Africa

MEP Mario Borghezio had made racist remarks about Cécile Kyenge, who was born in the DR Congo.

Most of those killed are linked to a faction allied to self-styled general Khalifa Haftar.

A group of homeless men in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, have found solace and hope in performing Shakespeare plays.

May 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A visiting delegation from the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) Thursday has acknowledged the improvement of the situation in Darfur region, however, it underscored that security challenges in Jebel Marra area prevent the return of displaced civilians to their homes.

During a four-day visit to the Sudan, the AUPSC delegation led by the Uganda's Permanent Representative to the African Union, Mull S. Katende toured the camps of displaced people in Nertiti of Central Darfur State and Shangil Tobaya, North Darfur.

The delegation will present a report to the Council on the security situation in the western Sudan region, ahead of the extension of Darfur hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) next June by the United Nations Security Council.

"The situation in Jebel Marra continues to be a source of concern but the situation in the North Darfur State has improved significantly," said Katende, adding that the return of IDPs in Nertiti camp is impeded by a lack of security in Jebel Marra.

"IDPs of Neretti camp have expressed fear of killing once they return to their villages. We know that there are clashes and their areas should be rehabilitated and to protect them."

The mountainous area witnessed last year clashes between the government forces and fighters of the Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdel Wahid. The rebel group rejects to join the African Union efforts for peace in Sudan.

For the IDPs from the areas where there is no violence now, Katende said they have the choice between returning voluntarily to their village of origins or integrating into the communities in which they currently live, adding that in the two options there is a need to provide services and facilitate their integration.

The Ugandan diplomat said he held a meeting with the Sudanese Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid to discuss the outcome of their visit and express their observations on the security situation in the region of Darfur.

He further called on the armed groups to join the national dialogue document and pointed to the government flexibility and readiness to accept those who want to join the process.

The Sudanese government and the three armed groups failed in August 2016 to sign a cessation of humanitarian hostilities agreement.

During a visit to Khartoum, the African Union chief mediator Thabo Mbeki said President al-Bashir welcomes efforts to bring the holdout groups to the framework National Document endorsed by the government-led dialogue process in October 2016.

However, the government has ruled out the organisation of a new national dialogue process initially included in a Roadmap Agreement signed with the opposition groups.

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Rising Zambian referee Jan Sikazwe is ready for his latest assignment at the Fifa under-20 World Cup in South Korea.

May 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's President Omer al-Bsashir will not take part in the two-day Arab Islamic American Summit, said Khartoum on Friday ending speculations about his unwanted participation by the United States.

On Friday morning the official news agency SUNA, has announced in a laconic statement that al-Bashir will not participate in the meeting due to personal reasons without further details.

"The President of the Republic, Marshal Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir has apologised to his brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz for attending the Islamic American Summit held in the Saudi capital Riyadh for special reasons," SUNA said.

It further said Bashir has assigned the Director of his office and Minister of State at the Presidency Taha al-Hussein, to represent him at the summit

The official organ further pointed that the president had received an invitation for the summit handed over by a special envoy.

U.S. officials expressed their displeasure with the presence of Bashir at the summit and urged the host country to not invite him.

But Saudi and Sudanese diplomats including foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour insisted that Bashir was invited and he would travel to Riyadh for the meeting which gathers over 50 heads of state and government.

The row over Bashir's participation in the summit cast doubts over the recent improvement of bilateral relations between Khartoum and Washington.

Also, Sudanese officials were optimistic about the definitive lift of sanctions, but observers now say in the best cases it would be delayed for additional six month period.

In a press release on Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Khartoum explained Washington's rejection of al-Bashir's participation in the meeting attended by President Trump, saying “we oppose invitations, facilitation, or support for travel by any person subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, including President Bashir”.

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May 18, 2017 (JUBA) – President Salva Kiir Thursday said that the national dialogue process will start with those are ready to take part, insisting that the others can join it later on but he would not delay it further.

“Those who are available will be sworn in on Monday, May 22, 2017. Those who are not around will be sworn in as and when they come because the process cannot be postponed,” said President Kiir on Thursday.

Different opposition figures including the widow of the late SPLM leader John Garang de Mabior, Kosti Manibe, and Majak D' Agoot, declined to join the process after their appointment by the President citing the lack of prior consultation and the need for confidence building measures before to hold it.

Kiir pointed out the country's' needs to be guided by the values of peace and national reconciliation as a way of observing the spirit of Lent.

The President went on to emphasising on the values of Christianity.

“The fundamental values of Christianity, such as love of the neighbour, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace, transcend the religious domain to be guiding values of our South Sudanese society because they are shared by all of us, regardless of our differences,” he added.

The head of state said that the national dialogue would be an opportunity and a process for deep reflection on the values and principles which bind the South Sudanese leadership.

President Kiir made the remarks on Thursday to members of the organising committee who have been tasked with various responsibilities to make necessary arrangements for the swearing-in of dialogue committee members.

Peace in the country has been unattainable and is constantly threatened but the fractures within the leadership of the major armed opposition parties and within the government.

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May 18, 2017 (KAMPALA) - More than 100 lone children cross into Uganda each day as they flee conflict in South Sudan, walking for days on end with no food or family to sustain them, an aid agency said on Thursday.

A United Nations peacekeeper standing with children near the U.N. base in Juba, South Sudan, in January 2016 (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin/File)

World Vision said at least 9,000 children had made the journey since last July and it expects another thousand to join them by mid-year.

“The majority of these children saw their parents being killed, while others lost touch with their families once fighting broke out. Some of them walk for more than a week to get to Uganda, with nothing to eat,” said Gilbert Kamanga, the country director of World Vision in Uganda in a statement.

“This is one of the worst forms of violence against children. It must stop. Peace needs to prevail in South Sudan,” he added.

Uganda, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), hosts some 898,000 refugees, with over 2,000 people, mostly women and children, arriving daily.

Children, UNHCR says, make up to 62% of the 1.8 million people displaced by fighting in South Sudan, and more than 75,000 unaccompanied children have fled to Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.

South Sudan has witnessed renewed clashes between forces loyal to South Sudan President Salva Kiir and the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) backing the country's former First Vice-President Riek Machar, in spite of the August 2015 peace accord.

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May 18, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has “reconciled” with former chief of army General, Paul Malong Awan.

S Sudan's President Salva Kiir is received by former Chief of General Staff of the SPLA Paul Malong Awan at the airport in Juba March 6, 2015 (Reuters)

The presidential spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny described Thursday's meeting between Awan and the president as “cordial and friendly."

"I can now report to the South Sudanese that President Salva Kiir Mayardit and former chief of staff General Paul Malong Awan have reconciled. They reflected on their long comradeship, friendship dating back to the time of war of liberation and small differences were easily resolved," Ateny told reporters in the capital, Juba.

The meeting was the first encounter between the two ever since Awan was sacked from the army after about four years in charge.

Kiir replaced Awan with General James Ajongo Mawut, who has been described my many as a moderate veteran military officer.

Despite his removal, however, the former South Sudanese army chief is credited for helping the national army win several battles against the armed opposition faction loyal to ex-Vice President Riek Machar.

Not much was divulged on the outcome of Thursday's meeting between the South Sudanese leader and his former army chief.

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The United Nations emergency food agency has started dispatching supplies by air and road to the Central African Republic (CAR), where violence erupted in March and has since claimed the lives of more than 120 people, it was announced today.

More than 30,000 Somali refugees have apparently returned to Somalia from Yemen, the United Nations refugee agency said, and an increasing number are seeking aid to return home.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has congratulated the people and Government of Algeria for the peaceful conduct of the 4 May parliamentary elections, for which he dispatched a group of electoral observers, his spokesperson said today.

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 17, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - A number of Ethiopian institutions were affected by a global cyber attack which hit some 155 countries, Ethiopia Information Network Security Agency (INSA) disclosed on Thursday.

INSA, a government body tasked to defend threats against country's Information Technology (IT) infrastructures said various government owned and private institutions were hit by a computer virus called "WannaCry Malware" or "Decrypt WannaCry".

The state-run Telecom company, Industries and hospitals were few among others affected by the computer virus.

INSA, however, didn't reveal the levels of damage caused to the institutions by the latest cyber attack.

According to INSA, the virus particularly affected institutions that use Windows operating systems and advised on those institutions to update it to avert dangers of cyber threats which are considered to continue.

INSA called on institutions seeking help to upgrade their Windows operating systems to contact INSA on toll-free local number 933 or email to ethiocert@insa.gov.et to get the necessary support.

It also warned them from opening email messages sent from unknown address.

Ethiopia is one of the 11 African countries targeted by the latest cyber attack.

Officials say the horn of Africa's nation has been hit by 256 cyber attacks during the past six months.

Last year, INSA introduced counter cyber attack solutions to banks enabling the financial firms to detect threats ahead of attacks.

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May 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The newly appointed defence attaché at the U.S. embassy in Khartoum Lieut. Col. Jörn Pung Wednesday held consultations with the governor of the troubled Blue Nile state and senior army commanders in Damazin.

The meeting was attended from the government side by Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Mohammed Abdel-Rahim, second commander of the 4th infantry division, Brig. Gen. Atef Youssef, state director of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) besides a number of army commanders.

Following the meeting, the official news agency SUNA quoted Blue Nile governor and head of the security committee Hussein Yassen Hamad as saying “the state government and all regular forces are observing the ceasefire declared by the President of the republic recently.”

Last January, President Omer al-Bashir decided to extend the unilateral cessation of hostilities in war zones for six months.

Yassen reiterated the call for arms bearers to join the dialogue and peace process, praising the U.S. stances and genuine support for the peace efforts in the country.

He pointed that the meeting discussed challenges facing peace and stability in the region besides government efforts to ease the tasks of the humanitarian and development groups operating in the Blue Nile.

According to SUNA, the U.S. defence attaché stressed his country's support for peace and stability in Sudan and particularly in the Blue Nile, expressing appreciation for the Sudanese army and its sincere adherence to the ceasefire.

He renewed the U.S. call for all arms bearers to join the dialogue and peace process.
For his part, the second commander of the 4th infantry division said Pung's visit comes within the framework of assessing the five-track talks between Sudan and the U.S.

Last January, former President Barack Obama eased the 19-year economic and trade sanctions on Sudan. The decision came as a response to the collaboration of the Sudanese government on various issues including the fight against terrorism.

Washington is involved in a five-track engagement process with the Sudan over the permanent lift of sanctions on Sudan. Several agencies, including the State Department, have to present to President Donald Trump next June their findings and recommendations over the fate of the sanctions.

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

Talks between the two sides for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since last August. The SPLM-N demands to deliver 20% of the humanitarian assistance through a humanitarian corridor from Asosa, an Ethiopian border town.

But the government rejects the idea saying it is a breach of the state sovereignty and a manoeuvre from the rebels to bring arms and ammunition to their locked rebel-held areas in the Two Areas.

The SPLM-N last November declined an American proposal to transport humanitarian medical assistance directly to the civilians in the rebel-held areas in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

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May 18, 2017 (JUBA) –President Salva Kiir said that "evil forces" were trying to destroy the country so that they can rewrite the history of the country by driving a wedge among the citizens.

President Kiir spoke on Thursday at the 34th anniversary of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA) which was attended by senior military officers and high-level government officials. Last week's celebrations were postponed on the recommendation of the security situation.

“Obviously, in the last three years we have seen how the forces of evil have tried to bring our country down, they are bent on trying to rewrite history and drive the wedge among our people. They have gone as far as portraying our historical army as an ethnic army,” said the President.

Kiir went on to point out how the South Sudanese military has been compromised from different ethnic groups in the country and called to keep its diversity.

“We should not allow our own hands to destroy the most precious gains we have made since we took arms in 1983,” he said.

Regarding, the national dialogue, Kiir downplayed the criticisms of the delay of launching the political process which has been announced since last December. He announced that the initiative would kick off next week Monday.

“I wanted to inform you that we had been talking about this national dialogue, and this national dialogue has raised so many questions especially those who pretend to be friends to SPLM or friends of South Sudan when they are actually enemies trying to destroy South Sudan," he said.

"On Monday, 21 of this month, the general secretariat of the national dialogue will be sworn in so that they can start to operationalise the national dialogue,” President Kiir further said.

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May 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Counterterrorism Authority (NCA) Wednesday disclosed it has frozen bank accounts of unnamed persons linked to terrorist activities and included them in the UN Security Council Sanctions List.

The Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) in Khartoum (Photo: Reuters)

The European Union (EU) has held a two-day workshop in Khartoum under the title “Combating Terrorism and Money Laundering” from 17 to 18 May to enhance the efficiency of the regular forces, judicial organs and central banks.

The head of the NCA and chairman of the Technical Committee for Combating Terrorism Financing, Brig. Gen. Muawiya Madani, told reporters on the sidelines of the workshop that they froze assets of persons suspected of having links to terrorist activities and included them the UN Security Council Sanctions List.

He pointed that the NCA conducted a thorough investigation regarding those suspected persons and froze bank accounts belonging to their Sudanese agent who oversees their funds.

Madani also revealed that preliminary investigations are underway regarding some additional suspected persons, saying the case will be referred to the prosecution after completion of investigation in a prelude to file criminal charges against them.

He said the decision to freeze these funds comes in implementation of the Council of Minister's decree pertaining to terrorism financing and money laundering which adapts to international resolutions in this regard.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international agency on combating money laundering and terrorism financing, in 2015 removed Sudan from its blacklist, saying the east-African nation is no longer a threat to the integrity of the international financial system.

Sudanese parliament adopted in June 2014 a law to combat money laundering and terrorism financing that contained articles related to consolidating investigations and financial intelligence which is the enforcement mechanism that receives notifications and information from financial institutions and other parties.

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A selection of the best photos from across Africa this week.

The 17-year-old girl had arrived from West Africa after being offered work as a cleaner, police say.

In April 2014 Islamist militants kidnapped 276 girls from their school in Chibok in north-eastern Nigeria.

Filmmaker Danny Boyle travels to the townships of Johannesburg to search for talented dancers.