African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies

Growing Trend: Sudanese Government Targets Student Activists

(31 January 2012) On 25 January 2012, five members of Grifina, a non-violent youth led resistance movement, were arrested in Sudan. These arrests give evidence of a government campaign targeting youth activists.

The five activists participated in a forum organized by Grifina to commemorate the 2005 Beja massacre at Port Sudan, condemning the lack of justice for the victims.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) calls on the Government of Sudan to immediately release the detained activists. The 2010 National Security Act allows security officials to detain suspects for up to four and a half months without judicial review, before charges must be levied. ACJPS is concerned that this provides the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) with a free hand to detain activists without the burden of justification. These arrests illustrate a growing trend to silence the freedom of expression and limit access to information.

Find the full press release here

Sudan Human Rights Monitor

October to November 2011

This issue provides an overview of the relationship between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM). They have failed to resolve a number of outstanding post-referendum issues including the status of Abyei, the conduct of popular consultations in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, citizenship, border demarcation, responsibility for the national debt, and an oil management arrangement. The fragile relationship has deteriorated in recent months by ongoing conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, accusations that each side is supporting rebellion in each other’s territory, and now ground and aerial attacks by Sudan on the territory of South Sudan.

The monitor also includes an overview of incidents of arbitrary arrest, torture, incursions into IDP camps, denial of the freedoms of expression and religion, and an update on previously reported incidents in Sudan.

Find the full Monitor here

Update on Violations in Blue Nile and South Kordofan

(January 2012) The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) continues to follow the conflicts that erupted in the Sudanese states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan in the summer of 2011.

With the increase in battles between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), the situation for civilians deteriorated due to the absence of food and medicine, loss of shelter, and lack of international and national NGO presence. The government appointed one of the parties of the conflict, the SAF, to facilitate the movement of food inside the state. This has created challenges for people in areas that are known to be loyal to the SPLM-N to get food and supplies.

Find the full report here.

Copyright 2011