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English edition -4th quarter 1997
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Annual report and forecasts
| If one only looks at the static position at the end of this year, the
situation in the Sudan at he end of 1997 , compared with that of 1996 ,
seems to have hardly changed.
Economics: There has only been a a slight fall in the exchange rate of the Sudanese pound against the US dollar.* However, the rise of wages and revenues have scarcely followed the cost of living and the greater part of Sudanese must put up with one meal a day. The absence of money affects the maintenance of production plants and power cuts are now daily. Military: Since January, the opposition army occupies a strip of territory along the Eritrean and Ethiopian borders. Since then, apart from some skirmishers and raids to cut off the Khartoum - Port Sudan road, the offensive sets the pace, whereas the central government despite sensational declarations of a general mobilisation, has not managed to retake the least pocket of opposition held territory. In the south the S.P.L.A. has taken several important towns. (Yambio,Yei, Rumbek) and once again has Juba in its sights, which can now only receive air relief. An attack on Juba seems to have been planned and it appears that time the town will fall if new weapons get to the rebels,** allowing them to completely surround the southern capital, cutting off even air supply. Diplomacy: April 1997 saw the conclusion of a ‘peace treaty ‘ between the Sudanese government and a group of S.P.L.A. dissidents lead by John Garang. These ex-rebel leaders represent little on the ground, especially after their alliance caused the disbanding of a good part of their troops. Nevertheless Khartoum wanted to show this agreement as a conclusion of a peace to which the only thing missing to make it general was John Garang’s signature. It is the position taken by the government delegation to the I.G.A.D. conference in Nairobi. The head to head between the S.P.L.A. and the Islamic Junta, where progress was eagerly awaited, came to a short close. The Sudan government was stubborn in its demand that the Southern rebels go over to its allied camp, whereas John Garang maintained his demands and even enlarged them to cover the Nouba mountains and other border regions in the South. Another meeting is planned possibly for April next year.*** During the discussions which began 1st. November only lasted a few days, the US imposed an economic embargo on the Sudan, putting another thorn in the side of Khartoum. Human Rights: The situation has hardly changed. The disappearance of people who oppose the regime, slave taking, destruction of Churches and Christian schools, savage repression of demonstrations are still being recorded. One such demonstration, made up of women, calling for the return of 30,000 high school boys press ganged into the army. Numerous women were arrested and beaten. Mr Gaspar Biro, Special Rapporter on Sudan human rights and other Rapporters about Sudan published a solemn united protest from Geneva. In the North as well as the South, the average Sudanese is fed up. He doesn’t see and end to his misery, he asks himself why the opposition is playing wait and see, and wonders when it will all be over. * 1800 LS/$ presently against 1700 last year at the same time.
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| (V.G., December 1997) Fomalhaut |