On Thursday, Freedom House, in partnership with the Democracy Coalition Project and the Open Society Foundations, hosted a briefing on the importance of U.S. engagement at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council.  Advocacy Director at Freedom House Paula Schriefer moderated the event and introduced the following panelists: Dr. Thaung Htun, Representative for UN Affairs from the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma; Hadi Ghaemi, Executive Director at the ...

Last week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that Princeton Lyman, Special Advisor for Sudan at the U.S. Department of State, had been named as the U.S. new special envoy for Sudan.  She stated that this is a critical moment in Sudan's history as the country seeks to undergo a peaceful separation into two states in July, following the results of the January referendum.  Clinton noted the challenges that Sudan ...

On Thursday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing to discuss the current situation in Libya and U.S. involvement.  The committee—chaired by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), with ranking member Howard Berman (D-CA) in attendance—, requested the testimony of Deputy Secretary James B. Steinberg. To read full notes, continue below or click here for pdf. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen opened by stating that the President’s address to the nation on Monday was a ...

The South Sudanese army clashed with southern militias on Thursday that left 69 soldiers and militiamen dead. South Sudan has accused the Northern government in Khartoum of arming the militias in an attempt to destabilize the South ahead of its planned declaration of independence in July. Fighting has been taking place in three South Sudanese states that are vital to the country's oil production although production levels have ...

According to UN reports, an estimated 20,000 people have fled the contested Abyei region of Sudan, situated on the border of north and south Sudan.  Tensions resulting from the recent independence referendum in the south erupted into violence last week with clashes between Arab nomads supportive of the Khartoum government and sedentary African ethnic groups supportive of the south.  Abyei was scheduled to have a concurrent referendum on whether to join ...

Speaking in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee on State and Foreign Operations, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed her recent meetings with world leaders in Geneva over the situation in Libya and stated that the USAID had deployed humanitarian teams to help refugees fleeing to Tunisia and Egypt.   She also stated that the situation in the region and in Libya is an example of this administration's use of combined assets of diplomacy, development, ...

On Tuesday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held an open hearing to assess U.S. foreign policy priorities in light of the country’s current economic challenges.  The Committee — chaired by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and with Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA) in attendance — requested the testimony of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.To see full notes, continue below or click here for pdf.  To see webcast, click here.Rep. Ros-Lehtinen opened ...

The Heritage Foundation hosted a panel discussion on Thursday entitled, “Referendum in South Sudan and the Road to Independence.”  Ray Walser, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst at The Heritage Center moderated the event with Jon Temin, Director of the Sudan Program at USIP (United States Institute for Peace), Amb. Richard Williamson, former U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, and Amb. Ezekial Lol Gatkuoth, Head of Mission to the U.S. for the Government ...

Rebels loyal to Lieutenant General George Athor, who split from the south Sudanese army last year, attacked a base in Jonglei state in south Sudan last week.  According to south Sudanese military spokesman Colonel Phillip Aguer, rebels also attacked two towns in Upper Nile state as well.  The total number of people killed in the violence is estimated to be 105 people, including 39 civilians.  This comes on the heels of violence last month in ...

On Monday, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced his acceptance of the referendum results and his commitment to maintaining good relations between the North and the South. Southern Leader Salva Kiir welcomed al-Bashir's comments. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated northern and southern leaders for "facilitating a peaceful and orderly vote" and commended the Government of Sudan for accepting the outcome. She expressed U.S. support during the upcoming transition process and called on the Government ...

Egypt is not the only country that is witnessing a crackdown on media.  Reporters from opposition newspapers in Sudan were arrested late Wednesday night for covering a meeting of opposition activists.  Sudan has seen protests over the past week inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt.  They have been much smaller in number but widespread.  Activists have been arrested and beaten.  Twelve journalists in total are reportedly being held by Sudanese authorities.  One student ...

In the wake of the certification of South Sudan's independence referendum and inspired by the ongoing uprising in Egypt, Sudanese students and activists in the North have been protesting against the government of Omar al-Bashir since Sunday.  The protests have been relatively small, consisting of a few hundred people, with one student killed by security forces thus far.  The government is blaming the opposition for trying to "create chaos" and ...

On Tuesday, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted a discussion on the uprising in Tunisia and the prospects for the Tunisian example spreading across the Arab World. Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, Director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center moderated the event and introduced the speakers: Alan Goulty, former British Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia and current Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center, and David ...

Maggie Fick writing at Foreign Policy, lists a number of political problems facing South Sudan after its referendum on independence.  Although Salva Kiir has brought political and military rivals into his administration, the lack of a common post-referendum goal and enemy may cause political splintering: "the greatest challenge for an independent southern government will be to overcome the growing internal threats to its authority without resorting to repression."  Charles Kenny argues the situation in ...

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs held its first Members’ briefing on Tuesday. The briefing focused on the future of Sudan following the completion of referendum elections on secession. To discuss the issues facing the country, the committee – chaired by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and with Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA) in attendance – requested the testimony of three individuals: Princeton Lyman, Special Advisor for Sudan, U.S. Department of State; Richard S. Williamson, ...

On Wednesday, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah discussed the implementation of a series of "USAID Forward" reforms, based on the recommendations of the QDDR, and announced a new and more transparent evaluation policy. Shah also stated that "we have prioritized economic growth and democratic governance in everything we do." He pointed to funding new open government technologies, such as mobile phone-based election monitoring systems in Afghanistan. Shah also echoed remarks made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates that ...

A piece in Foreign Policy outlines possibilities for a Tunisia-style revolt happening elsewhere in the Arab world.  Five countries are singled out as particularly ripe for such events: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, and Jordan as they share many of the same problems at the root of Tunisia’s revolt – a government legitimacy deficit, economic stagnation, endemic corruption, high unemployment, and a demographic youth bulge.  Laurie A. Brand, also writing for Foreign Policy, argues that a ...

Preliminary results from the referendum indicate a landslide victory for independence in South Sudan, as support for secession in the poll may reach as high as 99 percent.  In the Juba, results point to a 97.5% vote in favor of independence. So far 2,198,422 votes have been cast in the referendum in favor of secession, which exceeds the required 1.89 million votes needed for the turnout to be declared valid. George Benjamin of Sudan's referendum ...

Hassan al-Turabi, leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP), was arrested this week, accused of calling for a Tunisian-style popular revolution in Sudan.  Abdullah Hassan Ahmed, undersecretary of the PCP has confirmed that the party is, "making preparations for taking to the street to topple the regime."  Eight other members of the party were also arrested.  Al-Turabi has been a vocal opponent of the current referendum in South Sudan, blaming Omar al-Bashir's government for "dismembering" the country.  Dr. ...