Nedenfor kan du lese en situasjonsrapport skrevet av Marina Peter, Senior advocacy officer i Sudan Focal Point-Europe, fra slutten av januar 2009. 

Dear all,

For many people in Sudan, the situation gets once again more difficult and life threatening  these days, not only in East Darfur/ Muhageriya area where intensive fighting has been going on for the last days, threatening civilians as well as peacekeepers, causing the displacement of thousands of people, and not really providing any evidence, that any party is interested in peace, even if claimed otherwise.

In the capital, the situation is rather tense, with rather a lot of unannounced arrests and interrogations, especially at night, heavy presence of checkpoints after 11.00h pm, with the blackened windows of cars not longer being allowed unless authorised, and civilians being extremely nervous about what may happen next, fearing for the worst. Just last night I was reflecting  that it is rather interesting to read newspapers and to listen to various statements from various sides: in all these months, I never came across a single one stating that the court can only announce  the decision not to follow the request of the chief prosecutor, as the President was completely innocent. All are only claiming the move was unfair and biased, and will cause more conflict (the latter I fully agree to)...

In Southern Kordofan, the situation can turn easily into an extremely tense one, not only because of a spill over from Darfur, and the general situation, but as an ultimatum runs out January 29. The two parties are supposed to find a solution to their differences, especially the dismissal of the finance minister in September last year. But the talks into a deadlock here last Thursday, and if no solution is found until coming Thursday, SPLM will withdraw from the southern Kordofan government..

Looking southwards, the picture is also very grim: basically there is no State in Peace. Besides the ones in Western Equatoria due to the LRA attacks, the one in Malakal between Dinka and Shilluk, there is fighting in the Lakes states, in Warrap, in Eastern Equatoria and many other places. all with their own causes, maybe, but also with a common pattern, giving all reason to be extremely concerned, especially with the national threats in mind...