Africa

August 28, 2017 (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is planning to end the position of special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan disclosed CNN in a report released on its website on Monday.

According to the cable news network, the special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan " will be subsumed under the Bureau of African Affairs".

The CNN said Tillerson detailed his plan to eliminate or reduce special envoy positions at the State Department in a letter sent to Senator Bob Corker, the chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

"I believe that the Department will be able to better execute its mission by integrating certain envoys and special representative offices within the regional and functional bureaus," Tillerson wrote in his letter to Corker, adding "and eliminating those that have accomplished or outlived their original purpose," CNN reported.

The cancellation of the Bureau of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan may not affect the engagement of the U.S. administration in the two troubled countries where Washington used to play a significant role in the ongoing efforts to end the armed conflict there.

However, it may send a wrong a wrong message to the governments in Khartoum and Juba, because it may be perceived as an expression of Washington's disengagement from the peace processes in the region.

The move includes several other special envoys position in Africa, Syria, North Korean human rights issues and others. However, Tillerson will keep many of the 70 special envoys at the State Department. Even, he will expand three offices dealing with religious freedom, HIV/AIDS and Holocaust issues.

Last February, 12 Congressmen including senators and representatives have called on President Donald Trump to appoint a special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan to back the regional efforts for peace in the two countries.

"United States leadership is critical to helping bring about a lasting peace in Sudan and South Sudan. Your swift action on this matter will make a difference in millions of lives," they said.

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August 28, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - The governor of North Darfur Abdel-Wahid Youssef Monday has discussed with the head of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mark Green the security and humanitarian situation in the state.

Green has arrived in the Sudanese capital Khartoum Sunday to assess the progress in the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the conflict areas.

Youssef has briefed the visiting U.S. official on the efforts exerted by his government to maintain security and humanitarian stability in the state.

He pointed to the efforts made to collect illegal weapons, addressing the effects of war, improving IDPs conditions, supporting voluntary return as well as mending the social fabric.

For his part, Green said his visit comes within the framework of his government's interest in the humanitarian, development and services aspects in Sudan.

He expressed hope that the government would facilitate humanitarian access, pointing to government efforts to convince the holdout armed groups to join the peace process.

The U.S. official also mentioned government plan to collect illegal arms, pointing to its efforts to resolve land disputes in Darfur.

Green further pointed to the steps taken to hand over sites of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to Sudanese forces, saying “it is important that the Sudanese police protect civilians and secures humanitarian assistance”.

He stressed the visit also aims to discuss the lifting of U.S. sanctions imposed on Sudan.

“My visit to North Darfur state comes within the framework of the ongoing dialogue between the United States and Sudan and at a time when President Trump is working in critical conditions until October to lift sanctions on Sudan,” he said.

“My visit to Sudan and to this region [Darfur] was not intended only to inspect USAID projects, but also to see the situation on the ground and assess the needs of the state,” he added.

Green stressed they would continue to support peace efforts in Sudan, expressing hope that the visit would pave the road for further cooperation on all levels.

Following the meeting, Green told Sudan Tribune that he intends to visit Zam Zam camp for IDPs to assess the needs of the residents.

The visit of the high-level humanitarian official comes six weeks before a U.S. decision on the permanent lift of economic sanctions on the east African nation.

The unfettered access to aid groups was one of the issues agreed in the five-track agreement reached by the two countries for the normalisation of bilateral relations.

The Sudanese army has been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003. UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in the conflict, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

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August 27, 2017 (PRETORIA) – Five South African-based human rights organisations have called on their government to urgently intervene to government to stop the gross human rights violations in South Sudan.

South Sudanese refugees in White Nile State receive humanitarian assistance on 27 February 2017 (SUNA photo)

Abuses in South Sudan, according to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, include " the deliberate targeting of civilian populations on the basis of their ethnic identity by means of killings,abductions, unlawful detentions or deprivation of liberty, rape and sexual violence, and the burning of villages and looting".

The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide had earlier warned that there were indicators of genocide in South Sudan as scorched earth policies and the violent conflict put at risk an estimated 5 million people said to be food insecure.

David Bilchitz, Director of the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC), said “the situation has become utterly intolerable and is not receiving the priority attention it deserves so as to prevent the most shocking human rights violations. Silence in such a situation is complicity”.

Prof Bonita Meyersfeld, Director of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand stated, "South Africa, as an important voice on the African continent, must use all diplomatic means at its disposal to find a solution".

“The protection of civilians against deliberates killing, sexual violence, the destruction of their homesand famine must become a priority of the African Union and international community”, he added.

However, the conflict results from the eruption of violence between forces loyal to President Kiir and those loyal to the former Vice President Dr Riek Machar. The implementation of a peace agreement failed when fighting broke out in Juba in July 2016 between the two parties.

In the wake of this political dispute, thousands of more civilians have been displaced and forced to take refuge in South Sudan's neighboring countries.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that almost two million refugees out of a population of 12 million have fled the world's youngest nation.

However, Prof Frans Viljoen of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria said the South African government must become more engaged in addressing the conflict in South Sudan and act as a neutral party to help resolve the conflict.

Dr. Mispa Roux, the deputy director of SAIFAC urged South Africa's government to use this opportunity to prove it is willing to act in conformity with international legal obligations to prevent the commission of genocide and crimes against humanity, prioritize the plight of the victims and not to submit to regional and national politics.

“This will restore South Africa's reputation in the international community as a legitimate guardian ofhuman rights and a leader in preventing gross human rights violations”, stressed Roux.

The petition was signed by the South Africa Institute for Advanced Constitution, Public, Human Rights and International Law, Research Chair in International Law, University of Johannesburg (NRF), and The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, and The Centre for Applied Legal Studies, University of the Witwatersrand and Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre.

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August 27, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Vice President Sunday said presidential directives have been issued to kill those who may resist the arms-collection campaign and accused unidentified officials of promoting weapons, saying if needed they may lift their immunity.

"The government represented by the national campaign to collect weapons from the conflict zones in the states of Darfur and Kordofan regions gave a full mandate to the regular forces based on the "shoot to kill" (as he said in English) policy to deal with the recalcitrant who resist the campaign," said Hasabo Mohamed Abdel Rahman who also heads the Higher Arms Collection Committee.

In a speech at the launch of a campaign in support of the disarmament by the forum of political parties' women, Abdel Rahman further warned they will deal roughly with the "warlords" who stand against the collection of weapons.

"We will arrest all the warlords who are behind the spread of chaos and arms in Sudan and bring them to trial, even if it requires the lifting of immunities for some constitutionalists who promote weapons through the social media while they reside in the capital Khartoum," he further said.

The strongly worded statements come as the Sudanese vice president was slammed last week by the tribal leader Musa Hilal who rejects the disarmament campaign and the merger of his Border Guards militia in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Hilal and Abdel Rahman both belong to the Rizeiggat ethnic group but this didn't prevent the senior official and the notorious militia leader from threatening each other through the.social media and public statements.

The tribal leader says he was betrayed by the government despite all what he did in the counterinsurgency campaign in the past years pointing that they appointed one of his commanders, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, (aka Hametti), at the head of the RSF militia which is not part of the national army, a matter that undermines his tribal authority.

The vice president stressed that the government from now onwards will not tolerate those carrying arms, saying that it is one of the threats to security and social peace in the country.

The government "will not tolerate these people, if necessary we will put them in prison in exchange for restoring stability and security for citizens," he added.

The Sudanese official announced that the government has closed 63 crossing points on the border with the neighbouring countries to prevent arms trafficking to the country.

He further pointed to the devastating effect of weapons in the tribal clashes saying 135 people were killed in recent fighting over land in West Kordofan and 89 victims in East Darfur.

The detractors of the weapons collection campaign say the government has to achieve peace first and to disarm all the tribes in Darfur pointing that the RSF is formed mainly from Arab militia in Darfur and they will use their arms to defend it whenever needed.

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August 28, 2017 (JUBA) – A New York-based human rights body has condemned last week's killing of an American journalists in South Sudan, urging authorities in the war-torn nation to investigate the incident and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

Christopher Allen (The War Zone Freelance Project)

Jehanne Henry, a senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch described the killing of Christopher Allen, a freelance reporter, as a violation of international humanitarian law.

Allen, 26, was killed in heavy fighting in the town of Kaya near the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The U.S embassy in Juba confirmed Allen's death in a statement.

At least 16 rebels, according to South Sudanese army (SPLA) officials, were also killed in the fighting, adding that the journalist's body was taken to the military hospital in the country's capital, Juba.

A 2013 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Allen was reportedly involved with Sudan's rebel forces for the past week.

Before his South Sudan visit, Allen reportedly covered the war in Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan since the conflict broke out in 2014, and over a million have fled across the border into Uganda because of the fighting within the border area.

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August 27, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudanese rebel fighters allied to the exiled former First Vice President Riek Machar have issued a statement claiming to have captured Kaya, Bindu, Kimba and Bazi.

“Yesterday morning (Saturday 26) at exactly 06:00 hour (local time), our joint operations forces of division 2B under the command of Major. General John Mabieh Gaar successfully launched a coordinated attack on Kaya, Bindu, Kimba and Bazi. Our forces flushed the enemies out of Kimba, Bazi, Bindu and in Kaya, the enemy forces are confined at the Ugandan border,” said Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO Deputy Military Spokesperson.

The deputy rebel military spokesperson also claimed that their force killed 56 government soldiers including the commander of Bindu base who was a Major and a Captain from the government military intelligence unit in Kaya known locally as Malis.

Furthermore, he said they seized (1) 12.7 mm machine guns, six (6) PK machine guns, four (4) RPGs and twenty-eight (28) AK47 were some of the military equipment and assets they captured during the operations.

He said they lost three (3) fighters and 15 wounded.

From his part, the deputy military spokesperson of the government forces confirmed clashes have occurred between the two rival forces He said the SPLA killed up to 16 armed opposition fighters, three government soldiers with six others sustaining injuries during the military operations in Kaya, Yei River State.

Colonel Santo Domic said that the attack occurred at 06:20 am and lasted until about 07:20 local time.

“Three SPLA soldiers were killed and 6 others injured. Fighting finished and the SPLA forces went to inspect the combat zone and were surprised to find among the 16 dead bodies the body of a white man," he said referring to the U.S. journalist killed during the fighting.

The South Sudanese government accuses the rebels of refusing to stop the fighting in line with the ceasefire agreement. The SPLM-IO from its part accuses Juba of breaching the peace agreement and attacking their positions in the country.

The four-year conflict has affected some 7.5 million people who are in dire need of humanitarian support. Some 15 aid workers were killed this year until now bringing the number of humanitarians killed during the four-year conflict to 85 people.

However, the lack of security impedes humanitarian access to the civilians while the aid workers have become a target for the rival parties.

Aid actors reported 100 humanitarian access incidents in South Sudan in June 2017, representing the highest number of incidents recorded in a single month in 2017 to date. Also, there are 257 incidents of violence against aid workers and 32 looting attacks on aid convoys.

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Libya&#39s future prosperity and stability depends on the international community further strengthening and unifying its efforts on behalf of the whole country, as well as Libyans themselves &#8220seizing the window of opportunity&#8221 that is before them to ensure peace, the head of the United Nations mission there said today.

August 27, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The head of United States U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mark Green has arrived in the Sudanese capital Khartoum Sunday to assess the progress in the delivery of humanisation assistance in the conflict areas.

"I'm in Sudan to discuss Humanitarian Assistance delivery and see critical programming for people displaced by conflict," said the new USAID chief after his arrival in Khartoum on Sudan for a three-day visit from 27 to 29 August.

The visit of the high-level humanitarian official comes six weeks before a decision on the permanent lift of economic sanctions on the east African nation. The unfettered access to aid groups was one of the issues agreed in the five-track agreement the two countries agreed by the two countries for the normalisation of bilateral relations.

"Administrator Green will meet with Government of Sudan officials to discuss progress toward improving humanitarian access in Sudan, as part of the expanded bilateral engagement that began last year," said the USAID in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Also, Green in his first visit as USAID chief will meet UN officials in Sudan and visit IDPs camps that receive humanitarian assistance from USAID. The statement didn't say exact areas he will visit but the USAID provides aid to displaced persons in n Darfur region, and government controlled areas in the Blue Nile and the White Nile states.

He is expected to visit a number of drought-affected countries including Ethiopia.

Last July Washington postponed until October a decision on the permanent cancellation an economic embargo imposed 20 years ago over Sudan's harbouring of Osama bin Laden.

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August 27, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Sunday has underscored his country's keenness to achieve security and stability in Libya describing ties between the two countries as “eternal and historical”.

Speaking at a joint press conference at the end of the talks with the visiting Prime Minister of Libya's internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj, al-Bashir said they seek only to achieve the interests of the Libyan people.

He pointed out that al-Sarraj's visit to Khartoum is “a new starting point in relations between the two countries”, saying Sudan had supported the Libyan people during the revolution.

Al-Bashir further expressed regret over the recent developments in Libya, pointing to its adverse impact on Sudan particularly with regard to illegal migration and cross-border crime.

He added the presence of Sudanese mercenaries in the Libyan territory also poses a direct threat to Sudan.

Last May, two Darfur armed groups attacked the Sudanese forces in North and East Darfur states. Khartoum says the rebels launched their attack on North Darfur from Libya and accused the General Khalifa Haftar, the leader of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) of supporting them.

For his part, the Libyan premier stressed that Sudan represents “a strategic depth” to Libya, pointing to the distinguished relations between the two countries.

He added the brotherly relations were not adversely impacted by the events in Libya, saying the two sides would work together to learn from the mistakes of the past.

Al-Sarraj further said his meeting with al-Bashir discussed the security and political challenges facing Libya and ways to end the crisis through national reconciliation, pointing out that his country is at “a critical stage”.

He added the meeting also discussed the need to secure the border between the two countries and activate the agreements in this regard as well as activating the mechanisms of the Sudanese-Libyan integration.

The GNA, which formally came into being in March 2016, has been struggling to unify the war-ridden North African nation and exert its control over its entire territory.

However, its task is complicated by the presence of a parallel government operating out of eastern Libya, backed by local militias and units of the LNA.

Following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's 40-year-rule in 2011, Libya has slid into chaos and has become the most important transit country for illegal migrants to Europe. Also, Islamic State (ISIS) presence in Libya has become a source of threat not only to its neighbouring countries but also to Europe.

In May 2016, Khartoum proposed to establish a joint force to monitor the common borders between Sudan and Libya to curb the movement of Darfur rebels and fight against illegal migration and terror groups.

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August 27, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's negotiating team has welcomed the African mediation move to meet with Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu, leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLMN-al-Hilu) to resume peace talks on the Two Areas.

Abel Aziz al-Hilu (Reuters file photo)

The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one in the Nuba Mountains led by al-Hilu and the other in the White Nile State led by Malik Agar. The rift emerged several months ago over the right of self-determination and other issues.

The head of the African Union office in Khartoum Mahmoud Kan said on Wednesday that an expert-level meeting with the SPLM-N al-Hilu will be held in Addis Ababa on 28 August.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Sunday quoted the member of the government negotiating team Abdel-Rahman Abu Median as saying the African mediation must state clearly to al-Hilu the negotiations references and agenda.

He stressed the government wouldn't allow the Movement to add any new agenda, saying the two sides must adhere to what has been agreed upon in the previous rounds.

Abu Median was alluding to al-Hilu's demand for the self-determination for South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

On Saturday, the member of the government team Bushara Guma'a Aror said the new reality indicates that the peace talks would be held with al-Hilu, not Agar.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

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August 27, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir has said the millions of civilians fleeing the war-torn nation were being driven by social media propaganda manned by those conspiring against his government.

“The people who ran to Uganda were chased away by social media. There was no fighting in that area. They were told to leave because they know a UN [United Nations] official came in to assess the humanitarian situation to decide if there was need for assistance,” Kiir told Deutsche Welle on Thursday.

“Instead, he [UN official] went and reported that there was a looming genocide in South Sudan, which has not happened up to now. People were called from their houses and told to run away, that if you don't go after one hour you would be a dead person,” he added.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 following disputes within the country's ruling party. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been killed and over 2 million displaced.

The South Sudanese leader, however, said the national dialogue he initiated in December last year will create for those with grievances not addressed in the 2015 peace deal signed by the warring parties.

“In the end, when the resolutions are passed by members of the National Dialogue team, these things could be taken into consideration in the next formations of the government,” said Kiir.

He said the national dialogue, launched in May, embraces all citizens, including his former deputy-turned rebel leader Riek Machar, who currently lives in solitary confinement in South Africa.

“We didn't really exclude anyone. But for Riek, he knows why. It is not him who is not interested in joining but the whole region does not want him to [join],” said Kiir.

He added, “His [Machar] presence here would create instability in the whole region, not just in South Sudan,”

Kiir downplayed threats posed by the rebel leader, saying regional nations resolved not to allow Machar operate within their territories.

“He [Machar] is not a threat to the government. He is only making confusion calling his supporters on the phone. He knows where they are hiding and these are the people who are still making problems, continuing to fight and do not want to make peace,” he stressed.

OVER I MILLION REFUGEES IN UGANDA

Last week, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said the numbers of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda exceeded one million and called for urgent support.

Majority of the refugees, the agency said, were women and children.

“Over the past 12 months, averages of 1,800 South Sudanese have been arriving in Uganda every day,” UNHCR said in a statement.

“In addition to the million there, a million or even more South Sudanese refugees are being hosted by Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic,” it added.

According to the UN agency, however, over 85% of the refugees who have arrived in Uganda are women and children below 18 years.

“Recent arrivals continue to speak of barbaric violence, with armed groups reportedly burning down houses with civilians inside, people being killed in front of family members, sexual assaults of women and girls, and kidnapping of boys for forced conscription,” said UNHCR.

As of refugees arrive, it said, aid delivery is increasingly falling short.

The UN agency said although $674 million is needed for South Sudanese refugees in Uganda this year, so far only a fifth of this amount, or 21%, has so far been received. But although a total of $883.5 million is needed for the South Sudan situation, only $250 million has reportedly been received.

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August 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) — Ali-al-Haj, the Secretary General of the Popular Congress Party ((PCP) said they are not consulted in the implementation of the national dialogue outcome, adding that many decisions are taken by the National Congress Party (NCP) without their knowledge.

The PCP is the main opposition party that supported the national dialogue process led by the ruling NCP after the withdrawal of several opposition parties that criticised the lack of freedoms in the country.

At the end of the process in October 2016, the participants endorsed the National Document which includes all the recommendations of the national dialogue in order to achieve peace and democratic reforms in Sudan.

Also, they agreed that these resolutions should be implemented through the consensus as a group decision-making, in order to ensure the national interests and to meet the concerns of all the participants, particularly the NCP has the majority in the parliament and can vote reforms alone.

In a press conference held more than a hundred days after the formation of the National Consensus Government, al-Haj said his party "was counting on the consensus in the decision-making process to avoid that decisions be finalised by a specific party as it appeared now".

"Actually, there is no consensus. There are many things that we ignore. The criteria used to choose the government members were unilaterally decided by one party. We might be opposed to some but we accepted it. The appointment of the deputies to the prime minister we were not aware of it," he said.

Further, he slammed the bad treatment of the PCP's representatives in several regional parliaments including Khartoum State Legislative Council.

"If they think that the talk of one person is enough, this is not what we agreed upon, neither is it not the consensus or the dialogue," he further said to express their frustration.

The PCP, which is a splinter party of the ruling party since 1999, believe that patience and long-term policy can produce positive reforms and better than joining armed groups to seeking violent change in the fragile country.

However, since several months, several leading members of the party started to express their frustration and disappointment questioning their participation in the transitional government, as many of them were initially opposed to such political involvement.

Recently, PCP Secretary General Kamal Omer, slammed the speaker of the Sudanese parliament Ibrahim Omer describing his performance in the management of the National Assembly as "very bad".

Al-Haj apologised for the sharp criticism against the speaker, but at the same time said that the latter has not to "be biased" but fair and treat all the MPs on an equal basis.

"The (National) Assembly should not deal with us as defeated. We came to the dialogue with our heads held high, and we participated in the government with our heads held high," he said.

We reject any treatment on the basis that they have the (parliamentary) majority. If things are decided on the majority basis (our) participation has no meaning," he stressed.

Following an internal crisis in the NCP and the relief of the former First Vice President Ali Osman Taha who was known for his hostility for the PCP in 2013, many leaders in the PCP called to cooperate with the NCP in order to preserve the Islamic state in Sudan.

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August 27, 2017 (JUBA) - An American freelance journalist covering the civil war in South Sudan died on Saturday during a battle between rebels and government troops.

Christopher Allen (The War Zone Freelance Project)

Christopher Allen, 26, was killed in heavy fighting in the town of Kaya near the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

At least 16 rebels, according to South Sudanese army (SPLA) officials, were also killed in the fighting, adding that the journalist's body was taken to the military hospital in the country's capital, Juba.

The U.S embassy in Juba confirmed Allen's death in a statement.

A 2013 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Allen was reportedly involved with Sudan's rebel forces for the past week.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan since the conflict broke out in 2014, and over a million have fled across the border into Uganda because of the fighting within the border area.

Before working in South Sudan, Allen reportedly covered the war in Ukraine.

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August 26, 2017 (JUBA) – A member of South Sudan's armed opposition faction allied to former First Vice President, Riek Machar has described as “unfair” charges labeled against James Gatdet Dak, the ex-spokesperson for the rebel leader who is now in jail.

James Gatdet Dak, Riek Machar's spokesperson 'Reuters photo)

Lam Kuei Lam said the court trial of Dak is a “null” judicial process.

“I would like to make it categorically clear to the people of South Sudan, the region and the international community that there is no justice to be delivered to James Gatdet Dak by that Juba Kangaroo court and therefore we condemn the process in the strongest terms possible as the primary indicators for his arrangement before the court shows circumvention of the rule of law,” he said on Saturday.

Dak was arrested from Nairobi and deported back to Juba last year.

Lam, however, said Dak's trail, in which he appeared without a lawyer, demonstrated the “decayed” judicial machinery meant to dispense injustice as opposed to core necessities of their existence.

The former rebel spokesperson, Lam told Sudan Tribune, was accused of treason, sabotage dishonesty, giving false information against the young nation and allegedly insulting the head of state.

According to rebel official, Dak's trial took place in Arabic dialect, and the presiding judge denied him access to a chosen translator.

“We call upon the national human rights institutions, the regional and international human rights bodies to ensure an expeditious court proceeding and provide him [Dak] with the necessary legal assistance and a lawyer of his choice,” said Lam.

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August 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's negotiating team Saturday disclosed that informal contacts are underway with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu (SPLMN/al-Hilu).

The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one in the Nuba Mountains led by al-Hilu and the other in the White Nile State led by Malik Agar. The rift emerged several months ago over the right of self-determination and other issues.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Saturday quoted the spokesperson of the government negotiating team Hussein Hamdi as saying contacts with al-Hilu would pave the road to resume talks after the Eid al-Adha vacation.

He pointed that al-Hilu has shown good faith by declaring a six-month unilateral ceasefire, describing the upcoming meeting of the African mediation with al-Hilu as “new shift” after the recent rift within the SPLM-N.

By the end of July, al-Hilu declared a unilateral six months cessation of hostilities starting from 31 July 2017 up to 31 Jan 2018.

For his part, Bushara Guma'a Aror, member of the government negotiating team, said the new reality indicates that the peace talks would be held with the “new leadership” (i.e. al-Hilu).

He pointed out that the “old leadership” (i.e. Agar) of the SPLM-N was not keen to end the suffering of the people in the Two Areas.

The head of the African Union office in Khartoum Mahmoud Kan said on Wednesday that an expert-level meeting with the SPLM-N al-Hilu will be held in Addis Ababa on 28 August.

The rebel delegation is expected to brief the AU mediation team about the shift in the group and to present its position on the peace process.

Last April, the Nuba Mountains Liberation Council (NMLC), which led the rift in the SPLM-N, said the group decided to freeze negotiations for peace in Sudan until the settlement of internal divisions.

The other SPLM-N faction led by Agar says ready for talks only on a humanitarian assistance agreement to provide civilians in the rebel held areas with the needed food and medicines.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

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August 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Chinese government on Friday has announced debt relief for Sudan worth $160 million saying it would provide additional 500 million Yuan (about $75 million) in financial assistance to Khartoum.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, September 1, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Parker Song)

China's debt on Sudan is estimated at more $10 billion.

During a visit to Khartoum on Friday, the Chinese Vice-Premier of the State Council Zhang Gaoli and his accompanying delegation held bilateral talks with the Sudanese side headed by the First Vice-President and Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih.

In his remarks before the meeting, Salih described cooperation between Khartoum and Beijing as “model” for bilateral relations, pointing to the strategic partnership agreement signed between the two countries in 2015.

He expressed appreciation for China's stances towards Sudan, vowing to promote the strategic partnership to serve the interests of the two peoples.

For his part, Gaoli expressed his appreciation for Sudan's efforts to strengthen economic partnership with his country, noting that the bilateral relations between Khartoum and Beijing have lasted more than 50 years.

Meanwhile, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour has praised the political, economic and cultural ties between Sudan and China.

Speaking at a press conference following the joint meeting, Ghandour stressed Sudan's support for the unity of the Chinese territory, pointing to Beijing's support for Khartoum in regional and international forums.

He said the two sides agreed to form a higher committee to discuss the details of the economic relations, saying China is considered Sudan's major partner in the oil industry.

Sudan's top diplomat added the two sides signed a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding covering technical and economic cooperation, human resource development and training and the debt relief.

OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Meanwhile, Sudan's Minister of Oil and Gas Abdel-Rahman Osman has discussed with the Vice President of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Zhang Jianhua ways to promote joint cooperation on oil industry between the two countries.

According to the official news agency SUNA, Jianhua expressed a desire to promote joint cooperation, saying they are ready to provide a new plan to invest in blocks A4 and B2.

He added the CNPC is ready to resolve issues pertaining to debt arrears and the adverse impact of South Sudan's secession and the safety of Chinese workers.

Jianhua pointed out that his visit to Khartoum is the first visit to Africa, promising to visit Baleela oil field in western Sudan to inspect the oil production.

For his part, Osman praised join cooperation in oil and gas industry, saying China has invested more than $15 billion in the oil industry in Sudan.

He called on China to increase its oil investments in Sudan, vowing to remove all obstacles facing Chinese companies in this regard.

The Chinese oil giant began its business in Sudan in 1995.

Sudan lost 75% of its oil reserves after the southern part of the country became an independent nation in July 2011, denying the north billions of dollars in revenues. Oil revenue constituted more than half of the Sudan's revenue and 90% of its exports.

Sudan currently produces 133,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). The country's production is stationed mainly in the Heglig area and its surroundings, as well as western Kordofan.

Following South Sudan's secession, several foreign companies started exploration in new oil fields.

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August 26, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir Saturday said it took him time to convince regional and international leaders that Riek Machar is not a man of peace and that he should be kept away.

The former South Sudanese First President has been forced to live away from the country in South Africa where he is currently after the bloody clashes in July 2016 between his troops and the South Sudanese army forces loyal to President Kiir.

President Kiir says the rebel leader should not be personally involved in any peace process and his group be represented by any representative he designates. for his part, Machar wants to be allowed to return to South Sudan and his groups participates in the implementation of 2015 peace agreement not the splinter faction led by First Vice President Taban Deng Gai.

In a speech to members of the Jieng (Dinka) Council of elders who visited him at his residence, Saturday Kiir said he told regional leaders and the international community he was not worried about threats being posed to his presidency by his rival Riek Machar. However, he added, they were sceptical when he rejected calls to associate him with the implementation process of the peace agreement.

“The region has now realised the truth in what we have been telling them and the international community that Riek is not a democrat because democrats would not advocate war. But they did not seem to get us at first. They thought I was being personal. It took them time to realize and now they are the ones talking to him to denounce violence but what did he do? He refused,” said president Kiir.

The South Sudanese leader said he declared a unilateral ceasefire last May not because of regional and international pressure but to demonstrate his commitment to peace despite the fact that he was aware that Machar would not reciprocate.

“I told them in several fora that declaring unilateral ceasefire is a not a problem. We can do it like I have done it several times but it did not work because one side ceasefire does not hold. And whenever we declare a ceasefire, Riek and his group (would) take it as an advantage. That was why our forces have to go to Pagak and take it so that we see where they will come again,” said Kiir.

He stressed that IGAD leaders who decided his confinement in South Africa would not respond positively to his request to return to eastern Africa countries.

"The region will not allow return him if he does not denounce violence, which he will not do," he said.

The delegation of the Jieng (Dinka) Council of elders visited President Kiir at his residence in Juba to extend him thanks and appreciations on behalf of the family members of former presidential aides released on bail by the high court.

Kiir who is accused by his detractors of ruling the country with the support of his ethnic group used the visit as an opportunity to call on the Dinka elders to work with elders from other communities to disseminate messages of peace, reconciliation and forgiveness, saying peaceful dialogue was the only way to end the conflict and restore economic situation in the country.

“You need to work together with elders from other communities. Reach out to elders in Yei, in Torit, Kajokeji, Mundri, Yambio and all other places so that together you talk peace, reconciliation, unity and forgiveness."

"Those waiting for Riek, let them know what they would get from Riek, the government will do now. Riek is not coming in any official capacity," he added.

"I held talks recently with elders from Lou Nuer and elders from Gajaak and Jikany, all of them pledged to work with the government and to support peace. You need to reach these elders and start working with them to disseminate the message of peace," he concluded.

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AUGUST 27, 2017 (JUBA) - The United Nations special envoy for South Sudan warned that the young nation could face more problems if issue affecting it are not tackled prior to next year's general polls.

The UN Security Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan (Photo: UN/Devra Berkowitz)

"There is sporadic fighting and widespread insecurity across the country," Nicholas Haysom told the UN Security Council Thursday.

He added, "Our engagements with South Sudanese interlocutors, including the opposition, suggest that battlefield fortunes continue to inform the calculus of both the government and its opponents."

Early this month, South Sudan President Salva Kiir called upon the country's opposition groups to prepare for the country's general elections, earmarked to take place after the end of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) period in 2018.

To fast track processes leading to the polls, President Kiir in May officially declared his national dialogue initiative and declared unilateral cease-fire with rebels, albeit it has repeated been violated.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced in South Sudan's conflict triggered by political differences between President Kiir, a Dinka, and his former deputy, Riek Machar.

Haysom, however, said President Kiir's reconciliation approach has not yielded any gains as fighting continue in various parts of the country.

“[The incidences of violence] may well contribute to deepening and extending the conflict," Haysom further told the 15-member Council.

Meanwhile, the Former Botswana President Festus Mogae, who heads the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) of the August 2015 peace agreement, told Security Council members that they must speak with one voice to the leaders of South Sudan.

"There should be clear consequences for intransigent groups, spoilers and violators," he observed.

On Thursday, Mogae said the second anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) passed with “little meaningful progress” made in the implementation of the accord inked in Addis Ababa in 2015.

“Our perception at the time of the signing of the Peace Agreement in August 2015 was that it had ended a tragic internal conflict that had threatened to tear Africa's youngest nation apart and it was hoped that disagreements amongst the parties over substantive issues had been resolved,” he remarked.

JMEC was established by terms decreed under Chapter Seven of the ARCSS, signed on 17 August 2015 in Ethiopia. Under the terms of the agreement, JMEC shall be responsible for monitoring, overseeing and supporting the implementation of the agreement and the mandate and tasks of the TGoNU, including adherence of the parties to agreed timelines and schedules; and in the event of non-compliance, shall recommend appropriate corrective action to the TGoNU.

JMEC is responsible for overseeing the work of CTSAMM (Ceasefire and Transitional Security Monitoring Mechanism), EFMA (Economic and Financial Management Authority), and other transitional institutions created by the Agreement.

According to Mogae, by now the 2015 peace accord should have achieved considerable progress towards improved security and governance in the war-torn East African nation.

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South Sudan, Africa&#39s newest nation, has known no respite since fighting broke out last July, following the collapse of a peace deal between Government and opposition forces, sparking what United Nations agencies report as incidents of &#8220barbaric violence&#8221 carried out by armed groups, and a massive spike in the number of desperate people fleeing for safety.

The head of the United Nations political office visited Somalia this week, where he praised the &#8220real forward momentum&#8221 in the country&#39s political development, and reiterated UN support as the Horn of Africa country tackles its challenges, such as the fight against the group Al Shabaab.