Stoves that save lives . . .

How can stoves that use fire wood safe lives in Darfur? Strange, but it is something that is happening. A group of scientists have built a special stove that uses less firewood for effective cooking. Result: it reduces the number of trips to gather firewood, thus less chances of attacks and rapes.

Ingenious. More people are doing lttile things for great achievements. They are flaming hope in Darfur.

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Am back

I am back to blogging. Unfortunately, I will not be blogging from my base coz of work relocation. I will be missing the SPLM International Chapters meeting in Juba and the effects of the new reshuffle of GOSS ministers. There is optimism in the air in Juba . . .

More to come. Stay tuned.

07.07.07 . . .

Even if you are not superstitious, today is not that ordinary . . .

Is Sudan a failed State?

I find the recently published Failed States Index 2007 utterly unbelievable and rubbish. It is one of these publications that doesn't hold water. I have a lot of grievances with my country, but I don't consider it a failed state. For this am sure.

The Index puts Sudan at the top of the list, followed by Iraq and Somalia. Every sane man on the planet knows that there is no government in Somalia for the last ten years. Actually there was no STATE! And how will you describe the carnage raging in Iraq, with a hopelessly impotent American-backed government? It is in a state of civil war, a government that doesn't have control over its territories, etc.

The Index may have used different indicators to arrive at this conclusion, but it is wrong. There is stability in South Sudan after twenty years of war, the East is quiet. Darfur is the only war-torn spot in the country now, and does not reflect the whole picture.

You can call Sudan what you want, but not failed: ask Somalis and Iraqis what they think first!

South Sudan: a rival for Serengeti

I am not yet back, but I couldn't resist letting you know about this! Wildlife experts have found the largest animal migration in South Sudan that will rival Serengeti. Many people have thought that twenty years of war may have devastated the vast animal resource in South Sudan. But lo, and behold: they have survived! See the pictures for yourself.

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Holidays!

I am taking a month off the blog to do some work. See you sometimes in late June. If I pass by Khartoum, will let you know. For those who love this blog, I will be back.

Another envoy for Darfur

How many special envoys will it take to bring peace to Darfur? 10, 20, 50? All the ones there are no good enough, or just not doing enough. Any country with a conscience wants to be seen doing something for Darfur by having an envoy there.

Now the Chinese are following suit. After being criticized left, right and center for not doing enough for Darfur, it has caved in. China now appointed a seasoned diplomat as its special envoy for Darfur.

This is a significant move to deter the pressure on China. The call by some quarters to boycott the Beijing olympics come 2008 is hard one for China to bear.

Let us hope, with arrival of yet another envoy, the elusive peace may atlast be around the corner.

Darkness at noon! Haboob in Khartoum.

Haboob comes to Khartoum! Here are some pictures from last Sunday's dust storm.

Wanted by ICC: Haroun and Kushayb

The ICC has atlast issued the arrest warrants for the two suspects of the Darfur genocide: Ahmed Haroun and Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, also know as Ali Kushayb.

We remain to see how this can be executed. Sudan has already rejected the warrants and said they will not hand over the suspects to the ICC. It is interesting, knowing that Sudan is not a signatory to the ICC.

The world's efforts to solve the Darfur conflict seem to be disjointed. There is a big drive to see the hybrid force sent to Darfur, and the rebels are trying to unite for a peace talks. The USA has already acknowledged that their are signs of Sudan relaxing its refusal of the deployment.

What could the arrest warrants add to these efforts? Nothing. Sudan will get more stubborn, the rebels more divided and the Darfurians will continue to suffer. As Khartoum plays the time game, the world wonders what to do next.

Darfur talks in Juba

Breathing new life into the Darfur peace talks. Now it is the turn of the Government of South Sudan (GOSS). Will it happened this time?

With the rebels still divided, Khartoum grins with glee. Will they ever unite?