Africa

Voicing serious concern over the continued political impasse and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations Security Council has called upon all political actors to exercise maximum restraint and to address their differences peacefully.

January 16, 2018 (JUBA)- The SPLM Former Detainees (FDs) group Tuesday has condemned the visit of the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai to Jonglei, accusing the government of violating the ceasefire agreement brokered by the IGAD mediators.

South Sudan first vice president Taban Deng Gai arrives in Bor May 9, 2017 (ST)

In a statement released in Juba, the FDs condemned in the "strongest terms" the violation to the cessation of hostilities by the warring parties in the country, stressing that the two sides have the obligation to observe the humanitarian truce.

"It is only by doing so that some modicum of confidence and trust can be built to serve as a basis for meaningful discussions at the next round of HLRF (High-Level Revitalization Forum) talks in February (2018),” the statement reads.

The statement, which is signed by the former finance minister Kosti Manibe, further said they are disturbed by open and flagrant contempt and disregard the first vice president showed towards the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

“We are particularly perturbed by the open and flagrant contempt and disregard that First Vice President (FVP) Taban Deng Gai by and indeed the regime of President Salva Kiir Mayardit is showing towards the 21st December, 2017 CoH (Cessation of Hostilities) Agreement by moving a large contingent of SSDF (South Sudan Defence Forces) from Juba to Jonglei in broad daylight and in full view of all and sundry,” the group protested in a statement in a January 15, 2018.

The group expressed appalling that the Government, through its spokesperson, Minister Michael Makuei has shamelessly come in the open to announce this violation while at the same time trying to justify it as an innocent and harmless visit by the FVP to his constituents.

It further questioned the basis on which the first vice president moved into the region, citing lack of constituents requiring him to go for a visit.

“He has never contested elective office in Jonglei, therefore has no constituents to visit in Jonglei. He is going as a state official, at the head of a combat force.

"We cannot accept that FVP Taban Deng Gai can be allowed to violate the terms of CoH, move troops and war equipment and indeed conduct warfare with impunity;
neither can we accept that the FVP can use the troops and other resources of the Government while the rest of the Government holds itself absolved of responsibility."

"Whether as a signatory to the CoH Agreement in his own right (SPLM-IO/Taban) or as part of TGoNU, FVP Taban Deng Gai is bound by the terms of the Agreement and should be held responsible for its violation as required by the terms of that Agreement”, the group emphasised.

The SPLM-IO Monday condemned the position of the IGAD countries and the TROIKA saying Gai is touring Jonglei region with a green light from the two bodies adding they are indirectly contributing to the bloodshed in South Sudan.

The FDs called on the IGAD and TROIKA to put the necessary pressure on Juba government to immediately halt movement of troops that have been moved into Jonglei recently with the intention of attacking and capturing "Akobo and two surrounding areas".

They further called to investigate reported violations immediately once it is received. Also, they suggested that the ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) makes public any denial of access by the warring parties besides publishing the the findings of its investigations without delay.

"Delaying the release of CTSAMM investigation until a balancing act has been committed by the other party represents no more than a nuisance message and sends the unfortunate message of comparing a mountain to a molehill, thereby encouraging impunity".

The former detainees further suggested imposing sanctions on those who are responsible for these violations.

(ST)

January 16, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N al-Hilu) led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu said they received an invitation from the African mediation to resume Two Areas talks from I to 2 February in Addis Ababa.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

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 last year over the right of self-determination and other organisational issues.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) quoted the head of the African Union (AU) office in Khartoum Mahmoud Kan as saying the talks would be resumed on the bases of the existing documents on the cessation of hostilities.

The African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) led by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki is brokering peace talks between the Sudanese government and SPLM-N.

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

Both, Sudan and the SPLM-N al-Hilu have declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities in the war zones.

(ST)

January 16, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Dozens of demonstrators on Tuesday were beaten and arrested by police and security agents in Khartoum as hundreds of Sudanese took to streets in a peaceful march to protest against soaring commodity price.

Last week, the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) asked Khartoum State authorities for permission to organize a peaceful march to the governor's office to hand him over a memo against rising bread price but the request was denied.

However, the SCP joined by a number of opposition parties, activists and civil society organizations insisted on exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest and called upon the masses to gather near the Presidential Palace in central Khartoum on Tuesday to march to the state's headquarters.

In early Tuesday, the riot police and security agents cordoned the streets and prevented the protestors from reaching the gathering area.

Nonetheless, hundreds of demonstrators poured into the streets near the Presidential Palace and managed to penetrate the security cordon chanting “No, no to high prices, No to the government of hunger”.

The police and security reinforcements clashed with the protestors and dispersed them violently using tear gas and batons.

Dozens of the protestors were arrested including two members of the SCP Central Committee, Siddig Youssef, and Youssef Hussein besides rights defender Amal Habani and journalist Mamoun Eltilib.

Earlier this month, bakeries raised the price of a loaf of bread from 50 cents to 1 Sudanese pound following a government decision to increase the price of flour sack from 167 pounds to 450 pounds.

The government decision was part of tough economic measures contained in the 2018 budget which also saw the lifting of electricity subsidies as well as increasing the U.S. dollar exchange rate to 18.00 pounds from the official rate of 6.7 pounds.

The rise in bread price triggered sporadic protests in several Sudanese states leading to the killing of a high school student in West Darfur State.

To quell anti-austerity protests in Khartoum, Sudanese security forces in September 2013 carried out a brutal crackdown on the peaceful demonstration, killing nearly two hundred protesters say human rights groups or 86 people according to government figures.

Opposition forces attribute the deteriorating living condition and economic meltdown to corruption, lack of production policies, and lack of economic reform vision following the secession of South Sudan.

Sudan lost 75% of its oil reserves after the southern part of the country became an independent nation in July 2011, denying the north billions of dollars in revenues. Oil revenue constituted more than half of Sudan's revenue and 90% of its exports.

(ST)

By TRAYO A. Ali

In Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan (the city that knows no secrets, as is always described) the talk there is not about the uncomfortable Weather, which in this Season is dry, cold, dusty and windy, nor is it about the city's broken sewage system, and the polluted water or about the notorious militia known as Rapid Support Force (RSF), which frequently harass the citizens, or about the horrible stories of War in Darfur and/or in Nuba Mountains and B. Nile. It is even not about the long-standing but censored issue of the already devastating Cholera epidemic ravaging throughout the country. The talk, this time, is about only one thing; UPRISING.

The town is pregnant, electrified and imminently explosive. The reason is the increase in food prices (especially the bread and sugar), devaluation of the Sudanese Pound and the shortage of fuel.

Sudan's millions of unemployed youth, with no access to any basic facility, (except sitting round local tea makers and sipping the tea and occasionally browsing on their phones, with heavy presence of secret service agents watching over their shoulders), are these days busy networking through social media and deliberating on how to stage public protest to resist this sky rocking food prices.

Sporadic protests have already started, a dozen have been arrested and even some casualties recorded in Khartoum, Omdurman, Medani, Al-Genaina, Al-Obied, Nyala, Sinar, Kosti, Atbara, Port Sudan, Dongola, Jadugle and Kassala are all charged cities.

Finger Size bread
Commentators are mocking and making jokes about the crisis.
"The more its price increases, the size gets smaller and tiny". A protester commented that the bread size is now comparable to a finger. He added that
"The more it becomes smaller in size and poor in quality, the bigger impact it will have on the street".

Whilst the opposition is mobilizing and gearing up to command this growing situation, the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) has already hunted and locked incommunicado some opposition leaders including Engineer Omar Al-Digaer, Chairman of the Sudan Congress Party (SCP).

? Unfolding religious Front.
Another totally new segment of society (religious clergy) are also voicing out their concerns and joining the crusade against the hunger. From within once considered an exclusive domain of the ruling NCP, Imams are rebelling. Hear this one who sent a strong warning to General Albasheer. While calling on him to step down, he told him point blank that:

((On that day when you face alone your Allah, He will ask you about the miserable lives of the Sudanese, He will ask you about the broken families, about the ruined societies, the orphans, the destitute, the raped ones. He will ask you about the thievery, the nepotism, the corruption, the looting and all that you are guarding, guiding and protecting. He will chain you and cage you and throw you into the deepest of the Hell Fire)).

The courageous Imam also pointed that:
((The best thing God likes to hear is to speak the truth on the face of an authoritarian leader and I am doing now)).

Indeed the move among the "Imams" is rare and quite unexpected one and it surprises both camps. The development (as some observers argue) could reinforce opposition's position and drastically reduce the regime's already eroded moral ground.

The Case of Lady Antoinette (Queen of France) is cited
The Sudanese activists are exposing on social media every aspect of President Albasheer's lavish lifestyle and that of his family, and associates. They even exhibited President's expensive Watch "Rolex" and the life of his family to that of France's last Queen Marrie Antoniotte who faced summexecutiontion upon charges of corruption and provocative lifestyle. This is in reference to some around the President who are living lavish style. The activists are citing Lady Antoniotte provocative statement in which She wondered as to "why the French hungry mob should not eat cake if they do not get bread" !!!

? Disinformation propaganda about imminent foreign attack
As is expected, the talk on the other side of the river is very different. The government media, officials and its security apparatus are busy concocting and fabricating disinformation propaganda about an imminent "foreign attack". They are concocting very incoherent and contradicting stories about military buildup taking place on the Eastern front (border with Eriteria). The government officials cannot give any coherent account of what is happening and who is behind what.
This is considered by analyists as mere propaganda techniques of blatant lies usually resorted to by the NCP regime to distract public attention whenever internal crisis start fermenting. "It's a desperate move to preempt the expected crisis. All the political observers believe that. "The government is up recycling same old tricks to intimidate the public and distract the focus", as one states.

In an interview with the B. B.C TV, Mr Mini Minwai, Chairman of Sudan Liberation Movement (SKM) and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) respectively have categorically dismissed these government claims as baseless propaganda jargon that cannot hold any water.

Mr M. C. Osman, a close observer and analyst on regional affairs argue that:

"If there are major pending issues between Egypt and Ethiopia on water matters, that is a known issue, but these two countries are rational states. They could easily resort to reason in resolving their disputes. And if there are any misunderstanding between Eritrea and Ethiopia, that is also explainable against the background of the previous war they went through. But for Sudan taking the lead in spreading words on the imminent war against her from an invisible enemy, and in this very time, then the whole intention behind the cry is questionable. Such behaviour can only be interpreted in the context of its ongoing internal crisis. It's a tactic to distract public attention".

The author is the chief negotiator of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi

January 15, 2018 (JUBA) - The armed opposition forces allied to former first deputy president Riek Machar has accused the regional peace meditators and international guarantors of indirectly backing attacks and truce breaches on their areas in Jonglei region.

The SPLA-IO forces during their arrival at Masana Biira in Wau on 07, August 2017 (ST)

In a statement issued Monday the rebel deputy spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel claimed that FVP Taban Deng Gai is touring, with the knowledge of the IGAD and TROIKA countries, the greater Jonglei "here he is currently causing more destructions and displacement to the civilians in areas under the control of the SPLA IO".

"This is absolutely unacceptable and requires (an) explanation from the IGAD and TROIKA who are also indirectly contributing to the bloodshed in South," Gabriel further said.

The warring parties trade accusations of violating the humanitarian cessation of hostilities which is a confidence-building measure before the talks on the implementation of a permanent ceasefire.

During the talks for the humanitarian truce in Addis last December, SPLM-IO delegation called to review the monitoring mechanism of the ceasefire but this is the first time directly criticise the IGAD and TROIKA.

Gabriel in his statement praised the monitoring body called (CTSAMM) saying they are doing their best to reflect the violations committed by Juba army. Further, he requested them to not communicate information about their positions and forces to "the regime's security agents" who are part of its structure.

He further said their group SPLA-IO called the ceasefire monitoring mechanism travel to their areas to assess the government violations instead of depending on press releases and phone calls.

The "CTSAMM should stop blaming the SPLA-IO for violations of this signed CoH" adding they are forced to defend the defend themselves and civilians from the attacks carried out by the government forces.

(ST)

January 15, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour had resigned to protest interferences in his diplomatic activities last week but he withdrew it after the intervention of the first vice president, press reports says.

Al-Sudani newspaper Monday reported that the Ghandour had presented his resignation to the President Omer al-Bashir who accepted it last week. However, the minister changed his mind and accepted to remain in his position after the intervention of leading government members, the local newspaper said.

However, Al-Tahrir website, which is close to the opposition National Umma Party, quoting an unnamed source, said that Ghandour complained in his letter of resignation from interference, in his work of "leading government members who exercise similar tasks".

According to the sources, the First Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh who is also the prime minister and Mohamed Atta the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Director convinced him to withdraw his resignation after meeting him at his home on Thursday 11 January.

Several presidential aides used to intervene in the government diplomatic activities and establish their own networks without coordination with the foreign ministry.

This growing interference was visible during the foreign ministry efforts to cancel the U.S. economic sanctions on Sudan when the former director of al-Bashir's office Taha Osman travelled to Washington and met a number of officials and lobbying firms there.

Ghandour, also, was bothered by the appointment of the former oil minister Awad al-Jaz as Presidential Assistant for Chinese Affairs. After that, his attributions are expanded to be the head of a presidential committee tasked with the relations with BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.

Further, after the recent visit of President Recep Erdogan, al-Jaz has been charged with the Turkish affairs.

The attributions of the presidential assistant include the political and commercial sides.

Ghandour recently declined to appear before the parliament to explain the role of his ministry in the relations with these countries.

During a press conference with his Ethiopian counterpart last Sunday, Ghandour brushed aside statements by Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Hamid who spoke about Egyptian and Eritrean threats to Sudan.

"Sudan is not talking about military build-up from a particular country, but a threat to its security from the east," in allusion to the presence of Sudanese rebel groups on the Eritrean side.

Diplomatic sources say Ghandour does not support escalation with Egypt, while other senior officials want the adoption of a hard-line with Cairo particularly after a severe press campaign by the pro-government media in Egypt against President al-Bashir after the visit of the Turkish president to Sudan.

(ST)

January 15, 2018 (JUBA) - The associates of former South Sudan's chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan, have called for an uprising to remove President Salva Kiir from power, claiming the latter was using divide and rule policy to consolidate his regime.

Kuol Athuai Hal, former Aweil Northern County commissioner who also served in different capacities in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal government including an adviser for peace in the state government run by Awan when he was its governor, told Sudan Tribune on Monday that the country would never be in peace and stability if President Kiir is not removed from power.

“We have decided to take up arms because we have come to the conclusion that the government of Salva Kiir is specialized in colliding people. Maybe today he will come up with a story and say Lieutenant General Agany is good and Kuol Athuai is bad, and tomorrow he will turn around and say Agany has something he wants to do and Kuol Athuai has changed and become good. This is the government which can't allow people to be mentally comfortable," said Athuai Hal.

"The best way for the people of South Sudan is to rise up in order to dismantle that government in order to return peace and stability to the country. If that government of Salva Kiir and his friends is left, South Sudan will never see a light,” he added.

South Sudanese government officials now openly accuse the Gen Awan and of rebellion. Also, his supporters are accused of joining armed groups while reports circulate about coordination with armed groups.

These developments come at a time the regional peace mediators have launched last December a process to revitalize the implementation of a peace agreement since in August 2015.

Kuol confirmed he and Lieutenant Colonel Manut Yel Lual, Major Diing, 1st Lt Bulo, 1st Athian had joined South Sudan Patriotic army under the overall command of Lieutenant General Agany Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol, a rebel movement fighting to topple the government in Juba.

He went further to say they are not alone in their decision to rebel against the government of President Kiir which they defended for long years.

" A lot of people are coming," he said.

"So that we move and work together to remove and dismantle the government of Salva Kii," he stressed adding "We declared to him from the day we came to consider us of dotbai (rescue home),” he said referring the name of the movement in local name.

The former county commissioner said the name was fitting because they want to rescue the country from disintegration into ethnic enclaves because as a result of the policy implemented by the government led by President Kiir.

Officials in Juba say the former chief of staff and his supporters have no cause but for personal interests and their desire to have power. They also warn opposition groups that are part of the IGAD forum from supporting them.

(ST)

January 15, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The government delegation for the Two Areas talks said the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) didn't notify Sudan that the East African regional bloc IGAD would carry out the mediation effort instead of the African mediator Thabo Mbeki.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

The African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) led by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki is brokering peace talks between the Sudanese government and SPLM-N.

There has been speculation that the regional bloc would take over the Two Areas negotiation file after the IGAD representative in Khartoum Lesane Johannes last Thursday discussed with Sudan's chief negotiator Ibrahim Mahmoud resumption of the talks.

However, member of the government delegation and Sudan's Minister of Animal Resources Bishara Guma'a Aror said the AUPSC is the only party entitled to appoint or remove the mediator of the Two Areas peace talks.

He told Sudan Tribune “Mbeki is delegated by the AUPSC to mediate the Two Areas talks and the [Sudanese] government didn't receive any notification from the AUPSC that IGAD would take over the mediation file”.

Aror described the meeting between Johannes and Mahmoud as “normal thing” taking into consideration that the former is part of Mbeki's team.

It is noteworthy that Mbeki didn't visit Khartoum since April 2017 when the government notified him of its readiness to resume the talks with the armed movements on the bases of the outcome of the national dialogue.

Talks between the government and the SPLM-N 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 last year over the right of self-determination and other organisational issues.

Last Septmeber, a member of the government negotiating team said they wouldn't negotiate with a faction of the Sudan SPLM-N Agar, pointing that the latter “has no influence on the ground”.

The SPLM-N al-Hilu has a similar point of view as they say there is no split within the rebel movement, but only a change of leadership stressing they have the SPLA-N support.

On the other hand, the SPLM-N Agar recognizes the rift and proposes to form a joint delegation. If this proposal is rejected they propose to coordinate with the SPLM-N al-Hilu.

Also, the political opposition and armed groups in Darfur that participate in the African Union-brokered process support the involvement of the SPLM-N Agar.

The mediators met the two factions last August, but they didn't fix a clear position on the matter, while the facilitators from the Troika countries and the European Union also didn't determine a unified position on the matter.

However, following his meeting with Mahmoud, Johannes said the Two Areas talks would be resumed in February between the government team and the SPLM-N al-Hilu.

(ST)

January 15, 2018 (CAIRO) - 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”.

Al-Sisi's statements come amid rising tensions between Egypt on the one hand and Sudan and Ethiopia on the other.

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 Egypt 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.

Last week, Sudan closed its border with Eritrea after the deployment of thousands of troops from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters to Kassala State.

On Thursday, Sudan admitted that the deployment of troops along the Eritrean border came as result of military threats from Eritrea and Egypt against the country.

Also, tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia flared up after talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) are stalled over how to deal with the impact of the $5 billion dam that could threaten Egypt's lifeblood.

According to Reuters, a scheduled visit by Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to Cairo on Monday was postponed for the second time.

In televised statements on Monday, al-Sisi said “Egypt will not fight its brothers ... I say these words as a message to our brothers in Sudan”.

“We are not willing to enter into war with our brothers or with anyone ... our peoples deserve every single penny,” he added.

“I say this to our brothers in Sudan and Ethiopia: Egypt doesn't conspire. We don't conspire, neither do we meddle in the internal affairs of anyone and we are very, very keen to have a very good relationship,” he further said.

The Egyptian President stressed the ultimate goal of his government is to construct and develop Egypt, saying they wouldn't carry out any other objectives.

He further warned the Egyptian media against attacking Sudan.

“I hope the Egyptian media doesn't use offensive language against Sudan or any other country no matter how much anger or pain they feel towards that country,” he said.

(ST)

Joseph Warungu peeps into WhatsApp groups to find out who the group administrators really are.

Somali refugee ZamZam Yusuf has a message for any neighbours who think she doesn’t have the right to call Leicester, in the English Midlands, home.

By Ahmed H Adam

Ongoing tensions in the Red Sea region came to the fore in late December, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Sudan as part of his Africa tour. During the visit, Erdogan and his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir, signed more than a dozen agreements to boost the economic partnership between the two nations.

Among these agreements was a deal to temporarily hand over the Red Sea island of Suakin to Turkey. Ankara and Khartoum said Turkish investors would rebuild the ruined, sparsely populated island to increase tourism and create a transit point for Muslim pilgrims crossing the Red Sea to reach the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The agreement over Suakin has triggered a heated debate in the region, as many saw Erdogan's move as an attempt to establish a third military base - after the ones in Qatar and Somalia - outside Turkey's borders.

Egyptian and Saudi media have harshly criticised the agreement, categorising Erdogan's move as yet another attempt by what they call the "Turkey-Iran-Qatar axis" to undermine the stability and security of the so-called "Sunni moderate alliance", which includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE.

In a joint press conference with his Sudanese counterpart in Khartoum, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu strongly denied the existence of such an "axis", but he was unable to ease the tensions and convince the Egyptian leadership that the agreement over Suakin does not pose a threat for Cairo.

But Erdogan's visit to Sudan was in no way the beginning of the dispute between Sudan and Egypt. Relations between Cairo and Khartoum have long been strained, with ongoing disagreements over issues such as the Hala'ib Triangle border dispute and the Renaissance Dam project in Ethiopia.

Halayeb Triangle border dispute

The Halayeb Triangle is an area of land of just under 20,500 square kilometres on the Egyptian-Sudanese border, which both countries have claim over since Sudan gained independence from Britain in 1956. In the 1990s, Egypt deployed its military in the territory, but, in the following two decades, the dispute was somewhat frozen.

In 2016, it flared up again. That year, Cairo signed a controversial agreement with Riyadh to hand over two strategically important Red Sea islands - Tiran and Sanafir - to Saudi Arabia. The agreement, which redrew the maritime border between the two countries, also unilaterally recognised Egypt's sovereignty over the Hala'ib Triangle.
In December last year, Sudan sent a letter to the UN declaring its total rejection of the deal. Egyptian officials swiftly condemned the letter and reiterated that the triangle is "Egyptian territory".

In response, Sudan recalled its ambassador from Cairo for consultations on January 4.

Meanwhile, in what may have been a response to Sudan's renewed claims over the Hala'ib Triangle, as well as fears that Turkey is expanding its influence in the region, Egypt sent hundreds of its troops to a UAE base in Eritrea, on the border with Sudan.

Egypt denied any military presence in Eritrea, but the damage was done. Days later, Sudan shut its border with Eritrea and deployed thousands of troops there.

There are indications that Khartoum is actually trying to escalate the ongoing confrontation with Egypt, in order to exploit the nationalist sentiments of the Sudanese people and divert attention from the country's grave internal problems - particularly the current protests over the new austerity budget and the increase of the price of bread and other basic goods. However, Egypt may be inclined to de-escalate until after its presidential elections later this year.

The Renaissance Dam project

Another reason behind the current tensions between Egypt and Sudan is the ongoing construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The dam, which will be the seventh-largest hydroelectric power plant in the world when completed, is located in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, only 40km east of the country's border with Sudan.

Cairo fears the dam may affect its access to water from the Nile River basin. The Egyptian government believes Sudan to be on Ethiopia's side regarding the future of the dam, and recently proposed excluding it from contentious negotiations over the future of the project, angering the Sudanese government.

Sudan argues that its responsibility is to protect its own interests in the dispute, and not Egypt's. Khartoum wants to stay part of the negotiations on an issue which will undoubtedly affect the lives of the Sudanese people, and the future of the country.

Sudan stands to benefit a lot from the project. Ethiopia will be selling electricity to its northern neighbour; a planned transmission line will connect the Ethiopian electrical grid to Khartoum.

The dam project will also limit flooding of the Blue Nile in Sudan, allowing farmers to have to crop cycles per year.

The Muslim Brotherhood factor

But even the disputes over the Hala'ib Triangle and the Renaissance Dam project cannot be seen as the root causes of the current confrontation between Egypt and Sudan. The conflict between the two countries is deeper and more complicated, with historical, political and, most importantly, ideological dimensions.

Cairo accuses Khartoum of supporting Muslim Brotherhood plans to overthrow the regime of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sudan views Sisi and his government as "putschists", who illegally overthrew Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Bashir himself came to power in a military coup in 1989; he allied himself with Hassan al-Turabi, the leader of a Sudanese offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. About a decade later, the two fell out and al-Turabi was subsequently imprisoned.

The GCC crisis

When the GCC crisis erupted in June 2017, Sudan was in an uncomfortable situation. For the previous few years, it had tried to stay neutral during intra-GCC disputes, maintaining a close relationship with Qatar, but also sending troops to back the UAE and Saudi war effort in Yemen.

Last year, Khartoum refused to cut relations with Doha and was pushed out of the UAE-Saudi camp. Bashir's overarching objective out of this game of alliances is to survive in power and secure his chance to run in the 2020 elections.

He realised that even though the US removed sanctions against Sudan, it is not interested in pushing for the International Criminal Court to drop the charges against him, nor does it support him to run in the 2020 elections. Hence, Bashir shifted towards Russia and Turkey.

Sudan's neighbours, Eritrea and Ethiopia, have also become party to the GCC crisis.

Ethiopia, just like Sudan, has become closer to Qatar in its struggle to navigate the ongoing tensions in the Gulf. The Ethiopian government, which previously accused Egypt of supporting separatist movements on Ethiopian territory, understandably chose to place itself against Egypt in this conflict.

Meanwhile, Eritrea, which is in the midst of a long-standing conflict with Ethiopia, has taken the side of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and UAE, the latter having a military base on Eritrean territory.

If Turkey actually establishes a military base on Sudan's Suakin Island in the near future, it is reasonable to expect Eritrea to play a pivotal role on behalf of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in counter-balancing Turkish military presence in the region. President Isaias Afwerki may exploit Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE's dependence on Eritrea on this issue to carry out hostile actions against both Ethiopia and Sudan.

Whatever happens between Egypt and Sudan in the coming days, it is evident that the GCC crisis has already spread to the Nile basin and the Horn of Africa. Consequently, the region may be pushed into new proxy conflicts in the near future. Regional and sub-regional organisations such as the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) should intervene to de-escalate these tensions and negative developments.

Ahmed H Adam is a Research Associate at SOAS' School of Law, University of London

January 14, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Additional troops from the government militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have arrived in the eastern state of Kassala on Sunday.

Since 5 January, Sudan has deployed thousands of RSF fighters to Kassala on the border with Eritrea after a presidential decree declaring a state of emergency.

Following what, Sudan shut down its border with Eritrea and declared popular mobilization in Kassala saying the deployment of troops along the Eritrean border came as result of military threats from Eritrea and Egypt against the country.

According to Ashorooq TV, large crowds of residents besides the executive, legislative, political, military, civilian leaders have received the additional RSF reinforcements at the entrance of the city.

Speaking to the arriving fighters, the governor of Kassala State Adam Jama'a said the RSF is the “striking force” across the country, describing it as “safety valve” to counter any aggression against Sudan.

He said that Kassala faces a number of problems including human trafficking and commodity and illicit arms smuggling, saying the arrival of the RSF would support the state's efforts and protect the border.

Meanwhile, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said the deployment of the troops on the eastern border comes in anticipation of possible aggression that could adversely impact security.

He said that Sudan didn't accuse a particular country of building up military forces on the border but spoke about threats to its security from the eastern border.

“We don't speak about a specific country but we have information that some are trying to hurt us and we would disclose it in details in a timely manner,” he said.

(ST)

January 14, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The United Kingdom Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan Chris Trott will visit Khartoum during this month for discussions on Sudan's peace process, said the British Ambassador to Sudan Michael Aron

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) has quoted Aron as saying London is working to help Sudan achieve peace.

He added the strategic dialogue between Khartoum and London aims to promote bilateral relations between the two countries, saying the Sudanese-British investment forum would furnish the British companies with sufficient information on the investment opportunities in Sudan.

Since 2015, Sudan and the UK have started a dialogue upon request from Khartoum to push forward bilateral ties.

Meetings between the two countries started in March 2016 in Khartoum and considered the first talks of its kind at this level in 25 years.

The two sides agreed to exchange visits at the level of senior officials from the two countries along with increasing cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, culture and the fight against extremism and illegal immigration.

The African Union is brokering peace talks between the Sudanese government and opposition including the armed groups in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

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

The Sudan Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) support the AU efforts and call for the resumption of the peace talks.

(ST)

January 14, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan rebels have accused government troops of massively displacing civilians in Payai and Paduay in the wake of the recent clashes that have taken place following the first vice president Taban Deng Gai's visit to the area.

South Sudan's army soldiers drive in a truck on the frontline in Panakuach, Unity state April 24, 2012. (Reuters Photo)

A rebel spokesperson, Lam Paul Gabriel said government forces launched attacks on Saturday and Sunday, forcing civilians to flee homes for safety.

He said pro-government forces attacked Mvolo county, an area controlled by the armed opposition, but were eventually repulsed.

“The regime's forces decided to station at Mvolo county of the mid-west, which is under the control of the SPLA-IO [armed opposition movement]. They came yesterday [Saturday] evening from Mundri ready for offensives,” further said Lam.

Government troops are also in the spotlight for carrying out attacks on rebels positions at Burbur and Dhorbor in Rubkona county of the former Unity state, allegations Sudan Tribune could not easily verify.

On Friday last week, the Troika countries [United States, Norway and Britain] expressed concerns over continuing reports of the movement of forces by warring parties in South Sudan in violation of the ceasefire agreement, including last week's movement of hundreds of government troops into the country's state of Jonglei.

The Troika, in a strongly-worded statement, condemned the continuing pattern of violations of the 21 December, 2017 cessation of hostilities agreement by parties to the revitalization process, and called on all parties to immediately and fully implement the agreement in letter and spirit and ensure humanitarian access throughout the country.

The Troika said it saw strong evidence of violations of the ceasefire agreement by government of South Sudan forces in Unity State and by forces associated with opposition groups, including Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition, in Unity State and the Greater Upper Nile region, as witnessed by ceasefire monitors.

The Troika also noted with grave concern the strong evidence from multiple sources linking the attacks in Gudele, Jubek State, on 4 January to former South Sudan army chief of staff, Paul Malong and forces under Lt. Colonel Chan Garang Lual, an SPLA-IO commander.

(ST)

January 14, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese President Sunday has received a verbal message from Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn pertaining to bilateral relations and ways to enhance joint cooperation in the various fields.

The message was delivered by Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu who paid a one-day visit to Khartoum on Sunday.

Gebeyehu's visit comes amid heightened tensions in the region over border disputes, military alliances and the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Sudanese counterpart, Gebeyehu said his visit comes within the framework of the strategic relationship between the two countries.

He pointed out that the bilateral relations between Sudan and Ethiopia are based upon the mutual exchange of benefits particularly in the political and economic domains.

The Ethiopian top diplomat said he discussed with Ghandour the recent developments in the region, stressing his country's readiness to cooperate with Sudan to promote regional security and stability.

He added the regional issues must be addressed through negotiations and dialogue, saying any regional escalation would be met with dialogue and peaceful means.

Regarding the issue of the GERD, Gebeyehu said it is a trilateral issue and would be resolved within the framework of the agreement reached among the three countries.

He pointed out that the upcoming visit of the Ethiopian premier to Egypt comes within the framework of the bilateral relations, saying the visit would promote the joint political and economic issues between the two countries.

Desalegn will arrive in Cairo on Monday. He is expected to discuss with the Egyptian side the latest developments in the GERD file and put forth Ethiopia's response to Egypt's proposal for the participation of the World Bank as a technical partner in the tripartite technical committee on GERD.

(ST)

January 14, 2018 (JUBA) – A member of the Jieng (Dinka) Council of Elders has dismissed reports that former army chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan set conditions and demands for President Salva Kiir's government to meet before entering into talks with the Juba regime.

Former South Sudan army chief of staff, General Paul Malong Awan speaks at the presidential palace in Juba, November 16, 2017 (ST)

In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Sunday, the co-chair of the Jieng Council of Elders, Joshua Dau said he was unaware of conditions and demands Awan allegedly placed.

“Gen Paul Malong was receptive and cooperative in our meeting. He raised the issues which are his concern and they do not amount to preconditions or demands. Who told you this?” he asked.

Dau, also a member of upper house of the legislative assembly, said a message assuring Awan about government commitment's to protect his properties was delivered by the team that visited him.

President Kiir, according to Dau, assured the country's former army chief of staff that none of his associates in the army and government at all levels would be targeted because of their connections to him.

The South Sudanese leader also pledged readiness to pay attention the various issues, which Awan raised, the official further stated.

Awan reportedly vowed to abandon rebellion, cease from hostile and negative statements, which can be interpreted by the coalition government to mean threats against the Juba establishment.

But despite denials from Dau, social media was awash with reports that Awan unveiled four demands as a condition for entering talks.

Gordon Buay, a South Sudanese diplomat at its embassy in United States, said Awan demanded that the Director General for internal security services, Akol Koor Kuc be removed from his position and replaced before he can enter into talks with the Juba government.

Also said to be on Awan's list of demands, Buay said, regards the conduct of the ruling party (SPLM) elections using 'secret ballot' and the elected chairman must not be interim president of South Sudan.

It, however, remains unclear if the ex-army chief indeed set the demands Buay alleges.

On Friday, it emerged that prominent personalities and the Jieng Council of elders in South Sudan had reached a deal with the former army chief of general staff not to rebel against the government under the leadership of President Kiir.

The new deal, according to the mediation team, would allow the government to not treat Awan a rebel as he had been declared. It demands him to cease involving himself in any subversive activities that the government would interpret and equate them to rebellion. The deal further demands that government and Awan cease all sorts of hostilities, including social media and all forms of negative media campaign.

(ST)

January 14, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - United Nations experts have urged Sudan's neighbours Libya and South Sudan to stop supplying Darfur armed groups with weapons and ammunition in line with UN resolutions on this respect.

In a report to the Security Council released this week, a panel of five experts says that rebel groups from Darfur region "work as mercenaries" with South Sudanese government and the different warring parties in Libya.

Regarding the restive north African country, the report point to the presence in Libya of the Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM), and the SLM-Transitional Council (SLM-TC) led by al-Hadi Idriss Yahia. While the Justice and Equality Movement of Girbil Ibrahim is present in South Sudan.

"The presence and activities of SLA/MM, SLA/TC and JEM in both Libya and South Sudan constitute a violation by those States of the arms embargo, which requires States to take measures to prevent the sale or supply of arms and related material and the provision of assistance to Darfurian rebel groups by their nationals or from their territories," the expert said.

The 97-page report seen by Sudan Tribune is the first UN text with detailed information, official documents and pictures about the presence of the armed groups from Darfur region in Libya.

The report describes the SLM-MM as the biggest Darfurian rebel group in Libya operating with Libya's eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar of the Libyan National Army (LNA).

In a special annexe, the report says the group has "several hundreds of fighters and approximately 150 vehicles", adding that the military leadership of the group present in Libya include SLM-MM chief of staff Juma Haggar, his deputy Jabir Ishag and other commanders.

However, the experts said that the military leadership of the rebel group is now more independent from its exiled leader and they are directly paid by Haftar's army.

According to the experts, JEM which has a limited presence in Libya has recently realised that the situation in the north African country "offers more opportunities than South Sudan" and considers ways to be more involved there.

The report dedicates one of its annexes to the Sudan Liberation Forces Alliance led by Taher Hagar which is also operating in Libya.

The report which is mainly dedicated to the different effects of the situation in Libya on Darfur says that the role of mercenaries has gained significance because Libyan are wary of fighting and financially it is more beneficial for Libyan factions to engage foreign mercenaries.

"If Libyans get killed during the conflict, their tribe demands blood money, which is to be paid by the Libyan faction responsible for the death. The concept of blood money is, however, not applicable to foreign mercenaries," the report says.

A Darfurian fighter is paid between $250 to $500 per month. Also, they have " the option of receiving weapons and vehicles, in lieu of cash payment. Darfurian rebel groups have been demanding higher remuneration for some time, owing to the depreciation of the Libyan dinar," according to the experts.

The UN experts have recommended that the panel continues to monitor the presence and activities of Darfurian rebel groups in Libya and South Sudan. Further, they propose to "consider updating the sanctions list to include the photographs of three designated individuals and the passport details of one designated individual, and consider requesting INTERPOL to update its special notices accordingly".

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

While focusing on the financing of different Darfurian armed groups and, regional stability the experts noticed that the arrival of a greater number of Darfurian migrants to Europ through Libya since 2015.

"This trend would tend to suggest greater availability and better organization of the smuggling networks operating in the Sudan, Libya and Chad, which facilitate this journey," said the report based on interviews with humanitarian agencies in France and Italy.

The Darfur route via El-Fasher for migrant smuggling to Libya from Sudan, according to the report, has become an alternative to the Khartoum route via Dongola in northern Sudan. The smugglers, some of them are former rebels, use the same routes used by the armed groups.

Besides the human smuggling, the experts say the rebel groups in Darfur also make financial gains from the arms smuggling between Darfur and Libya.

They are "smuggling small arms from the Sudan to Libya. These groups are also smuggling heavy weapons such as anti-aircraft guns and anti-tank guns into Darfur from Libya," the report says.

In addition, the report says that Darfur rebel groups are also involved in the in the smuggling of fuel in tankers from Libyan port installations in Misrata and Zlitan into Darfur. The same for vehicles the armed groups "smuggled thousands of 4x4 vehicles from Libya to Darfur".

(ST)

January 14, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki accused interested circles in Sudan and Ethiopia of attempting to create a conflict between Khartoum and Asmara, stressed that there were no Egyptian troops at the Sawa base, which borders the Sudanese border.

On Thursday, Sudan officially announced sending troops and equipment to the border with Eritrea and spoke about security threats after the alleged arrival of Egyptian troops to the Eritrean military base of Sawa, an area bordering the eastern province of Kassala in Sudan.

In an interview with Eritrean television on Sunday evening, Afwerki ridiculed Sudan's allegations about the presence of Egyptian troops at the Sawa military base and slammed the Qatari Al-Jazeera TV channel which broadcast the news.

He further said that Asmara has information about an attempt to deploy Ethiopian troops on the Sudanese-Eritrean border to be financed by Sudan.
He added that Khartoum and Addis Ababa seek to push Eritrea to war pointing to the broadcast in the Sudanese media of footages of troops and weapons dispatched to Kassala state.

"The Ethiopian and Sudanese intelligence services are promoting false information. These accusations are an attempt to escape forward."

"Some circles in Sudan and Ethiopia are trying to create a clash between Sudan and Eritrea," he said.

In a joint press conference with his Ethiopian counterpart Sunday, the Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour said his government does not accuse a specific country but speak about threats for its security on the eastern border.

"Some opposition forces are in those areas," he said. "There are some people who are trying to harm the security of the country and we will explain this in detail in due course," Ghandour stressed.

Speaking about the Turkish military presence in the Red Sea region, Afwerki said it "is not acceptable".

"I am not sure about the Turkish military presence in (the Sudanese town of) Suakin, but the Turkish presence in Somalia is unacceptable and does not contribute to the stability of the region," he said.

The head of the embattled east African country was recently in Egypt for talks with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi following several reports about a rapprochement with Cairo which is in conflict with Khartoum and Addis Ababa over the Nile water.

(ST)