Author: Rebecca Brocato

Very disturbing reports this morning cite remarks from Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who, at a rally in Khartoum today told the crowd, "We have ordered the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to completely 'Sudanise' the voluntary work in Sudan in one year and after that we don't want international organizations to deal with Sudanese citizens on relief." Bashir rallied the assembled crowd, telling them, "We need to clear our country of any spies." Ahmed Haroun, Sudan's junior minister of humanitarian affairs, an ironic title for someone who, like Bashir, is wanted by the ICC, stated further that U.N. agencies would be ...

IRIN published an alarming article this week about the political origins of Zimbabwe’s cholera epidemic, which the WHO estimates has infected almost 90,000 and killed over 4,000 Zimbabweans. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, has largely avoided the high levels of cholera raging throughout the rest of the country. The city’s director of health, Dr. Zanele Hwelima attributes this phenomenon to the fact that the city did not allow the company Zimbabwe National Water, or ZINWA, to control water delivery and sewage management. The article ties ZINWA’s sewage management—and therefore the cholera epidemic—to a decision by Mugabe’s party, the ZANU-PF to, ...

Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, has returned to his country from Botswana, where he was receiving medical treatment, in order to arrange a funeral for his wife, Susan, who was killed in a car crash in which Tsvangirai was also injured. The crash raised red flags late last week, leading many to insinuate that Tsvangirai’s political rivals might be to blame. However, new details and more recent reports seem to demonstrate that this is not the case. Tsvangirai himself told mourners, “It (the crash) was an accident. When something happens there is always speculation, but I want to say in ...

Although we don’t regularly cover Sri Lanka, or have a field analyst on the ground, we know the great number of civilians currently at risk as the government mounts what it hopes will be a decisive offensive against the rebel Tamil Tigers is of concern to our readers. Human Rights Watch notes that that more than 2,000 civilians have been killed and more than 5,000 injured in fighting during the last 6 weeks. According to the United Nations, roughly 200,000 people have been forced onto a 14 square mile patch of coast, with access to aid, food, medicine, and clean ...

South Sudan's ruling party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, or SPLM, has come out publicly against Khartoum's action against NGOs. Speaking to reporters, SPLM spokesman Yien Matthew said, "They (the NCP) are aware (of our disapproval) and yet they are continuing." He also noted, "People in Darfur who are displaced are dependent on these humanitarian agencies. It could be catastrophic...We are hoping they will change their minds." Gabriel Changson Chang, another SPLM spokesmen, also commented on the action, stating that the expulsion "would add fuel to the burning fire." Interesting to note that these statements came from spokesmen, and not ...

A rare piece of good news in Zimbabwe this week, as Jestina Mukoko, a well-known Zimbabwean human rights activist, was released on bail after three months in brutal policy custody. Mukoko, the leader of the human rights organization the Zimbabwe Peace Project, was reportedly taken from her home by 15 armed men early last December. She told the press that she was tortured and assaulted while being held in Zimbabwe’s Chikurubi maximum-security prison. At least eight other activists were freed along with Mukoko after paying $600 bail and providing a property deed. However, despite the euphoria surrounding Mukoko’s release, experts ...

Speaking to reporters today, Susan Rice, the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, castigated the government in Sudan for its decision to expel humanitarian groups. She noted: "The United States is gravely concerned by the reckless decision of the Sudanese government to expel international aid groups working to ease the suffering of Sudan's citizens...The humanitarian situation in the country is already dire and this callous step threatens the lives of innocents already suffering from years of war and upheaval... Millions of civilians, including untold thousands of children and elderly people, will be left even more vulnerable to starvation, ...

Through an executive order this week, President Obama extended sanctions against key Zimbabwean officials, including President Robert Mugabe for an additional year. President Bush first issued sanctions against Zimbabwean politicians in March 2003. They were renewed in 2005 and again in 2008. A statement from the White House noted that actions taken by key Zimbabwean officials constituted, “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States,” and thus warrant sanctions in accordance with the National Emergencies Act. This decision is a welcome move by the Obama administration to emphasize the rampant corruption of Robert Mugabe and ...

CNN reports that Susan Tsvangirai, wife of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been killed in a car crash. The prime minister was also hurt in the accident, although the extent of his injuries is not known. We'll keep you informed of any updates ...

The State Department released the following statement today condemning the actions of the Government of Sudan: The United States condemns the expulsions of international humanitarian organizations from Sudan by the Government of Sudan (GOS). These organizations provide critical humanitarian assistance to millions of Sudanese, and the forced departure of these organizations immediately and seriously threatens the lives and well-being of displaced populations. The United States fully supports the work of humanitarian aid organizations in Sudan and the need for them to continue their life-saving work unobstructed.We call on the GOS to allow these organizations to continue their operations and provide ...