Africa

January 3, 2017 (ZALINGEI) - Central Darfur Governor Jaafar Abdel-Hakam Monday blamed the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) for the bloody attack in Nertiti, while the opposition forces pointed accusing fingers at the government saying its troops committed "the massacre".

Central Darfur governor, Jaafar Abdel Hakam (Photo SUNA)

"Preliminary investigations conducted by the security authorities in Central of Darfur State show involvement of the SLM-AW elements in the riots that broke out yesterday in the city of Nertiti - in western Jebel Marra," said Abdel Hakam in a press conference held in Zalingei on Monday.

He explained that on Friday they received a note that a soldier had been murdered in Campo forest and transported from the murder scene to Al-Jabal neighbourhood in order to mislead the investigation. The day after, he added, they learnt that doctor had been beaten and his money was looted.

The governor further said they received intelligence saying that six SLM-AW fighters infiltrated the neighborhood, killed the soldier and attacked the doctor. Following what a joint forces from the police, the army and the national security service was dispatched on Sunday morning to arrest the six rebels, the governor said, adding that the culprits opened fires on the government forces and instigated the crowed to attack the forces.

"The group intended to provoke the armed forces and cause chaos," he stressed.

From his part, the commander of 21st infantry division, Gen. Aboud Mansour said the Sudanese army forces were keen to avoid shooting when they arrived to the area. But the inhabitants of the neighbourhood were angered and attacked the troops with sticks and knives when two children were killed by stray bullets fired from unknown sources.

Abdallah Saleh al-Shafie, an IDPs representative in the area on Sunday told Sudan Tribune that the government forces in Nertiti launched an indiscriminate revenge attack on the civilians using heavy and light weapons after a soldier was found dead in the area.

Al-Shafie said that nine people were killed and 60 wounded, some of them are seriously hurt. He added that government troops looted civilian property and broke into shops in Nertiti markets.

The governor said 28 men were wounded, including four policemen and 19 women, adding they were treated from their minor wounds at Zalingei Hospital and discharged on the same day.

Abdel Hakam reiterated his accusation against the SLM-AW saying that the rebel group was involved in the events.

The Deputy Governor Mohamed Musa Ahmed said that calm had returned to Nertiti and pledged to pay the blood-prince to the victims' families, treat the wounded and compensate the affected people.

CONDEMNATIONS

Sudanese opposition groups condemned the killing of civilians pointing to the lack of security and the chaos in the western Sudan region.

"The Sudanese regime inaugurated the new year with this heinous massacre against unarmed civilians, which led to the deaths of dozens of martyrs, besides the wounded and detainees and missing persons," said Abdel-Wahid al-Nur in a statement he issued on Monday.

He further denounced the inertia of the UNAMID peacekeepers who didn't intervene to protect civilians describing their attitude as the "The worst form of collusion with the Khartoum regime".

The rebel leader called on the Sudanese opposition forces to support the action of Sudanese youth who work to achieve a civilian disobedience to topple the regime.

The SLM-AW is not part of the African Union brokered peace process to end Darfur crisis. During the year 2016, the group fought against the government forces in the western area of Jebel Marra for several months.

However, the government failed to clear the region from the rebel group. The governor in the past months admitted the existence of "some pockets" in the state.

The National Umma Party of Sadiq al-Mahdi condemned the killing of civilians saying it constitutes a "full-fledged crime" and condemned the silence of the international community.

(ST)

January 2, 2017 (YAMBIO) – Police in Gbudue, one of South Sudan's newly created states, arrested dozens of people who allegedly fired gunshots, creating fear and panic during New Year celebrations.

New police recruits during a parade in Yambio June 27, 2016 (ST)

The state minister for information, Gibson Wande confirmed the arrests, but said the organized forces acted within their jurisdiction.

State authorities, he added, laid security arrangements to deploy the organized forces to different areas in the state and warned those holding gun not to celebrate the Christmas by shooting guns in air.

“During Christmas, there was no gunshot until the night of 31 December,” said Wande.

He however stressed that those in police custody would be taken to face the court of law to explain why they violated the order from the government, which created panic and fear among the people.

“Those found guilty will be fined or jailed according to the law,” said the minister, adding that no casualties were recorded during the sporadic gunshots.

Yambio and other areas in Gbudue state have been experiencing fighting between armed men and government forces, resulting into loss of lives, looting of properties and displacement of people.

(ST)

January 2, 2017 (JUBA) – The Tanzanian pilot initially detained by South Sudanese rebels after the plane he flew landed in the armed opposition area, has been freed.

The chattered plane detained by rebels (courtesy photo)

A rebel official said Mohammed Nasser and the Payinjiar county commissioner, Peter Gatkoi, who was aboard the chartered plane, were freed on “humanitarian” grounds.

“The Tanzanian Pilot who was sent by Juba regime to the SPLM-IO liberated territories without his knowledge, believing he would be harmed for their propaganda purposes, has been released today with his plane on humanitarian grounds,” Garang Mabior, the armed opposition's director for public relations, said in a statement.

Mabior also dismissed as untrue reports that they had demanded the release of Tanzanian national with the hope that he would be exchanged for rebel leader, Riek Machar's spokesman, James Dak, who is being detained.

“There was never such a demand. This is just usual propaganda of Juba to think that The United Republic of Tanzania is supporting our movement, when no such thing exists,” the statement further added.

Mabior said the government under President Salva Kiir wanted to create a diplomatic incident. The rebel official did not elaborate on the fate of Panyijiar county Commissioner, Peter Gatkoi, who was on the same plane.

The pilot had, in an earlier interview with Sudan Tribune, blamed the country's authorities for his woes, saying he was duped to believe Payinjiar county was under the control of government.

(ST)

January 1, 2017 (JUBA) – Officials from Southern Liech, one of South Sudan's new states, have condemned the removal of deputy governor, Simon Chuol Biel.

The map of Unity state

The government chief whip, Khan Nin Yieh said removal by the governor of his deputy was unacceptable and will weaken the state administration.

Yieh described Biel as a very “dedicated” and “selfless” state civil servant.

Biel was a member of the red army who joined the liberation struggle in the earlier ages,” he said, stressing that the deputy governor's commitment to the country and its people was always beyond individual aspirations.

The chief whip claimed the governor surrounds himself with “notorious” individuals to continue running the state with “lies, greed and selfishness”.

The officials have urged the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) under South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir Mayardit and first vice president Taban Deng Gai to undertake urgent measures to address the Southern Liech state political situation.

(ST)

January 2, 2016 (EL-FASHER) - Panic has gripped residents following repeated armed robberies along the road linking North Darfur capital, El-Fasher to the locality of Tawila, some 60 kilometer to the west.

A UNAMID peacekeeper during a routine patrol in Tawila, North Darfur.(Photo UNAMID/Hamid Abdelsalam)

Ali Adam Mohamed, a bus driver told Sudan Tribune Monday that gunmen continued to ambush and vehicles and loot passenger possessions at Jebel Kousa area.

“On Sunday, an armed group robbed passenger luggage and possessions at gunpoint in Jebel Kousa area at the locality of Tawila,” he said.

For his part, Mohamed Ibrahim, a bus operator, told Sudan Tribune that gunmen riding four-wheel drive vehicles or motorcycles threaten bus drivers at Jebel Kousa, 30 kilometer west of el-Fasher.

“They loot whatever they want and we, the buses drivers, have notified the local authorities however the phenomenon continues to occur,” he said .

“In the past, gunmen used to kill [passengers] and block the roads to and from the locality of Tawila. This phenomenon has disappeared during the past period but it has returned these days,” he dded.

Last June, North Darfur governor Abdel-Wahid Youssef accused unnamed parties of seeking to keep the “insecurity and instability” situation in Darfur, pointing to “hidden hands that prompt the security chaos in all Darfur's five states not only North Darfur”.

He declared a state of maximum readiness among regular forces to control the lawlessness situation in the state and prevented riding of motorcycles, wearing of Kadamool (a turban which covers the face) and holding arms inside the capital, El-Fasher.

(ST)

January 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit would visit Khartoum during the coming days to meet President Omer al-Bashir to discuss outstanding issues between the two countries, said Foreign Minister Deng Alor.

South Sudan former cabinet affairs minister Deng Alor Koul(Photo: Moses Lomoyat)

Last November, al-Bashir and Salva Kiir met on the sidelines of the 4th Africa-Arab Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

The two presidents agreed to communicate directly to solve problems the joint committees encounter in their discussions to implement the signed agreements between the two neighbouring countries.

Alor, who conveyed a verbal message from Salva Kiir to al-Bashir on Monday, said he had good discussions with al-Bashir, announcing that Salva Kiir would visit Sudan to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties.

Responding to a question about Khartoum's recent demand from Juba to expel Sudanese rebel who are still in its territory, Alor said he discussed the issue with al-Bashir and the Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour.

He pointed they agreed that al-Bashir would invite Salva Kiir to visit Khartoum to end this problem, saying the mutual accusations on harbor and support of rebels have adversely impacted on the provision of services in both nations especially South Sudan.

On Sunday, Khartoum urged South Sudan to implement its pledges and to expel Sudanese rebel who are still in the troubled country.

South Sudan's top diplomat added that he came to Khartoum to participate at the commemoration of 61st anniversary of Sudan's Independence Day, saying he also met with Ghandour.

For his part, Ghandour said Salva Kiir's message pertains to bilateral ties and ways to implement the cooperation agreement in accordance with the outcome of the two presidents meeting in Malabo.

He pointed that Salva Kiir's visit to Khartoum aims to complete discussions on the outstanding issues, saying the Joint Political and Security Committee (JPSC) is following up on the implementation of these issues.

Ghandour further said he discussed with Alor issues of mutual interest and in particular ways to coordinate positions on regional and international issues especially with regard to East African nations.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9th 2011 following a referendum on whether the semi-autonomous region should remain a part of the country or become independent. 99% of the southern voters chose independence.

Relations between the two nations soured after South Sudan's independence following a series of disputes over a number of issues including mutual allegations pertaining to harbor and support of rebels.

In September 2012, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.

In March 2013, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these cooperation agreements. However, the execution of the agreements didn't go according to the plan.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 2, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - The Sudanese government has donated two buses to the state-owned Addis Ababa University.

The country's oldest institution, in a statement, said the donations followed a pledge made by the Sudanese president in July.

Speaking at the handover occasion in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Sudan's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Jamal el-Sheikh Ahmed, said the donation symbolizes the gift of cooperation and long standing relations between the two neighbouring countries.

Ahmed said Ethiopia and Sudan have historic and cordial relations based on mutual interest, vowing to work on cultural exchanges between students of Khartoum and Addis Ababa universities.

The university's president, Prof. Admasu Tsegaye expressed gratitude for the donation, saying the two buses would ease the transport problems faced during field trips to industries and the business firms.

He said the university was committed to further bolster cooperation with Khartoum University and other higher institutions within Sudan.

Each of the two buses, Sudan Tribune has learnt, costs up to $50 million.

President Omer Hassan al-Bashir pledged the donation when he received the "African Dignity Champions award" during the African dignity forum held at Addis Ababa University's Nelson Mandela hall.

The Sudanese leader was honoured with the accolade in recognition for his contributions towards adopting principles that reject modern slavery and foreign interventions in African affairs.

Also recognized at the occasion was Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn for pushing for an African solution to its problems.

The forum is a partnership between the United Nations University of Peace, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural organizations, the Addis Ababa University's Peace and Conflict Studies Institute and the Sudanese Peace and Human Rights Center.

(ST)

January 2, 2017 (BOR) - The deputy governor of South Sudan's Jonglei state, Peter Wal Athiu has been sacked in a reshuffle.

Jonglei State Governor Philip Aguer (AFP Photo)

The decree announcing Athiu's sacking was issued on 2 January.

In the same reshuffle, Governor Phillip Aguer also relieved his political advisor, Agot Alier Leek, whom he re-appointed as deputy governor.

Other changes saw education minister, Susan Lith re-appointed as the state advisor for political affairs, while the state finance minister, Ayom Mach was moved to the education and sports ministry.

Ayom was due to appear before parliament on Tuesday to explain to lawmakers some financial problems facing the state. His relieve, according to some members in the parliament, was a cover up of serious cases state lawmakers wanted him to clarify.

Meanwhile, James Akech Yen was moved from the physical infrastructure to finance ministry, while Abel Manyok Ajak, a new entrant, was appointed as state minister for physical infrastructure.

(ST)

 

After weeks of intense negotiations, and much bloodshed, participants at talks mediated by the Catholic Church concluded an agreement just before midnight on New Year’s Eve. The deal – signed by representatives from the ruling coalition, the political opposition, and civil society organizations – includes a clear commitment that presidential elections will be held before the end of 2017, that President Joseph Kabila will not seek a third term, and that there will be no referendum nor changes to the constitution.

This is a significant development, following months of speculation that Kabila would not step down and open calls by some Kabila loyalists for him to defy the constitution’s term limits and cling to power indefinitely.

But huge challenges remain.

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Congolese Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba (right) is assisted by Abbot Donatien N'shole, CENCO secretary general, as he signs the accord between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila at the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) headquarters in Gombe Municipality, in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, December 31, 2016. 

© 2016 Reuters

The agreement calls for a national follow-up committee to oversee implementation of the deal and the organization of presidential, legislative, and provincial elections in 2017. It also says that a new prime minister will be appointed, chosen by the Rassemblement opposition coalition, and that the national and provincial governments will be made up of members of the majority and opposition. But there’s no detailed calendar. It’s not yet clear how the follow-up committee will be structured or when the new prime minister and national and provincial governments will be appointed. Many also question whether the country can organize three elections in 2017 and say it would be more realistic to focus on presidential and legislative elections before organizing provincial elections.

Kabila has not yet signed the agreement, and while many say that it’s enough for his representatives to have signed on his behalf, the deal would likely have much more credibility in the eyes of the population if it included Kabila’s signature.

The opposition Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) and the coalition Front for Respect of the Constitution expressed reservations about the agreement regarding the point that Kabila can stay in power during the transition. Many Congolese youth activists say the best guarantee of credible elections would be for Kabila to step down immediately. 

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Felix Tshisekedi, of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), signs the accord between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila at the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) headquarters in Gombe Municipality, of the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, December 31, 2016. 

© 2016 Reuters

Perhaps most importantly, “confidence building measures” have yet to be implemented, and there are no clear guarantees that two years of repression will be reversed. Senior intelligence and security force officers responsible for much of the repression remain in office. The agreement says that four of the seven “emblematic” cases of political prisoners or activists in exile have been addressed, including Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, Roger Lumbala, Moïse Moni Della, and Floribert Anzuluni. But they have yet to be released or cleared of charges at the time of writing. The agreement says the other three cases – Moïse Katumbi, Jean-Claude Muyambo, and Eugène Diomi Ndongala – and those of other political prisoners, will be dealt with later by a committee of magistrates.

Katumbi called on the opposition to sign, saying he didn’t want his case to block the agreement, adding that the bishops have committed to dealing with his case later.

Meanwhile, as the agreement was being finalized, repression against the political opposition, pro-democracy activists, the media, and peaceful protesters seems to have continued unabated.

There has been no attempt to seek justice for the killings of at least 40 people by security forces during protests in Kinshasa and other cities on December 20, 2016, the day after Kabila’s two-term limit ended.

Opposition leader Franck Diongo was arrested on December 19, and convicted and sentenced to five years in prison on December 28, following a hasty trial that he attended in a wheelchair and on a drip from the mistreatment he endured during arrest. And the provincial parliament of Haut Katanga voted on December 27 to lift the parliamentary immunity for opposition leader Gabriel Kyungu, accused of insulting Kabila.

At least 10 pro-democracy youth activists from LUCHA, Filimbi, and Compte à Rembours (“Countdown”) are still in detention, arrested in recent weeks over peaceful protests calling for Kabila to respect the constitution and step down. Some have been held in secret detention without access to their families or lawyers. The Kinshasa representative for Filimbi, Carbone Beni, for example, was arrested on December 13 alongside other activists outside the building in Kinshasa where the talks were being held. His family had no news about him until his wife received a handwritten note from Beni on December 26, informing her that he is being held at the Tshatshi military camp and asking her to remain strong, look after their children, and tell his mother he loves her. A month earlier unidentified assailants abducted Beni and beat him badly before releasing him.

Other activists who were released told us about the conditions of their detention. Gloria Sengha, a LUCHA activist, was arrested on December 16 while walking in Kinshasa. She was thrown into a car, blindfolded and beaten, and her belongings stolen. Held in incommunicado detention first at Camp Tshatshi and then at the 3Z detention center of the intelligence services, she was interrogated about LUCHA and its supporters. She received little food and water until her release on December 27.

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A Congolese woman holds a placard written 'Women require stable peace' as they sit in protest during talks between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila outside the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) headquarters in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, December 31, 2016.

© 2016 Reuters

Constant Mutamba, an activist from the Nouvelle Génération pour l'Émergence du Congo (NOGEC) citizens’ movement, was arrested in the Ngiri-Ngiri neighborhood of Kinshasa in the early hours of December 20 while monitoring as Congolese took to the streets, blowing whistles and banging on pots and pans to tell Kabila his time was up. Several armed men grabbed him, beat him, put a ski mask over his head and threw him into a car. He said he was held at an unknown location, tied to a chair and beaten with blunt objects. The assailants threatened that he would never see his wife and two children again and asked him to reveal the identity of his group’s supporters. He was left blindfolded until being dropped off on the street in the early hours of December 23.

The signal for Radio France Internationale (RFI), the most important international news outlet in Congo, has now been blocked in Kinshasa for nearly two months. At least six Congolese media outlets also remain blocked.

So while the New Year’s Eve deal could prove to be a big step toward a democratic transition, there’s still a long road ahead. The parties should now work to ensure strict implementation of the deal. Concrete measures are needed to end the climate of repression. Credible elections can't be organized when opposition leaders and activists are thrown in prison and beaten, and convicted on trumped-up charges, when independent media outlets are shut down or blocked, and when security forces fire live rounds on peaceful protesters.

Congo’s international and regional partners – whose pressure seems to have led Kabila to make important concessions – should remain engaged. They should support the organization of credible, timely elections and signal that they stand ready to impose additional targeted sanctions and other punitive measures should the repression continue, if those responsible for past abuses are not held to account, or if efforts are made to prevent or delay the organization of elections. 

(New York) – The United Nations Security Council’s failure to approve a December 23, 2016, resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and placed a travel ban and asset freeze on three senior South Sudanese leaders was deeply disappointing, seven nongovernmental groups said today. The measure failed to gain the nine votes needed to pass, with seven in favor and eight abstentions.

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U.N. peacekeepers engage with South Sudanese women and children before emergency supplies are distributed at a protection of civilians site in Juba on July 25. The U.N. mission in South Sudan has been accused of failing to protect civilians from rape and sexual violence.

© Adriane Ohanesian/Reuters

“South Sudanese civilians had a reasonable expectation that the Security Council would make good on its long-standing threat to impose an arms embargo and extend sanctions to some of the senior leaders who have been responsible for grave human rights abuses” said John Prendergast, founding director at the Enough Project. “I can only imagine their frustration with today’s vote.”

Amnesty International, Control Arms, Enough Project, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Humanity United, Human Rights Watch, and PAX issued the statement jointly.

African Union and UN investigators have documented war crimes, including killings and rape of civilians, and forced recruitment of children by the warring parties in South Sudan since the conflict began on December 15, 2013. In the last few months there has been an increase in incitement to violence, hate speech by senior leaders, and targeting of civilians, sometimes based on ethnicity, in parts of the country that were previously untouched by the civil war.

“The Security Council had an opportunity to show that it stands with the civilian victims of this conflict,” said Akshaya Kumar, deputy United Nations director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead, this failure gives the warring parties in South Sudan a green light to buy more weapons and materiel that will end up being used against civilians.”

The coalition is especially concerned that the Security Council was unable to come together and take action recommended by the UN’s senior leadership, including the secretary-general and his adviser on genocide prevention. “Once again, we are seeing civilians in dire need of protection being abandoned by the Security Council,” said Dr. Simon Adams, executive director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. “We hope this effort can be revived in January when we have a new Security Council, with five new members.”

The coalition noted that some Security Council members cited President Salva Kiir’s December 2016 announcement of an inclusive national dialogue as a reason for not supporting the resolution. However, given the very limited role that nongovernmental groups, faith leaders, and women had in the process leading up to the August 2015 peace agreement, and the severe restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in South Sudan, these assurances need to be tested.

“In a country where the media cannot report on the political situation and many civil society advocates have fled to neighboring countries for their safety – who is left to participate in a dialogue?” said David Abramowitz, managing director of Humanity United. “Rather than taking President Kiir’s announcement on face value, the international community should be asking a lot more questions about who will be part of this dialogue, who will facilitate it, and what safety assurances citizens will be given ahead of joining it.”

Following the December 23 vote, the coalition said that the Intergovernmental Authority in Development (IGAD), together with the AU and countries in the region, should take greater responsibility for ending crimes under international law and other serious violations and human rights abuses and the impunity for these crimes in South Sudan.

“African leaders should use all tools at their disposal and act swiftly – ending the atrocities should not be relegated to the AU Summit at the end of January 2017,” said Muthoni Wanyeki, Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes at Amnesty International.

The coalition asked the Security Council to strengthen its efforts to work with the AU and the regional security mechanism, IGAD, to end abuses against civilians, prevent further loss of civilian lives and support efforts to combat impunity in South Sudan by swiftly establishing a competent, independent and impartial hybrid court.

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Spain detains Moroccans who tried to smuggle Africans into Ceuta - hidden in a car and a suitcase.

Migrants attempting to reach Europe have stormed the border fence between Morocco and Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.

January 1, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Khartoum Sunday has urged South Sudan to implement its pledges and to expel Sudanese rebel who are still in the troubled country.

Members of Darfur rebel group (JEM)

The call comes as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement -In Opposition (SPLM-IO) renewed accusations that the Sudanese groups are fighting them alongside the government forces in Maban County, in the Upper Nile province.

In statements to the semi-official Sudanese Media centre (SMC) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kamal Ismail called on the South Sudanese government to accelerate the expulsion of the armed movements from their territory saying, " Khartoum has been too patient with Juba and will wait"

Kamal further said that Juba had promised to expel the rebel movements from its territory. He added, "But we know very well that it continues to harbour the rebel movements until now," adding that they are waiting for the implementation of the promise of the South Sudanese government.

"Juba set a timetable to expel the rebel movements but it has not fulfilled its promise," he emphasized.

On 21 October 2016, Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir gave Juba two months to expel the rebels and threatened to reconsider the Cooperation Agreement signed in September 2012.

The United Nations in 2013 and recently the U.S. State Department said that Juba hosts and uses Sudanese rebel groups in its war against the SPLM-IO fighters.

Nearly two weeks ago, South Sudanese Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk Wednesday said Sudanese rebels have complied with the directives to leave the country, stressing that his country wants no foreign rebels.

“We need peace in this country. We don't need war and so there is no reason to allow our territory to be used by groups whose presence would be used against us and to contribute to causing instability. Because of this, we have talked to the Sudanese rebels and they have left," Juuk told Sudan Tribune on 14 December 2016.

However SPLM-Io Col. William Gatjiath Deng in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune claimed the rebels groups from the neighbouring Sudan displaced many civilians around Maban County north of former Upper Nile State.

“They are cleansing up the civilians, rapes the teenager, girls and women and burned down the surrounded villages, purposely to grab the land in order to settle their own bases in the area,” he said.

The rebel spokesperson further said another armed Sudanese rebels have used the "Yida camp in Unity State as strong base and getting the militarily supplies from the South Sudanese government".

He went to accuse South Sudanese leaders, President Salva Kiir and his First Vice President Taban Deng Gai for misleading the Khartoum government.

(ST)

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Joseph Goebbels, a Nazi politician and Hitler's Propaganda Minister.

Taban Abel Aguek, MP

In the last few weeks, there have been sustained warning of looming genocide in South Sudan. As reported by Sudan tribune, UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon, was the latest to add his voice to the matter saying before UNSC Monday last week, “If we fail to act, South Sudan will be on a trajectory towards mass atrocities.”

UN Special Advisor on Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, had earlier also expressed fear of genocide occurring in South Sudan just after a brief visit to the country. The statements by both Mr. Ban Ki Moon and Mr. Dieng were not any different from those of US Permanent Secretary to the UN, Ambassador Samantha Power, who without a bit of shame compared the situation in South Sudan to the one of Rwanda of 1994. Without fair evaluation, these UN elite personalities bought into false reports coined by Yasmin Sooka, Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, some bogus ‘paid' civil society organizations and some wicked elements of the Enough Project. All connived on how to influence and usher quick move for sanctions and arms embargo on South Sudan.

For genocide warnings to be issued, there must be strong indicators, carefully examined and clearly justifiable, to unleash such warnings. According to media reports, Mr. Ban Ki Moon cites only two indictors: first, that President Kiir and his loyalists are “contemplating a new military offensive in the coming days against the armed opposition led by Machar”. Secondly, that there are clear indications that Riek Machar and their opposition groups are pursuing a military escalation.

The question now is, are these indicators tangible enough to warrant the alarm of genocide? First of all, one has to carefully assess the size of the army accumulated at one point targeting what community to come to a conclusion that genocide is planned on that community. Secondly, military offensives by both parties to the conflict have taken place from the onslaught of the conflict and no one has ever raised an alarm. Riek Machar on his part has declared war from day one, what is being hyped as of late about his war?

Neither are the indicators enough to point at a genocide nor the language befits the proper description of genocide itself. If Riek Machar is still in the bush and is still pursuing war, then he has to be fought. Fighting negative forces does not amount to genocide. UN telling South Sudan government not to fight opposition forces is like anyone telling the US to stop war against terrorism.

The people campaigning on genocide in South Sudan are very unlucky. Whatever their intention, I must say, they have mistimed their campaign. South Sudan's days for fearing genocide are long gone. Between 2013-2014 there was very much likelihood of genocide taking place. This was the time when major cities like Bentiu, Malakal, Bor and Nasir changed hands between rebels and government forces several times in very brutal mass attacks. The best time to have warned of genocide in South Sudan should have been at a time 25,000 Nuer armed youths locally known as ‘White Army' attacked and captured Bor before they were defeated while attempting to march to Juba. At that time, when the war was at its climax the same people who are shamelessly warning of genocide rejected arms embargo and sanctions on South Sudan. It is strange and ironical that the same people who rejected sanction and arms embargo on South Sudan at the height of the conflict are now dirtily campaigning for the same at the time things have significantly normalized. There is now a suspicious feeling across South Sudan that some well paced individuals did not pursue arms embargo at first because they either had expected the rebels to win the war or were part of the groups supplying arms to rebels.

Otherwise, talking about genocide in South Sudan now is a laughable scam. It does not only challenge the honesty of its campaigners, it actually makes them appear very stupid. War has greatly scaled down in Upper Niles. There are no large military offensives akin to those of 2013 – 2014. There is no valid justified indication any tribe planning to launch a major attack on another. And again, there is in place a peace agreement and the Transitional Government of National Unity is existing and very active.

Well, Dr. Riek and a few others jumped off the peace wagon. And of course, there are pockets of insurgencies in some parts of Equatoria largely operating like terrorists and targeting members of certain ethnicities. But that has been going on since the conflict started and the Dinka have never planned any revenge. The number of the Dinkas killed by Nuer is many times bigger than the number lynched on roads by the elements of rebels in Equatoria. So, if the Dinka have never mobilized against Nuer, how can they do that against attacks of the Dinka on roads.

Lies as seen in the quote above have come a long way with the human race. The Dinka people say a false news of death of a dear one becomes a good news when it turned out in the end to be a lie. Similarly, if these warnings and nothing else, then we shall have to be happy with these lies because ‘genocide is worse than the lies about it'.

I actually thought Mr. Ban Ki Moon was going to be a bit cautious after it emerged in a recent report published by many media outlets that the institution he leads, UNMISS, gave a lot arms to rebels in Bentiu, the same arms they used a few weeks later to massacre civilians in large, shocking numbers including those in mosques, churches and hospitals. With lid blown off the corrupted system he leads, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, chooses not to restore its values and cleanse self but instead delve into loose stories created by the godfathers of regime change and stories damaging and full of vulgarity. It is hard to see people that should advocate for peace working to jeopardize it. That is being irresponsible.

All in all, South Sudanese are not worried about the hyping or sending out of alarm of genocide in the country. However much it is repeated and no matter the weight of those who hype it, South Sudanese should not be moved about what is called ‘impending genocide'. The real problem, rather, is the implication of the song sung in its name.

Stories like these stoke fear in people, increase suspicion and kill trust among people. There are chances that hyping genocide may triggers genocide to happen. Sometimes, those who warn of what is basically a lie have the intention to have what they lied about take place. In this case those who unleash warning on genocide in South Sudan are actually campaigning for genocide to take place because they will badly be left ashamed if the said story did not happen. There is this famous saying in South Sudan that “If you warn a mad man against setting a house on fire, then you could have reminded him to do so”. So, these people should not tell people of South Sudan what they have not thought of. When UNMISS separated IDPs in its Malakal POC into Dinkas and Nuer, they eventually fought inside the POC because they were made to see and feel it that they are not one people.

We know the tory has remained around regime change. Sometimes it goes from Trusteeship to international administration and from sanctions to arms embargo but it all revolves around one thing: regime change. Many other things around these are just lies and propaganda coming from people within the circle with that notion and supported by the media that they control. It is a pity this is still not known to some Africa's big names like Prof. Mahmood Mamdani and Prof. Anyang Nyong'o.

Good enough, truth has already triumphed over the devil as the issue of sanctions and arms embargo on South Sudan were defeated yesterday at the UNSC. I applaud the nations that chose to stand with the truth now rather later after the damage is done.

Many years after the invasion of Iraq, many prominent leaders who hyped the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq admitted that they were wrong and badly regretted their role in the war created out of a baseless lie. I wonder why would some people want to repeat the same mistake in South Sudan?

It is our hope that South Sudan is going to survive the devil scheme, and by the grace of God, surmount all it challenges prove its prophets of doom wrong.

Taban Abel Aguek is the Government Chief Whip in Eastern Lakes State, Yirol. The opinions raised here are solely his own. He can be reached at abelaguek79@gmail.com.

January 1, 2017 (ZALINGEI) Sudanese government forces in Nertiti, Central Darfur State, killed at least nine civilians on Sunday with guns in an apparent revenge attack for the murder of a soldier, a local activist said.

Abdallah Saleh al-Shafie humanitarian official of displaced persons and refugees association told Sudan Tribune that the government forces in Nertiti launched an indiscriminate attack on the civilians using heavy and light weapons after a soldier was found dead in the area.

Al-Shafie confirmed that nine people were killed and 60 wounded, some of them are seriously hurt. He added that government troops looted civilian property and broke into shops in Nertiti-North and Nertiti-South markets.

He said the body of the murdered soldier was found lying in the street, stressing that the offender was not identified.

The humanitarian official said dozens of wounded civilians are treated at the UNAMID hospital as Nertiti hospital was unable to receive them.

Further the government forces arrested 15 people during the "barbaric and savage," attack, as he said, while others fled the area and sought protection in the area just outside the UNAMID site.

The Central Darfur State security committee visited the area of the attack and held a meeting that lasted for several hours during the night.

Following the meeting a local official told Sudan Tribune that ''the situation has returned to calm''.

The government officials claim rebel elements that fled from Jebel Marra battles are now sheltered in IDPs camps and neighbourhoods of Nertiti.

REBELS CONDEMN

The Sudan Liberation Movement- Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) condemned "Nirtiti massacre" and called on the international community to stop the targeting of civilians in Darfur.

"The Sudan Liberation Movement condemns this deliberate attack carried out under direct order of the president of Salvation regime who is wanted for justice and the director of security apparatus. This attack is an evidence to prove the regime's lack of seriousness to achieve peace in Sudan," said the SLM-MM spokesperson Mohamed Hassan Haroun.

He further said the group does not acknowledge the recent extension of unilateral cessation of hostilities for one month by the Sudanese president.

The SLM reiterates its rejection to sign any cessation of hostilities or ceasefire agreement unless the regime stops the repeated attacks and unless al-Bashir stops instructing these militias which he directs personally, further said the rebel group.

In a statement released to condemn the attack, the SPLM-N Secretary General Yasir Arman said the regime is committing a war crime to celebrate the New Year.

"The SPLM-N calls on the Sudanese public to stand against genocide and war crimes and it appeals to the United Nations Security Council, the United States, and the European Union to take measures against General Bashir," said Arman.

The SPLM-secretary general further said that this attack reminds "all of the international stakeholders of the need for civilian protection in Sudan rather than rewarding General Bashir and casting a blind eye on his war crimes".

(ST)

December 30, 2016 (GANYLIEL) – A Tanzanian pilot, currently in rebel custody in war-torn South Sudan for the third day, has blamed the country's authorities for his woes.

The chattered plane detained by rebels (courtesy photo)

In a phone interview with Sudan Tribune on Saturday, Mohammed Nassar said he was duped to believe Ganyliel county in Unity state was under the control of government.

The Tanzanian national operated the plane is now held hostage by rebels. On board was a county commissioner.

“There is no one I can blame, rather than government that told me the area was secured and under their full control, yet we ended up in the hand of the opposition forces on landing in the area,” Nasser told Sudan Tribune over phone.

The detained pilot said he has since failed to contact the Tanzania embassy in Juba, but made contact with family members in Tanzania and colleagues in Juba via email.

John Tap Puot, the rebel-appointed commissioner in the area, says the pilot lacked proper identification documents and wondered by foreigners were being employed.

“We detained the plane and the pilot because he [Nasser] was not in possession of any document, neither passport nor a national identification card, but claimed to be a Tanzanian national,” said Puot.

He, however, said the pilot even failed to provide details of the Tanzanian embassy in Juba when asked to avail them.

The official further disclosed that both the Tanzanian national and Commissioner Peter Gatkoi Beliew were safe.

South Sudanese authorities have not yet reacted on the matter.

(ST)

January 1, 2017 (JUBA) – War-torn South Sudan will experience extreme levels of food insecurity across the country in the first half of 2017, a new food security report show.

Acute food insecurity Feb- Sept 2016 (Photo credit: FEWS NET)

Famine Early Warning Systems (FEWS Net), a body that provides early warning and analysis on food insecurity said in its new report that food availability is likely to be lower than normal due to below-average production and volatile trade and that very high price could also limit food access.

Aid agencies say over 2.5 million people have been displaced by the conflict in South Sudan, with an estimated over a million said to have fled into neighbouring countries.
The conflict between South Sudan's rival factions, has led to deaths of thousands since it broke out in December 2013.

"Despite the ongoing harvest, levels of acute malnutrition remain at Crisis and Emergency thresholds in many counties," FEWS Net said in a report released Saturday.

"Given the likely early depletion of household stocks and continued constraints to normal livelihood activities, high levels of acute malnutrition are expected to persist throughout the outlook period,” it adds.

The report also projects a likely upsurge in humanitarian needs within the country, citing the continued civil war.

It, however, said emergency humanitarian assistance and improved access should continue to urgently save lives.

According to the report, over 50 percent of the population in South Sudan's oil-rich Unity state is already internally displaced and ongoing conflict in Mayendit, Rubkona and Leer resulted into new displacement of people last month.

Food insecurity, the report further stressed, is particularly severe among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Leer, the majority of whom are displaced to nearby swamps and lack access to food aid or basic health services.

"Although Unity hosts the largest number of IDPs, internal displacement has increased most rapidly in Greater Equatoria, where the number of IDPs has increased 250 percent since July," it says.

Also cited in the report is the insecurity in Eastern Equatoria region is forcing many to flee to Kenya, where the rate of refugee arrivals increased from about 300 people per week in September to over 1,000 people per week in November.

(ST)

January 1, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Despite the lift of pre-publication censorship, the Sudanese press continues to suffer from confiscations by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) which has increasingly tightened its grip on printing, distribution and paid advertising in newspapers.

The NISS has shown unflinching determination to carry out mass confiscations against newspapers deemed to cross what it describes as “redlines”. In February 2015, it seized print runs of 14 newspapers from the printing press on one day.

During the last couple of months, the NISS confiscated copies of the various newspapers 32 times.

Chief-Editor of Al-Jareeda daily Ashraf Abdel-Aziz told Sudan Tribune that the NISS seized his newspaper 27 times during the last year, pointing that the National Council for Press and Publications (NCPP) also suspended the news daily four times.

He said the repeated confiscations have inflicted at the very least 600,000 pounds (SDG) (about $38,000) financial loss on the newspaper, pointing that Al-Jareeda doesn't receive any paid advertising from the government.

Abdelaziz pointed that the Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal Osman has previously said the “government would give its paid advertising to whoever it wants”, saying Al-Jareeda was confiscated 11 times in December 2016.

In previous statements, Abdel-Aziz said they recently received an “alarming explicit order from the NISS demanding us to stop two of our opinion writer, Osman Shabona and Zuhair Siraj”, stressing they “wouldn't change the editorial line of the newspaper”.

However, publisher and Chief-Editor of Al-Tayyar daily Osman Merghani believes his newspaper was the most affected by the repeated confiscations and suspensions, saying it was suspended the during the entire first half of last year.

He told Sudan Tribune that entire print runs of Al-Tayyar has been confiscated 10 times from the printing house by the NISS without reasons last year, saying the news daily's loss is estimated at one million pounds (SDG) (about $63,000).

Also, on December 27th, 2016, the NCPP suspended Al-Tayyar for three days following a complaint from the judiciary against a column published by the newspaper discussing some court proceedings.

For his part, Chief-Editor of Al-Saiha daily al-Nour Ahmed al-Nour said his newspaper was seized 6 times during 2016, pointing their financial loss is estimated at 400,000 pounds (about $25,000).

The frequency of confiscations varies with the political climate in the country. For example, newspapers were seized 9 times during the first quarter of 2016 while there were 32 confiscations between late November and December after the NISS imposed restrictions on covering news of the recent civil disobediences actions.

NISS's attempts at taming newspapers weren't only confined to repeated confiscations but also include controlling the government paid advertising and printing market.

It is noteworthy that the NISS owns the International Printing Press (IPP) which prints the majority of the news dailies in the countries.

Director of Al-Ashiqa Printing Press Mohamed Wida'a told Sudan Tribune that the IPP has monopoly over printing of 80% of the newspapers in Sudan.

He pointed that despite a presidential decree to privatize 42 companies belonging to the regular forces, the NISS has expanded the IPP and established a second printing press in a clear violation of the decree.

It should be recalled that the NISS also owns two newspapers' distribution and advertisement companies.

Also, in 2013 the NISS acquired the independent daily Al-Sahafa newspaper and bought the majority of shares of Al-Khartoum newspaper before it was sold to its original publisher.

Moreover, the NISS encompassed the prosecution of journalists for their profession and the preclusion of journalists, writers, opinion makers from writing for security reasons.

According to the Sudanese Journalists Network (SJN), the Press and Publications Court has 11 cases against journalists and chief-editors in 2016.

(ST)

January 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) Secretary General Yasser Arman has urged Sudanese activists abroad to launch a campaign of collective return to the country to challenge government threats against civil disobedient organizers.

SPLM's Yasir Arman

Social media activists and opposition groups called on the Sudanese to engage in civil disobedience actions on November 27th and December 19th to protest against the recent austerity measures. The call was met with mixed response in the capital, Khartoum the various regions.

Commenting on recent arrest campaign against activists and opposition figures, Sudan's presidential aide Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid on thursday said they wouldn't allow any activities threatening security of the people, stressing the activists involved in such actions would be detained upon return to the country.

In an interview with radio Afia Darfur, Arman said the Sudanese in exile should challenge Hamid's statements in which he threatened to take legal actions against social media activists and writers living abroad who supported the general strike.

He called on Sudanese nationals who hold foreign passports to initiate a campaign for collective return to Sudan according to an agreed upon timetable to challenge the regime and escalate mass action.

“If the regime took any action against them, it would face both internal and external resistance from countries which the returnees hold its travel documents and passports [because these countries] are required to protect them according to its internal laws … this would cause dual pressure [on the regime],” he said.

WAR IN YEMEN

Meanwhile, the rebel leader condemned participation of the government in the war in Yemen, saying the move would ruin Sudan's relations with the Yemini people.

He described Sudan's participation in the war in Yemen as “cheap mercenarism”, calling on the Gulf State to not support the regime in its domestic wars against the people in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Sudan participates with over 850 troops in the Saudi-led “Decisive Storm” against the Iranian-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Sudanese military participation in the campaign reconciled President Omer al-Bashir's regime with the Saudi government, and marked the divorce with Iran.
Arman further said the war in the three areas is “racist war”.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

(ST)