Sudan in Turmoil (Again)
BY Jackie Bennion

A couple of weeks ago, we posted an update on Sudan from producer Casey Herrman, who filmed in the troubled Darfur region for us in late 2004. The country was thrown into fresh turmoil this week after Vice President John Garang died in a helicopter crash near the Ugandan border. He was on his way back from a meeting with Uganda's President Museveni.

The death of Garang, who was only sworn into office three weeks ago and considered the brightest political hope to reunite the country, set off rioting and disbelief in the capital, Khartoum, and now threatens to unravel the delicate peace deal brokered back in January. A tough-minded rebel leader of the predominantly Christian south, Garang played a pivotal role in negotiating peace with the mainly Arab north and brought a new optimism to Sudan after 21 years of civil war.

Here is Herrman's account of what has improved in the region and what frustratingly has stayed the same or even deteriorated during the 8 months since she and reporter Amy Costello covered the story for FRONTLINE/World.