The recent vote on whether Southern Sudan will remain part of a united Sudan or found its own state has left me confused. Having had the opportunity to witness this event firsthand, the euphoria and outcries of relief that dominate

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Submission to the AU Peace and Security Council on the right to a nationality in the context of the referendum in Southern Sudan Continue reading →

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The collapse of one of North Africa’s longest-serving rulers – Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia – sent shockwaves through the Arab world and triggered an uprising of equivalent proportions in Egypt, the most populous Arab country. The revolts, which have been on an unprecedented scale, have surprised many and prompted widespread speculation over a possible ‘domino effect’, as a result of which successive authoritarian regimes fall as the impact of developments in Egypt and Tunisia begin to be felt. In this spirit, a guessing game of ‘who’s next?’ has begun. Continue reading →

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Not every story out of Africa is doom and gloom, even on topics like “the rise of homophobia.” To be sure, there have been some recent shocking cases of violence and hate-mongering against gays, lesbians, and trans people around the continent. Governments in many countries are meanwhile proposing to reform laws inherited from former colonial rulers, moving toward greater repression and in divergence from major international bodies and public health initiatives. Continue reading →

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REMARKS BY THABO MBEKI, AUHIP CHAIRPERSON, AT THE CEREMONY TO ANNOUNCE THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE SOUTH SUDAN REFERENDUM: KHARTOUM, FEBRUARY 7, 2011. Professor Ibrahim Khalil, Chairperson of the South Sudan Referendum Commission, Justice Chan Reec Madut, Deputy Chairperson of

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SOLEMN DECLARATION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE AFRICAN UNION ON SUDAN We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), meeting at our 16th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from

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