Thursday, January 29, 2009

Central Equatoria State Signs a Development MoU with Danish Company

Here's a link to the story on Gurtong

The company's website appears to be under construction.

The story wasn't exactly clear who would be funding the 200 million euro development projects, or if they would be privately funded for-profit efforts.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Land bill passes in South Sudan parliament

This development represents a major positive mark in the progress of South Sudan's legal framework. It's a super development on a difficult issue mentioned below.
My hat is off to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly for their work! Congratulations!
Here's the full story.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

FT article: Jarch Managment to develop 400,000 ha in Warrap State?

I hate to judge. I hate to cast disapproval on individuals in business or trying to get in business in Southern Sudan.

I will make an exception in this case, however.

Worst-case-scenario-advocate Mr. Philippe Heilberg claims to have agricultural rights to 400,000 hectares of land via some deal.

Judging merely by the company a man keeps (I'm talking about their board), I am betting Mr. Heilburg will do as well in this enterprise as well as he did in his last one. My hope is that anyone doing their due diligence on this organization and its experiences in Southern Sudan will look carefully all over.

Anyone familiar with land-centered enterprises in South Sudan can see more than a few holes in his companies' claim to this land.

Follow up: FT has a pretty good editorial take what this represents here.

And now the other shoe drops.

Sudan partners mark the 4th anniversary of peace in Malakal

It is hard to believe that we've come 4 years since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

A hearty congratulations to all of my Sudanese friends.

Here's the lede from Sudan Tribunes' report:

January 9, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan government partners marked today the fourth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in the capital of Upper Nile State, Malakal, where they called for reconciliation and preservation of 2005 peace.