Not surprisingly, the government in Khartoum rejected the idea.

Although the threatened indictment of al Bashir has prompted protest in Khartoum, no one expects him to appear in court soon.

In far away Khartoum, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al Bashir, now indicted by the International Criminal Court, should be paying close attention.

By proving that authoritarianism can be successful, China is an example to autocrats everywhere, from Moscow to Dubai, from Islamabad to Khartoum.

Sudanese defense minister says Khartoum will take part in Yemen campaign with air and ground forces. Deena Adel ( deena_adel) March 26, 2015

She thought his government was the worst I have ever had , and blamed him for the death of General Gordon at Khartoum.

China, a close ally of the government in Khartoum, is now carefully weighing its oil interests and its strategic concerns in the South.

But realizing these aims requires cooperation from the government in Khartoum, whereas each of the proposed measures would only heighten tensions or prove useless.

I have met with dozens of Sudanese politicians and diplomats, and I know that the regime in Khartoum is authoritarian, self interested, and ruthless.

After all, the oppressive nature of the regime in Khartoum is at the root of the many conflicts that have torn the country apart.

The result is, the second phase of the deployment has still not taken place even though it was accepted by Khartoum six months ago.

Garang fought for a united, secular, and democratic Sudan, a lofty dream that the Islamist regime in Khartoum admittedly has had no intention of implementing.

In that case, what remains of Sudan Khartoum, Gezira, and the two northern states might degenerate even further, probably turning into a base for global Islamic terrorism.

For these reasons, any major peace operation involving Western countries would soon lead their governments to consider regime change in Khartoum as the most viable exit strategy.

Lake Tana is also notable for being the headwaters of the Blue Nile river that flows westward before it merges with White Nile at Khartoum, Sudan s Capital.

On the other hand, the Darfur crisis, in which China has lent its support to Khartoum, has provided a reality check for both sides, revealing the limits to collaboration.

As a result, its ability to maintain services and the military capacity to respond to any maneuver by the Khartoum government aimed against the peace agreement is seriously compromised.

Six Sudanese activists affiliated with the Khartoum Center for Training and Human Development are currently on trial for undermining the constitutional system, waging war against the state, espionage, and terrorism.

Sudan bore the brunt of US retaliation, when President Bill Clinton ordered the bombing of an apparently harmless pharmaceutical factory near Khartoum as retaliation for an Osama bin Laden sponsored terrorist attack.

A Security Council resolution last August mandated a 20,300 strong UN peacekeeping force to replace the small and overwhelmed African Union mission currently on the ground. Not surprisingly, the government in Khartoum rejected the idea.

South Sudan held a referendum on January 9, 2011, on whether or not it should remain a part of Sudan as part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

The Government of Southern Sudan suffers from serious financial constraints, owing to unrealistic assumptions about its oil revenues. As a result, its ability to maintain services and the military capacity to respond to any maneuver by the Khartoum government aimed against the peace agreement is seriously compromised.

The world rightly focuses on the tragedy in Darfur, but overlooks another four million Sudanese still displaced as a result of the north south conflict, many of whom continue to live in terrible poverty in Khartoum slums or in makeshift camps across the country, with little opportunity to re build their lives.