Sudan

When the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Accord was signed by South Sudanese rebels and the central government, there were hopes that it could transform the political landscape of Khartoum. The CPA, as it is known, brought southern leaders into the central government in Khartoum and mandated the country’s first national elections in twenty years.

Bec Hamilton writes a very important dispatch from Sudan where she reports that Sudanese authorities are heavily censoring what journalists may write about South Sudan's  looming independence.    

Here's a good explainer from Al Jazeera about the political rifts in the leadership of South Sudan. In brief, the Sudan's People's Liberation Movement --  the dominant political party in South Sudan that has pressed for the South's independence from Khartoum -- is much less unified than it would seem.  There are fears that the various factions may turn on each other when the South holds a referendum for Independence next January. This comes on top of worries that Khartoum may instigate conflict to gain control of some of the South's oil fields.  Watch. 

The White House finally pronounces on Sudan's national elections:

For the past week, activists have been clamoring for the United States to condemn Sudan's elections.  When polls opened on Monday, acting director of the Save Darfur coalition Mark Lotwis said, "When the election is over, the Obama administration should declare that results of the election are illegitimate." Well, polls are now closed. And pretty soon, the Obama administration will have a choice to make. 

The Sudan Now! Coalition is back with yet another innovative ad campaign. You may recall that back in August the coalition of Sudan activist groups took out full page ads in Martha's Vinyard's two newspapers during the Obamas' summer vacation.