A woman from the Nuba Mountains at the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan, April 2012 (Pete Muller)

Sudan: Protests in Khartoum continued this week, though in slightly smaller numbers due to Ramadan – thousands of protestors remain in detention under harrowing conditions. Protests also spread this week to Nyala, South Darfur, where demonstrations against high transport prices turned violent. Six people were killed, with media and demonstrators accusing the police of using live ammunition.  Meanwhile, Khartoum is trying several protestors this week – such as Sudanese activist and US permanent resident Rudwan Dawod – charging them as terrorists, which could carry a death sentence. The Khartoum regime continues to block aid into rebel-held territory in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, despite purportedly agreeing to do so last month.

Additional Resources:

• The War Against the Nuba (New York Review of Books) and its critique (Eric Reeves)

Congo:  In the wake of the US cut to military aid for Rwanda – in itself a surprising about-face for US policy towards that country – the Dutch and British governments each suspended a small amount of funding to Rwanda as well. Disbursements to Rwanda through the African Development Bank have also reportedly been delayed. Rwanda still vehemently denies the charges that it is complicit in arming and supporting Congo’s M23 rebellion currently wreaking havoc in North Kivu province – as charged by NGOs and the UN Group of Experts.  For its part, Congo has refused to negotiate with the M23 rebels – but has indicated that it would negotiate with Rwanda. Meanwhile, rumors are flying of Ugandan army (UPDF) support to the rebel’s latest incursion – charges that Uganda denies.

Additional Resources:

• Has Rwanda’s Paul Kagame Lost His American Protector? (Turtle Bay/Foreign Policy)
• Who are the Raia Mutomboki? (Congo Siasa)