Africa

December 11, 2016 (YAMBIO) – The Christians of Evangelical Lutheran Church, at an extra-ordinary convention held in Yambio, voted out the former Bishop and elected a new one to be in charge of South Sudan and Sudan Lutheran Church affairs.

A group of Bishops in Juba (ST/file)

James El-taib, the legal advisor of Church, said the removal of the former Bishop Wilson Noah was done in accordance to the law.

The convention, he added, also had right to elect a Bishop to work as per the will of the Christians and constitution of the church.

Early this year, the board of the church accused the former Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church of not doing enough to develop the church, and later suspending and dismissing pastors for no reasons.

Other allegations were labeled against the former Bishop to defend himself, but the religious leader failed to do what the church expected.

El-taib said the convention, which drew participants from across the two Sudans, unanimously elected Pastor Peter Anibati to be the Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church and will be ordained in three months to assume office, according to the church constitution.

The convention also elected the Assistant Bishop Rev. Simon Gatluak who will be in upper Nile to run the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Meanwhile, the former bishop, who hails from Juba, appealed the convention's election outcome, describing it as being “illegal”.

He said he still remains the Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan and South Sudan.

“A committee is expected to go and meet the former Bishop in Juba where he is expected to hand over all the assets he was using when he was a bishop,” El-taib stated.

Speaking to leaders of church after the convention, Simon Masini, a church member accused the former bishop of poor administration.

“Christians have been waiting for the convention to take place so they can elect somebody who will take ahead the church ahead,” he said.

(ST)

December 11, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has appointed Renish Omullo, a Kenyan national, as the young nation's special envoy to Germany.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

The appointment, Kenya's the Star newspaper reported, is detailed in 8 December letter, which was signed by the South Sudan leader.

“This Decree shall be cited as “The Republic Decree No.324/2016 for the Appointment of the Republic of South Sudan Special Envoy to the Federal Republic of Germany 2106 A.D.” shall come into force on the date of its signature of the President of Republic,” it noted.

Omullo, in a separate letter, will reportedly take charge of South Sudan's international and regional affairs on the same capacity.

The special envoy reportedly brings lots of experience in international trade and diplomacy affairs, having worked as the Business Development manager for Africa for Celle Brunnenbau, GmBH.

Over the years, however, the Kenyan national has been engaged with issues of South Sudan in trade and diplomacy for a long time.

Omullo welcomed her appointment by President Kiir and pledged to serve diligently to the benefit of the citizens of South Sudan.

“I am fully focused to do my best to serve well. I take the opportunity to thank President Kiir for the confidence and trust he has bestowed on me,” she told the Kenyan daily.

(ST)

December 11, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Ministry on Sunday has said the government would resort to other options to achieve peace in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile if the armed groups refused to engage in negotiations to end the war.

Sudan's state minister for foreign affairs Kamal-al-Din Ismail - (AFP-File Photo)

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the “Two Areas” since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Sudan's State Foreign Minister Kamal Ismail told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) that “there are only a few days left before the end of the ultimatum set by President Omer al-Bashir to armed movements in Darfur and the Two Areas to come to the negotiating table”.

Last November, al-Bashir said that no talks would take place inside Sudan or abroad following the end of the national dialogue, pointing that armed and political holdout opposition have no option but to sign the national document approved by the dialogue conference on October 10th.

He stressed that “peace doors would remain open” whenever the armed opposition decides to engage in talks to achieve peace, renewing his government's pledge to implement all its commitments.

Ismail further expressed government readiness to engage in talks to achieve security and stability once the rebel groups abandon their intransigent positions before the end of the year.

The Sudanese government and armed groups in Darfur - Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi are expected to resume informal discussions with the government in Addis Ababa next week in a bid to reach a compromise over a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access in Darfur region.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement North, on the other, announced the suspension of political engagement with the government since last October. This week it also declined an invitation by Carter Center to participate in a workshop on peace in Sudan.

Following six days of talks in Addis Ababa last August, the armed movements and the government failed to conclude a deal on the security arrangements and humanitarian access in Darfur and the Two Areas prompting the African Union mediation to suspend the talks indefinitely.

(ST)

December 11, 2016 (JUBA)- The intergovernmental authority on development Authority (IGAD) has expressed disappointment at the targeted killings in South Sudan, forcing its member states to condemn in the strongest terms.

An extraordinary session of the IGAD heads of states meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 10 June 2014 (IGAD photo)

IGAD heads of states and governments held a two day meeting in Addis Ababa on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 where they discussed the implementation of the South Sudanese peace agreement, and the delay of presidential election in Somalia.

The summit, according to the communique, was chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn and attended by the heads of state of Sudan, Djibouti, South Sudan and Somalia. Kenya and Uganda were represented by Foreign ministers. The regional leaders, according to the communique, expressed disappointed and “condemned sexual violence on women and girls and expresses deep concern with the rising ethnic rhetoric, hate speech and ethnically-fuelled violence,".

They called upon the political leadership in South Sudan to immediately condemn and take steps to prevent any act of discrimination, hostility, and hatred that could constitute incitement to violence.

It called on all parties to immediately "cease all hostilities, while condemning declaration of armed uprisings in South Sudan" and called upon the SPLM-IO faction to "renounce violence as means of solving the problems of South Sudan".

The IGAD leaders expressed their serious concern and dismay that the implementation of the peace agreement has faced a serious setback since July clashes in Juba and underlined their firm conviction that the peace accord is the only viable way towards achievement of peace and stability in South Sudan.

They however commended the JMEC Chairperson and members of the Commission for the hard work they are performing under extremely difficult circumstances in monitoring the implementation of the peace agreement.

The summit welcomed the consent given by the unity government for the immediate deployment of the Regional Protection Force (RPF), including equipment and weapons required by the Force. It commended the troop contributing countries for the Force for accepting the responsibility of deploying their troops under the RPF in the spirit of regional solidarity.

It reiterated the continued and collective commitment of the region in the search of lasting peace, security and stabilization in South Sudan, including through the early deployment and full operationalization of the RPF.

Ethiopian Prime Minister and IGAD Chairperson Hailemariam Desalegn on Friday called on Kenya to "reconsider its decision to withdraw its forces from South Sudan and to consider its participation".

He further said that Kenya is n anchor for peace and security and its participation in peacekeeping is vital.

Addis Ababa December 9, 2016 The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has called on Kenya to reconsider its decision to withdraw forces from South Sudan.

(ST)

December 11, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Chairman of the rebel umbrella Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) Sunday Malik Agar has urged the Sudanese to participate effectively in the civil disobedience action on 19 December.

The government decision to lift fuel, electricity and drug subsidy stirred up large protests across the Sudan last month. Following a three-day protest against the decision between 27 to 29November, activists called on the Sudanese people to engage in a civil disobedience on December 19 th.

Several opposition forces and armed groups expressed support for the upcoming event and called upon their affiliates to play an active role in the strike.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Sunday, Agar described the civil disobedience as “important move to overthrow the regime”, calling on the marginalized people to lead the strike.

“The suffering of the [people] in the peripheries and the cities wouldn't end unless the regime is toppled,” he said.

Agar, who is also the chairman of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), further called on the opposition Sudan Call forces to work jointly to ensure the success of the December 19th event, describing the strike as “new move on the path to change”.

For its part, the Unified Unionist Party (UUP) has called on its members to support the civil disobedience action, describing it as “historical duty” to fight against dictatorship and totalitarianism.

(ST)

December 10, 2016,   H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta,  President,  Republic of Kenya,  The State House,  P.O. Box 40530 – 00100,  Nairobi, Kenya.   Re: Call for a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations committed during security operations    Your Excellency,   We, the undersigned Kenyan and international human rights organizations urge you to promptly establish an independent judicial commission of inquiry to conduct a thorough, impartial and effective investigation into allegations of enforced disappearances, extra-judicial executions, torture and other ill-treatment of detainees by the Kenya Police Service, Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), Kenya Wildlife Service, (KWS) intelligence and law enforcement agencies mentioned in human rights and media reports. Since 2011. Some of the media reports include, Al Jazeera Investigates- “Inside Kenya's Death Squads”, Al Jazeera 2014, “Killing Kenya: People & Power”, Al Jazeera 2015.    Our request to you is made based on the Kenya Commissions of Inquiry Act of 1962, where the president has power to appoint a special commission to “inquire into the conduct of any public officer or the conduct or management of any public body, or into any matter into which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the President, be in the public interest.”   Since Kenya intervened in Somalia in 2011, several Kenyan and international organizations and media, have found that various security forces have allegedly perpetrated numerous human rights violations during counter-terrorism operations, some of which may amount to crimes under international law, in response to Al-Shabab attacks in Nairobi, in the northeast and at the coast. Allegedly, security agencies have also been implicated in extrajudicial executions of young people in rural areas and informal settlements in urban centers during routine policing.    To cite a few examples:   In July 2016, Human Rights Watch documented at least 34 people taken into custody by security forces during counterterrorism operations in northeastern Kenya between 2013 and 2015. We understand two of these people have now been located in state custody, with one now facing terrorism related charges. In addition, bodies of at least 11 people previously arrested by state agents have been found in the last two years, in some instances far from the location of their arrest. The whereabouts of the rest of those taken into custody between 2013 and 2015 remain unknown.   As far as Human Rights Watch is aware, police have not investigated these unexplained deaths or made any arrests of those allegedly responsible.    In 2013, Open Society Justice Initiative jointly with Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) produced a report, “We’re Tired of Taking You to the Court”, that implicated the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions of those linked to Al-Shabab.    In 2015, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) released a report, “The Error of Fighting Terror with Terror”, which found that multiple security units were involved in extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances of those suspected of links to Al-Shabab. In 2014, an Al Jazeera documentary, Inside Kenya's Death Squads, detailed the existence of security units that extra judicially execute alleged to have links with Al-Shabaab.   These reports and media documentaries show that Kenyan security forces, especially specialized units and other security agencies, operate with impunity and with little regard for the rule of law and human rights. Kenya government officials and the police have responded by dismissing or denying the allegations.   We acknowledge that Kenya is implementing provisions of the 2010 Constitution that establishes accountability institutions such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), a statutory body mandated to investigate allegations of human rights violations by the police. But the scope and nature of abuses in Nairobi, northeast and at the coast are such that the existing accountability institutions and framework cannot adequately respond.    For example, the wildlife police and units of the Kenyan military, which are not subject to adequate and effective oversight, are reportedly involved in committing human rights violations.    Those seeking information from KDF regarding the whereabouts of detainees believed to be held in military barracks, for instance, have no clear avenues for asking even basic questions compared to the police where there is a civilian oversight mechanism.    We believe that it is critical to establish a new mechanism, a commission of inquiry, specifically to investigate human rights violations allegedly committed during counterterrorism operations and other security operations and to ensure, that if sufficient admissible evidence exists, those responsible are held to account. The commission of inquiry should be comprised of individuals with proven expertise, knowledge and experience in the promotion and protection of human rights, including expertise in Kenyan and international human rights law. The commission should be granted unhindered access to relevant locations, including all places of detention, such as police stations, military barracks and other suspected un-official sites.    The commission should be mandated to summon commanders and officers from any agencies, including the police, military and the KWS and any government officers believed to have information relevant to ensuring accountability for the abuses. The mandate of the commission should make it clear that no one should be able to claim immunity, or for whatever other reason refuse to appear before the commission, if summoned.    Further, unless the interest of justice dictates otherwise and only to the extent it is necessary for the purpose of criminal prosecution, the Commission’s findings should be made public. Otherwise they should be handed over to a judicial authority to pursue possible prosecutions.   We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this and other pressing human rights concerns in Kenya.    We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this and other pressing human rights concerns in Kenya. Alternatively, your staff could contact Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, Otsieno Namwaya, at mattheo@hrw.org; Eastern Africa researcher at Amnesty International, Abdullahi Halakhe Boru at Abdullahi.Halakhe@amnesty.org or Executive Director at Kenya Human Rights Commission, George Kegoro, at GKegoro@khrc.or.ke.    Signed,   Kenya Human Rights Commission Haki Africa Muslims for Human Rights Wajir Paralegals Network Amnesty International Human Rights Watch Independent Medico – Legal Unit International Justice Mission

In an effort to stem violence in the coming weeks, 72 Congolese and 15 international human rights organizations issued a statement on Friday calling on the United States and the European Union to expand targeted sanctions against senior Democratic Republic of Congo officials implicated in serious rights abuses. The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council is due to discuss Congo on Monday.

Meanwhile, an opening ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the start of Catholic Church mediated talks between opposition political groups and members of the ruling coalition, providing a glimmer of hope that a negotiated solution could be found before the December 19 deadline, when President Joseph Kabila’s constitutionally mandated two-term limit ends. The talks were suspended until Tuesday, as discussions on participant lists continued today.

A key part of any agreement should include concrete steps to end the government-orchestrated crackdown on free expression and peaceful assembly. Government repression continued this week, as police in the eastern city of Bunia prevented a dozen members of the youth movement Filimbi from staging a sit-in on Wednesday morning. The activists wanted to deliver a letter calling on provincial deputies and other administrators to step down December 19.

Bunia’s mayor said he had prohibited the demonstration to comply with instructions given in a November 3 letter to all governors from Interior Minister Evariste Boshab, saying that Filimbi and the youth movement LUCHA are not legally registered groups so aren’t authorized to hold any activity. That runs counter to Congolese law, which does not require citizens to register their organization to hold a peaceful assembly.

Radio and television journalist Adel Uvon was released on Monday after she had been arrested with five LUCHA activists last week in Bunia. She was not charged. The LUCHA activists – Franck Bahati, Deogratias Kiza, Lombo Bahati, Celestin Tambwe, and Luc Malembe – were transferred to the central prison in Bunia on Wednesday after being charged with “incitement to disobedience,” a charge that appears politically motivated.

In Goma, military intelligence agents arrested LUCHA activist Justin Mutabesha on Thursday, soon after immigration officials confiscated a box of LUCHA T-shirts and detained the young man who had gone to Uganda to print and deliver them. According to the LUCHA activists, the T-shirts said “LUCHA – Lutte pour le Changement” (“Struggle for Change”) on the front and “#FreeLUCHA” on the back. Mutabesha remains in detention at the T2 military intelligence prison, without access to his lawyer, while the whereabouts of the young man who delivered the T-shirts are unknown.

Three other LUCHA activists arrested in Goma on October 24, after denouncing the “national dialogue” agreement remain in detention at the central prison: Jacques Muhindo, Fiston Dunia, and Glody Ntambwe.

In Bukavu, the crackdown on free assembly and the authorities’ apparent unease about all youth mobilization spread to student protests that began last Friday against a 25 percent hike in annual tuition fees at the Higher Pedagogical Institute that began last Friday. Security forces on Wednesday fired teargas to disperse scores of protesters, injuring at least two students and possibly others.

South Africa's scrubland plant "fynbos" has helped nursery owner Jacky Goliath develop her business.

By John A. Akec*

I recently asked a young relative what small business he would start if I were to give him some money. His answer came quickly, with no hesitation whatsoever: he would be buying and selling fuel (diesel and petrol) and charcoal. In that order. I was somewhat amazed to know that charcoal business was that lucrative to be on the same league as fuel, but was not shocked to hear that diesel and petrol would sell like hot cake at a premium. And for the last few weeks, it has become apparent to this writer that many of our citizens living around our capital city have discovered yet another money-making machine through buying highly subsidised fuel and selling it on the streets at five times its original price to make a fortune. And here is how.

Nile Petroleum Corporation, the South Sudan's national oil operator, spends about one dollar (or between USD 0.98 to USD 1.05) to purchase a liter of diesel or petrol and then sells it at a retail price of 21 SSP (20 cent or USD 0.2). Retailers (Nile Petroleum Corporation included) then sell it to consumers at 22 SSP or so per liter, as from January 2016. At the beginning of 2016, South Sudan pound exchange rate against dollar in the parallel market was round 25 SSP to a dollar. That amounted to subsidies of SSP 23 million a month to supply the market with 2 million liters in January 2016 alone. As demand picked up and South Sudan pound exchange value against dollar continued to deteriorate, the value of subsidies began to increase exponentially to peak at SSP 500 million for the month September 2016 alone.

Overall, fuel subsidies, according to reliable sources, for 12 months from January to December 2016 amount to around SSP 3 billion to supply the market with 112 million liters of fuel. As things stand, and at current exchange rate, one would estimate that fuel subsidies will cost the nation some SSP 6 billion next year from January 2017 to December 2017, assuming exchange rate stays the same, which is doubtful. If not, it could cost even more to maintain the subsidies in 2017. The minimum projected fuel subsidies for year 2017 is equivalent to 20 percent of approved budget of the SSP 30 billion for fiscal year 2016/2017. It is the money our government will spend on the premise that it is helping keep low the prices of transportation services and other fuel-price sensitive goods.

Looking more critically at current fuel subsidies though, the next question is who is really benefiting and how the government has been able to afford such a huge undertaking? The beneficiaries are young men, women, and children selling fuel on roads' side, and their distributors who are pocketing subsidies at most. It explains why fuel queues are so long at our fuel distribution stations and depots. Many motorists fill their tanks with diesel or petrol at 22 SSP and sell it to young street retailers who in turn sell it at more than 100 SSP a liter, and share the differences as profits. Others would fill containers and sell the fuel themselves at higher prices. The next day, many of them are back on the queue to buy more to sell. But at whose expense? Calls to float the prices of fuel and remove subsidies as well as opening the market up to private sector providers, it seems, have fallen on deaf ears.

It is a similar story to how the system of fixed exchange rate was exploited for a decade before it was finally and partially abolished in December 2015. Those well connected were able to buy dollars at low fixed exchange rate from the central bank and made twice or three or five times the value on the black market rate. It was for that very reason that many economic activists supported the floating of the exchange rate so that government can get value for money from its oil revenues.

By the time the Ministry of Finance finally gave a go ahead to the central bank to float the exchange rate, monthly income from oil revenues had already dwindled due to fall of prices of crude oil on the world markets. An important window of opportunity had been missed, and a deep economic hole had been dug.

What's more, the system of auction of dollar at the central bank in which all the bidders – from the highest, to middle, to the lowest, won, is seen by this writer and other economists spoken to as not the best because it is open to price-fixing and, and vulnerable to internal dealings.

It is small wonder that things had not improved even after switching to floating exchange rate policy. From this author's viewpoint, the policy of floating exchange rate was a sound one. However, the implementation of the policy, as well as delayed adoption, have left much to be desired. Besides, rushing to increase salaries of the members of armed forces by 300 percent without proper cost benefit analysis has wiped out any gains that could have accrued to the nation coffers.

The other part of the question that has not been addressed adequately in this article is how does the government afford to pay for these huge subsidies? Reliable sources have informed the author that a share of South Sudan's crude oil is handed over to a foreign company that gives South Sudan a certain quantity of refined fuel every month at an agreed price. Hence, though it appears at the surface that Nile Petroleum has unlimited ability to sustain the losses month after month, ad infinitum, it is coming at the expense of reduced oil revenues to the government of South Sudan. What goes around must come around, the saying goes.

Finally, the question I need to pose is whether or not these subsides are worth it? And I fear, they are not. For once, the subsidies are not reflected on rate of transports either on fairs of matatos (mini-buses) and boda-bodas (motor cycles). This is because the owners of mini-buses and boda-bodas still pitch their fairs to reflect the inflation, even if fuel prices remain fixed officially. It therefore begs the question whether it is worth it to put our scarce resource to alleviate the economic burden on our citizens where it makes no real impact.

In conclusion, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in our Republic, in its effort to cut expenditure, should consider removing fuel subsidies completely (the sooner the better), and allow private companies to supply and sell the fuel to those who need it at competitive prices which are determined by "market's invisible hand."

Redirecting resources away from fuel subsidies could help reduce the deficit in the current budget from 40 percent to about 20 percent. It will not solve all our economic owes, but will partially assist towards closing the large gap in our public finances. It will also help stabilize the exchange rate of South Sudan pound against dollar as it will increase the oil revenue coming in.

Cynics will describe such a proposal as a politically risky undertaking to pursue. However, not taking bold measures, such as this one, to put our public finances in order is simply to delay the inevitable. For sooner, or later, not doing the right thing, at the right time, will catch up with our struggling economy. To the disadvantage of us all.

*The writer is the vice chancellor of University of Juba, South Sudan. He publishes personal blog at:http://johnakecsouthsudan.blogspot.com/

Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh says he will launch a legal challenge after his election defeat.

Sofiane Boufal scores his first Premier League goal as his spectacular strike from 25 yards gives Southampton a win over Middlesbrough.

At least 39 people are dead after a fuel tanker explodes on a road in Naivasha, Kenya.

A roof collapses during a church ceremony in south-eastern Nigeria, killing at least 100 people.

The African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, lose 2-0 to Japan's Kashima Antlers in the quarter-final of the Fifa Club World Cup.

A powerful blast kills at least 16 people near the port of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

December 10, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - National, regional and international aid groups are working for the opening of a new camp of South Sudanese refugees in East Darfur.

El-Nimir refugee camp which is located at 13 km west of the state capital, Ed Daein, will host 10,000 refugees from Raja in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal State who are in search of food and protection.

Sudanese and international officials say they didn't expect this important influx of South Sudanese to Darfur and East Darfur particularly. Also, they explain that this new camp aimed to congestion Khor Omer camp as the number of refugees has reached over 56,000 people.

The UN OCHA reported that the UNHCR and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) have demarcated 400 land plots. Also, Sudanese NGO Global Aid Hand (GHA) will build a child-friendly space and support on the identification and protection of unaccompanied children.

The Care International –Switzerland (CIS) will oversee water and sanitation services and will rehabilitate two existing boreholes; as well as extending 1,500 metres of water pipes from the village bore hole to the refugee camp.

UNHCR will build a reception centre and provide shelter and non-food items. Also, Qatar Red Crescent Society will assist in shelter, sanitation and primary health care services.

While the American Refugee Committee (ARC) will soon provide health and nutrition services to the camp residents. The World Health Organization (WHO) will supply medicines and also support ARC in running primary health care services for refugees in the Abu Jabra area, including free medication.

(ST)

December 10, 2016 (JUBA) - The chief of South Sudan army (SPLA), Paul Malong Awan has warned government soldiers not to be aggressive towards foreign troops coming to compliment and strengthen the protecting and fighting capacity of the forces under the new mandate of United Nations Mission in South Sudan UNMISS).

Speaking to soldiers during a parade at the army's general headquarters on Friday, Awan said he received orders from the president, also commander in-chief of the army, instructing the SPLA to respect foreign forces and protect civilians during their engagements with armed opposition forces in the country.

“Civilians are not our targets. We are the government. Our mandate is to protect the constitution and territorial integrity of the country against foreign forces and for those who wants to undermine the sovereignty of the country, whether those wanting to do this comes from within or outside”, Awan told the state-owned SSBC.

The top level military officer urged the command and military officers to cooperate with the forth coming foreign troops, saying they were not their immediate enemies, but coming to supplement efforts to ensure stability.

Awan's remarks came in the wake of a statement attributed to Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, in which she said Japanese forces were deployed to the country under Self-Defense Force (SDF) and could be withdrawn if security conditions deteriorate.

“The situation could abruptly change so we will consistently gather necessary information for ensuring safety,” Inada said in a recent media interview with various news outlets. Her comments come ahead of Monday, when the SDF personnel stationed in the new country begin operating under expanded guidelines that allow them to respond to requests by U.N. staff and others in need of assistance, such as if they come under attack.

Inada said she is “not concerned” about the new mission, which is in line with the nation's new security legislation that gives SDF personnel greater operational leeway.

The SDF troops “are well trained” and the officer commanding the unit in South Sudan “is a person who can assess the situation calmly,” the minister added.

More than 270 people died in Juba in July due to large-scale clashes between government forces and rebels. While admitting that the overall security situation in South Sudan is tough, the Japanese government has said Juba is relatively calm.

“If gun battles last longer than the (July) fighting, and the SDF cannot secure their own safety, it is possible that we would consider their withdrawal,” Inada said.

The new role legally includes operations to rescue foreign military personnel, but Inada said such a scenario “is not expected to arise. Foreign troops can protect themselves.”

The rescue mission remains controversial at home, with some critics warning that the new role could lead SDF members to become embroiled in overseas military actions for the first time since World War II, in possible violation of the country's war-renouncing Constitution.

(ST)

December 10, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan government claimed Sudanese security agents arrested a representative of armed opposition faction led by its former First Vice-President, Riek Machar in the capital, Khartoum and closed down their offices.

South Sudan's former FVP Riek Machar, speaking to visitors at his residence in Khartoum, on 1 September 2016 (courtesy photo of SPLM-IO)

The Sudanese National Security, several opposition and government sources disclosed, arrested Gatbang Riir Puk, the armed opposition representative in Khartoum. Machar appointed Puk as the movement representative to Sudan in July.

Offices of the movement were allegedly closed down after his arrest and all documents confiscated, sources told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

He did not however, confirm or deny when contacted on Saturday, instead describing relations between the movement and the Sudanese government as “excellent and look forwarding to strengthening them further for mutual interest of the citizens of the two countries, regardless of whoever is in the control of the affairs”.

Unconfirmed reports had claimed that the Sudan National Security were preparing to arrest more supporters of Riek Machar and deport them to south Sudanese capital, Juba, in honour of the Security Agreement signed in August by the Ministers of Defense of the South and Sudan.

Meanwhile, spokesman of the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Mawien Makol, claimed in a separate interview that government was hoping Khartoum would cease helping South Sudanese opposition groups from using Sudanese territory to wage war against Juba.

"We haven't asked Khartoum to close any rebel offices in their territory but we asked Sudan to refrain from supporting opposing members of the government of South Sudan to create an environment that will help us implement the cooperation agreement," Makol said.

Makol said South Sudan was committed to implementing agreements signed with Sudan, adding that members of a joint border committee from both countries recently met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to fast-track the process of addressing boundary disputes.

He urged the Sudanese government to desist from making contradictory statements that may hamper efforts to restore full ties between the two neighbors and to give more time for the implementation of the signed deal.

Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir in October gave South Sudan until the end of 2016 to implement the cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in 2012.

The joint cooperation agreement provides mechanisms for oil and trade, security, border demarcation as well as status of citizens.

South Sudan accuses Khartoum of supporting opposition forces loyal to Machar while Khartoum accuses Juba of hosting and supporting armed groups fighting against the Sudanese regime in Kordofan and Blue Nile regions.

(ST)

By Mahmoud A. Suleiman

They say there are sorts of scourges that make you laugh in spite of the feeling of grief and injustice which fills the breasts with a sigh. The regime of the NCP in Khartoum tried constantly blurring or bending of the facts about the miserable reality of the economic situation of the country by the unwelcome trotting of the genocidal criminal fugitive from the international justice Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir to the Arab Gulf States for begging humiliating the dignity of the people of Sudan. Political analysts believe that the amount of 500 million US Dollars that Sudan will receive as a central bank deposit from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would go unheeded into the pockets of influential individuals in the regime of the NCP. The insatiable pockets of the corrupt elements remain waiting for more stolen money. For any surplus from the begged money would go for waging the civil wars of attrition in Darfur and the two regions. It is noteworthy that In April 2014 the Sudanese government said that the State of Qatar deposited billion dollars in the Central Bank of Sudan, to help strengthen the reserves of foreign exchange. Moreover, it pledged to invest the deposit in the agricultural and real estate fields in Sudan. The headlines in the Middle East Journal said at the time: Qatar deposited billion dollars in the Central Bank of Sudan. http://archive.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&article=767022&issueno=12910#.WEr23rKLTIU
It is certain that any amount of money the country acquired and all the efforts of the state of today Sudan are employed by the (NCP) regime in preparation for the protection of Omar al-Bashir and his entourage staying in power stay in power. The remaining of that money would go as a grant to the Janjaweed militias currently nicknamed the Rapid Support Force (RSF) that affiliated to the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) to the atrocious war everywhere wreaking devastation on the ground and blood shedding and luting property of Sudanese civilians. However, the regime tirelessly works all it could to protect the war criminal génocidaires Omer al-Bashir from the gripping hand of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague in the Netherlands. All the financial efforts of the Government of Sudan, repression by security forces against opposition and Including the absurd civil wars of attrition are geared for the protection of Omar al-Bashir Thus, everything in Sudan is programmed to protect Omar al-Bashir and nothing else.

As the parable goes, Sudan's foreign debt remains unruly and illusive to quick fixes and as well sticking point obstacle to any solution.

The real factors for the deterioration of the living conditions of the Sudanese people in the era of the regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) centred on the existence of the regime and the difficulty of its removal for so long a time.

Sudan under the rule of the (NCP) regime continued a Pariah state missed the opportunity of debit relief initiative for poor countries heavily indebted by foreign debits. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has initiatives to exempt the poor and those in a position to repay the debt. Although Sudan is one of those countries eligible to benefit from the special exemption, unfortunately, it lost that opportunity and not allowed to be one of those countries. That is attributed to the political decision following the 1993 Declaration of the United States of America that Sudan sponsored terrorism, and which resulted in making all delegates of the US in international institutions and organizations stood firmly against Sudan and preventing it benefiting from entering the World trade Organization and the Security Council as well as international economic organizations. The net total of Sudan's foreign debt amounted to 45 Billion US Dollars that continued exponentially increasing through annual interests. Despite the huge debts of the regime led by Omer al-Bashir continues to spend lavishly, along with the institutional corruption ingrained within the Khartoum branch of the International Muslim Brotherhood Movement (MBM) and in addition to the limitless expenditure on waging absurd civil wars of attrition to the point of bankruptcy. Lavish expenditure and corruption consumed the revenues of the rest of the oil after the secession of southern Sudan along to the revenues from the Aariyab gold from the area, which is located in northeastern Sudan, areas of the Beja tribal group. This makes the regime selling the productive state property to bridge the fiscal deficit versus affluence illegal enrichment for influential members of the ruling National Congress Party regime. The regime burdened the poverty stricken disenfranchised Sudanese citizen with royalties and levies. To deceive the citizen, the regime raises the prices of essential commodities and claiming that it removed the subsidies. It is noteworthy that there was no such a thing called subsidies to commodities. It is nothing but a political lie to cover-up the chronic government failures as well as systematic bag of lies.

It is noteworthy that the visit of the National Congress Party (NCP) President Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came amid popular unrest and civil disobedience in Sudan following the government decision to lift oil, electricity and drug subsidy along with floating the rate of the Sudanese pound against the US Dollar. Moreover, the result was a rise in commodity prices and the rise in drug prices by as much as 300 percent. The Civil disobedience is for the sake of the Sudanese citizens and their home. The dictator Omar al-Bashir's regime will fall and Sudan will remain free and independent. The experiment of the Islamist rule announced by the ruling regime of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan has abjectly failed, as in many other countries in the world and has come to a standstill. The consequences of that regime to Sudan constituted insecurity, the spread of corruption, rising of commodity prices, collapse of health services, education, and continuing of the absurd civil wars of attrition.

The underlying causes of the downfall of the Sudanese currency are multifactorial. They include on top of which the civil wars of attrition waged by the (NCP) regime in the Darfur region since 2003, renewed warfare in South Kordofan - Nuba Mountains and in Ingasana in South Blue Nile. The lavish expenditure by the influential ruling National Congress Party (NCP) political leaders added burden on the budget. The institutionalized corruption within the government of Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir and his clan and entourage continued ripping the country off resources. One should not forget the effects of Sudan's cumulative debt to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. As a consequence of the foregoing factors he U.S. dollar exchange rate went up in banks to 15.8 Sudanese Pound (SDG) compared to the official Central Bank of Sudan rate of 6.5 SDG.

Moreover, of the main causes of economic deterioration in Sudan include, among many others factors, the ruling regime of the NCP has dispensed with the production sources of Sudan, such as El-Gezira irrigated Agricultural Project, sale of Sudan Airways – Sudanair - and Sudan Shipping Line Co. Ltd that provided maritime transportation services in the past and along with the Sudan Railways. The foregoing combined with the weakness of the country's exports led to poverty of the country and impoverishment of the people in it.

It became in the circumstances onus on the people of Sudan to resume their Civil Disobedience for which they identified Monday 19 December 2016. This date coincides with and marks the 61st Anniversary of the Day when the representatives of Sudanese people declared the Independence of Sudan from within the Parliament on Monday 19, December 1955. That date has great meaning to the people of Sudan when they became independent from the clutches of the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium colonisation, which extended from 1899 to 1955.

This Parasitic savage capitalism under the auspices of the rule of political Islam in Sudan in the global Masonic era of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement (MBM) their only motive is how best grabbing money and power through pillage and plunder. The people of Sudan have learnt the lesson the hard way over the 27 lean years of the reign of this devilish entity known as National Islamic Front (NIF) /National Congress Party (NCP)/ Popular Congress Party (PCP).

the citizens of Sudan are kind truthful people and among the best in the world and as a result of their unfortunate enough confidence and blind belief in religious preaching issued by sheikhs, regardless of their sincerity, they fell in the trap of the infamous preaching of the then National Islamic Front (NIF). The irony is that the regime of the NCP has decided after the passage of 27 lean years of arbitrary corrupt regime led by the genocidal criminal Omer al-Bashir to reduce the Government spending. The regime is reported to have pledged reducing government expenditure by 50 percent and to reduce the missions to embassies abroad and to reduce this and that at a very late kind of measures that do not serve any Sudanese individual but only for a cheap publicity! The irreparable damage has already been done beyond repair. Therefore, the Second Civil disobedience begins on Monday, December 19, 2016 under the slogan of our right to free treatment and free education and a dignified existence and a fair division of power and wealth in Sudan and freedom of opinion. Freedom is the uncompromising right. The battle of liberation from the grip of the ruling gang is a national duty. Omar al-Bashir's authority is the authority, which came on the ruins of the usurped democratic system regardless of what was said about its shortcomings and cons of the leaders at the time of the ill-fated Military coup by the National Islamic Front (NIF) 27 years ago. However, change is coming inevitably. The people of Sudan would decide the Democratic Alternative and not restricted to the so-called ‘National Figures or the political elites as in the previous eras.

I conclude this article by referring to the news media item indicating that the (NCP) regime is in the process of signing a deal with the Russian governments on Wednesday 7th December 2016 on the use of nuclear energy in Sudan. The question that imposes itself at the moment is what is the difference between the Russian Nuclear Energy for the NCP regime and the Russian made and supplied Antonov and Sukhoi fighter bomber planes that used by Omer al-Bashir to commit the heinous crimes of war, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur? http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article61055 It seems as though NCP regime after the Chemical weapon warfare in the Darfur region heading to nuclear energy for more lethal weaponry for genocidal atrocities and the "Final Solution” exema Holocaust!

The survivors of genocide among the people of Sudan in the Darfur Region would say No dialogue with the criminal regime of the NCP, but dialogue arrangements for the departure of al-Bashir and his regime from power.

Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and the renowned polymath and a leading author, printer, political theorist,, was quoted as saying: (Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God.).

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

December 10, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Saturday has held an expanded meeting to brief the heads of its chapters in Khartoum on the challenges facing the country and ways to confront the civil disobedience action that will take place on 19 December.

Last month, the government decision to scrap fuel, electricity and drug subsidy stirred up large protests across the Sudan.

Following a three-day protest against the austerity measures between 27 to 29 November, groups of activists has called on the Sudanese people to engage in a civil disobedience on December 19th.

Several opposition forces and armed groups including the Sudanese Congress Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Sudanese Communist Party, National Umma Party, Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North and the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi expressed support for the upcoming event and called upon their affiliates to play an active role in the strike.

In his address before the meeting of the party chapters in Khartoum on Saturday, NCP deputy chairman and presidential aide Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said “Sudan is facing an unfair campaign that aims to exploit its resources and wealth”.

He pointed that the country is being targeted internally and externally, saying they would go ahead with the implementation of the national dialogue's outcome.

Hamid renewed the call for the holdout opposition to join the dialogue, expressing his party's support for the upcoming government of national concord.

The presidential assistant demanded his party members to face the challenges and ignore calls by the “rumors mongers” for civil disobedience, saying they only exist on the “virtual world”.

He added that the austerity measures aim to restructure the economy, saying 1.3 million family would be added to the government health insurance programme.

For his part, deputy chairman of the NCP in Khartoum, Mohamed Hatim Sulieman said they would implement a 100-day programme to ease the burdens of living.

TV ANCHOR SUSPENDED

Meanwhile, the pro-government Ashorooq TV has suspended one of its anchors for participating in last month's civil disobedience action.

On a Facebook post on Wednesday, Arwa Khogali, anchor at Ashorooq TV said she would not appear on her programme on Friday due to an administrative decision by the station.

Sudan Tribune learnt that Khogali, didn't appear on the weekly “Culture Week” show because of her participation in the civil disobedience.

(ST)