Africa

A race against the clock has begun to contain an outbreak of Ebola in a remote northern area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has commended the Government of Côte d&#39Ivoire for restoring security following a mutiny over pay, his spokesperson said.

The humanitarian crisis in Somalia is worsening, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council, calling for more than $800 million in aid to offset the impact of a severe drought in a country that is already battling insecurity and poverty.

The lawyer behind the release of 82 women captured by Nigeria's militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

During his first working visit to Mali, United Nations peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix met today in the capital, Bamako, with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and other senior Malian officials, whom he thanked for their constructive and sustained cooperation with the UN integrated mission in the country, known by the French acronym, MINUSMA.

May 16, 2017 (YAMBIO) – A high-level committee from the government in Juba has arrived in Yambio to finalise the preparations and to graduate the former rebel South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) forces who signed a peace agreement with the Government last year in April 2016.

Citizens riding bicycles in Yambio to promote peace April 17, 2017 (ST)

The Governor of the newly created Gbudue State, Daniel Badagbu said he had come from Juba with a high-level committee from the national government tasked with the final scrutiny and arrangement to graduate the SSNLM forces.

The leaders of SSLNM who have been in Juba after signing the peace agreement in April last year also came along with the commanders of SPLA-IO who surrendered to the government to call upon their forces to surrender.

“I went to Juba without your notice because I don't want to lie, but I brought a high-level committee headed by John Daniel from National Security to finalise arrangement and graduate the SSNLM,” said Governor Badagbu.

The Governor urged all the armed groups who are still in the bushes to come report themselves to the government and join their colleague for the graduation. He went on to encourage the groups to present their grievances before the graduation because there shall be no more peace agreement
with the armed groups in the State.

He thanked the citizens of Gbudue State for listening to his call to stop fighting and to “silence the guns” since his appointment early this year. He reiterated his calls for peace and armed men to come back home to end the suffering of the citizens of Gbudue.

Meanwhile, Major General John Daniel who headed the delegation from Juba said a representative from the police would be in charge or organise the integration of the forces. Daniel added that a representative from South Sudan Defence Force and National Security would also continue to finalise the arrangement and would immediately graduate SSNLM in few days.

Major John urged all the stakeholders and commanders of SSNLM to cooperate because the ranks they were going to receive would be screened according to the retirement in the military provision.

He went on to warn the SSNLM and SPLA-IO not to arrest any civilian, along with desisting from any further criminal activities that would affect their graduation.

Several reports came to the County authority in Yambio accusing the SSLNM of arresting civilians and demand money from them.

(ST)

May 16, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) Tuesday said it will launch an appeal to provide relief to meet needs of the increasing influx of South Sudan's refugees.

Nearly 500,000 refugees from neighbouring South Sudan, United Nations Higher Commissioner Refugees (UNHCR) estimates show, have fled to Sudan since mid-December 2013.

Famine was officially declared in South Sudan in February, where the government and the U.N said 100,000 people are facing starvation, with one million people classified as being on the brink of starvation.

Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum Tuesday, SRCS Secretary General Osman Gaafar said they are “in the process of launching an appeal within the next two days to provide assistance to the refugees coming from South Sudan”.

He pointed to the continued and increasing influx of South Sudanese refugees crossing into the border states, saying “the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will release the reserve fund to provide the necessary assistance to South Sudan's refugees”.

The world's newest nation has been engulfed by war since 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his rival and former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

The troubled country has reportedly now become the world's fastest growing refugee crisis with more than 1.8 million refugees, including one million children, having sought safety in Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR).

The UN humanitarian agencies said they are seeking $1.4 billion to provide life-saving aid to South Sudanese refugees in the six neighbouring countries until the end of 2017.

(ST)

May 16, 2017 (JUBA) – A prominent Dinka tribal leader has praised the patriotic role played during the 2013 conflict by the former army chief Paul Malong Awan, claiming he safeguarded the nation from disintegration.

Malong recruited the Dinka youth from Bahr el-Ghazal region to fight the SPLM-IO rebels led by the former Vice-President Riek Machar. With the support of Ugandan troops, he successfully stopped the progress of the opposition troops towards the capital Juba.

"This was the man who saved the country. He saved the lives of millions of people who could have fallen victims of hatred and revenge," said a prominent member of the self-appointed Jieng Council.

"Indeed the patriotic role General Paul Malong played helped the country, it would have collapsed, disintegrated if it were not the efforts he and others made from the region,” he further emphasised in a statement to Sudan Tribune under the cover of anonymity.

This is the first time that a tribal leader voices his support to Awan, braving the unanimous public approval of his dismissal.

The member of the tribal body described Malong as someone who would not be bullied into submission, pointing out that that is a trait of a leader.

“He is bold and you cannot fool him, he is someone you can trust. Malong is very respected in the army and it would be surprising why he would not be respected in the whole country,” the council member added.

After his removal, Awan abruptly left the capital heading to his home region in the northern Bahr el-Ghazal region, but President Salva Kiir forced him to return to Juba.

His return followed reports that he would foment a coup against the President Kiir.

Observers say his sack was a result of several reports by the security services against him.

Infighting in the government has focused on the future of President Salva Kiir, who has faced several scandals and continuous allegations of incompetence from opposition parties during his presidency.

(ST)

May 16, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A visiting team from the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) Tuesday has started a visit to Darfur to assess the situation in the restive region.

The AUPSC delegation on Tuesday met with the governor of North Darfur state Abdel-Wahid Youssef and the security committee in El-Fasher to discuss the recent developments in the state.

Youssef has briefed the African team on the security and humanitarian situation besides refugee issues and development and services programs, pointing to the coordination between his government and the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

He also pointed to challenges facing his government including illegal migration, human trafficking and arms proliferation, mentioning efforts to collect illegal arms and address employment, refugee and IDP's issues.

The security committee, for its part, gave a detailed explanation of the political, security and humanitarian developments besides efforts to impose state authority across the state.

In press statements following the meeting, the Ugandan envoy and head of the AUPSC delegation Molu Katandi said they came to assess the situation in Darfur, pointing the team will also visit Central Darfur's state capital, Zalingei.

He praised the significant improvement of the situation in the region, pointing to the joint cooperation between North Darfur government and UNAMID.

MEETING UN PANEL OF EXPERTS

Meanwhile, the governor of North Darfur has met with the United Nations Panel of Experts on the Sudan established pursuant to the UN Security Council resolution 1591 (2005).

In press statements after the meeting, Youssef said he briefed the delegation on government efforts to combat illegal migration and human trafficking operation on the border.

He pointed to cooperation between his government and the UNAMID, saying the people of Darfur are the most affected by the sanctions imposed on Sudan.

UN Security Council Resolution 1591 imposes travel bans and asset freezes on parties involved in the conflict in the western Darfur region.

Also, it imposes an arms embargo on Darfur and called on states that supply Sudan with military equipment to take measures to prevent its use in Darfur.

(ST)

May 15, 2017 (NEW YORK) - The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Monday has decided to reduce Abyei force and warned it may withdraw its support to the Sudan-South Sudan border monitoring force if they continue to impede the activation of the operation.

The 15-member body unanimously adopted the resolution 2352 (2017) which provides extending until 15 November 2017 the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Also, the Council decided to reduce UNISFA's troops from 5,326 to 4,791, marking the first change in the Force's troop levels since 2013. Further, it urged the two countries to resume direct negotiations in order to agree on a final settlement of the Abyei question.

The resolution drafted by the U.S. reiterated concerns about persistent delays and stalled efforts to operationalise the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) which the two countries agreed in the Cooperation Agreement of September 2012.

The Council "takes note that continued investment in achieving full operational capability of the JBVMM should be based on a set of conditions, including resolution of the dispute over the SDBZ, and calls upon the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan to make timely and effective use of the JBVMM, JPSM and other agreed joint mechanisms to ensure the security and transparency of the SDBZ, including the “14 Mile Area,” said the resolution.

The Security Council went to decide that UNISFA's support to the monitoring mechanism will be ended within six months unless the two countries activate the border monitoring mechanism.

"Decides that this extension of the mandate modification set forth in resolution 2024 (2011) shall be the final such extension unless both parties demonstrate through their actions clear commitment and steadfast guarantees for implementation of the JBVMM," reads the resolution.

The JBVMM is intended to monitor the Sudan-South Sudan border, in line with the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) the two countries agreed to establish in the cooperation agreement.

But, the JBVMM was suspended on 22 November 2013 following South Sudan's withdrawal from the mission.

Michele Jean Sison, the United States Deputy Representative to the United Nations hailed the adoption of the resolution. She further regretted that Sudan and South Sudan had yet to take the steps necessary to make the Mechanism fully operational.

“Five years of obstacles to deployment […] is enough,” she said, adding “The status quo must be questioned when the status quo is not working,”.

The Sudanese Ambassador Magdi Ahmed Mofadal Elnour blamed the South Sudan for delaying the implementation of the cooperation agreement and Abyei interim intuitions.

On the joint monitoring body, he declared: “We have never restricted the movement of this Mechanism.” He was pointing to the UN Secretary general report which said that the JBVMM had cancelled 18 air patrols due to delayed approval by South Sudan.

He further called on Juba to implement the temporary arrangement for the administration of Abyei and all provisions in the 2012 cooperation agreement. He further renewed accusation that South Sudan continue, instead, to harbour rebel groups in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.

South Sudan's Ambassador Joseph Moum Malok said that the withdrawal of support for the JBVMM would negatively impact the cooperation agreement between South Sudan and Sudan, emboldening each side to take a more combative posture along the border, he cautioned, pointing out that ceasing support could lead to proxy fights.

He further pointed to the need fill the "vacuum of State responsibility", and called on the international community to provide the need support adding it is "urgently needed to stabilise the situation in the area and create a conducive environment for a more constructive and fruitful dialogue on the future of Abyei."

In line with the 2005 peace agreement, the residents of the disputed area have to hold a referendum to determine whether Abyei will remain part of the Sudan or join the South Sudan. But the two countries failed to agree on the participation of the Misseriya pastoralists who reside there several months every year.

(ST)

May 15, 2017 (JUBA) - A senior South Sudanese official says he is mediating a peace dialogue with the Sudan People Liberation Army-In Opposition in (SPLM-IO) faction in the country's Imatong state.

David Otim (R), principal representative for the SPLM/A in Opposition in Uganda, and Oyet Nathaniel Pierino speak at a press conference in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on 22 September 2014 (ST)

Governor Tobiolo Alberto told Sudan Tribune he is in talks with rebels allied to the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar to lay down their arms and return home.

“We are in negotiation with rebels group. We welcome their positive response to initiating a home base South Sudanese dialogue,” he told Sudan Tribune.

The rebels, however, said the official's claims on talks were “white lies”.

“I want to overstate that the SPLM/A-IO is not fighting to be included in the national dialogue, or cantonment or any position in the country. Such claim by government authority especially at the level of a government or state government only speaks for the level of ideological bankruptcy and disorientation the regime has descended into,” said the rebel-appointed governor of Imatong state, General Pierino Nathaniel.

He said their forces remain intact under the SPLA-IO Commandership of Riek Machar and are fully committed to the full pursuit of what he said was an infallible demand of the people of South Sudan.

“Federalism, democracy, liberty, justice, accountability and prosperity and not national dialogue and self-enrichment or a plate of food. If anything the national dialogue has been born dead and buried in Presidential palace,” he stated.

The rebels' governor says Imatong state remained hopeful to South Sudanese aspirations with other brothers in Equatoria region, Western Bar el Gazel and Upper Nile regions.

“The grievances of land grabbing, marginalisation, exclusion, targeted killings, genocide, atrocities and ethnic cleansing have made our resolve to fight for the total liberation and freedom of South Sudan stronger than ever,” he said.

He accused the Juba regime of running a "bankrupt of political program" and allegedly uses an ethnic-shell mobilisation as a tactic to fight wars against other tribes in South Sudan.

“The Dinka ethnic community has been victimised by the regime in the name of power and wealth yet it's only the members of Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) whose families have settled abroad who benefit,” he further stressed.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 15, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the country's First Vice-President, Taban Deng Gai has welcomed President Salva Kiir's move to sack former army chief of general staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan.

S Sudan's President Salva Kiir is received by former Chief of General Staff of the SPLA Paul Malong Awan at the airport in Juba March 6, 2015 (Reuters)

In a brief statement, which Gai's office in Juba extended to Sudan Tribune, the SPLM faction said it welcomes and honours the executive decision of president Kirr to appoint Lt. General James Ajongo Manwut as the new army chief of general staff.

Last week, President Kiir removed his powerful hardline army chief, in what was described by the presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny as a "routine change of guards and not politically motivated".

Malong, a former military commander, had largely been seen as an ethnic-nationalist of Kiir's dominantly ethnic-Dinka tribes and further been accused of renewed fighting in July in the capital, Juba.

The office of the country's First Vice President, said the appointment of the new army chief of general staff would lead to boosting the implementation of the regional bloc (IGAD)-brokered peace agreement signed between the country's two main rival factions.

"His appointment will create a workable conducive environment between the two stakeholders in the peace agreement,” partly reads the statement from the office of the First Vice President.

It said the appointment of the new army chief will accelerate the establishment of cantonments and transformation of SPLA forces.

"As the former chair of Joint Military Ceasefire Commission (JMCC), we are confident that the newly appointed will closely work with regional and international peace partners", it further stressed, while calling on other South Sudanese factions and ethnic groups to join in efforts to bringing about peace, reconciliation and national unity.

(ST)

May 15, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Monday has summoned Mohamed Wida'a, editor-in-chief of Ba'ath newspaper, the weekly mouthpiece of the Sudanese Ba'ath Party (SBP) Mohamed Wida'a.

Wida'a told Sudan Tribune the NISS agents informed him that newspapers have been instructed not to interview leaders of the armed movements, saying publishing any interview with rebel leaders is considered “redline”.

It is noteworthy that Al-Ba'ath newspaper last week published an interview with the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Gibril Ibrahim.

Wida'a added he told the NISS agents that his newspaper was launched three months ago and didn't receive any instructions banning interviews with rebel leaders.

In May 2016, the NISS confiscated Al-Wan newspaper for publishing a similar interview with the JEM leader.

Sudanese journalists work under tight daily censorship controls exercised by the NISS.
The NISS enjoys wide-ranging powers of arrest, detention, search and seizure the country's 2010 National Security Act.

In February, the National Assembly rejected new amendments to the 2005 transitional constitution providing to restrict the powers of the security services and to guarantee political freedoms.

(ST)

May 15, 2017 (JUBA) – On Monday, General Paul Malong Awan, the former Chief of General Staff of Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) said he had no personal vendetta against President Salva Kiir.

SPLA Chief of General Staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan (C) is visiting his farms in his homeland of Warawar in Aweil East State on 7 May 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

General Awan said his departure from Juba was misinterpreted and was the reason he decided to return to Juba to avoid more confusion and any political altercations.

"I told the President when he used to call and talk to me while in Yirol, that I was just going home because I did not want my relief to be misunderstood and to cause more confusion," he said.

"I left because I thought it was the best way to manage the situation, people decided to say something different, others even speculated that I had a problem with the President,” he added.

He continued to emphasise that he had no problems with the President Kiir.

Awan's decision to return to Juba was in compliance with the call made by the President and the community leaders.

“When I returned, it was because I wanted to put to rest the confusion, so I decided to come back and listen to why I am needed,” he said.

General Awan reiterated that he has no intentions of rebelling, adding that if he did he would have fought in Juba after he was removed from his position.

"I said already that If I wanted to rebel, I would have rebelled here (Juba), I had guns here and these soldiers do not belong to anybody. If I was about to fight, I would have fought here," he said.

He further reiterated that he will seek permission to return to his home State.

(ST)

May 15, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan President Salva Kiir has issued several orders restructuring the army, renaming the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to South Sudan Defence Force (SSDF).

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (Photo: Reuters)

In a Presidential Decree number 85/2017 read out on the state-owned television (SSBC) on Monday, Kiir surprisingly reinstated Major General Dau Aturjong Nyuol into the country's active military service.

Aturjong switched allegiance from the army in 2014 after the eruption of conflict but later returned to Juba where he defected from the armed opposition forces (SPLM-IO) in July last year.

President Kiir, in a separate decree, restructured the SPLA into three institutions, namely the ground force, air force and air defence and navy units. Each of the institutions will be overseen by a commander.

The presidential decrees are in line with the resolutions of the fifth SPLA Command Council Conference in June 2016, which authorised the establishment of a Defense Structural Review Committee, tasked with the review of the structures of the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs to be in line with the SPLA white paper of 2008.

Meanwhile, in another republican order, Kiir restructured the leadership of the SPLA general staff to hierarchically consist of the Commander in Chief, the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, the Chief of Defense force, the Deputy Chief of Defense force and Inspector General. This abolished the previous structure, where deputy chief of general staff is now assistant chief of general staff.

The new structure envisages re-branding the army as departments will now be headed by an assistant. As such, for instance, the deputy chief of general staff for finance and administration now becomes assistant chief of defence force for administration, personnel and finance.

(ST)

The United Nations refugee agency today confirmed that for only the third time this year, its field teams were able to distribute humanitarian aid in the embattled district of Mokha, in Yemen&#39s Red Sea governorate of Taiz.

The United Nations human rights chief today expressed grave alarm over the spread of violence by armed groups against the civilian population in several parts of the Central African Republic in recent months, as well as attacks against UN peacekeepers in the country&#39s southeast.

May 15, 2017 (JUBA) – Two United Nations agencies have appealed to donors to step up support for people fleeing crisis-hit South Sudan as the $1.4 billion response plan remains 86% unfunded.

South Sudanese refugees carrying Core Relief Items walk down a road in Bidibidi refugee settlement, Yumbe District, Northern Region, Uganda. (UNHCR/David Azia)

“Bitter conflict and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in South Sudan are driving people from their homes in record numbers,” the U.N High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi said in a statement jointly issued by the U.N Refugee agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

According to the U.N, the situation in war-torn South Sudan continues worsening, with a combination of conflict, drought and famine leading to further displacement and a rapid exodus of people fleeing one of the world's most severe crises.

South Sudan has reportedly now become the world's fastest growing refugee crisis with more than 1.8 million refugees, including one million children, having sought safety in Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR).

“The suffering of the South Sudanese people is just unimaginable,” said WFP Executive Director, David Beasley.

“Aid workers often cannot reach the most vulnerable hungry people. Many are dying from hunger and disease, many more have fled their homeland for safety abroad,” he added.

Humanitarian agencies are seeking $1.4 billion to provide life-saving aid to South Sudanese refugees in the six neighbouring countries until the end of 2017, according to an updated response plan presented in Geneva today. But the plan so far remains only 14% funded.

“Our funding situation forced us to cut food rations for many refugees in Uganda," said Beasley.

However, with acute underfunding, humanitarian agencies are struggling to provide food, water, nutrition support, shelter and health services to refugees, further noted the joint U.N statement.

Communities hosting refugees are among the world's poorest and are under immense pressure, the world body said in its joint release.

“Helping refugees is not just about providing emergency aid,” said Grandi.

“It also means supporting governments and communities in neighbouring countries to shore up services and economies in the areas receiving them,” he added.

South Sudan has witnessed renewed clashes between forces loyal to South Sudan President Salva Kiir and the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) backing the country's former First Vice-President Riek Machar, in spite of the August 2015 peace agreement.

(ST)

May 15, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A visiting delegation from the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) Monday has discussed with the Sudanese government officials recent developments in Darfur region.

The Sudanese side was chaired by the Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Abdel-Ghani al-Nai'm while the AUPSC side was headed by the Ugandan envoy to the African Union.

In a press release issued Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir underlined readiness of “government organs to carry out its constitutional tasks in Darfur following the exit of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)”.

He praised the great role played by the hybrid peacekeeping in achieving security and stability in Darfur, saying the Mission represents a successful model for the joint African cooperation.

Al-Nai'm said the Sudanese side briefed the AUPSC delegation on the recent security, political and humanitarian developments in Darfur, pointing to government efforts in the field of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.

The press release pointed that the AUPSC delegation has hailed the significant improvement in the overall situation in Darfur as well as the cooperation between the government and the council.

The delegation also praised the great support rendered by the government to the UNAMID, stressing the AUPSC support for government efforts to achieve peace and stability in Sudan.

It is noteworthy that the UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Kingsley Mamabolo, Sunday briefed the Sudanese government about the outcome of his recent meeting with armed groups in Darfur.

Mamabolo held a meeting with the Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) earlier this month in Paris to discuss ways to reach a peace deal in Darfur.

Sudan, African Union and the United Nations since three years hold discussions on the UNAMID's exit from Darfur. Khartoum says the security situation is stable and its efforts to curb the tribal violence have been successful.

But the UN proposed a limited and gradual withdrawal from some sectors saying the full exit should intervene after the signing of a peace agreement with all the rebel groups and to ensure the protection of displaced civilians.

Last June, the UN Security Council (UNSC) extended the mandate of the mission until 30 June 2017, stressing that the situation in the region continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security.

(ST)

May 15, 2017 (KWAJOK) – Youth activists and leader of People's Liberal Party (PLP) Majok Lang Majik, have called on the South Sudan government of national unity and security authorities to release the detained youths arrested during the recent protests in Juba.

Majik is an artist currently based in the United States.

“It was absolutely peaceful and the citizens did not cause any damage and therefore as a country that is the signatory to several international and human right treaties. The South Sudan authority need to respects those conventions and the Bills of Rights,” he said.

Majik said that the South Sudanese national unity government should double its efforts to deliver services, instead of pestering its citizens.

“Expressing your feeling peacefully to your government is not a crime nor does it deserve confinement. The government is a social contract which its renewal of service depends on citizens through a democratic means of elections,” he emphasised.

Majik went on to say that the actions jeopardise the upcoming dialogue process stating that “it is not in the spirit of the National Dialogues if citizens cannot express themselves freely, therefore the citizens must feel the environment is a free and liberty is assured under a very liberal state.”

in a phone interview Monday, Majok Lang told Sudan Tribune he had recently toured Australia and Canada advocating for peace to turn to the country.

The South Sudanese government has arrested a number of youth members in Juba for the protests which were triggered by the country economic crisis.

(ST)