South Sudan Refuses War Over Abyei

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has said that his country will not go to war with North Sudan over the latter's ongoing effort to ethnically cleanse a disputed district straddling the North-South Sudan border. More here.

North and South Sudan Begin Talks in Ethiopia

North and South Sudan have begun talks in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, to negotiate the peaceful separation of the two states this coming July and determine the status of South Sudanese working in North Sudan, many of whom were born and raised in North Sudan. More here.

South Sudan Prepares for Independence

As independence approaches for South Sudan its problems seem to be mounting with an internal rebellion, plans underway for an expensive new capital, North Sudanese military operations in neighboring Abyei district, and the assassination of one of its ministers being at the forefront. More here.

Increase in North Sudanese Armed Forces in Abyei

Satellite images are tracking a build-up of forces in the North Sudanese district of Abyei, where a referendum on joining an independent South Sudan was blocked by violence. Although the referendum in the district was agreed to by both North and South Sudan, Abyei has significant oil reserves and North Sudan is reluctant to lose it in addition to the substantial South Sudanese reserves. More here.

North Sudan's Copts

A somewhat dated but still relevant article about North Sudan's Copts and their place in Sudanese life can be found here. The article has its inaccuracies (for example, the Copts haven't been in North Sudan for 1,300 years, but they used to have coreligionists in the region who were later forcibly converted to Islam), but is still worth the read. Enjoy!