Africa

A look at how the seed of a South American tree is increasingly being used as an alternative to ivory.

Intercommunal violence in south-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, a top United Nations aid official in the country has said, warning that the current response is being outstripped by the needs.

The United Nations-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) today sentenced the former Congolese Vice-President, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, to another year in prison and about $325,000 in fines for interfering with his trial.

Family portraits from the heart of the hunger crisis in Somaliland.

In our series of letters from African journalists Yousra Elbagir looks at Sudan's rich history of lyrical resistance at a time of state censorship and control.

The security situation in South Sudan is “very worrisome,” the head of United Nations peacekeeping operations today said, warning that the number of people fleeing the country showing no signs of slowing, and calling for a political solution to the hostilities.

March 21, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry will meet in Khartoum in the first half of April in an attempt to contain a muffled crisis between the two countries.

Tensions between Khartoum and Cairo have escalated following the former's decision to restrict imports of Egyptian farming products which was reciprocated by Cairo's decision to raise residency fees for Sudanese living in Egypt.

Also, senior Sudanese border demarcation official Sunday disclosed that Sudan's foreign ministry has instructed the concerned bodies to develop a roadmap to end the Egyptian presence in the disputed area of Halayeb triangle.

Also, some Egyptian media outlets have recently launched a negative campaign ridiculing Sudan's cultural monuments and in particular the 4,600 years old Meroe Pyramids following the visit of the Queen Mother of Qatar Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al-Missned to the Sudanese pyramids.

In a phone conversation on Tuesday, the two top diplomats expressed “absolute rejection for insults directed at the two brotherly countries and peoples under any circumstances and for whatever reasons or justifications”.

According to a joint press release extended to Sudan Tribune, the two ministers stressed the need “to respond with utmost wisdom to the irresponsible handling of relations by some media outlets and social media users who seek to harm these strong relations against the higher interests of the two peoples”.

The two ministers expressed “full appreciation to culture, history and civilisation of both countries”, saying the River Nile has strengthened bilateral ties and common destiny between the two countries over the ages.

The press release pointed out that “the two ministers agreed to hold the next political consultation meeting in Khartoum at the level of the foreign ministers during the first half of April 2017”.

It underlined the commitment of the two ministers to the directives issued by the political leadership of both nations to work continuously to strengthen the bonds of cooperation, solidarity and joint coordination.

The two top diplomats further said they would move forward with the implementation of cooperation programmes that were adopted during the recent meetings of the Egyptian-Sudanese Higher Committee (ESHC) headed by President Omer al-Bashir and President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi.

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The United Nations refugee agency today expressed concern that forced returns of refugees from Cameroon’s far north region to crisis-gripped north-eastern Nigeria are continuing despite the recent signing of a tripartite agreement aimed at ensuring the voluntary nature of returns.

March 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)'s chief of staff, Tijani al-Dhaib, Monday denied his defection and reiterated his support to the Movement's leader Jibril Ibrahim.

Undated picture extended to Sudan Tribune on 28 April 2015 by the Justice and Equality Movement showing their fighters during a training exercise

In a statement released Monday, a group of JEM officers announced their defection from the historical JEM and joined the splinter faction New Justice and Equality Movement (New JEM) led by Mansour Arbab Younis.

The statement allegedly was signed by the 13 officers on the top of them al-Dhaib.

"A malicious party that was not happy with the release of our captive heroes from the jails of the regime has issued this poor and lying statement (...) in order to spoil the joy of the Movement, the families, and the Sudanese people," he said.

He further said that the officers whose names appeared in the statement had nothing to do with this false statement and had not heard about it because they are in locations outside the communications networks.

It is noteworthy that a group led by Arbab and Houzaiffa Mahi-Eldin Mohamed in May 2015 issued a communiqué dismissing Ibrahim from the chairmanship of the JEM. They accused him of running the rebel group in a despotic manner; besides nepotism and tribalism.

They later formed the New JEM and participated in the government-led national dialogue conference in Khartoum before to denounce the bad treatment received in Khartoum and leave the country.

The alleged statement of defection includes Tigani al-Dhaib, Major General Mohammed Ishaq Adam, Brig. Abdel-Rahman, Col. Al-Sadiq Hamdan, Col. Ibrahim Toga, Col. Mohamed Daffaallah, Lt. Col. Adam Gumaa, Lieu. Col. Yahia Stu, Major Arbab Abdalla, Major Idriss Ali Gumaa, Major Osman Shofo and Major Abdallah Yahia.

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March 20, 2017 (YAMBIO) –Police arrested three suspects over the weekend in connection to the killing of a commercial boda-boda rider who was kidnapped and killed in Gbudue state capital, Yambio after unknown people demanded SSP 100.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

Gibson Wande, Minister of Information, Culture Youth and Sport spoke to the media after the arrests stating that the suspects were arrested in at a Gangura checkpoint, in possession of the deceased's motorbike.

“The government, through its security apparatus has arrested three suspects who were identifies with the motorbike of the boda-boda rider who was killed last week” said Wande.

The suspects have been placed in police custody pending an investigation.
Wande added that the suspected culprits would face the law if they were found guilty of killing Elia Samuel, a commercial boda-boda rider who was killed last week.

The suspects were headed to Nabiapai on Saturday morning, when they were caught at the border marker between Socratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) personnel.

The Minister stated that the deceased, Elia Samuel disappeared last Friday, when he carried a passenger towards the Mamenze area which is southwest of Yambio. Samuel failed to return and text message was received by his relative's demanding a ransom of SSP 100, 00 for his release.

Wande mentioned that the case was referred to the court for a hearing for the murder of the boda-boda rider last week, but failed to mention when.

James Atovura, a boda-boda rider who attended the press briefing at the police station said, the life of a boda-boda rider is risky as many have been killed while working and no justice had been done.

"We want the government to make a judgement openly, so we can see justice prevail. There are several suspects that have been arrested but nothing has been done," said Atovura.

“Our life's are at risk while we're doing our jobs. We are being killed like animals and no justice is done. We need the government to do something this time,” he added.

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March 20, 2017 (WAU) – The minister of health of Wau, one of South Sudan's new states, Bona Guandensio Wol has vowed to prioritise health service delivery in the state.

Wau state minister of Health Bona Guandensio (ST photo)

“Since I have been give this assignment, I will do what I can to improve health services in Wau state, there are many challenges but day and night in collaboration with all health partners operating in Wau state, we will do our level best to overcome these challenges,” said Bona.

“Our state government runs Wau teaching hospital is not operating at night hours but with my recent appointment, I will work with the Doctors and all staff to make sure that service at the hospital are back at the standard level,” he said.

Bona said his appointment would brighten the health services in the state and promised to delivery more medical practitioners to the rural areas.

“I have so many challenges in the ministry but my main target is to change the quality of services at Wau teaching hospital, I will work to reinstall the light at the hospital and make sure that the doctors are on their duties day and night at the hospital, the rural area will also be made standard in term of health care,” he said.

The minister said improving health care unites outside the town would help the elderly people to access the health services next to them.

Bona was sworn in Friday and assumed his duties as minister of health on Monday.

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March 21, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea announced an historic partnership today in Juba, setting out the terms for a strong bilateral relationship between the African oil and gas producers.

A worker at the power plant of an oil processing facility in South Sudan's Unity state on 22 April 2012 (Photo: Reuters)

The two nations will use the new partnership as a basis for exchanging information on policy and regulation promoting upstream, downstream and infrastructure projects, and collaboration between the national oil companies Nilepet and GEPetrol

The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Equatorial Guinea's Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima and South Sudan's Minister of Petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth.

The two nations will use the new partnership as a basis for exchanging information on policy and regulation; promoting upstream, downstream and infrastructure projects; and collaboration between the national oil companies Nilepet and GEPetrol.

“Partnership is what fuels the oil industry” said Gatkuoth.

“South Sudan is proud to share its experiences with Equatorial Guinea, and to learn from the great work of our fellow African producer. The petroleum industry is crucial to our nation's development. This agreement signals our dedication to investing in the sector as a driver for South Sudan's growth," he added.

Extending its expertise in oil and gas licensing rounds, gas monetization and eliminating flaring, investing in power plants using flared gas, local content and offering to provide training to South Sudanese personnel, Equatorial Guinea's Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons will use its experience and resources to assist South Sudan's Petroleum ministry in revitalizing the country's oil and gas industry.

“The sharing of resources and knowledge between African oil and gas countries is critical,” said Obiang.

“Going forward, Equatorial Guinea will work closely with South Sudan for the benefit of our people and our national economies. The lines of communication are open and we look forward to a deep and lasting collaboration,” he added.

Both countries bring decades of oil production experience to the table, and South Sudan is now working to more than double oil output to 290,000 barrels per day. Equatorial Guinea is nearing the close of its EG Ronda 2016 licensing round.

The EG Ronda will conclude at the Africa Oil & Power 2017 conference in Cape Town, where South Sudan President Salva Kiir will deliver a keynote speech and the ministers of both nations will meet investors and promote their oil and gas industries and projects.

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March 20, 2017 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government Monday has accused the SPLM-in-Opposition rebels of kidnapping four oil workers in the Upper Nile.

A worker walks through an oil production facility in Paloch in South Sudan's Upper Nile state, on 5 May 2013 (Photo: Hannah Mcneish/AFP)

According to the South Sudanese Information Minister Michael Makuei Luether, one of the kidnapped workers is a Pakistani national and all of them are part of the DAR Petroleum Operating Company staff.

“This is a clear act of terrorism,” he further said.

The abductors are believed to be loyal to Riek Machar, the former First Vice President.

The oil workers were snatched on Saturday.

On 11 March, The SPLM-IO confirmed they have captured two Indian oil worker at Guelguok north, of Adar in the northern Upper Nile.

There was no immediate comment from DAR, a consortium including China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China's Sinopec and Malaysia's Petronas.

Since the start of the South Sudanese crisis, the SPLM-IO said they would target oil production areas to stop oil production and prevent Juba government from using oil income to fight them.

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March 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) al-Sadiq al-Mahdi said his party would exert every possible effort to contain the differences within the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ North (SPLM-N).

On 7 March, SPLM-N deputy chairman Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu tendered his resignation from the Movement, saying differences among the three executive officers of the national leadership council “went beyond the secondary matters to the principles and orientations”.

SPLM-N chairman Malik Agar Saturday acknowledged al-Hilu's resignation but didn't mention whether or not it was accepted.

Al-Mahdi told reporters on Monday, that some people have spoken with “malicious joy” about the differences within the SPLM-N, saying they seek to capitalise on the organisational problems to destroy the Movement.

He described this behaviour as “harmful”, saying the NUP “will do everything it can to contain the crisis within the SPLM-N”.

The veteran politician further demanded the regime not to support any divisions within the political forces and adhere to the comprehensive solution for the Sudanese problem.

He downplayed any attempts to exclude the SPLM-N and its political role, saying the best thing now is to bring the opposition forces to a joint stance to participate in the solution of the national crisis.

Al-Mahdi further pointed that the way out of the political crisis begins by allowing public freedoms, reducing powers of the security apparatus and committing to the African roadmap for peace and dialogue in Sudan.

It is noteworthy that the NUP and SPLM-N are members of the opposition alliance “Sudan Call” which was established in Addis Ababa on 3 December 2014 including several political parties, armed movements and civil society organisations.

The government and Sudan Call signed in March and August 2016 the Roadmap Agreement brokered by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) including several steps towards their participation in a national constitutional process inside Sudan.

However, the parties failed to sign a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian agreements that are seen crucial before to move forward in the roadmap implementation process.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

March 20, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Great Ethiopian Run association in collaboration with an Ethiopian investor said it organizing the first ever Great South Sudan Run, which aims at promoting peace.

Olympic marathon runner from South Sudan. Guor Marial, August 2012 (AFP/Getty)

The founder of the Great Ethiopian run association, Haile Gebreslassie and renowned Ethiopian investor, Ayesheshim Teka announced the launch of the great run in Addis Ababa Monday.

James Morgan, South Sudan's envoy to Ethiopia attended the event.

The Great Run, which is expected to bring together diverse people, will take place on 8 April 2017 in the South Sudan capital, Juba.

South Sudan Ambassador to Ethiopia said the great run seeks to promote peace in Support of South Sudan government's extensive efforts bring unity and reconciliation among citizens of South Sudan.

Morgan further said the national dialogue and a peace prayer conference were some of the government's efforts undertaken to promote peace in the war-torn nation.

It will be held under the theme "Fund raising for famine and poverty fighting" with the aim of assisting humanitarians in the work to help thousands of South Sudanese affected by the current famine.

Organizers said the initiative of the great South Sudan run is an added support for the peoples of South Sudan who share blood, religion, culture and a long border with Ethiopia enjoying flourishing ties and a long history of collaboration and partnership.

Some 5,000 South Sudanese are expected to take part in the Great South Sudan run.

The Great Ethiopian run, an independent association, was launched in 2001 by Haile, one of the world's most successful distance runners.

It is an annual 10 kilometers public running event, largest in Africa and fifth largest in the world. Last year, the Great Ethiopian run saw a record over 40,000 participants including hundreds of elite runners.

Similar events were also held in African nations like Ghana and Liberia.

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March 20, 2017 (JUBA) - An Antonov AN-26 commercial aircraft on Monday crashed in South Sudan's Wau town, primarily reports indicate there are no human causalities only several people injured.

The actual cause of the crash remains unclear.

The South Supreme Airlines was carrying more than 50 people when it hit the runway while trying to land on arrival at Wau airport from Juba.

Reports from Wau say the plane landed safe but due to the bad weather conditions, the pilot hit a truck of the fire brigade at the airport.

Local officials told Sudan Tribune on Monday that the plane was carrying several high-ranking military and government officials going to different states in Bahr el Ghazal region.

An official from the civil aviation authority in Wau town confirmed the incident, saying it was unfortunate. The eyewitness claimed the plane crashed and burst into flames.

“It is an unfortunate incident. The plane crashed while I was approaching the airport because I was expecting my friend, who has a letter from Juba to deliver to me. It crashed while attempting to land and immediately in burst into a flame”, a witness told Sudan Tribune from Wau airport.

Survivors were pulled from the burning wreckage after the passenger plane crashed at Wau Airport on Monday afternoon.

Wau Governor Andrea Acho told reporters at Wau airport that a team of doctors and the rescue personnel from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in collaboration with national doctors have been deployed at the airport to treat the injured passengers.

He further said that authorities at the airport are still investigating into civilian casualties.

We want to find out how many died,” said Acho.

Photos taken by people at the airport showed the scorched wreckage of the plane in pieces as it was surrounded by emergency services, airport personnel and UN peacekeepers.

Smoke filled the air as firefighters arrived at the scene of the air disaster and poured water on the plane's smouldering remains.

South Supreme Airlines is a South Sudanese airline which began operating in September 2013, with a handful of flights every week between South Sudan and neighbouring Uganda.

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March 20, 2017 (JUBA) – At least two soldiers have died, leaving three others with injuries when a handheld grenade exploded in Lemon-Gaba, a suburb in the capital, Juba.

Cons Wani, an employee of the Danish Demining Group, clears mud from a rocket propelled grenade that landed in Bentiu town during the Sudanese civil war, March 4, 2013 (ST)

The victims who were injured on Sunday include a child and two women.

Some eyewitness attribute the cause of the dispute between the two soldiers as a result of an affair, while other say one soldier was acting under the influence of alcohol.

Daniel Justin, the national police spokesperson confirmed the incident on Monday, saying that the incident was still under investigation.

“We are still investigating what actually caused the incident, but what we are hearing from eyewitnesses s that there was a dispute between the two soldiers. We don't know what it was about because we are still carrying on the investigation,” said the spokesperson.

Justin went on to say that hearsay says the victims were trying to resolve their difference before the explosion occurred.

“What we have heard is that one of the soldiers was accusing his colleague of having an affair with his wife and when his colleague heard this and they tried to resolve the dispute, the one who was grieving denoted a grenade killing two soldiers”.

The wounded victims have been taken to Juba teaching hospital when they received medical attention.

(ST)

The United Nations envoy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today stressed the need for both the Government and the opposition groups there to show the same level of commitment and compromise which led to the signing on 31 December of an agreement on the electoral process, while also citing the UN peacekeeping mission&#39s readiness to adapt to the deteriorating security situation.

The United Nations agricultural agency will be further scaling up its activities in drought-hit regions of Somalia thanks to a $22 million loan approved this week by the UN emergency response fund.

Warning of escalating tension across the North African country due to mobilization of forces, worsening security situation in capital, Tripoli, as well as recent violence in Misrata and Benghazi, the United Nations envoy for Libya today called on all parties to unite and to put the country ahead of their “own narrow interests.”