Africa

January 30, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) this week officially received a land to establish a Temporary Operating Base (TOB) in Golo, Jebel Marra, in the context of a plan to reshape the mission and draw down its troops.

In June 2017, the UN Security Council extended the UNAMID mandate for another year and redefined its mandate to play a double role. In Jebel Marra, the force has to continue to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of emergency relief. In the other areas of Darfur, the mission has to focus on stabilising the situation.

On Sunday 28 January, UNAMID chief "Jeremiah Mamabolo, officially received a suitable location allocated by the Government of Sudan for the establishment of the Mission's temporary operating base in Golo, Jebel Marra, Central Darfur," said the hybrid mission in a statement released on Monday.

Speaking at the site handover ceremony, Mamabolo thanked the Sudanese government and the Central Darfur state for supporting the mission to implement its mandate.

UNAMID and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) "will work together on community-based and development-oriented projects in the Jebel Marra area, in accordance to the Mission's peacekeeping and stabilization goals," Mamabolo said according to the statement

He further said further pointed that the construction of the new site would start "immediately".

The handover Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Governor of Central Darfur, Jaafar Abdel Hakam Ishaq, on behalf of the Sudanese government and Lameck Kawiche, Head of Office, UNAMID Sector Central, on behalf of the joint operation.

A tripartite committee on Darfur peacekeeping force decided to establish this site taking into account the presence of Sudan Liberation Movement -Abdel Wahid fighters. the rebel group refuses to join the peace process or to declare a truce.

The head of UN peacekeeping department, Jean Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council on 10 January that UNAMID was preparing the state-specific stabilization plans in cooperation with the Darfur state governments and the United Nations country team.

The French diplomat further said the government forces control the situation in Darfur "except for pockets in the Jebel Marra area, controlled by a fragmented and weakened Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW)"

(ST)

January 30, 2018 (JUBA) – A senior United Nations official has accused Uganda and Kenya of allegedly helping prolong the civil war in South Sudan by aiding arms transfers in to war-torn nation.

Adama Dieng, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, addresses a press conference in Juba on Friday 11, 2016 (UNMISS Photo)

“The responsibility to prevent atrocities is regional and international,” Adama Dieng, the UN special advisor for prevention of genocide, told the Washington-based Voice of America (VOA) on Monday.

“It is true that large quantities of weapons and ammunition are flowing into South Sudan through Kenya and Uganda,” he added.

Peace, the UN official said, will be achieved in South Sudan if there are concerted regional and international efforts to leave no further options to the South Sudanese leaders to stop and start negotiating.

Uganda has openly sided with the South Sudanese government since the start of the civil war in December 2013 when it sent troops to fight against the armed opposition faction led by Riek Machar.

“International partners have to start targeting the accomplices, intermediaries of the South Sudanese parties,” stated Dieng.

“Welcoming refugees who are victims of a conflict they are de facto facilitating is not good enough,” he added.

After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and over 2 million people displaced. Uganda is currently hosting more than one million refugees from South Sudan, while Kenya's Kakuma camp holds more than 100,000.

Last year, a confidential UN report accused South Sudan government of spending its oil revenue on weapons, even as the country descends into a famine largely caused by Juba's military operations. South Sudan derives 97% of its budget revenue from oil sales.

(ST)

January 30, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N al-Hilu) led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu has extended a unilateral cessation of hostilities in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile for four months.

Last August, the SPLM-N al-Hilu declared a unilateral ceasefire in areas under its control from 31 July 2017 to 31 Jan 2018.

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune Tuesday, al-Hilu said the extension of the ceasefire is an initiative of goodwill to allow for the peaceful resolution of the Sudanese crisis.

“I, Lieut.Gen. Abdel-Aziz Adam al-Hilu, commander-in-chief of the SPLM / A issue a decision to extend the unilateral cessation of hostilities in all areas under SPLM/A control for four (4) months, starting from February 1st,” read the statement

The rebel leader instructed all SPLA units to respect and commit to the decision as well as refraining from any hostile behaviour except for self-defence and protection of civilians.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Talks between the government and the Movement for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since August 2016.

The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu and the other led by Malik Agar. The rift emerged several months ago over the right of self-determination and other organisational issues.

On 1 and 2 February, the government delegation will meet the SPLM-N al-Hilu in Addis Ababa to discuss a cessation of hostilities agreement.

The SPLM-N Agar won't participate in the round of talks which aims to formalize the current unilateral truce because the Movement's military in South Kordofan command has sided with al-Hilu, the mediators believe.

(ST)

January 30, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Khartoum, Steven Koutsis, on Tuesday has stressed his country's support for peace efforts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The U.S. diplomat discussed with Sudan's Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid ways to enhance peace and stability in the country ahead of a new round of the Two Areas talks scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa on Saturday.

Hamid, who also heads Sudan government negotiating team on the Two Areas talks, expressed his government's keenness and commitment to achieve peace in Darfur and the Two Areas through negotiations.

According to Ashorooq TV, Koutsis underscored his country's support for the peace efforts in Darfur and the Two Areas, pointing his meeting with Hamid comes within the framework of the continued consultations in this regard.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

The African Union (AU) is brokering peace talks between the Sudanese government and opposition including the armed groups in Darfur and the Two Areas.

On 1 and 2 February, the government delegation will meet the SPLM-N al-Hilu in Addis Ababa to discuss a cessation of hostilities agreement.

Sudan Troika countries including the U.S., Norway and United Kingdom are facilitating the peace talks and seeking to bring all stakeholders to the negotiating table.

(ST)

January 30, 2018 (JUBA)- South Sudan president Salva Kiir has rejected any views which advocate either retention of the two armies system during the interim period in the revitalization forum, citing the July 2016 events at the presidential palace.

Within days, the signatories of the South Sudan peace agreement will meet in Addis Ababa to discuss its implementation.

The security arrangements of the deal provide the establishment of separate camps for cantonment of the two armed forces "to enable personnel, weapons and equipment accountability, screening, re-organization and/or disarmament and demobilization".

Presidential affairs minister Mayiik Ayii Deng told reporters that President Kiir used the opportunity of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa to explain to several African leaders the need to review this disposition during the revitalization process when it resumes its meeting soon.

“The participation of His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan in the African Union summit was highly appreciated and commended by the several heads of state and government from the continent. This stemmed from the way he presented the issues and how the government has rolled out plans and initiatives to end the war and bring peace in the country,” said Minister Deng upon the return of the president to Juba from Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

The South Sudanese leader, according to the minister, had rejected views advocating either retention of the two-army system, citing caused of clashes between two rival forces at the presidential palace in 2016.

Kiir discussed the matter with several African heads of state and government, including presidents of Djibouti, Uganda and Rwanda who is the new chairperson of the regional body. Also, he met the vice president of Equatorial Guinea and other leaders.

The head of state had fruitful discussions during which he briefed them on what the government was doing to end the suffering of civilians and to end the war, explained the minister.

Further, Kiir explained to the African leaders the national dialogue process.

"It is a bottom-up approach and it is, therefore, a complementary to the revitalization forum," the minister said.

"What the president explained clearly is that the issue of two armed forces which caused the problem. So revitalization should not return to it. There should not be two armies,” he emphasised.

(ST)

One year after Somalia declared drought as a national emergency, famine has so far been averted due to collective and unprecedented humanitarian action, and on Tuesday, the country marked a turning point towards ending the cycle of recurring crises, with the launch of a Government-led, United Nations-supported humanitarian response plan.

Surging violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is driving thousands of Congolese into neighbouring Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda, the United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday.

Amid worsening humanitarian situation in South Sudan and the number of persons in need of assistance continues to grow, the United Nations migration agency today launched a $103.7 million appeal to sustain critical and life-saving aid programmes.

The fastest man on earth, Jamaican Usain Bolt, joins up with South African side Mamelodi Sundowns at their Chloorkop training facility on Monday.

Ethiopia's largest lake, Lake Tana, is being lost to an invasive South American weed, water hyacinth.

Ghanaian schoolgirls have been banned from crossing a river to get to school while they are menstruating - and on Tuesdays.

A new species of dinosaur unearthed in the Egyptian desert sheds light on Africa's Age of the Dinosaurs.

Blaze kills four and leaves thousands homeless after fire engines reportedly ran out of water.

Egypt defender Ali Gabr joins West Brom on loan from Zamalek until the end of the season.

Senegal forward Diafra Sakho leaves West Ham to join French Ligue 1 club Rennes for an undisclosed fee.

Why have African literary fans rallied around author Chimamanda Ngozi Achide after her interview in Paris?

The Chinese-built African Union headquarters was bugged, France Le Monde newspaper reports.

The impending transfers of Achraf Bencharki and Jawad El Yamiq to clubs outside Morocco mean the duo will no longer be able to play in the CHAN.

The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) &#8211 a pool of funding which supports critical relief operations around the world &#8211 has allocated $10 million to help meet the life-saving needs of the most vulnerable people displaced due to conflict in Ethiopia.

Rebecca Tsotsoo Kwei takes a look at how the craze has affected salons in the capital Accra.