Sudan and South Sudan seek foreign investment to rebuild economy; Egyptian citizenship granted to 50,000 Palestinians; 110 people injured in clash of opposite camps in Egypt; UN approves a resolution for international military intervention in Mali; Franco
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    • According to reports, during an interaction at an investment conference in Vienna, the foreign ministers of Sudan and South Sudan pledged to work together to rebuild their economies and not to return to war in a joint plea for foreign investment. This change in stance came after signing a critical trade and border agreement in Ethiopia in September 2012 to end hostilities and resume oil exports from South Sudan through Sudan. However, both countries are yet to sort out other conflicts such as deciding the fate of Abyei and other border regions. Separately, insurgents claimed that they shelled the main city in Sudan's oil-producing South Kordofan state. 1

    In another development, an Egyptian security official revealed that nearly 50,000 Palestinians, most of them from the Gaza Strip, were granted Egyptian citizenship over the past few months. He added that the Interior Ministry was instructed to give Egyptian citizenship to all Palestinians who were born to Egyptian mothers. These instructions were given by the country’s High Administrative Court in Cairo in May. The official also revealed that Cairo was studying the request of an additional 35,000 Palestinians to receive Egyptian citizenship. 2

    According to reports, opponents and supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi clashed in Cairo in a first street violence between rival factions since the Islamist leader took office. They clashed over the issue of drafting a new constitution. Many were also angry at the court’s ruling that acquitted former officials charged with ordering a camel-and-horseback charge on protesters in the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak. The health ministry reported that 110 people had sustained injuries in the clash. 3

    Reports noted that the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution, pressing the West African nations to speed up preparations for an international military intervention to re-conquer northern Mali. The resolution also urged authorities in Bamako and representatives of "Malian rebel groups to engage in a credible negotiation process." However, the Council warned that the process should be undertaken with a view toward achieving a sustainable political solution. Further, the Council asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to work in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union and submit recommendations within 45 days. 4

    During the 14th Francophonie summit in Kinshasa, Congo, leaders of French-speaking nations called for reforming the UN Security Council to give Africa better representation. Delegates also issued resolutions addressing various crises, including a resolution calling for strengthened dialogue to find a political solution to the chaos in Mali, where Islamist rebels seized the country's north and imposed Sharia law. Additionally, a resolution calling for the UN Security Council to adopt sanctions targeting those responsible for abuses in the east of DR Congo was also issued. The next Francophonie summit will be held in Senegalese capital Dakar in 2014. 5

    In other developments, according to reports, gunmen armed with assault rifles attacked a rural village Dogon Dawa in Kaduna State of northern Nigeria and killed at least 24 people, including worshipers leaving a mosque. The area had limited presence of police and security forces. In addition, police officers and soldiers cut off access to the region, limiting the response of aid agencies. A rescue official said that the attacks began in the morning, with as many as 50 gunmen surrounding the village and also farmlands. Earlier, Olufemi Adenaike, the state police commissioner, said that 12 people were killed in the attack. 6

    Reports noted that South African police arrested 72 sit-in protesters out of 600 protesters from Gold Fields Kloof mines who were protesting in front of Westonaria police station. The protesters were demanding the release of 13 jailed miners. In a separate incident, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters hurling petrol bombs after a march on an Anglo American Platinum mine in Rustenburg turned violent. 7

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