About the Author: Dr. Rajiv Shah serves as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Earlier this month, I visited Sudan, a nation poised to separate in July into two independent states following a peaceful referendum in January that USAID helped carry out. Since my visit, violence has erupted in Abyei, a disputed area on the north-south border, and threatened the fragile peace in the region.![USAID Administrator Shah with Southern Sudan Agriculture Minister Anne Itto, Juba, May 6, 2011. [AP]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0527_shah_sudan_m.jpg)
Resolving the status of Abyei has long presented a difficult challenge. During my visit — together with UK Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell and Norway Minister of Environment and International Development Erik Solheim — we stressed to the Government of Sudan and Government of Southern Sudan our concern about the… more »
Responding to Urgent and Long-Term Needs in Sudan
