Africa

December 9, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudan Salva Kiir has on Friday left the national capita, Juba, for the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to take part in a meeting of the head of states and governments of the East African regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

South Sudan President Salva Kiir waits for the arrival of his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, in Juba on May 23, 2013. (Photo Reuters)

The IGAD summit will discuss the going economic, political and security situation in South Sudan, Somalia and other challenges facing the region.

President Kiir, according to a statement from his office, is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the IGAD head of States on areas of common interest.

He is accompanied by several high level government ministers and security officials.

The trip to Ethiopia is the third foreign visit after Equatorial Guinea and South Africa after his troops loyal to him and his main political rival and former First Vice President turned rebel leader, Riek Machar, clashed at the presidential palace in July, returning to the country to war after it first descended in violence conflict in 2013.

(ST)

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(Kinshasa) – The European Union and United States should expand targeted sanctions against those most responsible for recent violent repression and other serious human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a coalition of 72 Congolese and 15 international human rights organizations said today.

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Pro-democracy youth activists at a protest against election delays in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on September 19, 2016.

© 2016 Private

Ten days before the December 19, 2016, deadline marking the end of President Joseph Kabila’s constitutionally mandated two-term limit, he still has not made any clear commitment on when or even if he will step down. At the same time, government repression against pro-democracy activists, the political opposition, largely peaceful protesters, and the media has intensified at an alarming rate.

“Imposing targeted sanctions on senior officials, especially before December 19, could help walk Congo back from the brink and deter further violent repression,” said Me Georges Kapiamba, president of the Congolese Association for Access to Justice (ACAJ). “Such action would show that with each passing day, the consequences for the government will be greater.”

Opposition leaders and pro-democracy activists have called for Congolese to take to the streets if President Kabila stays in office beyond his mandate. Past protests suggest that they will be met by security forces quick to use excessive and lethal force. There are risks that political leaders could mobilize the dozens of armed groups active in eastern Congo for political ends, or that the country’s brittle security forces could fracture if Kabila relies on force to stay in power. This raises concerns that the country could descend into further repression or widespread violence and chaos, with potentially volatile repercussions across the region.

Earlier targeted sanctions imposed by the US on three security force officers at the forefront of violence against protesters had a notable deterrent effect and rattled those implicated, the organizations said. The US should impose targeted sanctions against more senior level officials.

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Police detain members of the youth movement Filimbi after a peaceful sit-in outside the African Union (AU) office in Kinshasa on October 29, 2016.

© Private

In October, the EU Foreign Ministers stated that the EU would “use all means at its disposal” against individuals responsible for serious human rights violations, who promote violence, or who “obstruct a consensual and peaceful solution to the crisis.” In November, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on the EU to urgently implement targeted sanctions. The EU is due to discuss Congo and possibly move forward with targeted sanctions during its next Foreign Affairs Council meeting on December 12.

Such targeted sanctions could include travel bans, asset freezes, and the blocking of bank accounts and financial transactions linked to the individuals.

“President Kabila and Congolese officials need to be sent a strong message that violating the rights of the Congolese people is costly for those responsible,” said Ida Sawyer, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Acting now to help prevent the situation in Congo from spiraling out of control will be critical to stability, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental human rights in Congo and throughout the region.”

Signatories:

International organizations

1. Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l'Homme (AEDH)
2. Ecumenical Network Central Africa (OENZ)
3. The Enough Project
4. European Network for Central Africa (EurAc)
5. Fédération internationale de l’Action des chrétiens pour l’abolition de la torture (FIACAT)
6. Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l’Homme (FIDH)
7. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
8. Global Witness
9. Human Rights Watch
10. Never Again Coalition
11. PAX
12. Protection International 
13. Reporters sans Frontières/Reporters Without Borders
14. Save the Congo
15. World Organization Against Torture (OMCT)

Congolese organizations

1. Action Chrétienne Contre la Torture (ACAT) – RDC
2. Action d’Aide aux Survivants de la Torture (AAST/Relève)
3. Action de Solidarité de Femmes pour la Femme et l’Enfant (ASOFFE)
4. Action pour la Bienveillance Humanitaire (AB/ Humanitaire)
5. Action pour la Justice et le Développement (AJD)
6. Action pour la Paix et la Protection de l'Enfant (APPE)
7. Action pour la Protection des Droits Humains et de Développement Communautaire (APDHUD)
8. Agir pour la Reconstruction de notre Espace et pour la Convivialité (AGIREC)
9. Agir Rapidement pour la Femme (ARF)
10. Association africaine de défense des droits de l’Homme (ASADHO)
11. Association Congolaise pour l’Accès à la Justice (ACAJ)
12. Association de défense des Droits de la Femme (ADDF)
13. Association des Femmes Juristes Congolaises (AFEJUCO)
14. Association des Femmes pour le Développement Communautaire (AFEMDECO)
15. Association des Femmes pour le Développement Endogène Mboko/Fizi (AFDEM)
16. Association des Jeunes pour la Protection de l’Environnement Fizi (AJPEF)
17. Association des Jeunes pour le Développement Intégral de Kalundu/Uvira (AJEDIK)
18. Association pour le Développement des Initiatives Paysannes (ASSODIP)
19. Association pour le Développement Intégral du Haut Plateau de Fizi (ADIPF)
20. Association pour les Droits Humanitaires (ADH)
21. Bureau de Promotion Socioculturelle (BUPSOC)
22. Centre de Promotion Socio-Sanitaire (CEPROSSAN)
23. Centre de Rééducation pour l’Enfance Délinquance et Défavorisée (CREDD)     
24. Centre d'Observation des Droits de l'Homme et d'Assistance Sociale (CODHAS)
25. Centre Indépendant de Recherches et d’Études Stratégiques au Kivu (CIRESKI)
26. Centre International de Promotion et de Développement et des Droits de l'Homme (CEIPEDHO)
27. Cercle international pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme, la Paix et l’Environnement (CIDDHOPE)
28. Cercle National de Réflexion sur la Jeunesse (CNRJ RDC)
29. Comité de Coordination des Actions de Paix (CCAP)
30. Commission Internationale en Formation des Droits de l’Homme (CIFDH)
31. Convention pour le Respect des Droits de l’Homme (CRDH)
32. Congrès pour le Renouveau Syndical (CORES)
33. Debout Fille de Fizi (DFF)
34. Femme en Danger (FED)
35. Femme et Enfant en Détresse (SOS FED)
36. Femme pour le Développement des Mutuelles de Solidarités à Fizi (FDMUSOF)
37. Femme qui en Soulève une Autre (FESA)
38. Femmes Engagées pour la Promotion de la Santé Intégrale (FEPSI)
39. Femmes Juristes pour la défense des Droits de la Femme (FJDF)
40. Fraternité des Prisons (FP)
41. Genre pour l’Appui au Développement (GAD)
42. Great Lakes Human Rights Program (GLHRP)
43. Groupe d’Action Non-Violente Évangélique (GANVE)
44. Groupe d’Associations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme et de Paix (GADHOP)
45. Groupe Lotus (GL)
46. Institut Africain de Formation en Droits Humains (INAFDH)
47. Juriste en Action (JURAC)
48. JUSTICIA Asbl
49. Ligue contre la Fraude et la Corruption (LICOF)
50. Ligue des Activistes des Droits de l'Homme (LADHO)
51. Ligue des électeurs (LE)
52. Ligue pour la Défense et la Vulgarisation des Droits Humains (LDVDH)
53. Mama Tupendane (MT)
54. Mama Tushirikiane (MATU)
55. Maniema Libertés (MALI)
56. Maniema Tuende Mbele (MTM)
57. Mobilisation, Encadrement Écologie et Défense des Droits Humains par les Amis des Familles Démunies (MEEDAF)
58. Œuvre Chrétienne pour la Femme (OCF)
59. Organisation Communautaire pour la Conservation de la Nature (OCCN)
60. Organisation de Paix pour les Opportunités et le Développement (OPOD)
61. Organisation pour la Promotion et Protection des Droits Humains (OPPDH)
62. Pax Christ Butembo  
63. Psychologues sans Frontières (PSF)
64. Relance pour la Fille de Sion (RFS)
65. Réseau des Activistes des Droits Humains de Fizi
66. Réseau des Communicateurs Humanitaires (RCH)
67. Réseau des Parajuristes du Maniema (REPAJUMA)   
68. Réseaux de Femmes pour le Développement de Jeunes d’Itombwe (RFDJI)
69. Service Par, Pour et Avec les Femmes (SEPPAF)
70. Solidarité des Associations Féminines pour les Droits de Femmes et de l’Enfant (SAFDF)
71. Solidarité des Hommes pour la Protection et la Promotion des Femmes (SHPF)
72. Wamama Tusimame (WATU)

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The UN Security Council holds consultations in New York about the escalating political crisis in Congo, on December 5, 2016.

© 2016 Timo Mueller/Human Rights Watch

Following a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo last month, the UN Security Council held consultations on Monday in New York about the escalating political crisis in the country.

All 15 members of the Council, plus the chief of Congo’s UN peacekeeping mission  (MONUSCO) Maman Sidikou, and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, shared a strong sense of foreboding. It is now less than two weeks before the end of President Joseph Kabila’s second term on December 19.

In a strongly-worded statement, the President of the Council emphasized concerns “about the risk for destabilization of the country and the region as a whole … in the absence of a swift and consensual resolution to the current political crisis.” In the words of the ambassador of New Zealand, “there has been no shortcoming of warnings to the Security Council regarding the risk of conflict in the DRC.”

Angola evoked the threat to “regional peace and security,” calling on all sides to avoid violence “at all costs.” Ukraine’s ambassador warned that “if the situation descends into violence, there will be no winners but only losers,” reminding Council members that the “deaths of protesters [during demonstrations in September] are fresh in our memory.” He called for “maximum restraint.”

Sharing the sense of urgency, France warned that “if there is a spiral of violence, nobody can say where it will stop and when it will stop.” More subdued but still concerned, the Ambassador of China cautioned that the “political process is at a critical juncture” and the security situation “still fragile.”

The ambassador of the United Kingdom cautioned that “we all know what comes next if he [President Kabila] makes the wrong decision. We saw it in the bloodied streets of Kinshasa in September. We cannot allow a repeat of such barbarity in a fortnight’s time.” He called on the Council to send an unequivocal message to Kabila to make a commitment that he will not stand for a third term as president. “The two term limit cannot be changed,” he said, “and certainly not just to suit one man’s political agenda.” The ambassador said that there must be “consequences” for Kabila if he were to decide otherwise. The ambassador also called on the Security Council to take guidance from the European Union, which threatened to impose sanctions on members of the Congolese security forces responsible for serious abuses.  

“Kabila needs to make a clear and public statement that he will not seek a third term,” the US ambassador said. She stressed that “elections could take place in 2017,” because it is not a “technical problem” but a “problem of political will.”

Nearly all ambassadors called on political stakeholders in Congo to resume dialogue and find meaningful compromise. In this regard, the US ambassador cited the Catholic Church’s efforts, which “present the best hope” in her opinion, while Japan called for “direct dialogue” between President Kabila and opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi.

Regarding MONUSCO’s role, the UK ambassador insisted that “the biggest peacekeeping mission in the world with a clear mandate to protect civilians robustly cannot stand by if civilians are threatened.” MONUSCO chief Sidikou elaborated on the measures the mission has taken to refine its contingency plans in order to diffuse potential violence and protect civilians. He stressed, however, that these efforts “may not be fully sufficient to mitigate or respond adequately to any major outbreak of politically-related violence,” and he warned that the UN’s military and police forces in Kinshasa “are stretched thin.”

Perhaps giving in to the pressure, Kabila met on Monday with the Catholic Church’s Conference of Episcopal Bishops in Congo (CENCO), and the presidency later issued a statement saying the president had urged the bishops to continue their mediation efforts – a seeming reversal from the statement released by his ruling coalition on Friday, calling the Catholic Church’s mediation efforts a failure.  

President Kabila should now take the next step and take action before December 19, including – most importantly – a public commitment that he will step down and not seek to change the constitution or run for a third term.

MONUSCO should also heed the calls from Security Council members and ensure that the mission is prepared to do all it can to protect the population during potential political violence on or around December 19. And UN member states, including police and military troop contributors to MONUSCO, should ensure the mission has the resources and will to effectively carry out its mandate.

As Kenya prepares to export oil, the promise of petrodollars has generated high expectations.

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

December 7, 2016 (JUBA) - Rebel forces loyal to the former First Vice President Riek Machar said they had taken control of a new area in River Yei State, South Sudan's Central Equatoria.

Last weekend the armed group claims they overrun Lasu and Lobongo villages outside of Yei town, a common border between South Sudan and DRC.

John Sunday Martin, a commander of the SPLA-IO forces in the area said they captured Ombachi in Otogo Payam on Wednesday at around 4:00pm local time.

He further said they killed dozens of the government forces and "captured 4 RPGs, 6 PKM and 15 AK47 with rounds of ammunitions including 1 armed vehicle".

The rebel commander went further to say that their fighters are " advancing toward Yei from all directions" and called on civilians and aid workers to evacuate from Yei twon.

The government army didn't deny the rebel claims, also the SPLA spokesperson was not reachable for comment.

(ST)

December 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The International Criminal Court will hold a hearing on the cooperation of the South African government with the war crimes court next April, said a statement on Thursday.

International Criminal Court Judges at the Hague (Reuters)

The decision to hold a public hearing was taken after Pretoria refusal to arrest Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir while he was on its territory between 13 and 15 June 2015 for the meeting of the African Union summit in Johannesburg.

On 8 December 2016, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (the “ICC” or “Court”) issued a decision convening a public hearing on 7 April 2017, for the purposes of a determination, under article 87(7) of the Rome Statute, on the compliance by the Republic of South Africa with the Court's request for arrest and surrender of Mr Omer al Bashir to the Court.

In line with the article 87(7), of Rome Statute, any State Party failing to comply with a request to cooperate by the Court is actually considered as preventing the Court from exercising its functions.

The ICC in such a case can decide to "refer the matter to the Assembly of States Parties or, where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court, to the Security Council,” provides the article.

The case of Darfur war crimes was referred to the Court by the UN Security Council as the Sudan is not a State Party to Rome Statute.

The ICC had already urged the Security Council to take action over Chad and Djibouti failure to arrest the Sudanese president who is charged with criminal responsibility on 10 counts , including genocide, torture and rape.

Last June ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda blamed the UN Security Council for inaction to enforce two arrest warrants against President al-Bashir saying its position damaged the credibility of both the Council and the International Criminal Court.

"The council's failure to act in response to 11 findings of non-compliance issued by ICC judges has equally emboldened states ... not only to facilitate Mr. al-Bashir's travels to their territories but to invite and host him," Bensouda said.

(ST)

December 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) Friday welcomed a statement by the European Union and Troika countries denouncing the arrest of Sudanese opposition leaders and called for more pressures on the government.

SLM-MM leader Minni Minnawi (AP Photo)

The SLM-MM "welcomes and vehemently support this call" said Minnawi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

This "arbitrary arrest does not only does not only violate rights of Sudanese people, but it also clearly shows and confirms the fact that the government is never serious on any genuine National Dialogue. Leave alone the fact that it has already concluded its unilateral dialogue."

The rebel leader further accused Khartoum government of bombarding civilians in Darfur and the Two Areas while its militiamen are committing further atrocities and war crimes.

Following calls to protest against the increase of fuel and electricity prices last November the security service arrested more than 40 opposition figures from the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), National Umma Party (NUP), Sudanese Communist Party (SCP), Arab Ba'ath Party, National Alliance Forces (NAF) as well as civil society activists and journalists.

On Friday, Amnesty announced the detention of human rights defender Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, and expressed fears for his safety saying he is at grave risk of torture.

Minnawi called on the EU and Troika countries to "to put more stronger and effective pressure" on the government to ensure the release of opponents and activists.

He also reiterated his support to the non-violent action of the opposition groups and called on the supporters of his movement to join the general strike announced for 19 December.

The SLM-MM leader further called on the "international community and human rights organizations to closely monitor and report all atrocities against the peaceful civilians".

(ST)

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the people of Ghana for exercising their democratic rights and peacefully conducting the presidential and parliamentary elections on 7 December.

December 8, 2016 (JUBA) - The Governor of South Sudan's Yei River state has assembled a team comprising of religious and prominent community leaders to negotiate with armed dissidents in the area.

Governor David Lokonga Moses speaks to the press in Yei May 31, 2016 (ST)

David Moses Lonkonga announced this on the state-owned SSBC that the team will comprise of representatives of different faith based groups, academic community and from non-governmental organizations with contacts with the parties involved in the conflict.

“The core negotiating team will partake in creating a negotiating position, and report to the government on the negotiation process with the armed dissident groups in the area,” the statement reads in part.

Lokonga, also claimed the state was relatively calm in recent days because of security measures his leadership put in place for peace.

Some of the measures taken in the area, he said, included arresting and punishing those members of the security forces found to be looting or harassing civilians and government has formed a para-military force comprising of military and civil police, the fire brigade unit as well as the wildlife unit to help patrol the streets of Yei town.

“Soldiers in plain clothes roaming the town with firearms are more criminal than those in military uniforms,” further stressed the governor.

The official made these remarks during a visit to Yei by teams representing the United Nations and the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) respectively.

According to Jacob Aligo, Yei's minister of physical infrastructure, residents of the newly-created state are yearning for peace, which would allow the displaced people to safely return to their homes.

“Thousands of civilians are trapped in the bushes without food, shelter and medical care,” he said.

Muki Batali Buli, an advisor to Yei River state governor, said that the major challenge in bringing lasting peace is the inability of relevant stakeholders to make contact with leaders of the armed groups.

Buli said that continued dialogue would help chat a new page, de-escalate tensions and build confidence and trust in the community.

“We also have to talk to our own soldiers to stop harming civilians, so that the soldiers will help restore hope to the people and reduce the soaring mistrust between them,” he said.

Dan Lizzul, a member of CTSAMM, said all armed forces in the country must respect international humanitarian and human rights laws during combat.

“Professional armies fight only other professional armies. They do not attack, rape or harass civilians,” he stressed.

The armed opposition's earlier claims of being in control of Yei River state was dismissed by pro-government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir.

(ST).

December 8, 2016 (JUBA) – There was "incompetence" and "unfairness" of the judge in the case in which $500 million was allegedly stolen from South Sudan president's office, research Legal Watch Associate conducted, shows.

A trial session of suspects allegedly involved in corrution at the presidency (File Photo)

The findings details "unfairness" in the process of administration of justice from the time suspects were arrested, detained, investigated, tried and convicted.

The case involved 16 people from different institutions, including the Office of the President, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Bank of South Sudan and staff of Click Technologies Limited.

Findings from a research, which was conducted for over a one year period, have indicated that the whole process was marred with shortcomings, most of which are outlined in the 18-page dossier.

The research was conducted using the methodology of collecting information from various sources including court sessions, one on one interview with the institutions involved and phone interviews and a comprehensive report was made.

The case, according to Legal Watch Associate, started as a rumor that $500 million had been stolen from the office of the president and transferred to the account of John Agou in Nairobi, Kenya in favor of Mayen Wol Jong, the Chief Administrator and Yel Luol Koor, the Executive Director.

“The alleged sum of $500 million was not found during the investigation despite the fact that the intelligence report misled the president to suspend the two senior officials from their positions," partly reads the report Sudan Tribune obtained Monday.

After the investigation was done, it further added, the committee allegedly failed to find the alleged sum of $500 million said to have been stolen, the committee shifted to auditing the executive office of the president without the normal procedures of auditing a classified institution.

The report thus says the long arrest and detention of accused persons for over a year is “illegal” and “unlawful”.

“The suspects were not accorded their rights as per the constitution neither were they arraigned in court to be remanded by competent court,” observed the report.

“The searches that were conducted at the accused persons' houses were illegal and unlawful as there was no due process of the law followed. The break in and storming of Click Technologies Ltd without court search warrant was a direct threat to right of personal property,” it adds.

Research reportedly found that the auditing that became the new base of the investigation and the case after the failure to find the $500 million as alleged in the intelligence report was not independent, impartial or fair.

“It did not meet international standards that required that auditors must work without influence from the institution being audited. The auditors were working at the same premises with the investigation
committee and the complainant,” further notes the report.

“The seal and signature of the president that is alleged to have been used in the forgery was a mere gimmick by the investigation committee to incriminate the accused people and to make the case stronger in the public domain. There was no single document found bearing the seal and the signature of H.E. the president requesting money from the ministry of finance or central bank," it added.

One of the accused, Athorbei Gaddaffy was not charged in absentia neither was his money amounting to USD $8.6 million and SSP 711,500 were drop from the case and instead were made part of the case by the investigation committee and the prosecution team.

“The goods that the prosecution presented to the court as having not been delivered are still being used in the office of the president up to this hour. The donation from H.E. the president to Greater Lakes States women parliamentarian are denied to have been delivered despite the fact that the contractor Mr. Simon Lupai of Lupain Motors confirming to the court as having delivered the cars and having received his money," says the report, unveiled on the heels of the country's hard economic crisis.

INTIMIDATION OF JUDGE

The report further points out that the trial judge was allegedly heavily intimidated and influenced by the prosecution to “blindly rule in their favor”.

“The trial did not meet the constitutional threshold of fair trial. The accused people were not given fair hearing to defend themselves before the law. Defense witnesses were denied access to enter the court room and some were threatened and made to withdraw from testifying. Lawyers were threatened at gun point,” the report notes.

“The trial judge did not administer justice in a fair, independent and impartial manner. He unified the charges during the pre-trial without distinction between the first accused to the last accused persons”, it stressed.

During the research, the trial judge allegedly confessed to one of the researchers that he was under innermost pressure to sentence the accused persons without exception and with the most severe conviction in the law.

“The complainant, General Paul Nang Majok categorically stated during his cross examination in court that he does not know some of the accused people as he did not open any case against them. He said that he was only ordered to arrest only five people among the 16 accused persons in court and the rest, he did not open any case against them,” the report observes.

JUSTICE DENIED

The entity, Legal Watch Associates South Sudan notes that the case is a complete miscarriage of justice and has negatively tainted the image of the country and the office of the president.

“The same rumors like the one that this case of the 16 people was built is like the recent news article on Sudantribune.com that claims that $280 million has been stolen from the office of the president. Such propaganda does not advance positive interest of the country. People who circulate such rumours must be tracked down, investigated and prosecuted and sent to prison for the rest of their lives,” it said.

“For justice to prevail, we call upon the appeal panel that is reviewing the case to expedite the case and release these people from prison without delay,” it further said.

Sudan Tribune was unable to get a response from the presidency on findings of the report.

(ST)

December 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Sudanese human rights defender, Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, in Khartoum and taken him to undisclosed location, said Amnesty International on Thursday.

Chairman of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) Mudawi Ibrahim Adam (www.democracyandsecurity.org)

Adam was arrested on Wednesday 7 December at the Khartoum University, where he works as an engineering professor.

The human rights group said his arrest is "further proof of the government's intolerance of independent voices".

Sudanese authorities recently arrested over 40 opposition figures and activists following the increase of fuel, electricity and drugs.

Adam's arrest comes among calls by the opposition groups for a second general strike on 19 December. A first strike took place between 27 to 29 November.

“Mudawi's arbitrary arrest underscores the government's desperate attempts to extinguish the last embers of dissent in the country. This wanton repression and disregard for human rights must come to an end,” said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

The Troika countries, European Union and Canada Wednesday expressed concern about “the detention, apparently without charge, of a number of political leaders either in anticipation of protests or having protested government economic moves”.

From December 2003 to January 2005, Mudawi had been arrested, during several months in connection with his work with the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) in Darfur.

(ST)

December 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Thursday arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to take part in a meeting of the head of states and governments de the East African regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

On Thursday morning al-Bashir left Khartoum to Harar city the capital of Harari regional state, to attend the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Day (NNPD) annual festival together with Ethiopian prime minister and Djiboutian president.

The IGAD summit will discuss on Friday the situation in South Sudan and Somalia. Bashir also is expected to hold bilateral meeting with the IGAD leaders to discuss bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

The president is accompanied by a delegation including Presidential Affaire Minister Fadel Abdallah Fadel, and Director of National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta. Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour will join them in Addis Ababa Friday for the IGAD meeting.

Speaking at the 11th NNP Day festival in Harari regional state, Al-Bashir pointed to the deep rooted relations between the people in Ethiopia and Sudan, adding that the people to people relations positivity impacted all the other aspects between the two countries.

"The joint committees of the two nations are helping in advancing the economic collaboration," he said.

Cultural shows and dances of the various nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia were the key features of the annual festival, said the Ethiopian News Agency.

(ST)

December 8, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan president Salva Kiir has ordered for the deployment of additional troops to the oil producing region, saying it would ensure no armed elements disturb operations of the oil workers.

South Sudanese soldiers guard an oil refining facility (AFP)

“We are working to stabilize the situation and improve the economic situation. Now I have instructed the chief of general staff to work with his team to send more troops to Bentiu and other oil areas to ensure there is adequate security for oil workers and the community," the South Sudanese leader told the state-owned SSBC.

"They will ensure those who want to cut the pipeline do not get access to disturb security of oil companies. This is one of the priorities and will be done”, he added.

While meeting the Jikany community leaders on Thursday, Kiir urged all armed forces to do everything they can to distinguish between civilians and combatants and thus avoid unnecessary suffering of the people and prevent collateral damage to property.

He admitted the economic situation was not encouraging due the nation's ongoing war.

Conflict in South Sudan cut oil output by a third to about 160,000 barrels per day. The country is currently only pumping oil in Upper Nile state after production in Unity state stalled in 2014.

However, in May this year, the country's Petroleum and Mining Ministry said oil production was quickly declining and future production would not reach even half of what the country used to realize five years ago.

South Sudan's Transitional Government of National Unity now faces an uphill task of reviving an economy largely dependent on oil resources to support its budget.

The oil sector, which accounts for over 90% of government revenues, has been badly affected the recent war, in addition to the decline in oil prices on world markets

Commodity prices also shot up due to the devaluation of the local currency, South Sudanese pound, which has gravely impacted on the transport sector in the country.

The most affected are importers of food items and general household goods who have to deal with sharply increased prices to bring in goods from neighbouring Uganda, Kenya and Sudan. Many investors have left local and regional businesses collapse, while unemployment has increased.

South Sudan is one of poorest countries in the world with the worst indicators on development, health and education.

The conflict, which broke out in 2013, has negatively impacted on the nation's citizens, including pushing the country to the brink of famine with over 3 million people, in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, aid agencies warned.

Observers say despite being oil-rich, South Sudan is likely to record negative gross domestic product growth in 2016 after growing by 30.7 percent two years ago, largely due its conflict, decline in oil production and global fall in oil prices.

(ST)

December 7, 2016 (NAIROBI) -South Sudanese authorities should immediately reverse the expulsion of Associated Press reporter Justin Lynch and also cease interfering with journalists' ability to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ), said.

Lynch was on Tuesday arrested by South Sudanese security officers and put on a flight to Uganda, the AP reported.

"The expulsion of Justin Lynch is yet another illustration of how much President Salva Kiir's government fears independent media coverage," said Murithi Mutiga, CPJ's East Africa representative.

"South Sudan needs independent journalism now more than ever. The government should reverse this decision and allow journalists to do their job without harassment," he added.

According to the journalist, the officers offered no official explanation for their action.

"Yesterday I was arrested and deported by members of South Sudan's National Security Service. The officers did not officially present me with a reason for my arrest and deportation, but repeatedly said that my reporting was too critical of the government. This is a violation of press freedom," the journalist wrote on Twitter.

South Sudan's Director-General of Information Paul Jacob Kumbo did not immediately return CPJ's calls requesting comment on the decision, CPJ said in its statement.

In the last year, South Sudanese authorities have shuttered media outlets and have beaten, threatened, and arrested journalists, CPJ research shows.

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December 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese and Russian governments Wednesday agreed to negotiate an agreement on the use of nuclear energy in the East African country .

The protocol was signed at the end of the fourth meeting of Russian-Sudanese inter-governmental commission for trade and economic cooperation in Moscow.

"The Russian State Corporation for Atomic Energy (Rosatom) along with Sudan's Ministry of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity of the Republic are working on a draft memorandum of understanding for the peaceful use of nuclear energy that may be signed in 2017," the protocol said.

According to the Russian news agency TASS, the memo "also noted that Rosatom was planning to hold an expert seminar in Sudan next year to discuss the prospects for bilateral cooperation".

Since several years, Sudan announced it had plans to build a four- reactor nuclear power plant to fill the gap in power generation by 2030.

In May 2016, Sudan and China have signed a framework agreement to build a 600-megawatt atomic reactor.

Last Tuesday, Sudan's Minister of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity told Sudanese lawmakers that Sudan will start preparing for building a 1200 Megawatts nuclear power plant in 2017.

The meeting of the Russian-Sudanese inter-governmental commission for trade and economic cooperation was chaired by Sergey Donskoy, Russia's Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and Sudan's Minister of Minerals, Sadig al-Karori.

At the end of the joint Russian –Sudanese meetings, the two ministers have signed agreements on minerals, agriculture, energy, health, education, oil and gas.

Russia is working to increase the commercial exchange with Sudan to reach $ 20 billion in the coming six years, Donskoy told reporters at the end of the joint Russia- Sudan meetings.

On his part, Minister al-Karori pointed that cooperation between Russia and Sudan could further increase to serve the interest of the two nations, saying that the two countries have set up a joint council to develop the economic relation between the two countries.

“Sudan is keen to involve Russia in Atlantis-II Project, which aims to jointly exploit Red Sea natural resources with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said.

In 2010, the Canadian Diamond Fields International and Saudi Manafa International Ltd. were licensed by the Saudi Sudanese Committee to conduct exploration activities in Red Sea rift valley.

In a feasibility study conducted in 2012, Diamond Fields International expected that Saudi Arabia and Sudan will make big profits from the extraction of copper, silver and zinc from Red Sea bed. At the time, it expected to start production in 2014 once technical studies are completed.

(ST)