Africa

September 20, 2016 (JUBA) - Over 23,000 people were vaccinated against cholera in the South Sudan capital, Juba, between 17–20 September, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

A child receives an oral cholera vaccine dose in the South Sudan capital, Juba (Medair Photo)

The vaccination campaign, the agency said in a statement, aims to mitigate the spread of cholera in South Sudan's capital, where the UN and the Ministry of Health have reported nearly 1,800 cholera cases and 12 related deaths since July.

"The campaign, funded by the Government of Japan, targeted populations in the Gumbo and Mangaten neighbourhoods, where cholera caseloads have been high, and reached 112 percent of the initial target," it said.

The vaccinations were conducted by the Health Ministry, in collaboration with IOM, the UN World Health Organization, the UN Children's Fund, Health Link and Live Well. In advance of the campaign, volunteers were trained on administration of the vaccine and community messaging.

“The partnership seen in this campaign is outstanding and it is important that we continue to work together to help improve the health of families affected by the conflict in South Sudan,” said IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission William Barriga.

“In Juba, like many places across the country, access to safe water can be challenging, meaning that prevention through vaccination is central to keeping families safe,” he added.

Violence in the capital in July displaced over 15,000 people, disrupting livelihoods and affecting access to public services. In crowded areas and among families with limited access to medical care, early prevention of cholera is crucial to reducing community transmission of the disease, which can spread rapidly.

With support from the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Rapid Response Fund, IOM partners Impact Health Organization, Nile Hope and Mentor Initiative are reportedly conducting hygiene promotion in Juba neighbourhoods and at the UN Mission in South Sudan Tongping base to stem the spread of cholera and water-borne diseases.

"Messages focus on the importance of personal hygiene and proper handling of water and food", IOM stressed in it's statement.

Of the more than 1.61 million internally displaced persons and 6.1 million people in need of humanitarian aid in South Sudan, the UN estimates that 4.7 million people require lifesaving health care assistance this year, as conflict and displacement increase the risk for epidemics and the spread of preventable diseases.

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September 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government renewed its rejection for the delivery of humanitarian assistance from Ethiopia as the African Union chief mediator Thabo Mbeki is expected to visit Khartoum in the upcoming days.

Presidential Assistant, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid (SUNA Photo)

"The demand of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement- North (SPLM-N) for the humanitarian access across the border is a call for the continuation of war and the dismantlement of Sudan. Also, it is an attempt to force the government to concede the sovereignty of the Two Areas in favour of the SPLM-N," said the head of the government negotiating team and member of the national dialogue mechanism (7 +7) Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid on Monday.

Speaking after a meeting of the 7+7 committee at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, Hamid reiterated the government categorical rejection to any preconditions on the cessation of hostilities, adding that the meeting discussed the position of SPLM-N and Darfur movements following the signing of the roadmap.

Last Saturday, the presidential assistant accused political and armed opposition of lack of seriousness and stressed that peace and political talks would stop by the end of the national dialogue conference which will start on October 10th.

In a response to Hamid remarks, the spokesperson of the SPLM-N negotiating team Mubarak Ardol said the government has no desire to achieve peace but negotiates under international pressure.

"We are with equal dialogue to stop the war, provides freedoms and paves the way for (democratic) change, and the (government led-)dialogue is dead. Ibrahim Mahmoud has to stick to his remarks and concludes his unregrettable dialogue on October 10. It is a waste of money and time, and rejected by all national forces and even for those who had bet on this process on good faith It became clear to them the lack of seriousness of Ibrahim Mahmoud, his party and his government."

MBEKI'S VISIT TO KHARTOUM

A member of the government negotiating delegation Hussein Karshoum announced that the head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki would visit the Sudanese capital in the coming days to present new proposals to the government before the resumption of negotiations.

Karshoum expected the resumption of peace talks on Darfur and the Two Areas in Addis Ababa soon. He further stressed the government's keenness to achieve peace.

The peace talks were supposed to resume this month but, JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim said the mediation didn't yet determine a date for the next round of talks over the cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access.

Ibrahim further said the mediation should not call for a new round of talks before good preparations.

(ST)

The headquarters of three opposition parties in DR Congo are torched and two people are burnt to death in the capital amid electoral tension.

September 19, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Technical teams of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia on Monday have Initialed the additional studies agreement of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The final signing ceremony will take place in Khartoum on Tuesday.

A man walks over a bridge by the construction of Ethiopia's Great Renaissance Dam in Guba Woreda, some 40 km (25 miles) from Ethiopia's border with Sudan, June 28, 2013 (REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri)

Last year, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia signed a declaration of principles on the dam project that tacitly approves the dam construction but calls for technical studies aimed at safeguarding the water quotas of the three riparian states.

On September 22, 2014, a tripartite committee from the three countries proposed the conduction of two additional studies on the dam project, the first one on the effect of the dam on the water quota of Sudan and Egypt and the second one to examine the dam's ecological, economic and social impacts of the dam on Sudan and Egypt.

The French engineering consultancy Artelia and BRL groups have been selected to undertake the dam impact studies. The U.K.-based law firm Corbett & Co was selected to manage the legal affairs of the tripartite committee.

In a press statement after the initial signing, the head of the Sudanese technical team, Saif al-Din Hamad said there are no differences between Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt on the additional studies items.

“There are no differences between the consultancy and the legal offices on the final contract of the technical studies and the signing was delayed to enable the ministers of water resources in the three countries to attend the ceremony,” he pointed.

On his part, the head of the Egyptian Technical part, Ahmed Baha, said that all the contracting documents will be signed by the heads of the technical committees of the three countries stressing that the observations of all the counties have been taken into account.

“The final contract with the consultancy offices will take place on Tuesday in the presences of ministers of water resources in the three countries and the representatives of the consultancy offices,” said Baha pointing that the representatives of the French Artelia and BRL groups and U.K.-based law firm Corbett & Co are on their way to Khartoum to attend the final contracts signing ceremony.

Earlier in September, the meeting of the tripartite technical committee was delayed due to differences between Artelia and BRL and the legal consultant Corbett & Co.

The consultancy office will study the environmental and ecological, social and economical effects of the dam.

The multi-billion dollar dam is being constructed on the Blue Nile, about 20 kilometers from the Sudanese border, and has a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, and is expected to generate electrical power of up to 6,000 megawatts.

Egypt is concerned that the dam could reduce its quota of 55.5 billion cubic meters of the Nile water, while the Ethiopian side maintains that the dam is primarily built to produce electricity and will not harm Sudan and Egypt.

Last May, Ethiopia's Minister of Information and Communication Getachew Reda said the GERD is almost 70% complete.

(ST)

September 19, 2016 (JUBA) - Governor of the newly created Wau state in South Sudan said his administration has assembled a committee to hold direct negotiation with armed opposition groups in the area.

Andrea Mayar Acho (ST Photo)

Governor Andrea Mayar Achor has revealed that the initiative has the approval of President Salva Kiir and prominent community leaders in the state, adding his mission is to ensure peace returns to the state.

“There is no reason to fight this unnecessary war when we can sit down as brothers and sisters and discuss our issues peacefully. The president has approved dialogue with brothers and sisters who have taken up arms. We want to hear from them what they want. These talks are progressing well,” Achor told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Religious leaders and community leaders are playing a very important role, he said, adding “They are leading in these talks. We really want this unnecessary fighting to stop.”.

The agreement, if reached, will allow armed groups, some allied to former First Vice President, Riek Machar, to begin mobilizing themselves to designated assembling points scattered across the state and be given up to 90 days during which they are expected to begin handing their weapons over to United Nations-sponsored monitors.

But the still-unknown final accord may contain surprises and the opposition is likely to try to convert the deal into a referendum on Achor, whose popularity rating in the area continues to be a dividing subject.

His supporters, majority of whom comes from his ethnic Luo particularly in his home area in Udici region, located northwest of Wau town, the administrative headquarters of the new state, however sees him as a peace loving person.

A significant portion of politicians from ethnic Dinka in the state also stands with him. But his critics from the east of the state, home to his predecessor, see him as a remote controlled governor by members of the ethnic Dinka holding powerful positions in government.

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September 19, 2016 (YAMBIO) – Authorities of the newly created Gbudue state in Western Equatoria region have allowed patrol teams of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to operate freely in the state following earlier restrictions.

UN peacekeepers in South Sudan with one of their helicopters (UNMISS)

Council of Ministers regular meeting which was held on Friday last week in the state said it had declared free movement for UNMISS to resume their normal patrols as usual.

In a press statement issued by the minister of Information, Culture and youth in the capital, Yambio, Joseph Natale Sabun, he said Gbudue state government unanimously permitted UNMISS to conduct patrols in the region without fear and no one should stop them.

“To cooperate fully with UNMISS, Gbudue State Government has authorized UNMISS to freely organize their programs to visit any area to monitor security situation in the State without any problem.” Joseph Sabuni stated.

Sabuni urged citizens in the State not to panic if UNMISS is visiting counties and all villages in the state, saying that they are not enemy but friend.

He continued to emphasize and welcome government officials and citizens in Yambio town to come in big numbers to attend the International Day for Peace which is being organized by UNMISS of which speeches; sports activities and live band will be performed in Yambio Freedom Square.

The statement to permit UNMISS comes after the mission had been denied access to most areas in Gbudue state on several occasions for the past three months during which the state government accused the peace keepers of allegedly failing to protect citizens during the recent conflict in Yambio and in other areas in Western Equatoria.

The state minister of information also revealed that the decision came following an appeal to the government of South Sudan by the high level delegation of the United Nation Security Council which visited South Sudan recently, and after several meeting with the authority of UNMISS in Yambio.

He said the security situation has normalized in most of the areas in the state, giving chance to partners to go to those areas to deliver services to the citizens who were displaced by the conflict and are in dire humanitarian situation.

Road from Yambio to Ezo and Tombura which was blocked by the armed youth who entered the bush has been opened by the government and it is safe now for any to go to those counties, according to the authorities.

The government has owed the relative peace in the area to its efforts to offer amnesty to the armed youth to come home peacefully, adding that over 300 former youth fighters have surrendered to the government both in Yambio and in Ezo counties.

(ST)

September 20, 2016 (NAIROBI) – John Lat Zachariah, a former governor of South Sudan's Lakes state, has died.

The deceased, a relative said, died from Juba hospital on Saturday after a short illness.

Lat was appointed in 2005 after the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). He held several positions in the military, serving in the directorates for intelligence as well as logistics.

The ex-governor, who hailed from Cubeit county, will be buried on Wednesday.

(ST)

September 19, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Abdel-Wahid al-Nur on Monday said it repulsed two government offensives against its positions in Jebel Marra.

SLM-AW fighters on guard during a visit by UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari to Fanga Suk village, in East Jebel Marra, West Darfur, on 18 March 2011 (Photo: Reuters)

On 12 April, the Sudanese army declared Darfur a region free of rebellion following the capture of Srounq area, the last SLM-AW stronghold in Jebel Marra.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday, SLM-AW spokesperson Shihab al-Din Hagar said they inflicted heavy losses on the government troops that attacked Barbra, Sawa and Baga areas west of Jebel Marra.

He said 47 government soldiers were killed in the clashes, pointing they destroyed two vehicles and seized large amounts of weapons and ammunition.

Hagar also said their fighters repulsed another government attack on Boro, Keti and Gertiga areas northwest of Jebel Marra, saying “the SLM-AW forces managed to disperse enemy troops in a battle that lasted until Sunday evening”.

He added that one of their fighters was killed in the clashes and two others injured, pointing the government troops committed crimes against the unarmed civilians.
The Sudanese army spokesperson was not reachable for comment.

The SLM-AW is not part of the African Union brokered process to reach a negotiated settlement of the 13 -year conflict.

Jebel Marra, which spans over three states including North, Central and South Darfur, is located at a water-rich area that is characterized by mild climate.

(ST)

September 19, 2016 (JUBA) – A spokesperson for the South Sudanese army (SPLA) has openly accused the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) of “making South Sudan very conducive for rebellion”, an allegation the world body rejects.

UN peacekeepers in South Sudan with one of their helicopters (UNMISS)

Lul Ruai Koang claimed armed men emerging from UN-manned Protection of Civilians Sites (POCs) attacked the police and army in Juba last week.

The attack, he added, comes at a time when the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was airlifting rebel fighters fleeing South Sudan.

“They [UN] put the guns in boxes, they have been loading them on a plane and the SPLA-IO fighters are boarding the plane and this is very serious,” Lul told reporters.

“So UNMISS and the UN are making the environment very conducive for a rebellion to flourish, and they have become a party to it,” he added.

But UNMISS dismissed the accusation and “notes with concern recent accusations made by the SPLA of UNMISS of supposedly fostering criminal activity and harbouring armed elements in the UN protection of civilians (PoC) site in Juba.”

“UNMISS rejects the allegations of impropriety in our operations, and in keeping with the UN mandate on protection of civilians, and the impartial nature of our actions; we would like to report that Thursday afternoon two SPLA soldiers in plain clothes entered POC3, where they were assaulted and held captive overnight,” said the UN.

There are more than 12,000 UNMISS forces in South Sudan operating under chapter seven of the UN to protect civilians. Since conflict out in December 2013, nearly 200,000 people took refuge at the UNMISS bases in Juba, Bor, Malakal, Bentiu, Wau and Renk for fear of being targeted by government forces.

The peace agreement signed in August 2015 has not helped to convince the mainly Nuer ethnic civilians, the tribe of SPLM IO leader Riek Machar, that peace has returned to the country. Renewed clashes in July have threatened the agreement.

UNMISS said clashes first occurred at the vicinity of a checkpoint, a posted manned by the police, located north-west of the protection site on Friday, September 9.

“On being informed by the SSNPS that the checkpoint was under attack, UNMISS deployed a Quick Reaction Force to prevent the perpetrators from entering the POC site. The attackers withdrew from the checkpoint and, later in the morning, SPLA forces deployed to secure the area,” the world body further stated.

UNMISS said in both attacks at the government post, there was high cooperation and called on the South Sudanese rival parties to cease further hostilities.

“UNMISS condemns the continuing violence, and calls on all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement, to allow the country to move forward and put personal and political differences aside,” it said.

(ST)

September 19, 2016 (JUBA) – The armed opposition faction of SPLM-IO led by former First Vice President, Riek Machar, said allegations that their leader would be sent to South Africa as a refugee is not true.

South African President Jacob Zuma meets South Sudan's First Vice President, Riek Machar in Pretoria on 18 February 2016 (ST Photo)

On Sunday, the Daily Nation newspaper in Nairobi, Kenya, quoted spokesperson for President Uhuru Kenyatta as claiming that South Africa has “agreed” to host the former South Sudanese first vice president and leader of the armed opposition faction.

Kenya's State House communications chief, Manoah Esipisu, told a local newspaper that President Uhuru Kenyatta had to cancel a pre-arranged trip to the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York in order to “attend to the fast-moving situation in Somalia and South Sudan.”

Esipisu told Daily Nation, a Kenya independent newspaper, that South Africa has expressed readiness to host Machar as a refugee in the country.

“Following the IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] meeting in Mogadishu, Somalia, last week, there are a series of follow-up sessions that His Excellency [President Kenyatta] needs to personally attend to, given that Kenya is a senior player in the region alongside Ethiopia,” said Esipisu on Monday.

Describing persuasion for Machar to be given to the care of South Africa as a “delicate issue,” Esipisu said President Kenyatta's involvement is essential to realize peace in South Sudan.

“Currently he [Machar] is holed up in Khartoum but there are ongoing deliberations, and very delicate ones for that matter, on where he should be eventually resettled,” said the spokesperson of the Kenyan president.

"South Africa has agreed to take him in but there is a feeling that other options be looked into. That is why it was felt that His Excellency's [Kenyatta's] involvement in these matters is very essential,” he said without elaborating.

He said President Kenyatta had to delegate his deputy, William Ruto, to represent him in the UN General Assembly meeting in New York so that he had time to focus on the matter at home.

"That is why it was decided that the Deputy President [William Ruto] represents him [President Kenyatta] in New York,” he said, when asked why the Kenyan leader skipped the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

However, Machar's spokesperson dismissed the allegation as untrue.

“No, we are not aware of this suggestion. Our leader, Dr. Riek Machar, is not aware of such suggestion to make him a refugee. And why would he be made a refugee when he is the Chairman of the SPLM (IO) party and the Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA (IO) army in South Sudan? He has an active role to play in the country in order to restore peace and stability as well as take the country to prosperity,” said James Gatdet Dak, spokesman for the opposition leader.

Machar fled Juba for his life in July when fighting erupted between his bodyguards and thousands of soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir.

He crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 17 August and was airlifted by UN Mission in that country before continuing his journey to Khartoum, Sudan “on humanitarian ground” where he got medication assistance. His spokesman said he has been discharged from hospital weeks ago but has not made a public statement.

The SPLM-IO group that appointed Taban Deng Gai as Machar's replacement wanted the former vice president to stay away from Juba till elections in 2018 but Machar's supporters dismissed Gai's rise to power as illegal.

(ST)