U.S. Shouldn't Recognize Upcoming Election In Sudan, Says Human Rights Activist

Sam Bell, the executive director of the Genocide Intervention Network, says that the U.S. shouldn't recognize the results of the upcoming Sudanese election.

Bell explained that opposition candidates have had limited access to media and are restricted by draconian national security laws.

“This is not going to be a legitimate election and it shouldn’t be recognized as such by the United States or other parties,” said Bell. (0:29)
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Human Rights Advocates Running Facebook Ads For Sudan

Gabriel Stauring, the director of Stop Genocide Now, says that his organization is running Facebook ads to raise awareness over Sudan. Stauring notes that these ads target the constituents of members of Congress who sit on foreign affairs committees. (0:37)

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Obama Should Use Nobel Status To End Sudan Crisis, Says House Republican

U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-N.J.) calls on President Barack Obama to use the accolades he received from winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize to help fix the current situation Sudan. (0:19)
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House Republican Asks Where Human Rights Advocacy Went

U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) says human rights advocacy has taken a backseat in Congress, at the White House, and in both parties. He says the President's decision to not meet with the Dalai Lama is an example of such absence. (0:23)
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House Republican Asks Obama Not To Give Sudanese Government D.C. Access

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) says he sent President Barack Obama a letter urging the administration to refrain from granting the government of Sudan access to a Washington, D.C. lobbyist. (0:25)
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U.S. Role In Sudan Is To Create Cooperative Environment

U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration says that the U.S.'s role in Sudan is to create an environment "so the those different views from the north and the south can be rationalized and problems resolved." (0:27)
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U.S. Envoy To Sudan Praises U.N. For Sudan Aid

"Without the U.N. and without the support to this mission for security and without the UN.'s participation in food programs and NGOs... we wouldn't have been able to do half the stuff we're doing," says Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration regarding progress made toward peace in that country. (0:45)
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U.S. Special Envoy To Sudan Calls For Easing Of Sanctions

U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration says, “We need some space on sanctions.” Gration calls on Congress to help lift sanctions that restrict access to certain ports in Sudan. These sanctions block access of trains carrying essential equipment and personnel for health care and education. They “are hindering me from being able to bring development to the south." (0:41)
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Inconsistency in American foreign policy

Andrew Natsios, former administrator of United States Agency of International Development, discusses how former Sudanese President Sadiq al-Mahdi views American foreign policy. (0:38)
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McGovern thinks military options might stop genocide

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said today that although he hopes diplomacy can work to stop the genocide in Darfur, he thinks that a military option should be on the table. He thinks this military option could take the form of a no-fly zone. (01:43)
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Trick or Treat for UNICEF

Talk Radio News Service Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner interviews Ann Veneman, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). They speak about the biggest fundraising period for the fund, Trick or Treat for UNICEF, the goals of the fund, and the work in education, healthcare and feeding that the program does in Sudan and other underdeveloped places in the world. (4:39)
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Sudan's Ambassador on ICC Prosecutor's "Weak Performance"

Sudanese ambassador to the United Nations, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad, spoke briefly at the United Nations Security Council stakeout today about the indictment by International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Ambassador Mohamad criticized both the ICC's position, as well as Ocampo's statement as "weak," and stated that "vis-a-vie peace and security" in Darfur, the international community must reject the indictment.
(2:53)
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Sudan Ambassador: ICC Indictment Will Lead to "Disasterous Consqeuences"

Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad, Sudan's ambassador to the United Nations, briefed the press at UN headquarters in New York today regarding the International Criminal Court's (ICC) indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.



Ambassador Mohamad repeatedly denounced the indictment by ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and rejected "in the strongest possible terms" the charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

The ambassador strongly asserted that "we do not recognize the authority of the ICC" and that "we consider this move as an affront" to the sovereignty to Sudan.  He also claimed that the charges are politically motivated, stating  "[Ocampo] only wants to settle political scores."  When pressed on what specific political "scores" motivate Ocampo, ambassador Mohamed quickly changed the subject.

Regarding resolution of the Darfur crisis, the ambassador stated, "Darfur problems better be addressed by the Sudanese" and that international support should be "complimentary" to the efforts of the Sudanese government.

Ambassador Mohamed confidently expressed that the President's travel schedule would not be interrupted, and that the ambassador would be surprised if President Bashir did not attend the United Nations annual General Assembly meeting in September.

More Talk Radio News Sudan Coverage

Listen to the full audio of Sudanese Ambassador to the United Nations Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad's statement on the indictment of President Omar al-Bashir by the ICC. (16:39)

Soudbite audio below.
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Fresh Attacks in Darfur on UN-AU Peacekeepers

Details are emerging of a fresh attack in North Darfur on a United Nations - African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) .   The ambush happened between the villages of Gusa Jamat and Wadah (see map below) at 2:45 local time and killed approximately seven peacekeepers, and wounded another 22 more.  The United Nations is reporting that "heavy weapons" were used, and that the scurmish lasted approxmately two hours.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the attacks, and called for local and national actors to be mindful of previous commitments to the on-going peace process.  Mr. Ban also issued his condolences to the family members affected by the attack.


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Audio: A statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General regarding the attacks on UNAMID forces in North Darfur. Download. (1:33)
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U.S. acts locally not globally in the fight against human rights

Nancy Rubin, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, says that the U.S. has given the world a sense that the government is in the fight against human rights violations locally rather than globally. Rubin said U.S. is described as having hubris, a selective disregard for international law, as well as a contempt for having a disregard against the Human Rights Council. (0:47)
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Threats to Sudanese government "will be crushed"

Deng Deng Nhial of the Mission of the Government of Southern Sudan to the U.S. blames the silence of "the Muslim voices" on the ability of the Sudanese government to manipulate the international community. He says that the government will destroy any dissidents and remain in power "at all cost."
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Sudanese government must be held "accountable for its crimes"

Suliman Giddo, the President of Darfur Peace and Development, gives instructions to the Muslim community on how to help the situation in Sudan. He says that Muslims must spread information about the violence in Sudan, work to hold the government accountable, and support the reconciliation of Muslim Arabs and non-Arabs. (1:00)
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The United States is not going to fix Sudan

Former U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios recounts telling a Sudanese journalist that the United States will help fix Sudan but that it does not have the leverage and power to do it alone, saying that neighboring countries have a greater influence on Sudanese politics. (0:58)
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Sudan on life-support

Former U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios says that a diplomatic approach must be taken due to the complexities that exist in Sudan, adding that the North-South relationship is on life support, not the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. (0:45)
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Near 100 percent increase in number of Darfur rebel groups

Former U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios says that 50 independent rebel groups now function in Darfur and that it is not possible to negotiate peace with 50 different groups. (0:57)
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