Hey everyone! So, it’s been a long time coming, but the day is finally here! “When We Let People Die,” an essay collection detailing the many failures and complications of the Responsibility to Protect, is finally out today. We have published the introduction in its entirety over at The Mantle, and I would encourage you to give it a read, and then head on over to your favorite e-reader site and pick up a copy. I look forward to hearing what you think!!
Tag: Sudan
Bringing Fresh Eyes to Foreign Policy
The funny thing about moving back home after living abroad for years is that nothing ever feels quite the same. What was once home now feels foreign. Your old haunts and old friends are now strangely unfamiliar; leaving you wondering if the home you remember is simply an elaborate story you dreamt up over the years. In grasping for the familiar, you find yourself questioning what you once took for granted and hoping to discover how exactly it all changed while you were gone. Read more….
Keeping the Peace in Juba (The Mantle)
Reading the various reports coming out of South Sudan this week, it is still difficult to be sure what exactly happened and what this outbreak of violence means for the future of the country. It remains to be seen whether this was a plotted coup attempt, or a retaliatory response that has escalated. What we do know is that in the country’s capital city of Juba, approximately 500 were killed and over 700 were injured in a matter of a few days. Further, nearly 20,000 civilians have sought refuge on the compounds of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Read more…
#SudanRevolts: A Young Journalist’s Perspective (The Mantle)
Known on Twitter simply by the hashtag #SudanRevolts, the protests that erupted in Khartoum nearly a month ago now do not seem to be fading. In fact, the movement is gaining momentum, with those involved hoping to finally see real change in the country. Calling for the removal of current President Omar al-Bashir (among other demands), the movement’s goals are ambitious to say the least. Yet as daunting as it may seem, success is crucial both for the people of Sudan and their new neighbor South Sudan. <a href=”http://mantlethought.org/content/sudanrevolts-young-journalists-perspective”>Read more…</a>
The Children of Abyei
One of the most shocking pieces of information coming out of Sudan this week is the estimate by Save the Children that approximately 35,000 children have been displaced by the attacks on Abyei. Many of these children have been separated from their families, and now join the ranks of the other 5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Sudan.
I highly suggest you check out the article in the Washington Post co-authored by George Clooney and John Prendergast, “Dancing with a Dictator” within which the to two emphasize their concern that Abyei may very well turn into the next Darfur. It is definitely a volatile time in Sudan, and one the international community needs to turn their attention toward.
Abyei…
Over the weekend, the Northern government of Sudan invaded the contested border town of Abyei. This town, home to both northern and southern citizens, with links to oil, has been a point of contention and a major concern throughout the secession process. Invading with tanks, soldiers and an air bombardment, news from the ground is that the entire population of Abyei has fled the region. This event is one many feared would come, and could very likely lead to yet another civil war in Sudan.
While the Northern government accepted the South’s vote to secede, the events of this past weekend make clear they have no intention of letting them go quietly. I will be following this story closely, and will try to keep you updated as well.
Check out these links for more information:
Eric Reeves’ Blog – A true running blog of events in Abyei
NY Times – “Northern Sudan Invades Town on Border With South”
BBC – “Abyei Seizure by North ‘Act of War’, says South”
