A weekly roundup of political stories from Sudan and South Sudan.
‘No details’ in SPLM Arusha deal (Radio Tamazuj, 23 January 2015) – The agreement signed by three SPLM factions in Arusha, Tanzania on Wednesday contains general provisions on how to reunite the party but “no details” and will not result in immediate unification of the opposing groups, according to one of the negotiators involved in the talks.
South Sudan TV top official declares defection to rebels (Sudan Tribune, 24 January 2015) – A senior official in the ministry of information has switched side from president Salva Kiir’s government and joined the rebel faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar.
Court case brought against holding South Sudan elections (Radio Tamazuj, 23 January 2015) – An alliance of South Sudanese political parties has filed a law suit seeking the Supreme Court to block the government from organizing and conducting elections planned to take place in June, saying the move goes against a number of constitutional provisions.
Sudan’s Bashir to release ‘Appeal’ signatories (Radio Tamazuj, 23 January 2015) – Sudan’s President Omer Al-Bashir has accepted to release the opposition leader Farouk Abu Issa, human rights activist Amin Mekki Madeni and politician Farah Agar, according to a member of the National Dialogue committee known as “7+7”.
No funds yet for Kiir’s election plan (Radio Tamazuj, 22 January 2015) – South Sudan’s elections commission has not yet received the funds that it needs to carry out the poll that General Salva Kiir has ordered take place this year ahead of the expiry of his term in office in July, according to the head of the commission.