Africa

In a year which saw millions of Somali civilians displaced by armed conflict and thousands more killed and wounded in violence, the United Nations envoy to the country has called for sustained cooperation to tackle a number of pressing challenges.

With the rangers' protection, Zakouma's 500-strong herd is growing strong.

Our pick of Africa's quirkiest stories this year.

Heavily armed and highly trained anti-poaching patrols have helped the population's recovery.

December 26, 2017 (KAMPALA) - A group of youth from South Sudan have demanded for release of the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar before the next phase of talks begin in February next year.

South Sudan's opposition leader Riek Machar speaks during a briefing in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa April 9, 2016 (Photo Reuters/ Tiksa Negeri)

The group, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, said Machar's release from confinement in South Africa is a popular demand of the people of South Sudan who want peace in the war-torn nation.

“Dr. Riek Machar was a key stakeholder of the agreement (ARCISS). He must be set free and allowed to participate directly in the revitalization forum in February 2018 when peace talks resume,” the group, Senior Youth of South Sudan (SEYOSS), said in the statement.

“Riek Machar must be present in person on the negotiation table. Unless or until this revitalization forum is inclusive of all stakeholders otherwise it is dead on arrival,” adds the statement.

In their appeal, the group of youth also called upon the nine South Sudanese opposition leaders who earlier demanded for Machar's release to boycott the second phase of the revitalization forum in February 2018 if their calls are ignored by the regional bloc (IGAD).

The group of peace activists says its regrets the suffering four years of civil war has inflicted on the people of South Sudan.

“As year 2017 comes to an end, South Sudanese living conditions have continued to mount from bad to worse and have now reached irreparable state,” the group said.

The group of youth also called on IGAD and peace guarantors to hold accountable those responsible for violation of the agreement on cessation of hostilities, hours after it came into effect on Sunday.

Diplomats were quoted saying the next phase of the negotiations would centre on thrashing out a revised power-sharing arrangement leading up to a new date for polls.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, aid agencies say, since war broke out in South Sudan over four years ago.

(ST)

December 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Some members of the High Committee for the Implementation of the National Dialogue Recommendations (HCINDR) expressed their displeasure at the delay in the formation of 13 committees, the reform of laws restricting freedoms.

A general view shows members of the Sudanese National Assembly holding an emergency meeting in Khartoum, July 2008 (file photo)

On 10 October 2016, the National Dialogue Conference endorsed the National Document which includes a number of principles that should serve as a basis for the future Sudan's permanent constitution. Also, it provides to restore freedoms, exert the needed efforts for a lasting peace and put it at the top of agenda the National Consensus Government has to implement.

Ahmed al-Balal, the information minister but also a spokesperson of the dialogue committee Tuesday explained the delay saying the HCINDR is preparing a comprehensive vision of the 13 committees and the implementation of the remaining recommendations. He added that a meeting would be convened within days to discuss these issues.

However, a member of the implementation committee Member Taj al-Din Banga and a leading figure of the Popular Congress Party said that they have not yet received any call for the HCINDR meeting to enforce the outputs of the dialogue.

Further, Banqa told Sudan Tribune that his party has a reservation over the slowdown in the implementation of the dialogue recommendations.

"Our reservation is that the dialogue ended on 10 October 2016, which is a year ago, and so far there have been no commissions," he said on Tuesday.

"We hope that the meeting will be as soon as possible," he further said.

In April 2017, a ruling party-controlled parliamentary committee tasked with some constitutional reforms including the creation of the prime minister position refused to pass an amendment restricting the repressive power of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

The committee said the articles proposed by the PCP include details and figures that should be put in the law, not the constitution.

Banaga stressed the need to prioritize the restoration of freedoms, establishing 13 commissions and to reshape some existing commissions such as the electoral, human rights and the office of the political parties registrar.

He pointed to the upcoming general elections in 2020 saying that the laws restricting freedoms had not been amended to create a suitable atmosphere.

He added that the commissions of corruption, constitutional reform, judicial reform, media, identity, civil service, land and the Public Service Selection Commission have not yet be formed.

Banaga said the PCP called during the dialogue process to include the commissions in the constitutions but the ruling National Congress Party preferred to announce it in a law, citing a large number of constitutional amendments.

(ST)

December 26, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan rebels allied to the country's former first vice-president, Riek Machar have accused government troops of continued violation of the recently signed ceasefire agreement in Kajo-Keji county and in areas east of Torit town.

Signig of South Sudan cessation of hostilities deal in Addis Ababa on 21 December 2017 ST Photo

The armed opposition's deputy spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said their forces repulsed the attackers and drove them back to Kansuk, amid claims that over 20 government troops were also killed.

The official said the rebels also destroyed store that contained ammunition belonging to government troops following the clashes.

Sudan Tribune could not independently verify claims from the rebel official.

Meanwhile, Lam said South Sudan government troops have been on the offensive since 23 December and have particularly carried out several attacks in Bangalo area of Mundri West in Western Equatoria region.

“It should be noted that since the 22/11/2017 when Governor Joseph Ngere and Brig. Korokon decided to order for attacks on our bases in Bari and Kediba, civilians displaced into the bushes with no food, shelters or health facilities; and no humanitarian assistance has been rendered to those suffering civilians by any humanitarian agency,” he said in a statement.

In a related development, Lam said, the governor of Imatong state Tobiolo Oromo allegedly ordered the area division 7 commander Maj. Gen Gildo Oling to attack the armed opposition's base in Pogee near the Uganda border and establish a border post there.

“This planned attack in Pogee is aimed at displacing civilians who have come back home from refugee camps in Uganda to try and settle in the Liberated area under the SPLA-IO”, Lam said Tuesday.

The armed opposition faction has renewed calls to the regional bloc (IGAD), African Union, the Troika nations as well as world leaders to openly condemn the Juba government over the ceasefire violations.

South Sudan's government and rebel groups signed a ceasefire on 21 December in the latest attempt to end a four-year civil war and allow humanitarian groups access to civilians caught in the fighting.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Saturday directed the chief of defence staff to instruct all heads of the state army divisions and units across the country to comply with the ceasefire agreement.

(ST)

December 26, 2017 (N'DJAMENA) - Twelve Sudanese traditional gold prospectors have been killed and seventeen others injured on Monday by gunmen in Chad on the border with Libya.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune Tuesday that Chadian gunmen on 10 four-wheel-drive vehicles attacked Sudanese gold prospectors in gold mines in Karry area in Chad, saying 12 were killed and 17 injured while 8 others went missing.

They added the injured have been transferred to Libya for treatment, saying the missing gold prospectors were likely being taken by the gunmen to an unknown destination.

The native leader from Kutum area, some 60 km north-west of El-Fasher, North Darfur capital Mohamed al-Tahir Issa said more than 6 families received news about their members who have been attacked in the incident.

He added relatives of 3 gold prospectors told their families of the death of their sons while the fate of the rest of the group is unknown due to a poor telecommunication network in the area.

The eyewitnesses pointed out that the incident is the second of its kind during the past three months, saying a similar attack in the same area last September claimed one life and injured two.

In August 2016, Mauritania deported 100 Sudanese miners who had sneaked into its territory illegally.

Sudan's consul in Chad's city of Abeché, Omer al-Farouk Mohamed, in May 2015 said they evacuated 3250 out of 10,000 Sudanese gold prospectors from Chad and Niger in 2014, pointing to the danger posed by the presence of the miners in those countries.

He added the countries in which Sudanese prospectors are working suffer from conflicts and security problems, pointing to the crisis in Libya and the violent attacks of the Islamic group Boko Haram in Niger besides tensions in western Chad.

Gold has become one of Sudan's largest exports which partially compensated for the loss in oil revenues, which accounted for more than 50% of income until 2011 when South Sudan seceded, thus taking with it most of the country's oil reserves.

It is believed that traditional mining employs more than a million Sudanese but it is still difficult to obtain credible data.

(ST)

December 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said his country's foreign policy doesn't embrace engagement in “alliances” expressing readiness to forge military cooperation with Turkey or any other friendly country.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a large delegation, on Sunday paid a two-day visit to Khartoum. He was the first Turkish President to visit Sudan.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday in Khartoum, Ghandour said Sudan is willing to engage in “any military cooperation with friendly and brotherly countries”, pointing out that “military arrangements with Turkey are possible”.

He added Sudan and Turkey have signed an agreement that could result in some kind of military cooperation.

“One of the agreements signed between Sudan and Turkey is on establishment of a port at the Red Sea for maintenance of civilian and military ships,” said Ghandour

“Sudan isn't and won't be a party to any axis and doesn't believe in the policy of alliances,” said Ghandour in his response to a question about Sudan's possible joining of a regional alliance including Qatar, Turkey and Iran.

The Turkish army on Tuesday said its Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar held a tripartite meeting with his Sudanese and Qatari counterparts in Khartoum on the sidelines of Erdogan's visit.

Ghandour added his country attaches great importance to the security of the Red Sea “especially as Sudan's Red Sea shores extend to 750 kilometres”, saying “86% of the world oil trade passes through this important water passage”.

The Sudanese top diplomat lashed out at critical comments emitted by some Egyptian media on rapprochement between Khartoum and Ankara and the visit of Erdogan to Sudan.

“I was surprised by the response of some Egyptian media; however we wouldn't hold the whole Egyptian people responsible for the mistakes of some. Clearly, there are some who don't understand how relations between nations are run,” he said.

For his part, Cavusoglu agreed with Ghandour on his comments regarding the Egyptian media, saying “the majority of the Egyptian people feel happy about this visit”.

He denied the existence of a Turkish, Qatari and Iranian axis, describing such claims as “mere sedition”.

“We currently enjoy very intimate relations with Sudan, so does that mean there is a Turkish-Sudanese axis?” he wondered.

(ST)

December 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF)'s Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Emad al-Din Mustafa Adawi Tuesday held discussions with the visiting Qatari and Russian counterparts.

The Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Major-General Ghanim Bin Shaheen Al-Ghanim arrived in Khartoum on Monday on several days visit.

He was received at the airport by Adawi and the Qatari Ambassador to Khartoum Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi besides a number of SAF commanders.

Sudan is among the Arab states that refused to take part in the ongoing crisis between several Gulf and Arab countries and Qatar and declared its support for the Kuwaiti efforts to settle the rift.

Meanwhile, Adawi has praised Russia's roles to achieve international security and peace.

During his meeting with the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, Navy Admiral Alexander Alexovich, Adawi pointed to the steady development of the Sudanese-Russian relations in all fields.

He added “the recent visit of President Omer al-Bashir to Russia has opened prospects for joint cooperation”, saying “we are keen to enhance and develop those ties”.

For his part, Alexovich expressed his country's appreciation for the current level of cooperation with Sudan, stressing readiness to exert joint efforts to promote relations especially regarding training and exchange of experience.

Sudanese were surprised to hear al-Bashir on his first visit to Russia last month asks President Vladimir Putin to support his country against American plans against Sudan.

He noted that Sudan is concerned about the situation in the Red Sea and sees the U.S. as a problem there, adding that “we would like to discuss the issue from the point of view of the use of bases in the Red Sea.”

Al-Bashir further requested Russian fighter jets for the Sudanese army saying SAF may buy S-300 air defence system to replace the old Soviet surface-to-air missiles.

Last October, Washington lifted economic sanctions on Sudan and the two countries engaged discussion on the removal of the east African country from the list of states sponsor of terrorism.

(ST)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the peaceful conduct of the second round of the presidential election in Liberia, and announced he is sending former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo to support the country in the first peaceful transfer of power from one democratically-elected leader to another in more than 70 years.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday welcomed the signing of a ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of the Congo and a group led by Reverend Pastor Ntumi.

by Ambassador Emmanuel Aban Ajawin

On the 16th November 2017, Cairo witnessed the signing of an agreement between two factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, in the government (SPLM- IG) and SPLM Former Detainees (FDs), which became known as the Cairo Declaration. This declaration, unlike previous declarations/agreements inked by the fractured SPLM factions in their quest for elusive unity, presents a significant strategic shift in Egypt's approach towards issues of peace and security pertaining to the Republic of South Sudan and the region. The strategic shift is so not much in the geopolitical position of Egypt within the region and its direct involvement with the SPLM factions, but rather it is based on Egypt's propitious timing in light of the recent statement attributed to President Abdul Fattah El-Sissi on the 8th November 2017 at a news conference in Sharm el-Sheikh. The President stated that ''We view positively the developmental needs of our friends and brothers in Ethiopia and we are capable of protecting our national security and water which to us is a question of national security.'' The same sentiment was repeated on the 18th November after Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to approve a study on the potential effects of the Ethiopia GRED. In televised comment where he attended the inauguration of a fish farm in the Nile Delta province of Kafr el-Sheika, Egypt's President stated that ''water is a matter of life or death and that no one can touch Egypt's share of water.''

Considering these Presidential statements against the recently signed Cairo Declaration in the Headquarters of the Egyptian Intelligent Services (GIS- Mukhabarat) and witnessed by both the Egyptian chief of (Mukhabarat) and his Ugandan's Counter-part, it is abundantly clear that the Horn of Africa and particularly South Sudan, will be witnessing a portentous future dominated by proxy wars. The Egyptians are sending an unequivocal diplomatic statement that they have decided, without any reservations, to support the government of South Sudan and its ruling party the SPLM, under the tyranny of President Kiir and his ethnocentric regime. The unification of the SPLM and preservation of the status quo as the ruling party in South Sudan, has become a matter of great importance for the Egyptian national security strategy. Instead of standing in solidarity with the victims and the oppressed people of South Sudan, Egypt has cast the dice on the wrong side of history. It has decided to align itself with a government that lacks legitimacy and which is responsible for the on-going infernal civil war, commissioning of heinous war crimes, crimes against humanity, displacement of millions and genocide.

The signed Cairo Declaration between the members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, SPLM-IG and Former Detainees (FDs), and which was facilitated and supervised by H.E. Abdul Fattah El-Sissi the President of the Republic of Egypt and
H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the President of the Republic of Uganda, unfortunately, is just a pie in the sky and will not achieve durable peace and stability in South Sudan. In fact, the political ills and quagmire that have befallen the nascent Republic rest squarely on the shoulders of the SPLM political and military elites. Since the independence of South Sudan, in July 2011, the SPLM members who signed the Cairo Declaration are the same leaders who failed to articulate and provide a comprehensive political, social and economic roadmap that would have scientifically addressed the prodigious and convoluted issues of state and nation building. They became entangled in webs of corruption, embezzlement of public monies, and money laundering with absolute impunity. Millions of dollars that were received from the international donors and from the oil revenue ended up in the pockets of the SPL M political and military elites leaving the majority of the population destitute, hungry and poor. It is, therefore, unfathomable and of poor judgment to think that salvaging South Sudan from imminent economic collapse, social break down and political disintegration lies in the unification of various SPLM factions. Solutions to social, political, and economic ills in South Sudan are now beyond the confines of the SPLM political and military mafias.

The Arab Republic of Egypt in the distant past has played a positive and commendable role towards South Sudanese by providing academic scholarships to study in its various institutions of higher learning. Currently, Egypt is hosting large numbers of South Sudanese refugees despite the economic constrain the country is facing. South Sudanese will always be grateful for the hospitality and generosity Egypt has rendered. However, since the outbreak of the current civil war in 2013, Egypt has shifted its traditional approach towards South Sudan from humanitarian and educational spheres to the political, diplomatic and military assistance of the oppressive regime in Juba. In December 2016 it has played an instrumental role at the United Nations Security Council in opposing an arms embargo resolution on South Sudan, introduced by the United States of America. Militarily, South Sudanese opposition groups have allegedly accused Egypt of rendering logistical, technical and air support to the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in its brutal war against the people of South Sudan. Why is the Egyptian government spending its resources and tax payer's money on a defunct and corrupt regime in Juba?

In answering the above question, it is imperative to note that Egypt's foreign policy and security strategies towards South Sudan are heavily influenced by its strategy to ensure the uninterrupted flow of the Nile water which she entirely depends on for its existence as a nation. Hence Nile waters have become the most important element of its national security strategy towards the Horn of Africa and South Sudan. The notion that Nile waters could be shared amicably with the upstream countries, is an intolerable reality for Egypt as it perceives such actions to be against its survival and national interest. The first serious attempt by Cairo to implement its water policy vis-a-vis South Sudan was the commissioning of the Jonglei Canal Project. In the 1980s the governments of Sudan and Egypt embarked on an ambitious plan to build a canal that became known as Jonglei Canal Project. The purpose of the hydro-construction project in Upper Nile Province at the time was to ensure the flow of 4.7 billion cubic meters of water annually, to be shared equally between Egypt and Sudan. The problem with the Jonglei Canal was that the two governments didn't consult the people of Southern Sudan extensively, and as a result, it was unpopular, becoming one of the seminal reasons for the South Sudanese to take up arms against the regime of Jaafar Nimeiri in 1983. What is left of the project is the destroyed $50 million gigantic bucket-wheel excavator, an enormous piece of German engineering. Its destruction was a testimony to the people's resistance against imposed projects that didn't take their views and concerns into consideration.

In fact, the striking correlation between the doomed Jonglei Canal Project and the Cairo Declaration is that both were made with political allies that are unpopular, corrupt, undemocratic and dictatorial. Egypt should have learned a valuable lesson from the Jonglei Canal that people and not governments should be its true strategic allies as far as South Sudan is concerned. Supporting the illegitimate and dictatorial government in Juba would have negative ramifications on the future relations between Egypt and the people of South Sudan. The Egyptian government should take a brotherly and catalytic role in bridging the prodigious political apogees between the various political groups in South Sudan, rather than supporting the unpopular SPLM regime.

The hosting of the SPLM reunification meetings in Cairo, and especially the involvement of its Intelligent Services (CIS-Mukhabarat) has created a perception, real or imaginary, that South Sudan could be used by Egypt in its proxy wars in the region if diplomacy fails to resolve the current impasse on the Nile water negotiations. In the past, Egypt has never hesitated to use its military might against countries that it perceived to be a threat to its national security pertaining to Nile waters. Egypt under the leadership of Khedive Ismail Pasha in 1875-76 invaded the northern region of Ethiopia with the objective of controlling the source of the Blue Nile (Abay). Emperor Yohannes IV defeated the invading Egyptian forces at Gundet and Gura respectively.

Although the battles of Gundet and Gura were the last physical confrontations between Egypt and Ethiopia, relations between the two countries for more than one hundred years have been characterized by deep suspicion, paranoia, diplomatic and proxy wars. The Egyptian political gamble of supporting SPLM factions will compel other countries in the region to search for allies within and outside South Sudan. This will undoubtedly compound the already complicated situation in South Sudan. The battleground for the region's water wars would be fought in South Sudan with dire consequences on human lives and properties. South Sudan could slip into a perpetual state of war for many decades to come. In the long term, these wars could lead to the collapse of South Sudan as a state, with its becoming a breeding ground for terrorist organizations including ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliates. Given the strategic geographical location of South Sudan, the regionalization of conflict within its borders will pose a serious threat to the international peace and security. Therefore, it is prudent and incumbent upon the international community, AU, UN and Troika to exert pressure on both Egypt and Uganda to leave the people of South Sudan to resolve their political, social and economic crisis without interference, or the presence of various political forces in the country to fight their proxy wars. Enough is enough! The international community should put an end to unwarranted interventions by some of the regional countries into the affairs of South Sudan. The African Union (AU) and the United Nations should consider punitive actions against countries that are prolonging and profiting from the war in South Sudan, otherwise, if these unwarranted state of affairs are left to continue unchallenged, the envisaged IGAD High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) may end up dead before it even commences.

December 25, 2017 (JUBA) - The Governor of Lot state in South Sudan has issued several gubernatorial orders making changes and appointment of new officials in his administration

Rizik Zachariah Hassan, Governor of Lol state (UN photo)

Governor Rizik Hassan Zachariah, according to orders he issued on Saturday removed Angok Achuol Barjok from the ministry of agriculture. He replaced him with Marko Dau Ruay as the new minister of agriculture. No new assignment was given to the former minister.

Adam Garang Wol Kon, minister of Education was another official removed from his ministerial position without new assignment given to him. He was replaced with Garang Akok Ngor as the new Minister of Education. Peter Dut Akot, Gumjuer county commissioner was removed from his position and appointed as the new minister of Physical Infrastructure. Santino Apath Apath was Minister of Rural Development and Bass shatta Fadul became the Minister of Gender& Social Development.

Another separate order was issued appointing Abal Abal Mou as Ayat West County commissioner and Riny Riny Lual was named Marial Baai county commissioner.

Lino Dut Wol was appointed Gomjuer East County commissioner while Ngong Kuac Mathiang was named the Makem county commissioner and Michael Malual Mawien became Malual North county commissioner.

(ST)

December 25, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Geological Research Authority of Sudan (GRAS), Monday announced that the country gold production for the first time has reached 105 tons.

A local brings his gold for examination at a laboratory in the gold market in Khartoum (Photo: Reuters)

Until recently Sudan currently ranked third in gold production behind South Africa and Ghana. Officials said they hope to land in the first place by 2018 with more than 140 tons. However, the new figure places it only in the second place far behind South Africa.

Gold production is now Sudan's main source of hard currency after the secession of South Sudan where are the two third of its oil reserves before 2011.

Addressing a gathering at the Mineral Minister's Prize for Creativity and Excellence function in Khartoum, the GRAS Director General, Mohamed Abu Fatima disclosed that Sudan's production of gold has risen to 105 tons during the 2017 year.

He went to say that Sudan ranks second place in Africa and ninth in the world, adding that there are in huge reserves of gold available in Aryab area at the Red Sea Mountains in eastern Sudan.

The Sudanese official further said there are some technical problems hampering the geological mapping, geophysical and geochemical exploration programmes adding that it will be overcome soon through training and rehabilitation and importation of new technologies.

In a related development, the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company in a report to the mineral ministry council on Sunday reported that Sudan production of gold amounted to 103 tons and the government income has reached 1.9 trillion pounds.

Reporting to the parliament about gold revenue earlier this month, Sudanese Minerals Minister Hashim Ali Salem said country's production of gold from January to November 2017 amounted to 95.1 tons.

Also, he called to review the law and sanctions on gold smugglers to dissuade them.

The low dollar price set by the Central Bank of Sudan (6.9 pounds)encouraged the traditional miners to smuggle their production to outside the country especially when the mining areas are near a neighbouring country.

However, the Sudanese finance ministry Monday set a new official rate for the U.S. dollar, announcing that it has been increased to 18 pounds for one dollar.

(ST)

December 25, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has expressed optimism about the prospect of ending the war in 2018, saying it was now his top priority to restore “peace and unity of the people and all efforts will be expended to realize it".

In a Christmas message released Monday, President Kiir said he knows many families have been separated by the conflict in 2017, resulting in the families not able to spend Christmas together.

“It remains my prayer that you will soon be reunited in your homeland. As we usher in a new year, we are working firmly to ensure peace and economic stability, so that very soon you can return to your villages and homes to continue your lives as once were,” said president through a speech.

“We are all looking forward to peace and prosperity where we can all join hands in the development of our beloved nation," he added.

The South Sudanese leader said it was his sincere hope that 2018 will indeed be the year where genuine and lasting peace is achieved.

"While it may seem that the journey is still long; I can assure you that great progress is being made. As we end one year and begin another, we must recommit ourselves to the course of peace and extend the hand of unity and friendship across all the divides,” he reassured.

The former rebel commander turned politician and became a president commended the resilience with which people despite unsurmountable continue to perseverance during t difficult time in the history.

“We have been faced with a multitude of challenges, including hostile elements –regionally and internationally – that have threatened to throw us into additional chaos,” Kiir said alluding to foreign interventions in the conflict.

Kiir said his government has started working on strategies to end the war. He cited the participation in the peace revitalization forum as a demonstration of commitment by the coalition government to end the war.

“Already in the spirit of peace, our negotiating team has recently been in Addis Ababa taking part in IGAD-led High-Level Revitalization Forum. As a government, we are attending the negotiations in good faith and with the expectations that we shall receive genuine peace. I trust that our partners are also negotiating in the same good faith, for the benefit of all citizens in South Sudan. The sooner we can come to the final and meaningful agreement, the sooner we can re-energize the implementation process, and get South Sudan back on the path of prosperity,” he said.

He said instability has been one of the major obstacles preventing people from returning home their respective areas and expressed hope to address it with the cessation of hostilities which contains provisions that allow protection of civilians and humanitarian access.

Kiir said that this positive first step will allow the government to focus on a final agreement on implementation of the peace agreement.

"Therefore, we can continue to move forward with nation-building, improving the economy, developing infrastructure and overall welfare of our people,” he said.

Observers and security analysts have expressed pessimism about the prospect of lasting peace, pointing to the lack of political will and questioned the ability of the monitoring body to verify, investigate and hold the parties accountable to a violation of the ceasefire.

(ST)

December 25, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The National Liberation and Justice Party (NLJP) led by Tijani al-Sissi on Sunday has called on the African mediation to resume Darfur peace talks.

Former DRA chairman Tijani al-Sissi speaks to the press after the dissolution of the regional body on June 13, 2016 (ST Photo)

The former rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), formed by 19 rebel factions, signed the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) on 14 July 2011 with its leader Sissi became the chairman of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA).

In December 2014, internal LJM differences surfaced, when Bahar Idris Abu Garda, LJM Secretary-General, publicly accused Sissi of mismanagement.

Sissi then formed the NLJP while Abu Garda established a new political party, the Liberation and Justice Party. The two parties participated in the 2015 general elections and the internal National Dialogue and they are now part of the National Consensus Government.

In statements to the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) on Monday, the NLJP spokesperson Ahmed Fadl called to take advantage of all initiatives to achieve peace in Darfur, stressing their continued contacts with the rebel movements.

He said the seriousness of the rebel movements to achieve peace wouldn't be tested until a comprehensive peace process be launched, stressing peace is a strategic choice for all Darfur movements.

The African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) in coordination with the Darfur Joint Chief Mediator (JCM) mediate a two-track process in order to achieve a holistic peace in Darfur, South Korodfan and Blue Nile states and pave the way for constitutional reforms.

Talks between the government and two armed groups in Darfur, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM), over a humanitarian cessation of hostilities, are deadlocked since August 2016.

Darfur holdout groups refuse the DDPD saying they want to discuss security and protection of civilians, compensations, land ownership, and justice. They point that the Doha document omitted to address these issues in the right way.

However, Khartoum says the DDPD is now part of the constitution, and it cannot be changed. They say the armed groups have to sign it and renegotiate what they want to improve it.

Darfur has been a flashpoint for lawlessness and violence since rebel movements took up arms against the Khartoum government in 2003.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict since 2003, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

December 25, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Arrangements are underway to implement the disarmament campaign in Khartoum and Gazira States while the Sudanese parliament is awaiting a temporary presidential decree to impose the state of emergency to back up a collection of illicit weapons.

Since August, the Sudanese authorities launched a campaign to collect illegal weapons. The campaign, which would be implemented across the country, began by disarming tribes and civilians in Kordofan and Darfur.

The committee tasked with the collection of illegal weapons in Khartoum State on Monday held a meeting to discuss the framework and detailed plans to start the disarmament campaign across the state in January.

The meeting also discussed awareness strategy to educate the residents about the importance of the collection of illicit weapons as well as setting the dates for the voluntary and forcible phases of the campaign.

Also, the higher committee for the collection of illegal weapons in the Gazira State held a meeting in Al-Managel County to discuss the voluntary phase of the disarmament campaign.

The top prosecutor for Sudan attorney's office in Gazira State Muawiya al-Hagras briefed the meeting on the Weapons and Ammunition Act as the commander of the army's 1st infantry division spoke about the dangers of the proliferation of weapons outside the legal framework.

For his part, the head of the committee said civilians have no justification to hold arms after the government have imposed security across the country.

He added the government would cooperate with all residents to collect the illicit arms during the voluntary phase of the campaign, warning “no one will escape punishment if he insists on acquiring arms”.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

Meanwhile, the Sudanese parliament spokesperson Abdel-Maged Haroun said the council of ministers will lodge a temporary presidential decree to impose the state of emergency in some states to back up collection of illicit weapons

He told reporters the leadership of the parliament discussed measures to establish an ad hoc committee to consider the temporary presidential decree which aims to accommodate the states that have not been included in the disarmament campaign.

However, the parliament spokesperson didn't identify the Sudanese states in which the emergency orders would be declared.

There were reports that the state of emergency will be imposed in some of the central states including the capital, Khartoum not for the purpose of supporting the disarmament campaign but to counter possible protests that could erupt against the tough economic measures included in the 2018 budget that was deposited to the parliament on Sunday.

In September 2013, demonstrations broke out in several Sudanese states following the government's decision to lift fuel subsidies. Rights groups said that at least 200 people were killed but the government put the death toll at 85.

(ST)

December 25, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government army has called to investigate violations of the recently signed cessation of hostilities agreement in South Sudan reiterate accusations against the armed opposition of attacking its positions.

Hours after the signing of the humanitarian cessation of hostilities in Addis Ababa on Thursday 21 December, the SPLA-IO led by Riek Machar and the government forces traded claims of attacks on their respective positions across the country.

On Monday, the SPLA spokesperson Brig Gen Lulu Ruai Koang issued a statement accusing the rebels of carrying out attacks on the government forces in five states: Yei River, Northern Liech, Amadi, Awiel East and Fashoda, in the last 24 to 72 hours.

"The rebels had stepped up offensive operations against SPLA's positions in futile attempts to capture new strategic areas before IGAD peace monitors could embark on field visits," said Koang.

Also, he accused the rebels of disseminating " negative propaganda" in a bid to mislead the public opinion and present themselves as victims of attacks by the government forces.

Therefore, "SPLA calls upon IGAD to immediately send investigation committee and peace monitors to investigate the latest violations as well as establish and verify who has been in control of all locations recently attacked by the rebels," said the army spokesperson.

Further, he called on the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) to send monitors to Kansuk, Lokbere and Koch, three areas where the army says the rebels attacked their positions.

"SPLA reiterates its commitment to Cessation of Hostilities Agreement but reserves the inalienable right to fight in self-defence when attacked," he emphasized.

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