Short news - mid February

BEJA CULTURAL DAY. This February 2 event for government officials in Washington DC got picked up by All Africa.  Report on the day's events by the IRD.

FAITH.  Two stories in one article. Christ follower evangelist in Khartoum arrested. Government officials are enabling the advancement of Islam by reducing the role of the church. There are complicated legalities, but surely they could come to an agreement before destroying property.

PROPANE and GAS SUPPLY. In Aswan, propane has been in short supply, and people were having to line up and pay a high price. Gas for vehicles is in short supply too. aswan.akbarya

SPORTS. Sudan's soccer team was able to advance into the quarter finals of the AllAfrica Cup of Nations tournament for the first time in 42 years. They defeated Burkino Faso 2-1. On February 4, Zambia beat Sudan 3-0, and went on to become the continental winners on February 12.

Beja Congress LEADERSHIP: An internal rift is developing inside the Beja Congress leadership as two approaches toward the Nation Congress Party are being promoted. One side is adamantly against the existing regime, and has significant support in England, while the other side is organizing a conference in Cairo for early March. Should Beja Congress members even associate with the current government? A new group is being developed, the Beja Front for Liberation and Justice. sudanile.com  sakanab.co.uk

REMEMBRANCE. As some Beja and other human rights activists demonstrated, or held conferences, a few were also arrested after reminding whoever would listen that the government officials had killed 22 Beja in Port Sudan on January 29, 2005. The people arrested have been released.  Girifna

ANNOUNCEMENT. Didn't the governments of Sudan and Egypt proclaim a plan to build a road south from Aswan to Wadi Halfa? Thought I recently saw that somewhere...

Short news items - mid-January

TEDx is a conference taking place on January 21, 2012 in Alsalam Hall. The topics are about education in rural Sudan. Registration is free, beginning on January 14. Check out the website.

The United Nations is working with Sudan government to help improve refugee camps near Kassala where 86,000 Eritreans live. AllAfrica    The ethnic Arab Rashaida tribe is accused of exploiting, kidnapping, abusing and trafficking some of the 2,000 monthly asylum seekers.  AllAfrica

The office of the Assistant to the President of Sudan was able to provide about 200 scholarships for Beja-background students to study at universities and colleges in Sudan during 2011. Ten graduate level scholarships were available too.  BejaCongress.net

Plans are underway to construct an electrical generating plant about 75 kilometers north of Port Sudan on the coast of the Red Sea. Using coal from South Africa, Erkiaa power station would also run a large sea water desalination project that would provide fresh water to coastal towns. The federal Ministry of Electricity is for it, while environmentalists and the Red Sea State are against it.  http://alhadag.com/

Hotels and hostel accommodation were overflowing on New Years holiday as too many tourists came to Port Sudan to celebrate. Estimates are that 16,000 tourists came to Port Sudan to celebrate.

A huge celebration of Beja culture took place on December 24, 2011. Over 5000 people attended official speeches after a parade from south of Port Sudan. Many tribal leaders and government officials were present. Source.

A horrific accident occurred on the highway 180 kilometers east of Atbara. Fifteen people were killed and 31 were injured.   BejaCongress.net

Short news items - mid-December 2011

ON Thursday, December 22, The Wali (governor) of the Red Sea State, Mohamed Taher Eila announced  the dissolution of his government, thus paving the way for the formation of a new broad- based government.

Eila said in the regular meeting of the Council of the government of the state that the National Congress (NC) and the leaderships of the political parties will meet to form new government to meet the demands of the people of the state.

POLITICALLY motivated fights have broken out at the Faculty of Education at the Red Sea University. A few students have been seriously injured. Supporters of  Musa Ahmed, currently Assistant to President Bashir are against people who think he is a traitor to the Beja, having power but not providing help to the people.

LANDS along the sea near Dungunab may be for sale to Saudi Arabia, though the land is considered a nature reserve with rare coral habitats, mangrove forests and many sea animals living in the area. Dungunab is about 180 kilometers north of Port Sudan, on the Red Sea.

SOME Beja fighters have been gathering in the mountainous region in Eritrea along the Sudanese border, perhaps with a view to developing the militia necessary to support the policies proclaiming regime change by the recently created SRF.

CHRISTIANS are getting ready to celebrate Christmas on December 25. This day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was born of a woman, and became fully human, while also fully God - this enabled him to mediate between men and God, acting to redeem and justify sinful people, restoring them to relationship with a holy God. The work of salvation was done upon the cross, an event that Christians celebrate on Good Friday. At Christmastime, Christians remember that God came to save people through His Word, Jesus Christ.