Africa

January 9, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Information Minister Ahmed Balal Osman Monday disclosed an American initiative to hold a meeting between his government and the armed groups in France this week.

Sudanese Information Minister Ahmed al-Balal Osman speaks during a press conference in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on June 9, 2013. ( Photo AFP/ASHRAF SHAZLY)

In press statements Osman told reporters that the informal consultations meeting may take place on 15-16 January in Paris.

However, he didn't give further details about who will participate in the meeting or its agenda.

The opposition Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF)-Agar recently announced that the Sudan Call Leadership Council would meet from 15 to 20 January, but it was not clear if they would meet a government delegation.

Since the failure of August meeting in Addis Ababa over the cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access, U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth met several times with the rebel groups and the government. He also held informal consultations meetings for the two sides in a bid to narrow the differences between the two sides.

The government went on with its national dialogue process saying the holdout groups can join the National Document of a conference held last October and participate in the transitional government. On the other hand, the opposition groups - including the Sudan Call forces- speak more and more about the need to conjugate efforts to overthrow the regime.

Speaking to the press in the capital of South Darfur Nyala, the British Ambassador to Sudan Michael Aron Monday said that his government last week in a meeting held in London had discussed the Roadmap Agreement implementation with the SPLM-N Secretary General, adding that Sudanese people would hear good news soon.

In a related development, the Sudanese communist Party Monday issued a statement reiterating its rejection for any process leading to a negotiated agreement with the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

"The clear position of the National Consensus Forces is to overthrow the regime by building a broader mass front," said the statement, adding "The conservative and traditional forces managed to bar the way for the uprising, circumvented it and emptied its goals and contents. This attitude has ultimately led to the entry of the country in the dark tunnel since the NIF coup in 1989".

The National Umma Party leader Sadiq al-Mahdi Sunday called on the United Nations in coordination with the African Union to adopt a resolution requiring Khartoum to implement the African Union Roadmap Agreement which paves the way for an inclusive process for peace and democratic reforms.

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By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 10, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn said on Monday that his country will not free a prominent opposition leader from the restive Oromia region being jailed under the state of emergency decree.

Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn (Allafrica)

The Chairman of the Opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) party, Merara Gudina, was arrested last month upon return from a meeting with European Union (EU) lawmakers in Belgium.

In Brussels, Merara appeared at the EU parliament to testify on the recent political crises and reports of alleged human right violations in the horn of Africa's nation.

Merara appeared at EU Parliament along with Birhanu Nega, leader of Ginbot-7, an exiled opposition movement long branded by Ethiopia as terrorist entity.

Also present at the EU Parliament was Feyisa Lellisa, Ethiopian Olympic Athlete who staged a protest sign at the Rio Olympics when he came second in a marathon race.

Ethiopian officials told Sudan Tribune Tuesday that the opposition leader was arrested for trespassing the state emergency ruling. Ethiopia imposed a six-month state of emergency in October following months of deadly protests in parts of the country.

The country faced an unprecedented wave of protests mainly in Oromia and Amhara regions over territorial as well as wider political and economic rights.

The decree's directive Article-2 prohibits any individual from communicating with banned opposition organisations or other "anti-peace" elements.

However, the Ethiopian Prime Minister on Monday said his country would not release the prominent opposition leader, but rather allow him face the courts of law.

"Individuals in EU Parliament who are harbouring anti-peace elements can't save those who trespass the law of the country", Hailemariam told reporters.

Opposition officials today told Sudan Tribune that Merara is likely to be tried under the country's anti-terrorism law, which right groups allege is being used as a tool to stifle freedom of speech and to arrest opposition members and critical journalists.

They say the state emergency law has severely affected opposition activities.

Right groups have also said that the decree has affected freedom of expression, dissent and independent reporting.

Ethiopian authorities have arrested over 20,000 suspects since the decree was declared last October in a bid to arrest violence.

The state emergency set to end in May is Ethiopia's first in over quarter a century.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister said the state of emergency decree has brought calm and could be lifted, considering the gains it had so far achieved.

"As far as the date of lifting the state emergency is concerned, it should be seen in the perspectives that we have to consolidate the gains that we have made so far" he added, but did not hint on whether his government would extend the decree after its end.

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January 10, 2017 (JUBA) - A top South Sudanese rebel commander has warned that rivalry between two rebel factions poses a threat to the cause for which the two camps pledged to pursue jointly.

Maj. Gen. Peter Gadet

Violence has, in recent weeks, risen in parts of South Sudan, which is dominated by the rebels under the command and leadership of former First Vice-President, Riek Machar.

Observers say disputes between Machar's predominantly ethnic Nuer and Lam Akol's Shilluk is attributed to the latest wave of power struggles between the rival factions.

The violence includes political assassinations disrupting the common goal for which the two rebels came into existence and threatens to destabilize the entire country.

So far, 2 top rebel commanders, all allied to Akol's National Democratic Movement — have been assassinated in what seems a contest for influence and control of the area.

Peter Gadet, a top rebel commander and one of those who defected from Machar before the signing of the 2015 peace agreement, sees a link between the two rebel factions as a threat to the cause for taking arms struggle against the Juba regime.

“Everyone was caught by surprise by what happened in Upper Nile. Nobody was expecting that. Nobody was expecting that the differences in views would escalate into the killings between colleagues whose objective is one: to remove the dictatorial regime under Salva Kiir in Juba. By turning on each other in the bush, what have they achieved than killing themselves?" Gadet told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

He added, "They have now empowered the regime, which I believe is the one engineering this. It is the regime”.

Gadet said rivalry has shifted to who should have leverage and control over the local people.

"This wave of violence shows there is a real threat that it would derail the focus on the main cause for which these movements were formed. “We are now talking about a security situation that is different than the sectarian fighting, when there are groups fighting against the government and against those who cooperated with the government," the top rebel commander stressed.

"We now have two main groups in the same community and they both accept the political process. But each one wants to be the sole representative of the movement and within the area," he added.

Last week, top rebel commanders, Gabriel Tanginye and Yohanis Okiech were killed in an apparent power struggle in South Sudan's Upper Nile state.

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January 9, 2017 (BENTIU) – Major defections have hit the South Sudanese army (SPLA) in Unity State after dozens of its forces reportedly joined the armed opposition allied to first Vice-President, Riek Machar in the north of the state.

SPLA forces in Wau town on May 16; 2016 (ST Photo)

In a statement, the armed opposition spokesperson, Col. William Deng, claimed 250 soldiers defected from Mayom county, northwest of Bentiu town.

Those who defected, he said, were commanded by Col. Simon Mayiel Kulang from brigade 12, division 3 and reported at Panakuach, north of Unity state.

“These huge forces defected with 11 PKM, seven RPGs and a vehicle mounted with enough ammunition,” he said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

The defectors, Deng further said, were received by their sector two commander, Lt. General Maguek Gai Majak at the armed opposition base in Panakuach.

The anticipated the numbers of those who defected to steadily rise with time.

“At least 250 soldiers defected to us yesterday [Sunday] and we have welcomed them to division 4 headquarters in the area,” the rebel official said.

“The number of the [pro-government] soldiers may be more than that. But this is a preliminary report I received from the ground,” he further told Sudan Tribune.

Meanwhile, Kulang accused the Juba government of allegedly practicing tribalism and nepotism, which has forced soldiers to defect to the rebels.

The rebel spokesperson also renewed claims the Sudanese rebels still exist in Unity State to fight alongside forces allied to President Salva Kiir's soldiers.

“The regime in Juba has also maintained it close relationship with the Sudanese rebels, including the Justice and Equality Movement or JEM and SPLA-North that the regime has been relying on since it imposed this war on the people of South Sudan,” further stressed the armed opposition's statement.

The rebel faction warned that there could be further escalation of the current conflict should government and its allied forces continue attacking armed opposition troops.

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January 9, 2017 (LEER) – Humanitarian operation in Southern Liech, one of South Sudan's new states is on the decline, with aid workers accusing the country's two main rival forces of blocking their work.

A group of displaced women wait registration under mango tree in Nzara county, 2010 (ST Photo)

James Andrew, an area aid worker, told Sudan Tribune Monday that security in Leer town and its surrounding villages is on the decline.

“It has not been easy for us to reach the victims in several places. Both pro-government forces and armed rebels harass us as we take assistance to the vulnerable civilians displaced by war,” he said.

Mary, a 28-year humanitarian worker on ground also echoed the mistreatments of non-governmental organization workers in the area.

“We have been facing hardships while giving assistance to the committees affected by the conflicts, whether in areas held by government or SPLM-IO [South Sudan armed opposition faction. It had never been an easy task to reach those in need,” she said.

The government chief whip, Khan Nin Yieh, claims the dismissal of the deputy governor has affected the achievement of peace and unity.

He said the removal of Simon Chuol Biel at this particular time, will be more difficult for the operation, describing the former deputy governor as the most understanding leader on the government side.

“The deputy governor remains the simplest man, who always stands with everybody in Southern Liech state in particular his cooperation with several aid workers, making their work easy on ground,” he said.

Southern Liech remains one of the areas currently being contested between the armed opposition forces and South Sudan army (SPLA).

Leer town had been a scene of fierce battles between South Sudan's warring factions, with Human Right Watch documenting what it says are some of the worst human rights abuses in the country.

(ST)

January 09, 2017 (JUBA) - A South Sudanese blogger is on the run after receiving life threats for criticizing President Salva Kiir's decision to appoint his brother in-law as the new Governor of Gogrial state.

President Salva Kiir adresses a joint press conference on 9 July 2016 (Reuters Photo)

Writing in the South Sudanese Blogger forum, paanluel.com, Emmanuel Ariech Deng labeled President Kiir's choice for Gen. Deng Kwach Aduol as "nepotism" and not a merit-based appointment.

"Major-General Gregory [Vassills Dmintry] rise in military ranks has never been about battles won, it has never been real military service delivery but mere consideration given due to the position held by the husband of his sister," wrote Ariech last week.

"Dmitry appointment has largely portrayed the President as nepotistic and added more harm on the deteriorating legacy of President of his rule after the controversial constitutional extension election period," he added.

Dmintry was, prior to his appointment, the director of the fire brigade.

In the decree, the new governor is mentioned by the name, Deng Kwach Aduol, which was equally criticized by the outspoken Ariech.

Deng took oath of office last week and is due to travel to Gogrial.

"So if you don't see me, they [unknown callers] might have arrested me. But now, I am hiding," Ariech told a friend on Monday.

Meanwhile, Deng criticized the opinion as attack on his personality in a rally at Juba University on weekend and pledged a stance response. He did not specify what exact he will do.

In the article, Ariech also attacked Governor Deng's private life including sexual abuses, allegations which Sudan Tribune could not independently verify.

South Sudanese writers are often threatened and some journalists have lost their lives for being critical to President Kiir's government.

Deng is a brother to the South Sudanese Frist Lady, Ayen Mayardit.

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January 8, 2017 (BOR) – An estimated 12,000 heads of cattle that had been confiscated from two different attacks in Jonglei state by suspected Murle raiders, have been found in Likuangole village.

Jonglei State Governor Philip Aguer (AFP Photo)

Speaking at a public rally held in the Jonglei state capital, Bor Governor Philip Aguer said the South Sudanese army (SPLA) would be sent to the area to recover the stolen cattle to give its owners.

The army, he added, have been tasked to forcefully collect the confiscated cattle and arrest criminals who carried out the attack.

“As the government, we have agreed with the governor of Boma state that all our heads of cattle currently in Likuangole-that were raided in various places, including Gadiang and Jalle-must be brought by force”, said Aguer.

The governor said his administration rejected claims made by people in Pibor, stressing that military intervention will be the solution.

“The government in Juba has accepted this, the army will be sent to Likuangole. People in Boma state said they will collect and bring back these heads of cattle without military intervention, but this is not true, the army must be sent”, he added.

However, there was no clear time line stated by the governor as to when the army would leave for Boma state to undertake this operation.

The youth of Likuangole have been accused on several occasions of involvement in criminal activities within South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Last year, hundreds of children and heads of cattle from Ethiopian villages were taken by the youth of Likuangole, an issue that nearly brought cross border tension between South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Through the Ethiopian military intervention, several of the abducted children were rescued and returned to re-unite with their families.

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January 8, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Sunday opened a military clothing factory, a joint venture between Sudanese and Qatari ministries of defence and Turkish businessmen.

Founded in 2003 by the Sudanese Ministry of Defence and Turkish investors, SUR International Investment Company Ltd., was initially designed to fabricate the uniforms of the Sudanese army.

In June 2013, the Qatari Armed forces joined the project and provided the needed funds to transform the factory into an integrated military textile company able to produce all textile products of the military and police forces in Africa besides Middle East countries.

The Qatari State Minister for Defence Affairs Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah, and the inauguration of the new facilities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Omer al-Bashir vowed to continue providing all the needed support for SUR factory in order to achieve its goals and to cover the need of national armies in the region.

New production lines are scheduled to open next May. Besides covering the needs of the Sudanese army the SUR will export its production to Qatar, Turkey, Kenya and Somalia.

The visiting Qatari minister held a series of meetings with the Sudanese military officials. He was also received by President al-Bashir.

(ST)