Tripoli, Libya since 2010.

SPLM-N distrusts Al-Bashir’s truce in South Kordofan Sudan Tribune

• The armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has voiced skepticism in reaction to a truce declared by Sudan’s president Omar Al-Bashir in South Kordofan, saying the move aims to deflect attention from abuses and an imminent military offensive.

South Sudan says army made advances in Upper Nile Sudan Tribune

• On Tuesday, the SPLA announced that it had expelled militia forces from the strategic town of Kaka, which was described as a major victory for the newly established state. Government officials say the areas remaining under rebel control have been shrinking dramatically in the past few months, with the SPLA gaining momentum and taking control of all areas under territorial boundary of the newest nation.

Landmines kill 5 and injure 21 in South Sudan’s Unity state Sudan Tribune

• Two separate landmine blasts in South Sudan’s Unity state have killed five and injured twenty over the weekend according to witnesses and government officials. The SPLA blames rebel groups for planting the mines.

Ban calls on South Sudan to restore security after deadly ethnic fighting UN News Center

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday called on the Government of South Sudan to restore security in Jonglei state, where recent ethnic clashes have claimed at least 600 deaths.

UNAMID conducts verification patrol to Hamadiya camp, West Darfur- UNAMID

• UNAMID dispatched a patrol team to the Hamadiya camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in West Darfur following the killing of a Sheikh (local leader). The sheikh was reportedly killed on August 20 in circumstances that are still unclear.  On the day of the incident, Radio Dabanga reported that the Coordinator of Zalingei accused the Sudanese government of killing the Sheikh.

South Kordofan ceasefire declared by Sudan’s Bashir BBC

• Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir declared a two week ceasefire in South Kordofan. A spokesman for the Sudanese armed forces said fighting has reduced in South Kordofan this month because of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

UNMISS ready to support reconciliation efforts, says SRSG Hilde Johnson Miraya FM

• The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG), Hilde F. Johnson, expressed deep concern about the violent attacks in recent days and urged for restraint amongst the Murle and Lou Nuer communities in Jonglei State.

Food shortage in eastern Chad camp Radio Dabanga

• 537 Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad’s Gaga camp have not received their food rations since last June, a sheikh in the camp told Radio Dabanga on Monday.

Bashir, Aggar meeting fails to break stalemate over South Kordofan Sudan Tribune

• A meeting moderated by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held in Khartoum between President Omar al-Bashir and leader of the armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), Malik Aggar, has failed to revive efforts to end the crisis in the country’s South Kordofan State.

Ceasefire commission holds inaugural meeting to advance Darfur peace process UNAMID

• UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari opened the inaugural meeting of the Cease Fire Commission (CFC) which was established to implement provisions of various peace deals signed by parties to the conflict in Darfur, dating back to the N’Djamena Humanitarian Cease Fire accord of 2008. It will now focus on implementation of the peace deal signed between the Government of the Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) on July 14.

Death toll rises in Jonglei State raid Miraya FM

• The reported death toll from inter-tribal clashes in Jonglei State has risen, with some estimates now at over 600. On Thursday, armed groups reportedly from the Murle tribe carried out attacks on three Payams in Wuror County in Jongeli. The Jonglei State Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gabriel Gai Riem, said that about 2000 houses were burned down and more than 3000 head of cattle stolen. However, according to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMIS) only 58 deaths have been confirmed.

Sudan to let UN access South Kordofan Sudan Tribune

• Sudan has agreed to let six UN agencies under local supervision to assess humanitarian needs in its war-stricken state of South Kordofan.  Since fighting between on June 5^th, the Sudanese government has severely limited humanitarian access to provide aid or even assess the situation.

500 armed men attack Kaka area in Upper Nile Miraya FM

• The Commissioner of Manyo County in Upper Nile State, Okej Ajak, told Radio Miraya that 500 armed men belonging to different militia groups staged an attack in the Kaka area on Saturday morning. Commissioner Ajak said Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in the area fought the militias, killing 57 and capturing three.

Zenawi arrives in Sudan for talks with Bashir on South Kordofan Sudan Tribune

• On Sunday, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi arrived in Khartoum to meet with Malik Agar, Governor of Blue Nile and a leader within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to urge both parties “to resolve South Kordofan’s problem and defuse tension in the Blue Nile.”

Newspaper seized in Sudan Radio Dabanga

• Al-Jarida, a daily newspaper in Sudan, was seized by the Sudanese national security service (NISS) on Sunday without providing any reason for the confiscation. The Sudanese government has a history of severely limiting freedom of the press to restrict public criticism or stories that could be damaging.

Sudan forms taskforce to ‘monitor’ South Kordofan’s situation Sudan Tribune

• Sudan has established a committee to monitor the situation in the country’s war-stricken region of Kordofan and forestall allegations of abuses raised by international quarters, a spokesman said on Sunday.

Sudan rejects US initiative on Darfur Sudan Tribune

• The Sudanese presidential assistant Nafie Ali Nafie has said his country’s rejects any attempt by the United States to broker a peace deal between the government and Darfur rebel groups.

UNAMID and Sudan’s spy chief discuss security in Darfur – Sudan Tribune

• The head of UNAMID and the director of the Sudanese security service met yesterday to discuss recent developments and the security situation in Dafur. The head of UNAMID also reassured the Sudanese Foreign Minister of the mission’s commitment to respecting Sudan’s national sovereignty, after Sudan expressed concern over changes to the UNAMID mandate.

Washington invites Sudanese parties to meet on Darfur conflict in September – Sudan Tribune

• US Senior Advisor for Darfur Dane Smith proposed a Darfur forum in Washington next September. Smith met yesterday in London with a delegation of the Justice and Equality Movement to discuss prospects for peace.

Egypt seeks coordination with Sudan on Nile waters – Sudan Tribune

• The head of Egypt’s Supreme military council sent a letter to President Bashir with regard to Nile basin issues. Egypt intends to hold a meeting with Sudan and Ethiopia to discuss the dam Ethiopia intends to build. Sudan and Egypt oppose a treaty signed by Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi to alter current shares of the Nile water.

South Sudan sues chief of public security for detainee abuse- Sudan Tribune

• The Government of South Sudan is suing the Director of Public Security and seven other officials over allegations of detainee abuse.

Train released from detention- Radio Dabanga

• Yesterday a train being held in South Kordofan by a rebel group was released after ten people died in clashed between the government and the rebels.

Assaults continue in North Darfur camps- Radio Dabanga

• Residents of the Zam Zam camp in North Darfur remain panicked after three government helicopters flew low over the camps yesterday and central reserve forces opened fire. Displaced people in the Kassab camp complained of racial abuse by pro-government militias.

Armed militia detains two trains- Radio Dabanga

• An armed militia in South Kordofan detained two trains headed to South Sudan on Tuesday, one carrying goods and another carrying passengers. The train carrying passengers was released yesterday, and their conditions for release of the other train were either one billion Sudanese pounds or a formal agreement allowing the trade with South Sudan. The militia claimed that clashes took place with government forces on Wednesday.

SPLM accuses Khartoum of refusing to withdraw its troops in Abyei – Sudan Tribune

• A senior official of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has accused the government of Sudan of refusing to withdraw its troops from Abyei, even though the new UN Interim Security Force in Abyei has begun to deploy.

WFP employee shot dead- Radio Dabanga

• An armed group in West Darfur on Tuesday shot and killed a World Food Program employee and beat his wife and child to death.

U.S warns of Sudan’s South Kordofan contagion- Sudan Tribune

• The United States has expressed concern about the violence in South Kordofan spilling over into South Sudan because of links remaining from the civil war between elements in the south and the people fighting in South Kordofan. South Sudan has already experienced an influx of refugees displaced by the fighting in South Kordofan.

Sudan’s parties clash in public over Darfur- Sudan Tribune

• The National Congress Party (NCP) and the Popular Congress Party (PCP) clashed after an NCP official accused the PCP of having a relationship with the Darfur rebel group Justice and Equality Movement.

SPLM-SLM alliance is not yet sealed, talks continue to include JEM – Sudan Tribune

• The recently announced Sudan’s Revolutionary Front Alliance between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- North and the Sudan Liberation Movement against the government is in the initial stages and they are still in discussions with the Justice and Equality Movement.

South Darfur signs agreement with United Sudanese Movements- Radio Dabanga

• The government of South Darfur signed an agreement with the United Sudanese Movements, a coalition of five opposition groups. The United Revolutionary Forces said the agreement was a sham and the USM was fabricated by the government and does not exist.

Machar has apologised to Dinka Bor community – army official- Sudan Tribune

• South Sudanese vice president Riek Machar apologized to the Dinka Bor community, admitting his responsibility for the 1991 Bor massacre which resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives. Some were critical of the apology, saying it should have been matched with a similar apology by a leader of the Dinka Bor community for similar incidences that resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives in the Jikany Nuer community.

Click here to see a timeline of reported attacks in South Kordofan

Timeline of violence in South Kordofan

Sudan grants China oil exploration rights in ‘promising’ areas- Sudan Tribune

• The Sudanese government has granted China oil exploration concessions in three promising areas. The announcement was made following a meeting between President Bashir and the Chinese Foreign Minister, who spent two days in Khartoum.

UNSC meeting failed to call for ceasefire in South Kordofan, Sudan says – Sudan Tribune

• Yesterday’s UN Security Council meeting on South Kordofan failed to produce a resolution or statement calling for a ceasefire. The representatives of China, Russia, India and Lebanon voiced their objections to such a measure because information on atrocities is unverifiable.

China offers mediation between North & South Sudan- Sudan Tribune

• On his visit to Sudan, the Chinese Foreign Minister offered China as a mediator between Sudan and South Sudan on outstanding post-secession issues. China has multi-billion dollar investments in Sudan and has promised to help both countries develop their economies.

Sudan informs Gambari of its rejection to change in UNAMID mandate- Sudan Tribune

• Sudan’s foreign minister today informed the head of UNAMID that the government rejects the resolution extending UNAMID’s mandate because it attempts to modify the original version. Last week the foreign ministry sent a letter to the UN expressing its refusal to the content of the resolution and threatening to cancel the UNAMID mandate if it tried to implement any measure not included in its initial mandate.

Sudan’s ruling party raps SPLM-North over new rebel alliance- Sudan Tribune

• Nafi ali-Nafi censured the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North over its alliance with two other rebel movements against the government, averring that nothing will inhibit the progress of the state.

UNMISS & GoSS sign SOFA- Radio Miraya

• The Government of South Sudan signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the new UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Juba on Monday. The SOFA provides a legal framework for the operations of UNMISS.

Darfur, S. Kordofan rebels agree to overthrow Sudanese government, JEM rebuffs alliance- Sudan Tribune

• The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in South Kordofan and two factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement signed an alliance with the goal of overthrowing President Bashir and his government and establishing a secular state. The Justice and Equality Movement did not join the accord because it said the focus should be on a citizenship rights state, not a secular state.

JEM negotiation team departs from Doha- Radio Dabanga

• The Justice and Equality Movement mediation team announced it will be leaving Doha and says it will return only when negotiations become serious.

Sudanese newspaper seized for revealing Bashir-Agar meeting- Sudan Tribune

• Sudanese authorities confiscated Sunday and Monday copies of Al-Ahdath newspaper in retaliation for disclosing a planned meeting between President Bashir and Blue Nile governor Malik Agar last week.

Sudan says UNSC meeting on South Kordofan has ulterior motives- Sudan Tibune

• The Sudanese Foreign Minister claimed the UN Security Council meeting on South Kordofan was due to pressure from activist groups spreading false information, because he claims there is positive progress in South Kordofan.

EU criticizes Bashir’s visit to Chad despite ICC warrant- Sudan Tribune

• The European Union criticized President Bashir’s visit to Chad for the swearing in President Idriss Deby to a new five-year term. Chad, although a member of the International Criminal Court, has failed to arrest Bashir on multiple occasions.

South Kordofan SPLA in the media war- Sudan Tribune

• The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in South Kordofan has released photos and video of their military victories there. Because of the media blackout in South Kordofan it is difficult to assess the scale of the atrocities and most reports and based on eyewitness accounts.

SPLM: Illegal Russian weapons arrive in Port Sudan- Radio Dabanga

• The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement claims that illegal Russian weapons have arrived at Port Sudan to be used in the Nuba Mountains. Unconfirmed reports also claim that declaration of a holy war in South Kordofan is imminent and foreign mercenaries are joining with local militias.

Sudan releases South’s oil shipment – Sudan Tribune

• Sudan has released an oil shipment from the South that it had been holding at Port Sudan due to disputed transit fees. The two states have yet to reach an agreement on how much the south will pay the north to use their oil infrastructure.

SPLM-North and JEM agree to work against Sudan’s NCP- Sudan Tribune

• The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North and the Justice and Equality Movement are both working to re-establish democracy in Sudan and are considering working together against the National Congress Party.

Liberation movements align to topple Khartoum- Radio Dabanga

• Four Sudanese opposition groups have signed an alliance to topple the National Congress Party through military action.

China FM warns North & South Sudan against losing “peace equation”- Sudan Tribune

• The Chinese Foreign Minister is in Sudan for a two-day visit to Khartoum and Juba, urging the two governments to continue peaceful negotiaions. China has an interest in maintaining stability because of its multi-billion dollar investments in Sudan, mostly in the oil industry.

UN to discuss escalating violence in South Kordofan- Radio Dabanga

• Today the UN Security Council is expected to discuss the situation in South Kordofan as well as the recent deaths of UN peacekeepers in Abyei.

Bishop calls for investigation into South Kordofan “ethnic cleansing”- Radio Miraya

• The Anglican Bishop of Kadugli has requested an international investigation into “ethnic cleansing” in South Kordofan. He reported that the Anglican church in Kadugli was burnt down and the Sudanese Armed Forces are occupying the Catholic church.

Osmaan Jaafar: ‘I am no militia leader’- Radio Dabanga

• The Secretary General of the Sudanese Red Crescent denies accusations by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement that he is a militia leader in South Kordofan.

Sudan’s NCP issues contradictory statements on new government- Sudan Tribune

• Two National Congress Party senior officials made contradictory statements on the upcoming formation of the Second Republic government. President al-Bashir has stated that under the new constitution Islam will be the official religion and Arabic the official language.

Sudan reportedly blocks South’s oil shipment- Sudan Tribune

• A shipment of oil produced in South Sudan is being held at Port Sudan in the north because of disputes over transit fees. The first post-secession oil shipment went through the port without incident, but disagreements over transit fees between the two countries are intensifying.

Sudan delayed evacuation flight for wounded peacekeepers – UN official- UN News

• A medical evacuation for UN peacekeepers injured by a landmine in Abyei was delayed for three hours when the Sudanese government threatened to shoot down the helicopter. The three peacekeepers ultimately died of their wounds.

UNAMID peacekeeper killed in ambush in South Darfur- UNAMID

• A UNAMID peacekeeper was killed and a second seriously injured when their vehicle carrying five troops came under attack by four gunmen today in Duma Village, 37 kilometres northeast of Nyala in South Darfur.

JEM accuses Sudan government of oil thefts- Radio Dabanga

• The Justice and Equality Movement claims the oil contracts given by the government of Sudan in Darfur and South Kordofan violate international drilling regulations and fail to follow measures that prevent environmental degradation.

South Sudan parliament’s first sitting fails over internal power wrangling- Sudan Tribune

• The new National Assembly of South Sudan failed to conduct its first sitting because of internal disagreements over who would lead the body, because of integrating representatives who had been in Khartoum into the existing parliament.

SSLM/A spokesperson says ceasefire a result of international pressure- Sudan Tribune

• A spokesman from the rebel South Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SSLM/A) says their ceasefire with the government was a result of international appeals, not pressure from the southern army. He claimed that the ceasefire does not necessarily mean the rebels will lay down their arms, but fighting will halt.