Charities Allowed Back in Sudan
After kicking them out of the nation earlier this year, the Sudanese government will allow four charities to return to the nation’s Darfur region, according to a U.N. official. Care International, Save the Children, Mercy Corps and Padco are the only four groups permitted to return out of the 13 that were booted in March, reports the BBC. John Holmes, the U.N.’s humanitarian head, said that Sudan would allow the international charities to return on the condition that they register under different names and logos, reports the BBC. “That possibility is there for all the organizations which were expelled and some of them already have taken advantage of it,” he told the BBC. “They now got very recently new registrations and will be restarting their operations.”  Since 2003, fighting in the Darfur region has left 300,000 dead and two million people displaced. Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, announced he was expelling the charities after an international court indicted him on war crimes. But recently, according to Holmes, there has been “good progress” in the relationship between the government and the U.N.

Kofi Annan Tells African Presidents to Do Better

Former United Nations leader Kofi Annan told African leaders to get it together at the launch of a report on the African economy, reports the BBC. While those who promise aid to the continent need to follow through, African leaders determine the fate of their respective countries, the former U.N. secretary-general said.  “We need a new development model that provides security, stability, and addresses people’s needs. Everyone needs to contribute,” Annan said at the launch. “Business has a key role, as do Africa’s trading and donor partners. But the primary responsibility to make it happen rests with Africa’s political leaders. According to the Africa Progress report, corruption costs African $150 billion each year. The report was put together by 11 current or former world leaders including the UK’s former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nelson Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel.