Africa

January 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) of the late Islamic leader Hassan al-Turabi on Friday has decided to join the upcoming government of national concord led by the National Congress Party (NCP).

Ibrahim Al-Sanosi

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.

The opposition groups boycotted the process because the government didn't agree on humanitarian truce with the armed groups and due to its refusal to implement a number of confidence building measures.

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

On October 25th, Sudanese presidency deposited new amendments to the 2005 transitional constitution with the parliament, which allow introducing a Prime Minister post, increasing the number of national MPs and adopting the name of the Government of National Concord.

In a meeting that lasted until the early morning hours of Friday, PCP's Leadership Commission decided to join the government of national concord which is expected to be formed next month.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday, PCP Secretary General Ibrahim al-Sanosi said the Leadership Commission issued a decision to “participate in the government of national concord at all levels following the approval of the constitutional amendments agreed upon and especially these pertaining to freedoms”.

On Wednesday the PCP disclosed it has agreed with the ruling NCP to deposit the constitutional amendments pertaining to public freedoms to the parliament for approval soon.

PCP's decision to join the government of national concord has stirred controversy within the party ranks with some groups, particularly the youths, rejecting the idea categorically and others who say participation in the government is contingent upon approval of the freedoms bills.

The Islamist Popular Congress Party splinted from the NCP since 1999, and joined the opposition ranks since that time but it supported the dialogue process and participated in all its forums.

(ST)

January 13, 2017 (WAU) – A severe fuel crisis has hit Wau State in Western Bahr el Ghazal province since the beginning of the New Year 2017 as many fuel stations have been forced to close down.

Local residents wait in line to pay for fuel at Runway petrol station in Western Bahr el Ghazal capital Wau on 12 September 2014 (ST)

On Thursday morning, Petro city station in Wau town was the only remaining station with last than 200,000 litters of fuel. Following its closure on Friday, Boda Boda raiders and transport companies increased their charges.

Also, the fuel shortage has forced hotels to reduce their operation power supply from 24 hours to less than eight hours per day.

The litter of petrol which was at 70 SSP has increased to 200 SSP in the black market. A bottle of 1.5 litter amounted to 300 SSP, while last December you had only to pay 100 SSP in the parallel market.

Many people in Wau accuse fuel dealers of creating an artificial fuel scarcity in order to increase the prices.

Martin Khamis who is a black-market trader in Wau town since 2005 says the petrol is sold to some traders who store it instead of delivering it to fuel stations.

“We are getting this fuel we are selling now through difficulties. We are getting it from some traders who do buy it from exporters in barrels before to sell it to us,” said Khamis.

To explain the situation, another Somali trader ,Mohamed al-Sadiq, spoke about highway robbery by armed gangs when they bring petrol from Juba to Wau.
“We are experiencing a lots of insecurity along the way from Juba to Wau particularly between Yirol to Rumbek where there are a lot of robbers who attack trucks along the road," he said.

"This is why when we manage to reach Wau, we make the price of fuel a bit high to recover our loses during the risky travel road,” al-Sadiq, added as he was speaking to Sudan Tribune upon his arrival from Rumbek on Friday.

This is not the first time that Wau experiences such fuel shortage, last year in 2016, similar scarcity hit all the Bahr el-Ghazal region.

People generally blame the government for this chronic fuel shortage, pointing to Juba failure to build oil refineries to cover local needs from the oil produced in Unity and Upper Nile regions, since the secession from Sudan in July 2011.

The import of fuel from Kenya and Uganda increases the prices of basic commodities and leads to a rise in the inflation and deterioration of the whole national economy, analysts say.

(ST)

January 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A senior delegation from the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on Friday has concluded a three-day visit to Norway.

On the last day of the visit, SPLM-N delegation led by the Secretary General Yasser Arman held a meeting with the Governing Mayor of Oslo, Raymond Johansen.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune Friday, SPLM-N pointed to the importance of the meeting, saying the Mayor of Oslo is an influential figure in Norway's politics.

According to the press release, the two sides discussed the current political situation in Sudan and the need for the international community to respond to the legitimate desire of the Sudanese to achieve new transitional arrangements to end the war and the one-party regime.

It is noteworthy that Norway is a member of the Troika countries (together with the UK and the U.S.) that support the African Union efforts to achieve peace in Sudan.

Following the meeting, the SPLM-N delegation discussed with the Sudanese activists in Oslo issues of unifying the opposition and Sudanese abroad to overthrow the regime.

The SPLM-N, which demands to establish a secular state with a system of government conferring a large autonomy to the regions, is negotiating with the government President Omer al-Bashir since June 2011 weeks after the eruption of war in South Kordofan.

Last March, the African Union mediators proposed the Roadmap Agreement which aims to create a conducive environment to stop war and to hold an inclusive process over the future constitution in Sudan.

However, the parties failed to reach a truce to allow aid workers to reach the needy civilians in the war affected areas. The SPLM-N said the humanitarian file should top the agenda of any initiative to end the conflict and blamed the government for refusing to make any concession, pointing they did a lot to reach an agreement.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 13, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - As exiled South Sudan Nuers prepare to conduct general election, the Nuer Youth Union in Ethiopia on Friday disclosed that it has selected an electoral board tasked to facilitate the General election.

The Addis Ababa based Union has also appointed Kun Puok Riek, as the chairperson of the electoral commission.

Leaders of the electoral board told Sudan Tribune that the 16 committees withdrawn from the so-known Greaters four sub-community namely Pangak, Akoba, Bentiu and Nasir counties have elected Riek as chairperson of the electoral commission to head and access all the process of General election.

Riek who also is chairman of the Nuer youth union called for a peaceful pre and post election as well as for fair elections.

"The future of this community must come from us. This is the time to make difference by electing the right leader," Riek said.

He urged his fellow citizens to desist from being used as a political tools of violence against each other or from being used as agents of hatred through social medias.

"I urge all of you to use this platform to preach peace and influence positive change for Nuer youth in Ethiopia" he said further noting the importance of election to build a Democratic Society in war striven South Sudan.

As well as appointment of chair, the union has also appointed deputy, Secretary, finance, information and special advisors for the electoral board.

The newly established board has called on Nuer diasporas and intellectuals to back up and support the youth union financially and through their wise advice's.

Riek told Sudan Tribune that the Nuer youth union is a neutral and non-political organization which only serves per the interest of Nuer youth.

"The election will be held without any political intervention" Riek said.

He added that "We don't want any political party or politician to drive us because our politicians have already got themselves divided".

The general elections are slated to be held later in May shorty after Ethiopia decides to lift a running state of emergency.

Last October the east of African nation declared a six-month state decree to arrest a year-long deadly anti-government protest which killed hundreds.

(ST)

January 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said Obama's decision was a result of the dialogue that has been ongoing for more than a year between Khartoum and Washington to achieve Sudan's supreme interests.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune Friday, Ghandour described the move as “advanced”, saying it has been achieved through coordination among the various Sudanese bodies and ministries and overseen by President Omer al-Bashir.

“We would continue to cooperate with the new U.S. Administration in the various domains to enhance international peace and security and combat human trafficking and terrorism,” he said.

Sudan's top diplomat pointed that his government is committed to the agreements reached between the two sides, stressing they would continue their efforts to remove Sudan from the US list of states sponsors of terror.

Also, Sudan's Foreign Ministry Gharib Allah Khidir described the move as “important and positive development in the bilateral ties between the two countries”, saying it was a product of long dialogue and close cooperation on regional and international issues of common concern.

He stressed that Sudan would continue to cooperate with the U.S. to overcome all obstacles that impede full normalization of relations between the two countries in order to achieve the higher interests of the two peoples.

Meanwhile, the head of the economic committee at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Hassan Ahmed Taha said Obama's decision “would help Sudan to advance economically and brings foreign investment”.

He pointed that Sudan would benefit from the international initiatives and the concessionary loans in infrastructure development, saying the move would pave the way to resolve Sudan's long-standing foreign debt problem.

Sudanese officials recently expressed hopes that Obama before the end of his second term would lift the sanctions on the eastern African country, saying Washington is convinced of its inefficiency and that it harms ordinary Sudanese.

The U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday has signed an executive order to ease sanctions against Sudan enabling trade and investment transactions to resume with the east African nation.

Sudan has been under American economic and trade sanctions since 1997 for its alleged connection to terror networks and remains on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror. The first batch of sanctions restrict U.S. trade and investment with Sudan and block government's assets of the Sudanese government.

Additional sanctions in relations with the conflict in Darfur region were introduced by two Executive Orders in 2006.

(ST)

January 13, 2017 (JUBA)- The leader of the democratic change party, one of the opposition parties in South Sudan has issued an order terminating the membership of the secretary general of the party.

Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec, chairman of the Democratic Change Party (DCP) made the decision terminating the membership of six senior party members, including secretary General.

The opposition leader cites the failure of the official with other colleagues to appear before a disciplinary committee he formed to investigate the manner in which the officials have been conducting themselves.

“I Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec, chairman of the Democratic Change Party issues the following resolution, the above mentioned members are dismissed from the Democratic Change party as from 09th January 2017 “, the order reads in part.

The opposition leader cites article 20 sub-section (1 and 4) of the constitution of the Democratic Change party amended 2016 and national executive Resolution in its meeting number 1dated 07th January, 2017 on the recommendation of both the investigation and disciplinary committee of the party as the basis of his decision to fire the officials.

The dismissal, he said, came as a result of their refusal to appear in front of both the investigation and disciplinary committee formed by the party for their violation of the constitution of Democratic change party article 55 sub section 2,8,9 and 10.

The order named Secretary General Deng Bior, deputy party chairman Mark Atem Awol, Lydia Nhial Dok, William Akec Aleu, Kerubino Pow and Andrew Okony Ayom are the party members for whose membership in the party has been terminated on the recommendation of disciplinary committee.

Andrew Okony Ayom one of the affected members, dismissed legality of the decision”, saying they do not recognize the manner in which the opposition leader himself came to the helm of the leadership, let alone his decision to terminate their membership from the party.

“That decision is illegal, we do not recognize it. That decision is not binding because first of all he is not the party chairman. He did not follow right procedures as laid out in the constitution. So whatever he does is not constitutional and since it is not constitutional his decisions are not binding. They are illegal and be treated as such”, said Ayom when asked to react.

(ST)

By Paul Brandus

January 13, 2017 (WASHINGTON) - Pleased with the Sudanese government's efforts in fighting terrorism, President Barack Obama - with just days left in his administration- is moving to loosen economic sanctions against it.

The president signed an executive order Friday easing - but not eliminating -sanctions, which would permit greater trade and investment between the two nations.

But the timing of Mr. Obama's move pushes any final approval onto the incoming administration of Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20.

In announcing the move here Friday, the president, in a letter to Republican leaders in Congress, said "I have determined that the situation that gave rise to the actions taken in those orders related to the policies and actions of the government of Sudan has been altered by Sudan's positive actions over the past six months.”

The lifting of sanctions would be delayed by 180 days, however. The delay is seen as a way of further encouraging the Sudanese government to continue its anti-terror fight—and to improve its record on human rights. The six month delay means that by July 12, U.S. government groups will confirm to the White House—which by then will be controlled by Trump—that Sudan has continued to be cooperative on both fronts.

The United States first imposed sanctions on Sudan in 1997, during the presidency of Bill Clinton. Those sanctions included a trade embargo and freezing of government's assets, for what the U.S. called human rights violations and terrorism concerns. Additional sanctions were imposed in 2006, during the presidency of George W Bush, what the U.S. called complicity in violence that was occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan.

The move is not seen as unexpected, and follows a warming of relations between the two nations. But the U.S. will continue to label Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House emphasized.

Attention now shifts to the Trump administration. Neither the president-elect or any members of his staff have commented on their Sudanese views. One Trump official who asked not to be identified said that the issue of sanctions “is something that we are looking at,” adding that it is “too early to make any sort of determination about our future relationship.”

One U.S. official said the Obama administration has been pleased with Sudanese efforts to curb travel by members of the so called Islamic Sate (ISIS) through Sudan, and Khartoum's crackdown on alleged shipments of Iranian weapons to anti-Israeli groups.

Friday's White House announcement emphasized that sanctions being eased could easily be re-applied as needed in the future, if the Khartoum government's actions deem such a reversal necessary.

One U.S. official compared Friday's move to other American efforts to reach out to nations with him it has had bad—or nonexistent relations with, such as Iran, Cuba, and Myanmar.

(ST)

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January 13, 2017 (JUBA) - The Governor of Latjor state in South Sudan has appointed nine county commissioners after a series of consultations.

The map of Upper Nile state

Peter Lam Both, according to the January 11 2017 order, named John Jock Thoar as the new Nasir county commissioner with Nasir town as its administrative headquarters.

Moses Ruon Wech was appointed as the new Ulang county commissioner, Paul Biel Chuol as Maiwut county commissioner at Maiwut, Dok Tuach Bithou as Longechuk county commissioner with Mathiang as its administrative headquarter.

Gatkuoth Biem Nyoak as Thior County commissioner at Yomding, John Wiyual Rutkoch as Thorow County commissioner at Mading.

Others are Gatwech Jock Deng as Malou county commissioner at Kieckuon, Puok as Thuch Deang-Jekou county at Pagak, the headquarters of armed opposition as its administrative headquarters, Keach Pal Gach as Kaijak county commissioner with Udier as its administrative headquarter.

(ST)

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January 12, 2017 (JUBA) – A forum of South Sudanese youth issued a statement on Thursday, calling on national unity government to recognize the existence of the armed opposition in the country.

Section of participants during the Youth peace and reconciliation workshop in Wau on 5, November, 2016 (ST Photo)

“The South Sudan Youth leaders forum calls upon the TGoNU [Transitional Government of National Unity] to recognize that there are armed groups engaged in hostilities across the country and urge the TGoNU to peacefully engage these groups in order to end was and usher in an era of reconciliation and healing”, partly reads the resolution derived at end of a two-day conference held in Kenya.

50 youth from different states of South Sudan, who used the opportunity to examine the situation facing the country through shared ideas about how this can be improved in-order to move the nation from the devastating conflict, attended the event.

Sponsored by International Growth center, United States agency for international development and the World Bank, the conference which was mainly graced by government supporters underlined the importance of the national dialogue which they see as the only means through which disputes could be resolved in the country.

It called on armed actors to declare an unconditional ceasefire and recommended that a credible, impartial and acceptable national dialogue be led by the faith based organizations, particularly South Sudan Council of Churches with the help of African council of churches and the world council of churches.

South Sudan national union chairperson, Albino Bol Dhieu and other government affiliated groups, including members and leaders of a deeply-divided Red army foundation, took part in the consultative dialogue.

(ST)

January 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A prominent human rights defender said on Thursday that Khartoum airport security agents prevented him flying to Egypt and told him he was banned from travel.

Amin Mekki Medani, top lawyer and rights defender, speaks during an interview with the AP in his house, Khartoum, on April 13, 2015 (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Amin Mekki Medani, Chairman of Civil Society Initiative group told Sudan Tribune he and his family members were banned from travel to Cairo where he would undergo a surgery.

"The Khartoum airport authorities seized our passports me and the family after we completed the immigration process, they informed me that I am temporarily banned from traveling and asked me to go to the office of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS)," he said.

He added that his wife and daughter were travelling with him as he would undergo a surgery in Cairo.

His travel ban coincides with a meeting the opposition Sudan Call plan to hold in France next week.

In the past, Madani had been arrested on 6 December 2014 for four months by the security service for his participation in a meeting establishing the opposition Sudan Call alliance. He was released on 9 April 2015 together with Farouq Abu Eissa the chairman of the opposition National Consensus Forces.

(ST)

January 12, 2017 (JUBA) – The acting head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Moustapha Soumaré said he met with the South Sudanese Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Martin Lumoro during which the latter said his government's position remains unchanged on the deployment of regional protection forces.

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

The UN official had requested clarification on various press reports, which cited senior government officials saying government had changed its position on the deployment of the protection force.

Lomoro said government's position was in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions that government would continue to facilitate the deployment of the regional force.

The Security Council, in its Resolution 2304, decided that UNMISS force levels be increased to a ceiling of 17,000 troops, including 4,000 for a regional protection force. UNMISS also confirmed that in preparation for the arrival of the protection force, it continues to be engaged in discussions with the Transitional Government of National Unity as to the various modalities for the new force, including where they will be deployed in Juba.

Last week, the South Sudanese presidential advisor on security affairs, Tut Gatluak was quoted saying Juba would not accept the deployment of regional protection forces, claiming the country's security situation had greatly improved.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune, the presidential advisor on security affairs, questioned whether it was still necessity to send regional protection forces.

“They were talking about security but now security situation has improved. Juba is safe and everyone is the witness. The Christmas and New Year celebrations went well, now you can move freely because security situation has improved. The national dialogue has been launched and the agreement is being implemented," said Gatluak.

The cantonment sites for SPLA-IO forces have been agreed and directives have been given for them to move into these area. Everything is moving well”, he added.

South Sudan's defence minister, Kuol Manyang Juuk also dismissed claims that fighting still existed in Juba hence the need to justify deployment of the force.

“We acknowledge that there are problems in South Sudan and it is our duty as government to resolve these challenges," Juuk told a gathering held in Juba.

He accused the U.N of compiling reports from individuals in order to justify calls for the deployment of the regional protection force to back up other voices.

(ST)