Sudan News Update: First Anniversary of the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)

Sudan President Omar al-Bashir is fighting to maintain the sovereignty of his central African nation.
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Sudan: First Anniversary of the African Union- United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)

31 December 2008
press release

The African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) marks today its first year of service to the people of Darfur.

In the year since the transfer of responsibility from the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) on 31 December 2007, former AMIS soldiers, police officers, together with their civilian colleagues serving in UNAMID, have worked tirelessly under difficult and often dangerous circumstances to sustain a presence throughout Darfur. In that respect, UNAMID acknowledges the efforts of its predecessor.

While an all-inclusive peace agreement has yet to be achieved, UNAMID's dedicated work has facilitated humanitarian relief, local conflict resolution, and security so as to establish and strengthen conditions that can enable the people of Sudan to resolve this tragic conflict.

As the Mission completes the end of year rotation of former AMIS troops, and with the cooperation of the Government of Sudan, UNAMID continues to deploy its new contingents to achieve full authorized strength in the months ahead.

Deputy Joint Special Representative Mr. Henry Anyidoho, commenting today on behalf of the AU-UN Joint Special Representative Mr. Rodolphe Adada, reaffirmed UNAMID's commitment to its mandate and the determination of its soldiers, police officers, and civilian members to build on this initial modest achievement.


Sudan: Nigeria, Qatar Seek Fresh Peace Initiatives

Emmanuel Ugwu
1 January 2009

Umuahia — A fresh effort to find a lasting solution to the human carnage in the Sudanese region of Darfur is expected to be mounted in the new year as a number of African countries and their Arab counterparts have agreed to explore fresh peace initiatives.

Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, made this known while addressing his kinsmen at the ceremony marking the official presentation of the Ohafia three-year development plan, saying the nation was committed to playing its role as a regional leader in Africa.

He said the peace meeting slated for the first week of January at Doha, Qatar, was convened at the instance of the host and would involve 10 nations, five from Africa and the other five from the Arab world.

According to Maduekwe, foreign ministers from African nations, including Nigeria and Ghana would explore and discuss new peace initiatives with their counterparts from five members of the Arab League, namely the host Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others.

He said that Nigeria was desirous of returning peace to the people of Darfur, noting that once there was tranquillity and cessation of human carnage in the troubled region of Sudan, the Nigerian troops in peace keeping mission would return home.

Presently there are about 15, 000 soldiers in Darfur keeping peace under the United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) with Nigeria providing most of the troops, short of the 26,000 required to effectively maintain peace in the crisis torn area.

Maduekwe said that in 2009, Nigeria under the leadership of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua would still play "a very important role as a regional leader and a country that will ensure that Africa, the continent (where Barack Obama has his roots) drops its image as a continent of misery and cry to a continent of Yes We Can."

He reiterated Nigeria's opposition to the military takeover in Mauritania and Guinea following the death of long serving President Lansana Konte.According to him, President Yar'Adua, who is "providing strong, dynamic, focused leadership" would continue to pilot the nation to engage on issues affecting the African continent, including promoting participatory democracy.

Apparently referring to the unease over the true state of health of Nigeria's leader, Maduekwe said that President Yar'Adua "has physical, emotional and mental stamina to take Nigeria to the next level as an important economy and one of the 20 important economies in the world and indeed an important global player."

Copyright © 2009 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).


SUDAN: It takes more than a law to stop the cut

Attitudes and misinformation will have to be overcome for a law passed in November 2008, prohibiting FGM in Southern Kordofan, to translate into genuine abolition

KADUGLI, 5 January 2009 (IRIN) - A law passed in November 2008 prohibiting female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the state of Southern Kordofan is unique in Sudan. But for it to translate into genuine abolition, deep-seated attitudes and misinformation will have to be overcome.

More than two-thirds of women in the state have undergone FGM/C, according to a 2006 household survey conducted by the Ministry of Health.

"All my daughters have been circumcised," Asia Abdalla Jibril, a tea-seller, told IRIN in Kadugli, the state capital.

"The clitoris is dirty. If you undergo FGM you become clean," Jibril said. In Sudan, the Arabic word “tahur”, which means purity, is often used for FGM.

"If a baby is sick, FGM helps,” added Jibril. “For example if a baby has duda [fever] and weight loss, the cut helps the child to grow better and gain weight." Most girls undergo FGM at about six years old in the state.

This attitude is not unusual. “Women affected by genital mutilation do not uniformly regard it as mutilation, and may react negatively to being referred to as ‘damaged’,” according to a report: http://www.landinfo.no/asset/764/1/764_1.pdf
on FGM in Sudan and Somalia compiled by Norway’s Country of Origin Information Centre in December 2008.

This is despite the fact, the report stated, that “the procedure is mainly carried out by so-called excisors or circumcisers with no medical qualifications. Girls who do not experience chronic pain, serious bleeding or blood poisoning after the procedure often suffer complications during pregnancy, experience great pain during sexual intercourse, and suffer other gynaeocological problems and traumas later in life.”

Common FGM/C types in the state – and elsewhere in Sudan - are the Pharaonic and Sunna forms. The former, also known as infibulation, involves the total removal of all external sex organs before the vagina is sewn up, leaving a small opening for the passing of menstrual blood, while the Sunna type is less extensive.

Childbirth in Sudan is frequently followed by reinfibulation, even though the original procedure caused problems during delivery. One of the main reasons cited for this “re-tightening” is to increase a husband’s pleasure.

Although she knew FGM/C was now banned, Jibril said she believed some form of FGM/C was still necessary. "The Pharaonic one was bad but the Sunna type is better," she said. "It should continue."

Advocacy

"It is mainly the 'grandmothers' who still want FGM," said Wahid Eldeen Abed Elrahim, director of the National Council for Child Welfare, an NGO working to monitor and encourage implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

More educated men are being convinced that they should protect their children, Elrahim said, adding that it had taken 18 months of advocacy and awareness-creation before the mainly male-dominated legislative council in the state passed the FGM/C Law.

Under the new legislation, the penalty for an FGM/C offence will be 10 years’ imprisonment and compensation to the family if it caused the death of the victim. The attempt, assisting in the procedure and abetment will be penalised with two-year jail terms. Those propagating FGM/C and operating places where it is committed will also be punished and repeat offenders imprisoned for life.

In addition, information about protection against FGM/C will be issued at the birth of every girl and incorporated into school curricula.

A national strategy was launched in Sudan in 2008, with the aim of total abolition and zero tolerance within 10 years.

Elrahim said there was a long way to go. "Families are worried that their girls will not get married if they are not circumcised," he said.

"I think it is time for the children to be allowed to decide whether or not to undergo FGM/C. But even then most will still opt for FGM/C just before marriage," said Zainab Kordofor, a Kadugli resident.

The focus now is on creating awareness, especially among influential communities such as those in Al Fula, in the east, where the practice is particularly prevalent, to mobilise support for the collective abandonment of FGM/C.

"We are focusing on ensuring that the high-profile areas are aware of the FGM/C act and of the punishment for engaging in the practice," said Huda Gamar Hussien, a social worker.

"The passing of the law will, however, not change behaviour overnight," said Hussien. "Right now we are seeing movement from the Pharaonic type to Sunna, then maybe later to no FGM at all."

Report can be found online at:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82197
This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the Pan-African News Wire.