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Blog Posts by Jennifer Smith

South Sudan: Support for People on the Move
January 05, 2011 Jennifer Smith Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Return and Reintegration
As we approach the historic referendum on the independence of south Sudan, scheduled to begin Sunday, much has been written and said about the volatility of the political process leading up to the referendum. A less well-known story is how southern Sudanese living in Khartoum have begun returning back to the south in waves, while humanitarian workers in south Sudan struggle to respond to the increasing need.
Sudan: Protecting Minorities
October 07, 2010 Jennifer Smith Africa, South Sudan, Sudan
On September 25, Reuters reported worrying comments from the Sudanese Information Minister Kamal Mohamed Obeid related to southerners living in north Sudan if the south votes to secede as expected in the January 2011 referendum. According to the report Mr. Obeid, from the National Congress Party (NCP), said that “If the result of the referendum was separation, then the southerners will not enjoy citizenship rights in the north as they would be considered citizens of another state.” He apparently went on to say "They will not enjoy citizenship rights, jobs or benefits, they will not be allowed to buy or sell in Khartoum market…. We will not even give them a needle in the hospital.”
“Renewing the Pledge” and avoiding humanitarian disaster
July 15, 2010 Jennifer Smith Africa, South Sudan, Sudan
The report “Renewing the Pledge” released yesterday by a group of 26 international NGOs and civil society organizations highlighted the urgency of renewed international attention to Sudan. With less than six months to go before referenda in south Sudan and Abyei determine whether they remain united with the north, there is a laundry list of priority issues that still need to be resolved.
U.S. Engagement in Sudan: Easier Said than Done
June 25, 2010 Jennifer Smith Sudan
As we move closer to the January 2011 referendum on southern Sudanese independence and a laundry list of unresolved issues remains between the two parties, criticism of U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration is reaching fever pitch. It is hard to go more than a couple of days without reading an article, paper or blog somewhere in the U.S. complaining about his perceived shortcomings and suggesting that solutions would be just around the corner, if only the Obama Administration could get its act together.
Sudan: Election Observation and Some Wishful Thinking
April 22, 2010 Jennifer Smith Sudan
Like many others, Refugees International has been watching the Sudanese elections process closely, eagerly awaiting feedback from the various electoral observer missions. Preliminary statements coming out of some of the missions are fairly disappointing. The focus seems to be less on providing an objective assessment of how the process measures up to international standards, and more on excusing certain actions because of low expectations and a political desire for the elections to be seen as a success.