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The 28th Anniversary of the National Islamic Front Coup in Sudan

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 09:16

By Mahmoud A. Suleiman

The Friday, June 30, 2017 marks the 28th anniversary of the military Coup d'état, led by the notorious National Islamic Front (NIF), the global Muslim Brotherhood Movement (MBM) which undermined the democratically elected government in Sudan to litter the land with corruption, genocidal killing, displacement and impoverishment. During their reign Sudan became a rogue and pariah state in the eyes of the world because of the criminal acts practiced by the gang of the ruling regime of the National Congress Party (NCP). At this moment we remember a huge number of revolutionary figures who martyred and went as the victims of the crimes of Omer Hassan Ahmed al- Bashir and the entourage of his regime. We remember and salute the martyrs of the Darfur region, the martyrs of Kordofan, the martyrs of the south of the Sudan and the martyrs of the Manaseer region, martyrs of Gezira and the martyrs of Port Sudan. The Sudanese people will remember the killing of Majdi Mahjoub, pilot Girgis and Doctor Ali Fadul along with the martyrs of Ramadan 28, martyrs of the area Manaseer and Kajbar and the martyrs of the Intifada and the martyrs 19 September 2013.

During these times, we remember prisoners of war and prisoners of conscience who have been languishing in the in the prisons of the ruling regime of the outgoing National Congress Party and we commend and highly value their great signs of steadfastness. We hope Healing for wounded everywhere in the swathes of Sudan.

The National Islamic Front (NIF), as soon as rested assured on the helm, considered the people of Sudan in the Southern Sudan, region of Darfur and the marginalised territories as its prime archenemies and declared Jihad warfare against the civilian Sudanese citizens. They classified Sudanese people according to the concept of either with us or against us. In their quest for empowerment, (NIF) hard-liners adopted a policy of dismissal of government employees allegedly thought potentially disloyal under the pretext of the so-called 'Public Good/Interest'. Thus, hundreds of workers and officials in the Civil Service have been dismissed and replaced by inept unqualified individuals affiliated to the (NIF). The (NIF) Putschists gave the nickname of (Dismissal for Pubic Good) that phenomenologically farcical process.

Furthermore, they portrayed the war against the Southern Sudan, Sudan People's Liberation Movement Army (SPLM/A) Rebels as a Jihad employing the regular Sudan Armed Force (SAF) and the militia Popular Defence Forces (PDF) which they portrayed as Mujahideen. The Majority of the (PDF) were conscripts from amongst high school, college and university students. Regular TV programme calling for jihad against the infidels known as (In the backyards of redemption) accompanied. NIF described their dead as martyrs and described the other dead in southern Sudan war as (Matt Fetaiz), the phrase means that others slain by their army as Rotten Fetid Corpses- according to their own words and phraseology. On the political front, the putschist regime dissolved the parliament, political parties and their representatives, who were members of it and imposed emergency laws all over the Sudan, and seized the banks and they by virtue of a deterrent decreed penalty included lynching for every person who owned hard foreign currencies such as the US dollar, British Pound after the forfeiture and the confiscation of the amount. Moreover, they claimed that they came with what they called as Civilisational Project and Apostolic Orientation for the Islamisation of Sudan and the people of the country. Furthermore, they claimed that they will fight America and Russia which their Torment has approached they have met what hurts them, so to speak! However, hypocrisy is lanyard as the popular saying goes, and very soon the putschists agreed secretly with the US intelligence agency (CIA) to provide intelligence on the movements of Islamic jihadist terrorists that had taken Khartoum as a safe haven refuge.

The putschist entity of (NIF) had committed a heinous crime against their companions in the Sudan Armed Force (SAF), which included non-commissioned officers and officers of more than thirty on the pretext that they were involved in an alleged military coup attempt against them. The Execution of those 28 military officers took place on the Holy Month of Ramadan, which coincided April 23, 1990, in an ugly image representing treachery and betrayal. Thus, began the first step towards dismantling the Sudanese army in favour of the lords of the National Islamic Front (NIF) until the armed forces have become a monopoly; but later replaced by the Janjaweed militias and mercenaries that waged proxy civil wars on behalf of Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir and his entourage against the Sudanese unarmed noncombatant civilian citizens in Darfur where crimes of genocide have been systematically committed, 28 years on today's date.

Darfur Forced to Take up to Arms
Moreover, when the people of Darfur who have suffered from systematic marginalisation by the successive governments led by the political elites, the majority of whom were descendants from the Northern Region since the Independence of Sudan in January 1956 from British colonialists rule. The then Brigadier Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, virtually the leader of the regime, said publicly that he would not negotiate with anyone who did not carry weapons. Bashir's statement forced the young men of the Region to take up to arms on February 2003 in quest for the legitimate rights of citizenship which include wealth sharing and power sharing and removal of systematic marginalisation and chronic deprivation which they and their people suffered and rights have been denied for so long. Moreover, they included those grievances in the Black Book imbalance of power and wealth in Sudan written around the end of the year 1999 by intellectuals from the Darfur region, a group led by Martyr Dr Khalil Ibrahim Muhammad, Allah forgive him and bless his soul.

The Janjaweed unleashed to run havoc
When the army and Janjaweed militias of the regime subjected to defeats at the hands of gallant Darfur armed movements rebel forces in all locations and battle fields, the Khartoum government has decided to take revenge on civilians rather than confronting the rebels. It unleashed the Janjaweed militias to wreak havoc and corruption on earth, burning villages and looting the property of citizens and killing women, kids and the elderly. Based on the war crimes perpetrated in the form of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant to apprehend the head of the regime Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir. Furthermore, the (ICC) issued arrest warrants of the former Defence Minister Abdelrahim Mohammed Hussein and Ahmed Mohamed Haroun, former state minister of interior, and Ali Abdelrahman Kushayb, leader of the Janjaweed militias, all of whom remain fugitives from international justice. Moreover, the NCP regime in order to be capable of carrying out further atrocious crimes against the people of Sudan in Darfur worked relentlessly for getting rid of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). However, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) continued extending the period of the (UNAMID) Force yearly. Accordingly, the UN Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union have considered extending the Mandate of (UNAMID) for 12 months, until 30 June 2017, without modifying its priorities or adjusting its authorised troop and police ceiling. http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2016/510.

NCP regime waging War on Citizens while swathes of Sudan's land occupied by Foreigners
The (NCP) regime has been waging futile warfare against fellow citizens while swathes of the soil of Sudan remain under the occupation by foreign neighbouring countries. These are the Sudanese territories occupied by the Egyptian army in Halayeb and Shalateen In addition to an area of 600 thousand in Fashaga occupied by Ethiopia. The (NCP) regime behaves, as the popular proverb says, he behaves as a lion on unarmed noncombatant civilian citizens of Sudan in Darfur though just an Ostrich in wars with who attacked and seized a vast swathes of areas of the dear homeland!

Inciting Intertribal Warfare
Furthermore, in the Darfur region, the regime of the NCP sought in addition to the crimes of genocide to fragment the eternal social fabric of the citizens by dividing the region into five states based on the tribal lines. As expected, that led into tribal strife and intertribal warfare. Worse, the regime held a bogus referendum for the revocation of the region so as the word and opinion of the people of Darfur fragmented and divided toward their vital issues. Thus, the NCP regime vehemently opposed to Darfur remaining as one region and opted for dismantling it into warring tribal cantons with fragmentation of the social fabric.

Systematic Government Corruption Widespread
The epidemic of government corruption remained widely spread in the decadence era of the (NIF). They looted the country's oil and gold revenues to foreign banks under the names of relatives of influential people in the regime of the National Congress Party accounts. Furthermore, the putschists as well as sold the major productive state institutions such as the Gezira irrigated agriculture project, Sudan Airways, Sudan Shipping Lines, Sudan railway corporation and privatisation of education and health services and so on! Moreover, they sold the famous Sudan House in the Knight Bridge neighbourhood in London cheaply to a crony investor of the (NCP) regime as well selling the airstrip of the Sudan Airways (Sudan air) at Heathrow Airport. For the legalisation of corruption, the Islamism regime of the (NCP) decided to urge the religious Sheikhs affiliated to it introducing the so-called (Tahalul), meaning biodegradable decomposition and disintegration, which according to their Religious Fatwa removes “Haram” and make it Halal! Still the worse is on the way. The racist supremacist elements in the regime made the unity in Sudan unattractive to the citizens of Southern Sudan through racism by making them take the option of secession and formation of their own nascent state, South Sudan, in 2011. There are plenty of calamities brought about by the ruling regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) to the disenfranchised people of Sudan, but the space does not accommodate the entire reminder.

The genocidal criminal Omar al-Bashir and his Islamism claiming entourage will remain held responsible for the heinous crimes they perpetrated in the rights of the Sudanese people over the 27 lean years of oppressive putschist regime. Thus, autocracy and reign of terror continued for past 27 years despite the fact that the people of Sudan used in the past staunch advocates of fighting for freedom, October 21, 1964, and April 1985 Revolutions as examples.

Unlimited support the genocidal criminal Omar al-Bashir from the African Union
Omar al-Bashir and his regime took proxy civil wars of attrition safe haven to protect him from the International Court of Court's (ICC) grip, which has been pursuing him since 2009. This is in addition to the support he receives from the Dictators Club called the African Union (AU) based in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Most of the members of the forum there are afraid of the spin of the circle upon them and fall under the accountability of the international Tribunal. The majority of the Club Members practised systemic repression and continued committing atrocities against the people of their countries.

Support from Some members in the International Community
The (NCP) regime receives political support provided by some permanent members of the UN Security Council. That support is in lieu of the intersecting interests in the form of intelligence on terrorism by the Islamic Jihadi groups from Egypt, Libya and other neighbouring countries, which take Khartoum as refuge on their belief that the Islamist regime of the National Congress Party would give them protection.

EU –Sudan Agreement to Curb Migration exodus from the Horn of Africa to European shores by rewarding the Génocidaire Omer al-Bashir
It is not so exciting or surprising if we look at what the European Union (EU) recently trying to strike a deal with Khartoum. (EU) planned for reaching an agreement with the ruling regime in Sudan for reducing migrants coming from the Horn of Africa countries to Europe through Libya. Germany is to provide an amount of one hundred million euros to Sudan, in addition to the establishment of camps in Eastern Sudan for refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia, and Somalia. Moreover, there is other additional package of facilities for the training of Sudanese police in Germany to carry out the task of reducing immigration to Europe. They ignored and flouted all the crimes committed by the head of the ruling regime of the NCP, Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir against humanity against the people of Sudan in Darfur, and fugitive from international justice and indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Machiavellian doctrine of end justifies the means continues in operation.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and UNAMID Size and Mandate Change in Darfur
To make bad situation worse, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) decided to reduce the size of the UNAMID Mission in Darfur by 50% and as well as changing its Mandate from Peace and Security keeping to Peace Building Mission on the pretext of cost where US has decided to reduce its financial contribution and/or that insurgence in Darfur has allegedly become thing of the past based on reports by the Sudanese government and some UN report writers! As for the people of Sudan in Darfur, UNAMID Exit or change of its primary mandate would Open Gates for Anarchy, more Lawlessness and hell on earth in Darfur.

We know that The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) last time has renewed the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) until Friday the 30th June 2017.

More importantly as well is that the reduction of UNAMID forces leads to the removal of the only international witness to the violations of the ruling regime of the National Congress Party, the genocide criminal in the Darfur region. The people of Sudan in Darfur have always advocated the need to strengthen the UNAMID mission and develop its forces by adding troops from Western countries to take an active role in achieving security. Furthermore, the instability in the Darfur region, the continued armed conflict and the continuing crimes of the cloned Janjaweed militias loyal to the ruling (NCP) regime the rapid support forces (RSF) militia all push for the renewal of the joint peacekeeping a Nazi-UNAMID, despite its weak performance, but its departure or the reduction of its personnel or change of its mandate will compromise security and derail the safe unfettered delivery of relief to the needy. Thus, the only international witness will lose the regime's crimes against the people. More suffering in Darfur would become inevitable and it will result in cloning the ongoing failure in achieving peace to the war-torn Darfur region.

Removal of the Decades-Long Trade and Financial US Sanctions
The recent security rapprochement between the administration of new US President Donald Trump and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) regime could lead to the lifting of trade and economic sanctions entirely by the first half of July 2017 as decided by former US President Barack Obama at the last moment of the end of his term in office.

The rewarding of the genocidal criminal, the fugitive from the international justice, has become the justice of this era of decadence, where politicians in the international community are running behind interests humanity has become something of the past that has no place in the world of international politics today under the hegemony of the single pole! Thus, the pre-existing interests come before the values preserved in the corridors of the UN building in New York, Manhattan!

Edmund Burke the British-Irish Politician, Author, Orator, Political theorist, and Philosopher has been quoted as saying: (All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent).

Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman is an author, columnist and a blogger. His blog is http://thussudan.wordpress.com/

Categories: Africa

WHO distances itself from Egypt's decision to screen Sudanese for cholera

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 08:50


June 30, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) Friday has denied informing Egyptian health authorities about a cholera outbreak in Sudan, following reports about medical screening for Sudanese arriving in Cairo.

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Cairo airport started to examine passengers coming from infected areas including the Sudan.

Recently, Sudanese officials declared the existence of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) in several regions including Khartoum. Instead, U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, in a warning to its nationals in Sudan, spoke about a cholera outbreak.

Also, Sudanese opposition groups accused the government of covering up cholera outbreaks in the country pretending it was only acute watery Diarrhoea.

Reached by Sudan Tribune, WHO representative in Sudan Neema Al Gasseer distanced the international health body from the decision of the Egyptian authorities.

"We would like to emphasise that the World Health Organization does not advise any country to take a unilateral decision to examine internal or external travellers from the country in accordance with the international health regulations signed by the Member States, including Sudan and neighbouring countries," she said.

The Head of Cairo Airport Quarantine Medhat Qandil told the news agency they screen passengers coming from Khartoum to verify reported cholera outbreak in Sudan. But he didn't specify their source.

Relations between the two countries are strained as Khartoum stopped the importation of Egyptian farming products following reports about cases of strawberries from Egypt causing chronic hepatitis and other diseases.

The two countries who have other differences over border areas failed to resolve this issue of agricultural goods and products.

Sudanese health authorities say more than 270 people were killed by the AWD outbreak since August 2016. Most of the epidemic hit border areas with the South Sudan, particularly the While Nile and Blue Nile states.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

On anniversary of Somalia's independence, senior UN official urges political unity

UN News Centre - Africa - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 07:00
Marking the 57th anniversary of Somalia&#39s independence, the top United Nations official in the country today urged all Somalis to seize a moment of opportunity and work towards peace and stability.
Categories: Africa

U.S. says “very concerned” about Sudan's human rights record

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 06:37

June 30, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The United States on Thursday said it is “very concerned” about Sudan's human rights record, urging Khartoum to make stronger progress regarding the five-track engagement between the two countries.

UN independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan Aristide Nononsi (UNAMID Photo)

Washington is involved in a five-track engagement process with the Sudan over the permanent lift of sanctions on Sudan. By the 12 July, based on an interagency report including the State Department the President Donald Trump is expected to issue a decision on whether to maintain or to remove the lift of economic sanctions on Sudan.

The five-track process includes the fight against terrorism, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Sudan's role in the peace process in South Sudan, Sudan's peace and the humanitarian situation in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

“The United States remains very concerned about Sudan's human rights record, including the continued closing of political space, and restrictions on religious freedom, freedom of expression, including press freedom,” said the U.S. embassy in Khartoum in a press release on Thursday.

“We continue to monitor the Government of Sudan's progress in the five key areas noted in Executive Order 13761 to determine if it has met the order's requirements for the lifting of certain sanctions in July 2017. In this process, we have pressed to ensure Sudan has adhered to its unilateral cessation of hostilities in conflict areas and ceased all indiscriminate aerial bombardment, a key human rights concern” added the press release.

According to the press release, Washington continued to stress “the protection of human rights is deeply intertwined with peace and security”, saying “while we have worked for progress in the five areas, we have also engaged intensively on human rights concerns”.

“We have raised at all levels our concerns regarding jailed activists, newspaper confiscations, church demolitions, constricted political space, and restrictions on personal and religious freedom. Moving forward, we want to see stronger progress in these areas by the Sudanese government,” read the press release.

Washington further underscored it would remain “committed to the Sudanese people and to continued policy engagement with the Government of Sudan, and the opposition, to realise peace and further the protection of human rights in Sudan”.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Khartoum recently brushed aside calls to link the normalisation process of bilateral relations with the situation of human rights in Sudan saying the process embargo aimed to end Khartoum's support for terrorist groups and bring peace in Darfur.

However, rights groups keep calling on the need to define a new track for peace and human rights in Sudan before to decide on the permanent lift of sanctions.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

South Sudan army contains internal rift over deserting units

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 06:27

June 30, 2017 (JUBA) - The command of Sudan Sudanese army (SPLA) has contained a rift among soldiers deployed on the front line in the northern part of the country, after fears that a split could undermine the capability of the government army in that troubled area.

A high-ranking military officer told Sudan Tribune on Friday that a decision by some officers and soldiers loyal to the former SPLA chief of staff deployed to the former Unity State caused a headache to the command until Gen. Paul Malong had to be approached by the community leaders and his political friends to talk to them to drop their plan to leave in their areas of their deployment.

“There was a misunderstanding between units of our forces in Leer. They were those who were deployed there as part of reinforcement to bolster the fighting strength of the 4th division infantry. These units were from different divisions in the country. Some were taken from the headquarters and others from other divisions. They were deployed for specific reasons for a specific period but they overstayed and they felt they need to be replaced”, explained the military officer.

The officer said a majority of these soldiers come from Aweil of Bahr el-Ghazal region and instead of asking for a permission to return home, they prefer going to their families in Aweil even before replacement is made.

“It is a big challenge but thanks God the former chief of general staff intervened and was able to speak to them urging to remain in their positions (on the front line against the enemy) and they listened to him. Now they are waiting for the replacement so that there is no security vacuum”, said the officer who did not want to be identified.

Several military sources and politicians with direct knowledge also confirmed that an intense situation emerged between different units and soldiers loyal to Paul Malong.

Observers say the rift meant to protest the removal of former chief of staff from his position, pointing their feel personally harmed by this decision because their regional dignitary protected their rights and families if something happened to them.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Al-Hilu arrives in South Kordofan as his rivals call for unity

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 05:54


June 30, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLMN-Al-Hilu) said its leader Abdel-Aziz Adam al-Hilu has arrived in areas under its control in South Kordofan state for the first time since he was appointed to his position.

In a statement on Friday, SPLMN-Al-Hilu spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi confirmed the arrival of al-Hilu “ to the liberated areas of the Nuba Mountains / South Kordofan region on 29/6/017 for the first time since he was installed by the SPLM/N Nuba mountains liberation council on 7/6/2017”.

“He was received by Maj. Gen. Comrade Gagod Mukwar Marada, SPLA/N Chief of Staff and BRIG. Gen Comrade Ezekiel Kuku Talodi, commissioner of Tobo County and a large number of civilians and military leaders. The region was full of joy and popular celebrations which lasted for the all night” read the statement.

As a result of a rift that started earlier this year and its successive developments, the SPLM-N is now split into two factions one led by Malik Agar and the other by his rival al-Hilu.

Al-Hilu, who gained the support of the Movement's army, has removed Malik Agar from the leadership of the armed group together with the Secretary General Yasser Arman after they rejected his demand for the self-determination.

CALL FOR UNITY

Meanwhile, the SPLMN-Agar has underlined readiness to exert every possible effort to unify the SPLM-N according to the vision of the New Sudan.

In a statement on Friday, SPLMN-Agar spokesperson Mubarak Ardol reiterated that the Chairman of the Movement, and the Secretary General, are ready to relinquish any executive positions and support a new interim leadership that would be selected on the basis of seniority in the Leadership Council until holding the general convention.

He called to take advantage of the current crisis to renew the vision of the Movement, saying it is in the best interest of the people of the Two Areas and the Sudanese people to have a strong and unified Movement.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Talks between the two sides under the auspices of the African Union for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since last August.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Al-Bashir's call to draft permanent constitution “a farce”: SPLM/N-Agar

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 05:54


June 30, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLMN-Agar) led by Malik Agar has criticised statements by President Omer al-Bashir in which he urged the political forces to participate in the drafting of the permanent constitution.

In a speech at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) headquarters on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr feast on Monday, al-Bashir said the permanent constitution would be drafted in the coming period on the basis of the National Document.

He vowed to launch a broad dialogue on the constitution before to send the draft to the National Assembly for approval, saying the document would then be presented to the Sudanese people in a referendum for final approval.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday, SPLMN-Agar spokesperson Mubarak Ardol said al-Bashir's call aims primarily to buying time and diverting public attention, pointing the regime seeks to forge the 2020 elections and give al-Bashir another term in office.

He added the 2005 constitution issued under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the NCP government and the SPLM/A has been “torn up” and was replaced by a distorted version representing views of the NCP.

Ardol underscored the SPLMN-Agar wouldn't respond to al-Bashir's call to draft the constitution or engage in the government-led dialogue, describing it as “a farce”.

The SPLMN-Agar further called on its political and civil society allies and in particular the Sudan Revolutionary Front, the Sudan Call and the National Consensus Forces to refuse and boycott al-Bashir's call.

It pointed out that al-Bashir's call was intended to reach the African mediation and the international community, saying “we would make it very clear to the latter that we aren't concerned about this call”.

Ardol reiterated the SPLMN-Agar wouldn't participate in any political talks, saying they are ready to discuss only the humanitarian issues and ways to deliver assistance to the needy population in the Two Areas.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Talks between the two sides under the auspices of the African Union for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since last August.

Since January 2014, Sudan's President Omer al-Bashir has been leading a national dialogue process whose stated aims are to resolve the armed conflicts, achieve political freedoms, alleviate poverty and the economic crisis, and address the national identity crisis.

Last October, the political forces participating in the national dialogue concluded the process by signing the National Document which includes the general features of a future constitution to be finalised by transitional institutions.

The holdout political opposition and armed groups refuse to join the process before to stop the war and create a conducive environment for an inclusive dialogue.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

SPLM-IO Juba faction launches count to determine military size

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 05:53

June 30, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - South Sudan's armed opposition group (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of First Vice-President, Taban Deng Gai, on Thursday officially began registering its forces on the ground to determine the size.

SPLM-In Opposition (IO) forces gather outside capital Juba, April 7, 2016 (Photo Reuters/Jok Solomun)

The exercise will be conducted in the north and south of Liech state.

South Sudan's Deputy Minister of Defence General Thoi Chany, along with other high-ranking SPLA-IO officials are in Liech state to launch the registration process.

The armed opposition forces, due to be registered, had been stationed in the state following the peace deal signed in 2015 between the two rival SPLM factions.

A spokesperson for the armed opposition faction, Dickson Gatluak underscored the need to identify the size of the army and logistics at hand before cantonment of the forces is done in accordance to the peace accord.

"All forces which had been participating in the combat in Unity state and other forces related to the conflict will be put in the containment where they will be assembled and separated," said Gatluak.

He said child soldiers would be handed over to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

"This is one of the biggest milestone taken by SPLM-IO leadership towards the implementation of the peace agreement", stressed Gatluak.

The armed opposition force commanders from Omer, Koch, Bentiu, Mandir and Leer counties will this week submit the lists. The team will also visit Yuai in Beih state and Nassir of Latajor state then after a visit to Bentiu.

Meanwhile, the security situation in these areas is reportedly calm and citizens are returning home after nearly four months of sheltering in the U.N camps.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

South Sudan and Uganda journalists form network

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 05:53

June 30, 2017 (KAMPALA) - Journalists from Uganda and South Sudan have formed a network whose main objective is to address the information needs of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda, their host communities and the internally displaced persons in South Sudan.

Journalists attend a briefing on new media laws approved by South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, on 9 September 2014 (ST)

The “Cross Border Network”, is expected to promote training and sharing of content between radio stations in both South Sudan and Uganda, especially in the areas hosting South Sudanese refugees.

“One Million South Sudanese refugees in Uganda is a significant population with unique information needs. Equally important is the information needs of their host communities,” said the Ugandan coordinator of the journalists' network, Moses Odokonyero.

“The network intends to address this existing gap,” he added.

According to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), about 1.2 million South Sudanese refugees currently live in Uganda.

Nearly two million internally displaced persons live in South Sudan.

South Sudanese refugees in Uganda and citizens require adequate information on situations in the two neighbouruing two countries.

“The collaboration between Uganda and South Sudan journalists will enable the relatives of the refugees in Uganda to get information about what is happening in South Sudan and for their relatives in South Sudan to know what is happening in Uganda,'' said Josephine Achiro, the South Sudan coordinator of the network.

The Cross Border Network was formed during a recent meeting from June 19- June 23 in Kampala supported. The meeting was supported by the German media development organization, DW Akademie.

Presently, however, the journalists' network has 24 radio stations from different parts of South Sudan and north western Uganda.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Sudan to remain on U.S. list for state sponsors of terrorism: official

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 05:03

June 30, 2017 (WASHINGTON) – The United States has no plans to remove Sudan from the list of states that sponsor terrorism, according to a U.S. official.

The U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that an assessment is underway on Sudan's compliance with conditions stipulated by the previous administration to permanently lift comprehensive economic sanctions imposed in 1997.

“I don't want to get ahead of what will be announced, because that we just don't know yet. We're not sure what is going to happen with the sanctions,” Nauert said according to a transcript of June 22nd press briefing.

“The State Department is monitoring whether or not Sudan has sustained positive actions that gave rise to the executive order that was put in place earlier this year. So the State Department will make the final determination, but I just can't get ahead of what that is right now”.

But Nauert stressed that Sudan's terrorism designation will not change for the time being.

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

By July 12th, an interagency report is to be submitted to U.S. President Donald Trump which he will use to issue a decision on whether to maintain or to permanently remove economic sanctions on Sudan.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Zeinab Badawi: Africa's secret history

BBC Africa - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 04:36
The story of the history of Africa written by Africans and quietly supported by Unesco
Categories: Africa

‘Important work ahead,’ Security Council says, as UN mission in Côte d’Ivoire concludes

UN News Centre - Africa - Sat, 01/07/2017 - 00:43
Recognizing the efforts of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in promoting peace, stability and development, the UN Security Council today marked the closing of the mission by underscoring the importance of action by the Government to address the remaining challenges in the country for the benefit of all Ivorians.
Categories: Africa

S. Sudan minister denies praising removal of ex-army chief

Sudan Tribune - Fri, 30/06/2017 - 10:22

June 30, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan's deputy information minister, Paul Akol Kordit has dismissed media reports, which quoted him praising removal of the ex-army chief by the president.

South Sudan's deputy information minister, Akol Paul Kordit speaking at a public rally in Juba on 11 February 2014 (ST)

He said media misquoted him on the matter.

I went to talk to the president [Salva Kiir] official issues related to my ministry. I have nothing to do with General [Paul] Malong or any person in South Sudan, Akol clarified.

Kordit demanded that a written apology be issued.

Last month, the director of internal security bureau, Akol Koor Kuc, on instructions from the president, deployed a large force in Western Lakes state with instructions to block Malong from traveling to his home village in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

Malong said he left Juba to avoid any negative reactions from his supporters and those celebrating his dismissal from active service. He was later persuaded to return to Juba and agreed to work with president in the interest of peace and stability.

However, since his return to Juba, Malong complained of confinement and mistreatment of people seen close to him in different institutions, including the presidency and the army where some of the officers he deployed in key strategy units and departments were removed and replaced with new faces.

He has also been denied the freedom to travel outside the country.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

$12m Jur River Bridge rehabilitation begins next week

Sudan Tribune - Fri, 30/06/2017 - 09:49

June 29, 2017 (WAU) – The minister for physical infrastructure in South Sudan's Wau state, Peter Upieu said three companies were awarded the contract to rehabilitate Jur River Bridge with work expected to begin next week.

A bridge between Juba and kajo-Keji road (sshada)

The minister said rehabilitation of the project, to be undertaken by the German-owned Mediterranean Company, would cost $12 million.

“There is a company called Mediterranean, it is a Germany company working in South Africa. The is a national company called Trist Stars and another sub-contracted company called Ayat which is well known in Wau and South Sudan,” he said.

Rehabilitation of the bridge is expected to take eight months.

The project consultant engineer, Lolik Ladu said the foundation of the bridge will be handled by Mediterranean would deal with the foundation while Ayat will handle roads and supply the materials.

“The contract was handed over to Trist Stars who will be using Mediterranean and Ayat as sub-contracting companies,” he said.

Last year, a high level delegation from the national government led by the Road and Bridges minister, Rebecca Joshua Okuaci visited Wau to inspect the bridge, which was nearly collapsing.

The facility, built in 1973, has already developed some technical problems.

It is currently the only bridge in South Sudan, which connects Northern Bahr el Ghazal to Abyei region and Sudan to the west of the young nation.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

U.S. Tillerson urged to consider religious freedoms when it comes to Sudan's sanctions

Sudan Tribune - Fri, 30/06/2017 - 09:36


June 29, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Seven U.S. groups called on the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to take into account the lack of religious freedoms and the persecution of religious minorities in Sudan in the ongoing process for the lift of economic embargo on the east African country.

By the 12 July, based on an interagency report including the State Department the President Donald Trump is expected to issue a decision on whether to maintain or to remove the lift of economic sanctions on Sudan.

According to an agreement reached by the administration of the former President Barak Obama, the process includes five tracks: the fight against terrorism, cessation of hostilities in the conflict areas, humanitarian access, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Sudan's role in the peace process in South.

The seven groups voiced that Sudanese religious and ethnic minority groups and faith-based charitable organisations face discrimination, detention, violence, and the destruction of churches by the regime in Khartoum.

"Substantial minority of Sudanese do not follow the state-endorsed school of Islam," said the statement adding that those residing in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan state, and southernmost parts of the Blue Nile state face discrimination and deprived of their rights due to their religious convictions.

The signatories further reminded that Sudan is designated a Country of Particular Concern by the U.S. State Department since 1999 and that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommending that Sudan remains on the list in its 2016 review.

"This critical issue of religious freedom must be addressed in U.S. policy, and we urge the State Department both to be cognizant of this issue in relation to its current reporting as well as create a new track engagement with the Sudanese Government that is centered on issues of peace and human rights that fully addresses the conduct of the Sudanese Government in relation to religious freedom and the persecution of religious minorities," they stressed.

The signatories of the call are Enough Project, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, National Association of Evangelicals, Samaritan's Purse, Sudan Relief Fund and Sudanese Human Rights Initiative.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Khartoum recently brushed aside calls to link the normalisation process of bilateral relations with the situation of human rights in Sudan saying the process embargo aimed to end Khartoum's support for terrorist groups and bring peace in Darfur.

However, rights groups again and again keep calling on the need to define a new track for peace and human rights in Sudan before to decide on the permanent lift of sanctions.

Enough Project Founding Director John Prendergast who was part of President Clinton's Administration when the embargo was decided in 997 went to say that the sanctions were driven by a desire to impose a consequence for the regime's atrocious human rights record.

State Department officials who are backing the lift of sanctions say the lift of embargo aims to bring Khartoum to cooperate with Washington on other files, stressing that sanctions approach has been proved unproductive.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

UNISFA helps recover 58 stolen cattle in Abyei region

Sudan Tribune - Fri, 30/06/2017 - 09:06

June 29, 2017 (ABYEI) – The United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) on Monday facilitated the retrieval and handing-over of the 58 stolen herd of cattle to its rightful owner, a Ngok Dinka pastoralist in Todach village, 17 kilometres north from Abyei

An officer from the UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei (UNISFA) on patrol in the disputed region, which is claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan (AFP)

Ngok Dinka leaders and Misseriya pastoralist groups from the eastern, southern and central migration corridors expressed their gratitude to UNISFA for the efforts in combating cattle rustling.

“With the absence of a functioning government in our area, we are truly grateful that UNISFA is around to help deal with criminal activities such as cattle rustling, a problem that has haunted us for so many years and has been the source of disputes and clashes between individuals and communities,” said Jahid Omer, the head of the pastoralists in the eastern corridor of Abyei region.

“The United Nations is here in Abyei to protect you and all communities living here, as well as your properties. We exert all efforts to ensure that you run a normal and secure life,” Brig Gen Assefa Gebru Workneh, UNISFA Chief Liaison Officer for Abyei, emphasized during the hand-over ceremony.

Alan Doyle, UNISFA's Chief of Mission Support and Col Hailu Gebrehiwot, the North Sector commander attended the event.

“We will continue to keep an eye out for any potential rustlers during the reverse migration,” Gen Assefa assured the pastoralists.

The owner of the livestock, Majej Tong Ngor, conveyed his appreciation to UNISFA troops for retrieving some of his animals.

“I lost 264 animals during a raid on 18 June this year in Arik area near Athony. I hope that over the next weeks, they will be able to facilitate the retrieval of the rest of the stolen animals,” said Ngor.

UNISFA said with the coordination and cooperation from communities in the Abyei area, its hopes to retrieve the rest of the stolen livestock in weeks to come.

Ngok Dinka leaders and Misseriya pastoralist groups expressed concerns over the proper handling of criminals or animal rustlers.

“We want them to be arrested and handed over to the traditional courts, given the absence of a police service in Abyei. We will continue to cooperate with UNISFA to minimize, if not to stop, these cattle rustling activities,” Omer stated.

Cattle rustling is one of the biggest challenges facing communities in the Abyei. Since the start of 2017, three major cases of cattle rustling and one case of cattle killing were reported to UNISFA.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Security Council endorses UNAMID cuts, says peace in Darfur is needed for exit

Sudan Tribune - Fri, 30/06/2017 - 07:28


June 29, 2017 (WASHINGTON) - As it was announced in the decision of the African Union earlier this month, the UN Security Council Thursday reduced the peacekeepers deployed in Darfur region. But it stressed that the end of the hybrid mission can only be decided after the signing of a lasting peace deal.

The 15-member body adopted Resolution 2363, in which it extended the mandate of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) until 30 June 2018.

Also, the Council also decided that from 31 January next year, UNAMID's troop and police ceiling shall be reduced to consist of up to 8,735 military personnel and 2,500 police personnel, including individual police officers and members of formed police units.

The decision was taken upon a joint review conducted by the African Union and the United Nations underscoring the improvement of the relative security situation on the grounds and the drastic reduction of violence.

Nonetheless, it pointed to the existence of several holdout groups that the government needs to reach a negotiated settlement with them and the presence of nearly two million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the camps since 2003.

In response to the Sudanese government's demand for an exit strategy end the presence of Darfur peacekeeping operation, the Council, however, mentioned the need to fulfil the benchmarks defined it is previous resolutions particularity the conclusion of a political agreement with the armed groups.

The Council "takes note that the Secretary-General, in his report of 26 May 2015 (S/2015/378), emphasises that a political settlement in Darfur and direct talks between Government and the non-signatory armed movements, starting with a cessation of hostilities in Darfur, is essential to re-establishing peace in Darfur and is primary to the achievement of these benchmarks," reads the resolution.

Also, in order to monitor the impact of troops withdrawal, the resolution asks to report to the Council every 60 days on the political, humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, including attacks against civilians, especially sexual and gender-based violence.

Based on this reports, the Council can decide to stop the troops' withdrawal if there is a recrudescence of violence against civilians or a renewal of intercommunal fighting.

The Sudanese ambassador to the United Nations praised the reduction of UNAMID troops and called to support the government efforts for development in the region.
He also said that Darfur today is free of armed groups and pointed to rebel "attempts to destabilise peace and security" last May, stressing on the readiness of Sudanese government troops to support peace and protect civilians.

The Sudanese diplomat further pledged to cooperate with the UNAMID to achieve its mandate.

However, a human rights expert and a Senior Policy Advisor at Enough Project, Omer Ismail regretted the troops' cuts saying it was based on " a fundamentally flawed analysis of the situation in Darfur".

He said the withdrawal of troops from many areas while still exists a high risk of conflict potentially endangers the lives of civilians.

"The withdrawal of these UNAMID military forces and the closure of bases will make several key areas unsafe for humanitarian operations," he stressed.

According to the resolution, 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.

An international official told the AFP that the cuts in the 13 peacekeeping missions have been decided as a result of U.S. pressure.

The U.S., which is the biggest financial contributor to the peacekeeping operations, announced it would cut nearly $1.3 billion of its contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

UN refugee agency 'extremely worried' about renewed violence in Central African Republic

UN News Centre - Africa - Fri, 30/06/2017 - 07:00
The United Nations refugee agency has voiced concern over a flow of people fleeing renewed violence in some parts of the Central African Republic, a country that has already seen a half million people internally displaced and another half million taking refuge in neighbouring countries.
Categories: Africa

South Sudan rebel chapter in Australia disown leader

Sudan Tribune - Fri, 30/06/2017 - 05:38

June 29, 2017 (JUBA) - Members of South Sudan's armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) in Australia have disowned their leader, William Orule, after the announced his defection the country's First Vice-President, Taban Deng Gai.

South Sudan first vice president Taban Deng Gai arrives in Bor May 9, 2017 (ST)

Orule, who headed the armed opposition faction in Australia, declared allegiance to Gai amid criticisms from the other group members.

The armed opposition faction, in a statement, strongly criticized Orule's move to join a rival faction led by its former chief negotiator.

“We would like to inform the public, the region and the world at large that the IO movement respects the right of individual who decides to leave or join us. This is a core principle of our democracy and freedom of choices or speech. Comrades Orule had decided to leave. We view this as his right. Let continue the fight against genocide regime as usual,” partly reads the statement.

Some members of the armed opposition faction, however, vowed to continue backing former First Vice-President, Riek Machar despite what they referred to as his “illegal” detention in South Africa.

South Sudan was plunged into conflict in December 2013 as the rivalry between President Kiir and Machar, turned into a civil war. Since then, the fighting, which has often been along ethnic lines, triggered Africa's worst refugee crisis, with over three million people fleeing their homes.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

S. Sudan president convenes security meeting over road attack

Sudan Tribune - Fri, 30/06/2017 - 05:35

June 29, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President, Salva Kiir on Thursday convened an emergency security meeting, a day after unknown gunmen killed nine people and wounded dozens on Juba-Bor road.

The security meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir in the capital, Juba, June 29, 2017 (ST)

The victims, mainly traders, were travelling from Mogiri to Juba. The attack occurred at Kubri Muhandisin, about 8 kilometers from the capital, Juba.

A number of officials, who included First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai attended the meeting held at the army headquarters in Bilpam.

South Sudan's interior minister, Michael Chiangjiek Geay the meeting was convened to tackle causes of increased insecurity in the nation.

President Kiir, the minister said, asked the committee to investigate the Juba-Bor road incident in which nine civilians lost their lives.

The president tasked the committee to investigate increased insecurity and to report back within nine days, the minister stated.

The Mangala county commissioner, Elario Paul Fataki said one person died from Juba Teaching hospital, making it nine in total.

Fataki called on the transitional government of national unity to work hard in collaboration with the local leaders to improve on security on the Juba- Bor road where several people have died in recent days.

The meeting was also attended by ministers of National Security, Interior, Petroleum, Finance, Justice, deputy Defense Minister, Chief of Defense Forces, Inspector General of Police, Head of Criminal Investigation Department, Director of Military Intelligence and Boma state governor, Ismail Konyi.

Road ambushes are common in South Sudan. Last month, a similar attack on Juba-Bor road claimed over 20 people, mainly women and children.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

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