Sudan may request for the United Nations to run a referendum to determine whether oil-rich border regions should be part of the north or south. The move follows the failure of northern and southern leaders to appoint members of a commission that will organize the Abyei vote, Reuters reports. The vote may be held the same day as another key vote, on whether southern Sudan should split from the north.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir created a Ministry of Peace June 21. Kiir named Pagan Amum as the south’s new minister of peace, according to a copy of the presidential decree seen by Reuters.
Armed conflict between government troops and the rebel group Justice and Equality Movement on June 22 killed 50 and injured 101 in Darfur, an army spokesperson told Agence France-Presse. The clash came a day before the government and Liberation and Justice Movement, another rebel movement, were due to commence direct peace talks in Qatar.
