Tag Archives: Sudan
11 June 2013
According to a court document that surfaced on 3 June 2013, Israel has reached an agreement to send thousands of African migrants to an unidentified country. It was also disclosed that Israel is holding talks with two other countries to secure similar agreements.
Most of the migrants have come from Eritrea or Sudan. Some “infiltrators”, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls them, have fled oppressive regimes. Others are looking for work. Critics of the agreement said it reflects “an abdication of responsibility” and that Israel may not be able to monitor the migrants’ conditions once they are transferred.
Source: The Washington Post | Court document: Israel makes deal to send thousands of African migrants to unidentified state
11 June 2013
On 6 June 2013, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found that Austria violated an asylum seeker’s right to an effective remedy (Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights) against the decision to be sent back to Hungary under the Dublin regulation.
The applicant, a Sudanese asylum seeker, had also presented a claim of possible ill-treatment and refoulement (Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights) in Hungary if returned under the Dublin regulation. The ECtHR held that his transfer would not violate Article 3.
Source: European Court of Human Rights | Case of Mohammed v. Austria | Application no. 2283/12 | Judgment | 6 June 2013
4 June 2013
Ethiopia’s unilateral action to construct a dam on the Nile river, with potentially significant impact on water flow in the river, has caused a long-standing dispute between Ethiopia and the other Nile basin states that have been unable to agree on the use of the trans-boundary river and its environment.
Ethiopian officials said on Saturday 1 June that an independent panel of experts considering the effects of the dam has concluded that the construction follows international standards and will not significantly affect Egypt and Sudan that have expressed concerns over diminished water shares and the environmental impact of the dam that, upon completion, would be Africa’s largest hydroelectric power plant. All sides have been committed to a negotiated solution, but failing that, the matter could be brought before the ICJ.
Source: The Washington Post | Ethiopian official: Report finds Nile dam won’t significantly affect Egypt, Sudan
Source: The Japan Times | Ethiopia builds giant dam on Nile, sparking Egypt fear
Source: Ahram Online | International arbitration could be option for Ethiopia's Blue Nile dam: Govt source
10 April 2013
At the International Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the government of Sudan to cooperate in facilitating the work of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), international development partners and humanitarian actors throughout Darfur, while respecting human rights. Mr. Ban said ‘We share a collective commitment to achieving a comprehensive and inclusive peace for the people of Darfur. Resolving the conflict there remains critical to consolidating peace and stability for Sudan as a whole.’
The donor conference hosted by Qatar hoped to raise 7.2 billion US dollars in order to be able to cover development and reconstruction of Darfur over a six-year period. According to reports, 3.7 billion US dollars were pledged.
Source: International Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur | Doha - Qatar | 7-8 April 2013
Source: United Nations Secretary-General | Latest Statements | Secretary-General's message to the International Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur, 7-8 April
9 January 2013
In a column published in the New York Times, Robert Mazur argues that making bankers more easily punishable under the law would help in the fight against professional money laundering.
Banks have laundered money for drug cartels and used schemes in order to move hundreds of millions of US Dollars to States that are subject to trade sanctions, such as Sudan, Cuba and Iran. Since 2006, more than a dozen banks have reached settlements with the Justice Department in the United States concerning violations related to money laundering. Mazur argues that ‘without the ability to “wash” billions of dollars of money from illicit sources each year and bank the untraceable profits’ both drug trade and terrorism as being criminal enterprises ‘would falter.’
Source: The New York Times | How to Halt the Terrorist Money Train