Africa

July 20, 2017 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government on Thursday said it had completed the verification needed before the regional protection forces are deployed into the war-torn nation.

S. Sudan cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomoro (Photo KT Press)

The cabinet affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomuro said verification of the forces and equipment to be brought by regional forces into the country had been completed and that land was allocated by Jubek state government for their base.

“On our side as the government, there is no problem anymore. We have done our verification and have cleared the deployment of the regional protection. Already fourteen top commanders of the regional protection force have been in the country since March as part of the deployment process,” said Lomuro.

He added, “So we have done our part and we just wait for whatever is required of us”.

The minister, however, said the government was unaware of when the forces would arrive, although it's anticipated to be at end of month.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued Resolution 2304 in August last year, allowing deployment of more than 4,000 troops to beef up the existing 13,000 UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) force.

South Sudan's Transitional Government of National Unity confirmed its unconditional consent to the deployment of the force in a communiqué to the UN Security Council on November 30, 2016.

The regional protection forces, once deployed, will be mandated to protect key installations like the Juba airport, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and provide protection to the civilians.

The regional forces are also expected to further strengthen the security of UN protection of civilians' sites and other UN premises.

South Sudan's civil war broke out in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

Machar denied the accusation but later mobilised a strong rebel movement.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 led to the formation of a coalition government but was again devastated by fresh violence that broke out in July last year.

Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, with millions of others displaced and over 4 million people left severely food insecure since December 2013.

(ST)

July 20, 2017 (JUBA) - Members of the Troika and the European Union have condemned the continuing violence in South Sudan, especially the current offensive by government forces against the country's armed opposition (SPLM-IO) forces near Pagak town.

Pagak, located on South Sudan's border with Ethiopia, has been a military stronghold for rebel forces loyal to former First-Vice President, Riek Machar.

The Pagak offensive, they said in a joint statement, is a clear violation of the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Salva Kiir on 22 May, and calls into question the Juba government's commitment to reach peace through the national dialogue, notwithstanding the sincere efforts undertaken by the leaders of the steering committee.

“The Troika and EU repeat and endorse the June 12 call by the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for President Kiir to ensure that his forces respect the unilateral ceasefire, for the armed opposition groups to reciprocate the ceasefire, and for all groups to allow the unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need,” reads the statement.

Both the Troika and EU members welcomed IGAD's announcement of a High-Level Revitalization Forum for the South Sudan peace process and called upon the regional bloc to expeditiously convene the forum, and to include the current principal parties to the conflict.

“Likewise, we urge all parties to fully participate in the forum. The Troika and EU agree with IGAD that the Forum should focus on achieving a ceasefire and resuming political dialogue that focuses on updating the agreement's timelines and other provisions that are now obsolete in light of the expansion of conflict since 2015,” adds the joint statement.

The Troika and EU members said the proliferation of violence, displacement, and food insecurity renders any discussion of elections in the foreseeable future as an unnecessary diversion from the primary goals of achieving peace and reconciliation.

“South Sudan's leaders, neighbors, and regional and international partners must first focus on achieving peace in order to create the conditions needed to hold credible elections,” their statement noted.

“To achieve these urgent goals, we look forward to the prompt revitalization of an inclusive and credible peace process by IGAD,” it added, vowing to support institutions designed to implement the accord that temporarily ended the conflict.

CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

Michael J. Sison, the U.S deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Thursday that the 15-member Security Council needed to hold the South Sudanese parties on the ground accountable for their broken promises.

“We called on the parties to stop fighting, commit to a political process, and allow for unfettered humanitarian access, but virtually none of these steps happened. So this Council must be prepared to hold the parties accountable for their inaction and for the continued suffering of South Sudan's people,” Sison told the Security Council.

“The Council must put real pressure on the parties to change their behavior”, he added.

Last week, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, David Shearer said there was "heavy fighting" and an "extremely worrying" situation in Pagak, forcing civilians and aid workers to flee.

At least 5,000 civilians, he said, have been forced out of their homes.

According to Shearer, thousands of South Sudanese civilians are fleeing to neighbouring Ethiopia as government troops and its allied forces advanced towards Pagak town, expressing grave concerns about what was already the world's fastest growing refugee crisis.

Stressing there was no military solution to the South Sudan conflict, Shearer called upon all the warring both factions to stop the fighting.

The South Sudanese conflict started in mid-December 2013 when President Kiir accused Machar of a coup attempt. Since then, tens of thousands of people been killed and more than 2 million displaced.

(ST)

July 20, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir Thursday travelled to the neighbouring Uganda for talks on bilateral relations and regional issue with his counterpart Yoweri Museveni, according to the government officials.

The presidents of Uganda and South Sudan Yoweri Museveni (L) and Salva Kiir walk side by side (Photo: Getty Images)

The visit also comes the after the postponement of the third meeting on the reunification of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) factions. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to break the deadlock in the negotiations.

Minister Mayiik Ayii Deng told reporters at Juba airport that the South Sudanese leader was going to discuss regional issues with his Ugandan counterpart. The issue of army worms, a destructive insect which attacked and destroyed crops, mainly maize flour in the region including some part of South Sudan was going to be one of the agendas which the two leaders would discuss.

The Presidential aide further said the head of state would use the visit to share his views with experts and the government of Uganda on how best the two countries could combine efforts to address the situation.

Other issues, he said will be an extension of appreciation to President Museveni for attending the launching and swearing in of the steering committee of the National Dialogue. President Museveni, according to minister Deng, has been very supportive of the process as the way to end the war.

President Kiir was seen off at Juba airport on departure by a line of government officials, including the Vice President James Wani Igga. He was accompanied by Minister of Defence, Kuol Manyang Juuk, Minister of Wild Conservation and SPLM Acting Secretary, Jemma Nunu Kumba and other officials.

SPLM REUNIFICATION

Informed sources said the visit takes place on the request of his Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who wants to consult with President Kiir over the way forward after the SPLM-IO refusal to join the SPLM reunification process in Kampala.

The SPLM-In-Opposition group led by the former First Vice President Riek Machar declined an invitation to participate in the third SPLM reunification meeting scheduled for July 12, 2017

The absence of the main armed group forced the parties who have travelled to the venue to defer the meeting. Instead, they asked the Ugandan President who hosts the talks to conduct wider consultation with leaders of the factions to come up with views of what would constitute the agenda of the discussions.

The representatives of the faction loyal to President Kiir returned to Juba and delivered him the message in which President Museveni asked him to meet in Uganda for talks over how he could proceed with the process. The receipt of the message caused the president to travel.

In principle, the SPLM-IO says a search for a sustainable peace should be the critical priority than the reconciliation of the SPLM factions or implementation of the “collapsed agreement.”

Also, last June, the rebel leader declined an invitation for his group to attend the reunification process meeting in Uganda pointing to the need to lift his confinement in South Africa. He said he cannot come or send a delegation without prior consultations with the group leadership body.

Machar reiterated his commitment to peace and urged Ugandan government to consider supporting a new political process for peace talks to peacefully resolve the ongoing conflict in the country after the resumption of the conflict in July 2016 when he forced to flee.

Between 25 and 26 May 2017, Museveni hosted a meeting aimed at the reunification of the different factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). But the Former Political Detainees (FDs) faction of the SPLM, declined to sign a deal reached at the meeting calling for the inclusiveness of the process.

Initially the meeting excluded Machar group, which signed Arusha agreement on 21 January 2015., while the SPLM-IO of Taban Deng Gai took part in the discussion.

(ST)

Wrapping up a four-day mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations humanitarian chief today urged the world &#8220not to forget the DRC,&#8221 and called for scaled-up relief funding to help millions of people suffering from violence, diseases, and malnutrition.

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

July 20, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - The European Union (EU) on Thursday commended the ruling party, Ethiopia peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) for opening space for dialogue with opposition parties.

Currently, 21 political parties, including the ruling coalition EPRDF are engaged in consultations and debate to bring about political reform in a bid to strengthen democratic culture in the horn of Africa's nation.

The political parties dialogue was launched in January intends to allow legally operating opposition parties who lost Parliamentary seats to play own political roles on major national issues.

The reform initiative also intends to address public demands who had long sought for more political inclusiveness to accelerate the democratisation process of the country.

"EU is very happy and welcome the ongoing political dialogue with civil society and political parties," said Chantal Hebbercht, EU head delegation to Ethiopia after discussions between ambassadors of EU member states and Prime Minister Hailemariam

Hebberchat told reporters here in Addis Ababa that this kind of direct dialogue with parties, the people and civic society is very crucial in the democratisation process.

Some opposition officials taking part in the ongoing national dialogue today told Sudan Tribune that the initiative the ruling party had taken is a major step forward towards strengthening the country's democratic culture.

They said the initiative of engaging the different parties in a political negotiation and dialogue would open the doors for political space and in building participatory democracy and political pluralism in the country.

According to Teshome Toga, Ethiopian Ambassador to EU, the delegation was briefed by the Premier on the effort regarding the in-depth reform that the government has been pursuing and the political reform being undertaken through dialogue with political parties and civic societies.

EPRDF opened a room to opposition political parties to sit for the negotiations after growing public complaints in connection with lack of transparency and absence of open discussion between the ruling party and other political parties.

Reforms in the electoral process and on the controversial anti-terrorism as well as other major national issues which had differences with the ruling and other parties are among some national agendas tabled on the ongoing consultations and debate.

The Ethiopian government has invited the EU member states to follow the ongoing negotiation among the parties focused on various agendas.

Ambassadors of EU member states residing in Addis Ababa each year hold dialogue on the partnership with Ethiopia in accordance with the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, signed in Cotonou, Benin in June 2000.

(ST)

July 20, 2017 (WASHINGTON) - U.S. State Department Thursday has welcomed Khartoum decision to continue its participation in a joint committee over the permanent revocation of economic sanctions.

In response to the delay of sanctions relief, Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on 13 July decided to suspend the participation of his government in the joint committee until the 12 October, the date of the upcoming decision.

However, following a visit to Riyadh on Tuesday 18 July where he met with the Saudi King Salman and the Crown Prince Mohamed Ibn Salman, the Sudanese president -in a joint communiqué- agreed to a Saudi request to continue the joint meetings with the U.S. official agencies for the permanent lift of economic embargo.

"The United States welcomes the recent announcements by the Governments of Sudan and Saudi Arabia underscoring Sudan's commitment to sustain positive dialogue with the United States and to continue collective efforts to fight terrorism," said the State Department in a statement on Thursday.

Washington explained its decision to postpone the lift of sanctions saying they need further to discuss with Khartoum, human rights, religious freedom and Sudan's commitments to the sanctions on North Korea.

At the same time, it praised Khartoum cooperation on the counterterrorism and reiterated its commitment to the five tracks framework.

Also on Wednesday, for the first time since 1993, the State Department applauded Khartoum cooperation in the fight against ISIS group adding it has stopped its support to Hamas and other terrorist groups.

"As outlined in the 2016 U.S. Country Report on Terrorism issued July 19, the United States notes Sudan's improved counterterrorism efforts through enhanced interagency and international cooperation to address the threat from ISIS and other terrorist organizations, and its willingness to pursue counterterrorism operations alongside regional partners, including operations to counter threats to U.S. interests and personnel in Sudan," said the statement.

The two countries have three months to address the three points put by Washington on the negotiating table, before the 12 October.

Saudi Arabia pledged to continue its efforts to convince the President Donald Trump to repeal Sudan's sanctions, but it is not clear if he would be able to disregard the pressure of the Congress and activists.

(ST)

What is life like for those involved in Europe's great migration?

Our correspondent visits the ancient city of Harar as it celebrates its 1,010th anniversary.

July 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese security agents Wednesday have blocked hundreds of Darfurians students studying in the White Nile State outside the Sudanese capital where they intended to protest against punitive measures by their university.

According to the opposition sources, over 1000 students of University of Bakht Al-Ruda (UB) in White Nile State resigned from the university and decided to travel to the Sudanese capital to demand the release of their colleagues accused of killing two police officers during violent student clashes last May.

After failing to stop the protesters in Ed Dueim town where the university is located, the National Intelligence Security Service (NISS) blocked the protesters in Sheikh Alyacout area near Jebel Awliya south to the capital Khartoum on Tuesday.

Sudanese opposition parties and armed groups condemned the blockade of the university students outside Khartoum where they spent the night in the open. Amnesty International also denounced the bad treatment of the protesters and called to "protect them and ensure that their grievances are heard".

Also, a delegation of the opposition parties visited the protesters and decided to provide them with the needed support. Further, they decided to form a legal committee composed of lawyers to follow up the issues of Darfur students.

The protesters demand the release of 10 students accused of killing the policemen. Also, they want the readmission of 14 other students who were expelled from the university.

During the recent years, the NISS used to target students from Darfur region and suspect them of supporting the hold out armed groups.

In a related development, the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) said the security services arrested the four-member delegation in Jebel Awlyia after their visit to the protesting students in the afternoon.

The arrested are Ibrahim al-Sheikh the former chairman of the opposition party and the member of the SCoP Central Council, Abu Bakr Yousef, the political secretary, Amani Malik, deputy human rights secretary and Mwahib Magzoub the party political secretary in Khartoum State.

On Wednesday morning, security agents arrested, Suleiman Khalifa Dinari, SCoP deputy head in Khartoum State. However, he has been released 5 hours after.

(ST)

July 18, 2017 (YEI) - Children suffering from the ongoing violence and poverty in war-torn South Sudan have urged the country's political leaders to restore peace and stability in South Sudan's town of Yei.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (C) poses for a picture after the government swearing in with his first deputy Riek Machar (R) and second deputy James Wani on 29 April 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The situation in Yei, located about 150 kilometres south of the capital, Juba is currently dire following last year's outbreak of the violent conflict.

According to the United Nations, 70% of the population in Yei town fled last year after fierce fighting erupted between government and opposition forces, leaving the largely a “ghost” town.

The ongoing conflict in Yei has prevented cultivating crops because of the ongoing insecurity, murders, abductions, rape, and lootings.

Some children are reportedly remaining in Yei town, including a number of orphans who have sought sanctuary at the Catholic founded Christ the King Primary School.

2 MILLION CHILDREN DISPLACED

Over 2,000 children have been killed or injured, and much more have witnessed horrific violence due to the raging civil war in South Sudan, the U.N Children Fund (UNICEF), said in a new report released on the eve of the country's independence.

Millions of children in South Sudan, it said, are suffering unthinkable hardships and setbacks in their education, nutrition, and health.

UNICEF released its report ahead of South Sudan's sixth Independence Day on 9 July.

According to UNICEF, more than two million children have been forced from their homes to escape the fighting in a country with the highest percentage of children out of school, in the world.

South Sudan's war, sparked when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup in 2013, has been marked by numerous atrocities against civilians despite the presence of thousands of UN peacekeeping troops.

(ST)

July 19, 2017 (JUBA) - The United Nations says it plans to open a new base in the conflict-hit Yei region of South Sudan if the warring parties allow its peacekeepers unfettered access to outlying villages.

The Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), David Shearer, visited the town yesterday on a mission to assess the needs of the community against the value of establishing a base.

The head of the UN mission in the country (UNMISS), David Shearer said several conditions must be met before the world body commits to a new base, including guaranteed access for peacekeepers to areas outside the town, the cooperation of local authorities, and a grassroots peace process that is genuinely inclusive.

“There's no point just talking to your friends. You have to talk to your enemies too or there will be no peace,” said Shearer.

Yei, an agricultural area that was relatively peaceful, became volatile in 2016 when violence erupted between government and Opposition forces as they fought for control over the strategic region.

Due to the renewed violence, most of the population reportedly fled, leaving Yei a ghost town, which it largely remains today amidst the ongoing violence, human rights abuses, and extreme poverty.

Shearer, however, expressed concerns that Yei region, the former breadbasket of war-torn South Sudan instead needed food aid.

“Everything you would want is here and yet it has been destroyed by war. Seventy per cent of the population is no longer here. They are in refugee camps or displaced.

"That's the real tragedy so whatever we can do to try and support bringing back Yei to what it was, we will try and do,” he said.

Members of Yei State Transitional Legislative Assembly, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, women and youth representatives support the establishment of a new UN base in the town to provide protection and help build a durable peace.

The state assembly speaker, Naphtali Hassen Gale, said there was little evidence of rule of law in the town and many crimes were tolerated instead of being prosecuted.

“This had created a breakdown between the Government and the people and it would take time to restore confidence again,” stressed Gale.

But while a local peace agreement was signed last month, many in the community say, unless killings, abduction, rape and robberies stop, there is little hope of enduring peace or the recovery of the once vibrant and prosperous Yei region.

UNMISS was established on 8 July 2011 by UN Security Council Resolution 1996 (2011). As of August 2015, it comprised of 12,523 total personnel, 11,350 military, and 1,173 police personnel. It is headquartered in the South Sudanese capital Juba.

(ST)

July 19, 2017 (WASHINGTON) - U.S. State Department Wednesday once again praised Sudan for its counterterrorism cooperation with the American agencies and described the east African country as a "cooperative partner" despite its designation as a pariah state.

In June 2016 Washington for the first time publically praised Khartoum for its cooperation on counterterrorism. Also in September of last year, it acknowledged Sudan's efforts in the global fight of the Islamic State group.

However, in its annual report on international terrorism for 2016 released on Wednesday, the State Department underscored Sudan's positive cooperation but maintained the east African country in its small list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism" with Iran and Syria.

"(...) Countering terrorism is today a national security priority for Sudan, and Sudan is a cooperative partner of the United States on counterterrorism, despite its continued presence on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List," said the report which is released on Wednesday.

The State Department stated that during the year 2016 there were no terrorist attacks in Sudan. It further said the Sudanese government didn't tolerate or assist terrorist groups during the period covered by this report.

"Reports indicate that the Government of Sudan ceased providing Hamas (with) any direct support as they did in years past," it added.

In its report of 2015, the State Department mentioned Sudan cooperation to counter the terrorist threats but pointed to the declining support for Hamas which had been in the past allowed to raise funds, travel, and live in Sudan.

Following the signing of the five-track framework in 2016, Khartoum has enhanced its cooperation to combat terrorist groups in the region the reports stressed.

"The Sudanese government has taken steps to improve its counterterrorism efforts through enhanced interagency and international cooperation to address the ISIS threat".

Recently, President Donald Trump postponed the lift of economic sanctions on Sudan but underlined Khartoum's cooperation on counterterrorism. The State Department pointed to the need to further discuss human rights, religious freedom and Sudan's commitment to UN sanctions on North Korea.

Being a designated as a sponsor of terror, Sudan remains under a special regime of sanctions including a ban on arms-related exports and sales; controls over exports of dual-use items, prohibitions on economic assistance and imposition of financial and other restrictions.

Sudan was labelled as a State Sponsor of Terrorism on August 12, 1993, for its support to three Palestinian terrorist groups, including the Abu Nidal Organisation, Palestine Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and Hizballah.

(ST)

July 19, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan's rebel leader, Riek Machar said the late Kawac Makuei Mayar, who died last Saturday, deserves a state burial for roles he played in the struggle for self-determination and the independence of South Sudan.

South Sudan's opposition leader Riek Machar speaks during a briefing in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa April 9, 2016 (Photo Reuters/ Tiksa Negeri)

Machar said he learnt of the death of Mayar, a war veteran and one of the founding members of South Sudan's 1983 rebel movement, with sadness.

He described the departed veteran politician as a committed nationalist who fought for self-determination and independence of South Sudan from neighbouring Sudan.

“He [Mayar] shall also be remembered for his courage, honesty and integrity. Above all, he was a friendly person," said Machar on Wednesday.

"He shall be missed not only by his family but all. He was a towering figure in the political life of South Sudan that deserves state burial in recognition of his role”, he added.

Kawac died on Saturday morning in Juba on a return trip from Cairo, Egypt, where he sought medical attention. It was not clear what the illness with which he was battling and the level of severity that took him to Egypt for treatment, and whether or not the death is associated with the condition of his health. The family members have confirmed he died but did not release the detail to the public.

LEGACY OF THE LATE VETERAN COMMANDER

The veteran soldier became a towering figure after taking to the bush and fought in the first, second and third wars as a leader in the Anyanya one during the First Sudanese Civil War in 1955. When the first war ended in 1972 with the signing of the peace agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he decided to return to the bush in 1983 when peace could not meet the expectations of South Sudanese and became one of the founding members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).

He, however, joined the Anyanya 1 movement between 1962 and 1963 and became a major by the time the Addis Ababa Accord of 1972 was signed. He did not integrate into the Sudanese army but served in the regional government brought by the peace agreement as a member of parliament in Juba. Kawac became Commander of the Jamus battalion in the SPLA, resulting into a successful operation into Wathkec, on the Mouth of the Jonglei Cana, in February 1984 as the commanding officer of Jamus brigade.

His military knowledge and experience reportedly resulted into successful military operations that opened up the way for recruits from Bahr el Ghazal, western and northern Upper Nile regions to pass to the military training camps in Ethiopia.

Kawac inspired and trekked with thousands of recruits from Bahr el Ghazal for a long walk to Ethiopia at the inception of the movement. He fell out with late John Garang, founding leader of the SPLM in September 1984 over the death of Benjamin Bol Akok, a former minister in the regional government in Juba. Late Akok whose death annoyed Kawac and protested it was the first SPLM official representative to the United Kingdom (UK) when the movement was founded. Akok was killed in Ethiopia on his way to London after visiting the headquarters of the SPLM at the Sudan and Ethiopia border. His death caused commotion, resulting in the arrest of commander Kawac in September 1984.

Garang, it is said, feared Kawac would mobilize men he recruited and who formed the majority of the rebel forces against the leadership of the movement in which he also arrested several other influential figures in the movement, centralizing leadership around him.

Kawac left the movement after the split in 1991 forced his release and on 21 April 1997 and he was among southern leaders who signed the Khartoum Peace Agreement of 1997, representing the Bahr al-Ghazal Independence Movement for Southern Sudan. The Agreement provided for self-governance of the south during a transitional period when a referendum would be held on the future form of government. That agreement was boycotted by the faction under the leadership of John Garang with whom he fell out and the left the movement.

He was appointed governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State as part of the provisions of the peace agreement. In June 1998 an attack was made on his house, apparently by members of a rival pro-government militia. When the civil war ended in January 2005, Kawac Makuei was appointed Chairperson of the Southern Sudan War Veterans Commission by the Government of South Sudan.

In February 2010, he declared his candidacy for governorship of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, running on the United Democratic Salvation Front platform. In the April 2010 election, the incumbent Paul Malong Awan of the SPLM got 162,209, General Dau Aturjong Nyuol won 84,452 and Kawac Makuei Kawac trailed with 9,854 votes.

(ST)

The United Nations health agency is scaling up cholera response in South Sudan, where 17,785 cases, including 320 deaths, have been reported since the outbreak in June 2106.

Highlighting challenges facing South Sudan, a senior United Nations official today underlined that overcoming obstacles borne of a volatile combination of insecurity and political uncertainty is critical for the war-torn country to be put on the track to peace and stability.

Urgent action is needed now towards the meaningful participation of women in peace processes, as well ensuring their voices are heard in all aspects of society, the United Nations deputy chief told reporters in Abuja today as part of a first-ever UN-African Union trip focused on women, peace and security.

July 19, 2017 (JUBA) - Reporters Without Borders also known as Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) Wednesday has called for the release of the director of South Sudan's state-owned national TV broadcaster, SSBC, detained since nine days ago by the security service.

Adil Faris Mayat (Photo from his page on Twitter)

Adil Faris Mayat has been arrested on 10 July after the station failed to relay a live broadcast of President Salva Kiir's speech during the sixth independence day anniversary held on 9 July.

According to RSF, Mayat attributed this failure of the live broadcast to technical problems. However, the South Sudanese officials were angered considered it as an act meant to undermine the South Sudanese president.

“We call for this journalist's immediate release,” said Cléa Kahn-Sriber, the head of RSF's Africa desk. “Frequent arbitrary measures of this kind by the security services and the accompanying impunity are killing media freedom in South Sudan and are holding back a return to peace and national reconciliation,” he said.

The director of the official TV station is detained without charges.

The freedom of information advocacy group further said that his family or lawyer have no information about his whereabouts or the conditions in which he is being held.

South Sudan has fallen 20 places in RSF's World Press Freedom Index since 2015 and is now ranked 145th out of 180 countries.

(ST)

July 19, 2017 (RIYADH) - Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir Tuesday said his country would continue its efforts to improve Sudan's relations with the United States and to lift the economic sanctions imposed on Sudan.

The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir has arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the second leg of an Arab Gulf tour that also took him to the UAE.

Last week, al-Bashir decided to suspend the participation of his government in a joint committee on the permanent revocation of sanctions in response to a decision by President Donald Trump to postpone his decision on the embargo for three months.

However, he agreed to a Saudi request to continue positive engagement with the U.S. administration and its official agencies for the permanent lift of economic sanctions on Khartoum.

In a joint statement with his Sudanese counterpart at the end of al-Bashir's visit to Riyadh Tuesday, al-Jubeir said they believe that Khartoum made significant progress to lift the economic sanctions and remove its name from the U.S. list of states sponsors of terror.

“We would continue our efforts in coordination with our brothers in Sudan and other brothers in the region to find a solution to return this situation to normal so that Sudan could focus on development, economy and prosperity,” he said.

Last January, former U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order easing the 19-year Sudan sanctions on a probationary basis. The sanctions relief was to become permanent on 12 July unless the U.S. Administration acted to stop it.

On 12 July, Washington said it needs to discuss with Khartoum the human rights situation and religious freedom in the east African country, besides its commitment to UN sanctions on North Korea.

It is noteworthy that Sudan was placed on the U.S. terrorism list in 1993 over allegations it was harbouring Islamist militants working against regional and international targets.

Despite intense lobbying by Khartoum, the U.S. administration kept Sudan on the terrorism list drawing frustration and rebuke from Sudanese officials.

Ahead of President Trump's decision on sanctions relief on 12 July, the U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said her country has no plans to remove Sudan from the list of states that sponsor terrorism.

“I can tell you one thing, and that is the designation of Sudan as a state sponsor of terror will remain,” she said.

COMBATING TERRORISM

Meanwhile, al-Jubeir said the talks between King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with President al-Bashir on Tuesday have dealt with regional developments and ways to combat extremism and terrorism.

“The two countries are key partners in the Islamic [military] alliance to fight terrorism and extremism and partners in the coalition to support the legitimacy in Yemen and the two countries are also partners in the work to combat extremism and terrorism financing,” he said.

Last month, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt severed ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting Islamist terrorist groups and arch-foe Iran. But Doha vehemently denies the charges.

Sudan is among the Arab states that refused to take part in the ongoing diplomatic crisis and declared its support for the Kuwaiti efforts to settle the rift.

(ST)

July 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Defence Minister Awad Ibn Ouf Wednesday discussed with the head of UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Jean-Pierre Lacroix the implementation of the Security Council's resolution to reduce the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

Last month, the UNSC unanimously approved a resolution to extend the mandate of the UNAMID until 30 June 2018 and to reduce by a half its troops.

The hybrid mission will be reduced by withdrawing the military personnel by 44% and that of the police component by 30%, the closure of 11 team sites in the first phase and the withdrawal of the military component from another 7 team sites in the second phase.

According to the official news agency SUNA, Ibn Ouf praised UNAMID's efforts to achieve peace and stability in Sudan, welcoming the U.N. decision to downsize the mission.

He said the decision indicates the stability of security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, expressing hope that the mission would continue its efforts to convince the rebel movements to join the peace and dialogue process.

The defence minister further expressed army's readiness to provide all forms of assistance and facilities to enable the mission to implement the reduction decision in coordination with the joint committees formed for this purpose.

For his part, Lacroix thanked the Ministry of Defence, hoping for further coordination in order to achieve the desired goals and make a positive shift in peace-related issues, including empowering the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to carry out its duty and to complete the Joint Monitoring and Verification Committees.

The newly appointed French diplomat will visit Abyei to meet UNISFA chief and inspect the situation in the disputed border area, after what he will move to South Sudan to meet South Sudanese officials and UN peacekeeping mission in the restive country.

The hybrid mission has been deployed in Darfur since December 2007 with a mandate to stem violence against civilians in the western Sudan's region.

It is the world's second largest international peacekeeping force with an annual budget of $1.35 billion and almost 20,000 troops.

(ST)

July 19, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan president Salva Kiir has assigned the governor of Tonj state, Aker Tong Aleu, to spearhead the state of emergency situation he declared in Wau, Aweil East, Gogrial and parts of Tonj states.

President Salva Kiir addresses the nation from the State House on September 15, 2015, in Juba (Photo AFP/Charles Atiki Lomodong)

Aleu is expected to visit each of the states where emergency was declared or summon the governor in each of the state for briefings and provide guide on what needed to be done to improve the security situation in these areas.

He said it was an honour to oversee the security situation in the four states for three months. Some of the area where emergency was declared have witnessed significant unrest in past months, mainly communal conflicts in Gogrial, Jonglei and Tonj states.

Observers have, however, interpreted the order to mean an attempt by the president to deter supporters of the former chief of staff Paul Malong Awan from resorting to armed opposition in protest over the manner in which he was treated.

Awan remains under confinement since he returned to capital, Juba, after he abruptly left immediately following the announcement of his removal from the position. All his supporters in the military and other key institutions have been removed from influential positions and placed under strict security surveillance.

Kiir on Tuesday convened an emergency meeting of the national security committee in the capital, Juba a day after declaring a state of emergency in parts of the country.

The meeting followed the communal clashes in four states. The state of emergency covered parts of Aweil East, Wau, Gogrial and Jonglei states.

The order did not mention which specific places in the state were affected. It not known which areas will be affected since such a declaration is usually followed by the introduction of special measures such as increased powers for the police or army, usually connected to civil unrest or natural disasters like earthquakes.

Martial laws apply for civil unrest in the area and in most cases, the measures affect operations of local schools and other economic activities since it hampers movement.

(ST)