Africa

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January 17, 2018 (LONDON) - Yasir Arman, the deputy chairman of North (SPLM-N) Agar Wednesday warned against any attempt to exclude their group from the peace process to end the six-year conflict in the Two Areas.

"The mediation and the international community should take seriously that the peace process should include both factions," said Arman at an event at Chatham House in London.

He was reacting to unconfirmed reports about ongoing efforts by the Sudanese government to organize a new round of talks with the SPLM-N led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu.

The SPLM-N has split into two factions after the resignation of al-Hilu from his position as deputy chairman accusing the group's chairman and the then secretary general of ignoring his demand to include self-determination in the African Union-brokered negotiations with Khartoum.

Arman underscored that the peace talks should be on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolution 2046 and the African Union's subsequent resolutions, adding it should also be based on what has been agreed by the two parties and the mediations including the "Framework and cessation of hostilities documents".

"Trying to isolate any of the parties will repeat the past experience in Abuja and elsewhere. It is an encouragement for the continuation of war, and it will create a great doubt on the process itself," he further stressed.

The SPLM-N al-Hilu which is backed by the military leadership of the rebel group in the Nuba Mountains says they want to include the self-determination in the agenda of the negotiations.

Also, the group wants the humanitarian assistance to be transported directly from outside Sudan, putting aside all that the government negotiated with the SPLM-N negotiating team up to August 2016.

Last October after an extraordinary conference organized in the Nuba Mountains to elect al-Hilu as the new chairman for his group, the Sudanese government rejected al-Hilu's faction demands, saying they would adhere to the framework agreement reached during the past rounds.

The split of the SPLM-N complicates the mediation efforts for a 'comprehensive solution' in Sudan, an approach its chair Thabo Mbeki defended for several years before to merge the Darfur and Two Areas in one process.

The AUHIP didn't issue a statement on a meeting between the Sudanese warring parties but last week the Sudanese government spoke about a meeting with the SPLM-N al-Hilu next February.

(ST)

January 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi Wednesday strongly slammed the crackdown on a protest in against bread subsidy cuts as the security forces continued to arrest political activists and journalists covering a demonstration.

For the second day, hundreds of the opposition members and supporters took to the street to show their anger against the government's decision to double the price of bread. But this time the demonstration was held in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman on a call launched by the NUP.

The security forces, even before the protest, arrested Mohamed Mukhtar al-Khatib the political secretary of the Sudanese Communist Party, and Mohamed Aldoma, a NUP deputy chairperson. Also, two daughters of the NUP leader and one of his sons were among the arrested.

Reports by the opposition parties in the capital speak about over 35 people arrested on Wednesday including two journalists; Khalid Abdel Aziz, Reuters correspondent and Abdel Moneim Abu Idriss, the Agence France Presse (AFP) correspondent.

The security forces tried to obstruct a meeting in the NUP premises in Omdurman after the protest and prevented the delivery of chairs.

Speaking in a press conference after the protest, NUP leader Sadiq al-Mahdi strongly denounced the repression of peaceful demonstrators by the security forces which made an excessive use of tear gas to disperse the demonstration on Wednesday.

"The government has breached its commitment to protect peaceful demonstration," Mahdi told the news conference.

"People came out and wanted a peaceful, nonviolent set-in, but the people of violence, sticks and arms attacked them, beat women and the elderly. They also arrested a large number of citizens who were raising peaceful slogans," he said.

"The time has come for a democratic regime," he further said.

The Chairperson of Shura Council of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Kabashur Koko on Wednesday said the peaceful protests are"constitutional" but warned against violation of public order and sabotage of public and private properties.

Al-Mahdi called on the armed opposition groups to declare a comprehensive and open cease-fire to give civilians the opportunity to change the regime through peaceful protests.

The opposition leader who is allied to the rebel groups within the framework of the Sudan Call alliance was referring to a point of view largely admitted by the opposition parties that the armed struggle gave a pretext to the regime to use violence against civilians and confiscate freedoms.

During the press conference, the opposition parties announced the 'Nation's Salvation Declaration' where they committed themselves to work together through peaceful means to overthrow the regime and establish a new democratic rule.

The signatories reiterated their determination to resort to protests, general strike, civil disobedience and popular mobilisation to achieve a 'third Sudanese uprising'.

The Sudanese opposition groups were divided over the African Union-brokered process for peace and democratic reforms in Sudan.

The Sudan Call parties led by the NUP joined the armed groups and took part in the process while the National Consensus Forces including the Communist Party rejected the process.

The SPLM-N al-Hilu and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Gibril Ibrahim issued two statements announcing their support to the protests and encouraged their supporters in the capital to join it.

(ST)

January 17, 2017 (JUBA) - The Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) has called in countries of the regional bloc (IGAD) to introduce a pressure mechanism which allows both the government and armed opposition to fully implement the cessation of hostilities agreement.

President Salva Kiir attends a session during the 25th Extraordinary Summit of the (IGAD) on South Sudan in Addis Ababa March 13, 2014 (Reuters Photo)

In a statement issued Wednesday, CPJ's coordinator, Tito Anthony, said the ongoing fighting between the armed opposition forces and government troops indicates that both parties are reluctant to implement the ceasefire, which they signed on 21 December, 2017.

“IGAD should not only condemn that act of violation, but they can go beyond that by carrying [out] field investigation to find out who attacks who and punish that party by isolation in case the revitalization forum fail to achieve peace, and IGAD should publicly urge the party found violation the CoH [Cessation of Hostilities] agreement such that public should know the party responsible for violating the agreement,” partly reads Tito's statement.

The official urged the regional bloc to immediately form a temporary committee to investigate and follow up on the implementation of cessation of hostilities agreement and immediately report when violation take place to avoid condemnations when fighting occurs.

“If IGAD are will not pay attention for the ongoing violation of cessation of hostilities, it may lead to collapse of the revitalization forum because each of the two sides will feel that it is strong enough to end the conflict through military confrontations,” stressed Tito.

He added, “It is IGAD's obligation as a broker and guarantors to monitor, urge and pressure the parties to implement the provision of agreement.

Meanwhile, the coordinator of the human rights entity called on the Troika nations (United States, Norway and Britain), the African Union, United Nations and its Security Council to technically and financially support IGAD to enable it achieve peace in South Sudan.

(ST)

January 17, 2018 (JUBA) – South Sudan army (SPLA) has denied reports from peace monitors that it was responsible for ceasefire violation, pushing blame on the armed opposition faction, which it said attempted truce as a way to mobilise and carry out activities.

Lul Ruai Koang speaks to the press in Addis Abab on May 9, 2014 (AFP Photo)

“The reports you are talking about did not look at the context of what they are saying. Our forces have received clear instructions and orders from chief of defence force and these orders and instructions have been observed. It is the so called rebels, the anti-peace elements who carried out attacks in six different places and brought this to the attention of the monitors,” the military spokesman Brigadier General, Lul Ruai Koang told Sudan Tribune.

He added, “Our forces acted in self-defense. They never moved out from their positions from the ceasefire was signed and we received orders and directives from the command to comply”.

Koang was reacting to media reports accusing the two rival forces of having carried out attacks in violation of the ceasefire agreement in which their leaders are signatories to comply. The two rivals, Article 1(2) of the ceasefire agreement states, requires that all forces shall immediately freeze in their locations, except for movements authorized by the Cease-fire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism for logistical and administrative purposes.

The ceasefire monitors were also supported by statements from the former political detainees, who considered the visit of the first vice president to Jonglei region as violation of the ceasefire agreement.

“That type of movement as per the cessation of hostilities agreement is a violation, said Kosti Manibe on behalf of the former detaineees.

The ex-political detainees accused country's vice president of violations when he visited Jonglei in a convoy of government vehicles.

Manibe, a former finance minister, said Gai is visiting several areas in Jonglei and Upper Nile states with many soldiers who are well armed.

“He [Gail] moving in a huge convoy of the government soldiers who are well armed. That is why we specifically mentioned it”, he added.

The peace monitors said Tuesday that rebels loyal to former vice president Riek Machar attacked the village of Koch in the former Unity State during which three children were among those killed.

In a report, the monitors said witnesses and a rebel commander confirmed the attack allegedly in response to a cattle raid.

The monitors, however, called the attack a "clear and blatant violation" of the cessation-of-hostilities agreement that South Sudan government and rebel groups signed in Ethiopia on 21 December 2017.

(ST)

January 17, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudanese Ambassador to Russia Telar Deng Wednesday denied reports claiming he had defected from the government of President Salva Kiir and joined the opposition groups.

Telar Ring Deng (Photo credit: Moses Lomayat)

Recently there were reports circulating in the social media claiming that Ambassador Deng, an old friend of the South Sudanese president discussed ways to remove Kiir with a number of opposition officials in a meeting held in Nairobi at the house of the Rebeca Nyandeng de Mabior, widow of the late SPLM leader John Garang during the first week of January 2018.

"Rumor mongers will one day stop what they are spreading about my rebellion. I am still an Ambassador accredited to Russian Federation," said the South Sudanese diplomat in a statement he extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

"If I want to rebel, there are two things a politician of my standing would do.(1) I will first submit my resignation as an Ambassador as stated above to HE the President of the Republic through the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of South Sudan.(2) I will make a public statement stating reasons for my rebellion," he further stressed.

Telar Deng was among the very few Dinka in 1991 to join a dissident SPLM group led by Riek Machar and Lam Akol calling for self-determination for South Sudan.

However, he was known for his special relationship with Kiir who appointed him as state minister at the Sudanese presidency and headed the office the of the First Vice President Salva Kiir from 2005 to 2007. He was known for his antagonism with "Garang boys" and worked to distance Kiir from them during the first years of the transition.

However, Deng diverged with Kiir who expelled him from the SPLM in November 2007 but he was reinstated as an SPLM member in August 2009. He was appointed legal adviser at the South Sudanese presidency in 2013.

In October 2014, he was named as the South Sudanese ambassador to Russia.

The rumours say he participated in a meeting including Lam Akol, former army chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan, former deputy chief of staff for logistics, Gen. Thomas Cirilo, former Western Equatoria Governor, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro on January 4, 2018.

However, credible sources say several dissident politicians mentioned in the report were not in Nairobi at that time. Also, in a separate statement, Awan had denied the meeting.

(ST)

January 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - A delegation from the United States Congress would arrive in Khartoum on Sunday on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Sudan's National Legislature, said parliament speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omer

National Assembly building in Omdurman

Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum Wednesday, Omer said the Congressional delegation would meet with the Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih, ministers of the economic sector, speaker of the National Assembly, opposition parties and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

According to to Ashorooq TV, Omer added the visit comes at the invitation of the parliament, saying the delegation would be hosted by the Sudanese businessman Bashir Hassan Bashir.

He pointed out that the Congressional delegation would discuss ways to promote bilateral relations between the two countries as well as exchanging ideas on the political, economic and security issues of common concern.

Omer further said they would ask the delegation to lift Sudan's name from the U.S. list of states sponsors of terror particularly as Sudan is making significant efforts to combat terrorism.

He added the delegation would also discuss the implementation of the national dialogue outcome.

Last October, the U.S. Administration permanently lifted 20-year-old economic sanctions against Sudan citing positive actions on humanitarian access and counter-terrorism

However, Washington left other sanctions in place for the time being, including those against individuals with arrest warrants related to atrocities committed during the conflict in Darfur.

Also, it didn't remove Sudan's name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Sudanese officials insist on the need to remove Sudan from the list of terror states, pointing that the country cannot benefit from the debt relief and international development aid without this measure.

But Washington insists on the need to improve Human rights, religious freedom and other freedoms in a way to create a conducive environment for the opposition group to take part in the ongoing constitutional process after the signing of a peace agreement with the armed groups.

The two countries are engaged in a five-track process towards the full normalization of relations.

(ST)

January 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Ambassador to Cairo Abdel-Halim Abdel-Mahmoud said President Omer al-Bashir has instructed him to seek to resolve all outstanding issues with Egypt.

President Omer al-Bashir speaking at the opening of the second parliamentary session 19 Oct 2015 (Photo SUNA)

The are several issues between Cairo and Khartoum including Sudan support to the Ethiopian renaissance dam, border dispute over Halayeb triangle and the ban on Egyptian farming products.

The latest tensions have sparked between Sudan and Egypt after the former signed an agreement to temporarily hand over the Red Sea island of Suakin to Turkey.

On 4 January Sudan summoned its ambassador to Cairo for consultation, hours after the head of the Sudanese Border Technical Committee, Abdallah Al-Sadiq, accused Egypt of trying to drag Sudan into a direct military confrontation over Halayeb.

However, the Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Monday said his country isn't conspiring against Sudan and Ethiopia stressing Egypt isn't planning to go to war against its “brothers”.

Following his meeting with al-Bashir on Wednesday night, Abdel-Halim said they discussed recent developments in Sudan-Egypt relations as well as the situation in the region.

He told the official news agency SUNA that al-Bashir instructed him to work towards resolving the outstanding issues between the two countries, saying he also reassured the President on the conditions of the Sudanese community in Egypt.

According to Abdel-Halim, al-Bashir underlined his confidence that the Sudanese diplomacy is capable of forging good ties with all neighbouring countries on the bases of common interests and mutual respect.

(ST)

The United Nations Mission in the troubled Central African Republic, known by its French acronym, MINUSCA, has given armed groups in the north of the country 48 hours to clear out.

The United Nations is implementing its Action Plan for Libya to create the necessary conditions for the completion of the North African country’s post-conflict transition, the head of UN mission there said Wednesday.

Villarreal's Cedric Bakambu is set to become the most expensive African footballer ever as Chinese club Beijing Guoan close on a £65m deal.

The group was reportedly travelling in two separate vehicles to the capital of Abuja.

The serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic over the past year has been further complicated by recent floods and health crises, the United Nations migration agency said Wednesday, appealing for urgent funding to ensure continued assistance and protection for millions in need.

Merera Gudina is the first of more than 500 prisoners the government has said it will release.

While Somalia, with the international community’s help, averted famine last year, long-term solutions for drought, conflict and displacement must still be found, the United Nations office in the country said Wednesday, launching the 2018 humanitarian response plan, which calls for $1.6 billion to protect the lives of 5.4 million people.

A monkey from Ethiopia and Sudan with a distinctive "handlebar moustache" has been identified as a distinct species.

The healer gave women leaves and herbs that made their stomachs swell up and told them not to see a doctor.

Riyan Abukar Ali is determined to succeed as a fisherwoman in Somalia, in a trade dominated by men.

Memory is among the themes featuring at the African Biennale of Photography in Mali's capital.

Memory is among the themes featuring at the African Biennale of Photography in Mali's capital.