Africa

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will make the situation in Libya a priority in 2017, its prosecutor said today, citing the widespread violence, lawlessness and impunity in the country and the tragic consequences of the conflict borne by civilians.

November 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum Tuesday has urged American citizens in Sudan to remain vigilant in the wake of protests against the recent lifting of fuel and electricity subsidies.

People look on as cars are set alight during protests over fuel subsidy cuts in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on 25 September 2013 (Photo: Reuters)

In a security message posted on its website on 8 November, the embassy urged the US. citizens to "review (their) personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates".

"Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security," the message further stressed.

Sudanese Minister of Interior Ismat Abdel Rahman Zein al-Abdin on Monday announced that his ministry has plans to prevent violent protests on the increase of fuel and electricity prices similar to what happened in September 2013.

He further said they have information about protests that opposition groups are planning to carry out

“We would not raise the state of alert to 100% until we see how things are going to develop,” said Zein al-Abdin.

In September 2013, the police and security services violently broke up the anti-austerity protests killing over 200 demonstrators according to right groups but the government put the death toll at 85

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November 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir travelled on Tuesday to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa where seven African leaders meet at the African Union headquarter to launch a new initiative to solve the 5-year-old Libyan crisis.

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

The meeting of the African Union Panel on Libya on Tuesday discusses outcomes and measures of meetings held previously in Algiers, New York and Vienna on the Libyan crisis.

Al-Bashir was accompanied by a high level delegation including Foreign Affairs Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, Minister of Presidential Affairs Fadl Abdallah Fadl, Director of the National Intelligence and Security (NISS) Gen. Mohamed Atta, and Director of the Presidential office General Taha Osman.

According to the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA), the delegation was received by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ismael Sharfi and the chief of protocol at the Ethiopian foreign ministry.

For his part, Sudanese Ministry Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ambassador Garib Allah Khidir said that the meeting is held at AU headquarters with the participation of the leader of Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Niger and Chad, as well as representatives of the five regions of Africa.

In the light of the report which is presented by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, the meeting would seek the appropriate ways to strengthen the ongoing efforts to restore stability and security to Libya.

In her speech to the meeting African Union chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said that 2.4 million Libyans are in need of humanitarian assistance. She added that inter-factional fighting forced some 350,000 people to flee their areas.

"The economic situation in Libya is equally dire with destruction of infrastructure leading to a dangerously low oil production. This situation cannot continue," Zuma said.

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November 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Amnesty International on Tuesday urged the Sudanese government to release ten doctors recently arrested and to halt security summons to the striking members of the independent doctors union, Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD).

On 6 October, Sudanese doctors staged a strike and refused non-emergency treatments to patients to protest the poor working conditions, lack of medicines and protection of doctors after increasing attacks on medical staff by frustrated patients and their families.

On 13 October, the CCED called off the strike following government pledges to introduce a bill to the parliament to protect doctors, improve training conditions for registrars and improve work environment in hospitals.

However, the CCSD last Tuesday announced resumption of a two-day strike every week during November, saying the government didn't honour its commitments.

This time National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) has detained and summoned dozens of the striking doctors.

In statement to media, Amnesty International pointed that the whereabouts of ten medical doctors remain unknown after being arrested by the Sudanese National Intelligence Service (NISS) between 30 October and 6 November.

“The detained doctors are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. The ten were part of a group of 29 doctors arrested then released without charge on 29 October,” stressed the statement.

Amnesty international statement further pointed that the doctors were questioned by NISS for several hours about their role and activities in relation to the strike and about their political affiliations.

The human rights body statement went to say that, Abdallah Gorushi, Ahmed Alabwabi, Hasan Karar, Husam Alamin, Jihad Abdel Monim, Mohamed Abdullatif, Mohamed Bashir Hilali, Mohamed Elmujtaba, Nasir Shaga Nasir and Omer Ahmed Saleh were arrested again between 30 October and 6 November.

“The other 19 doctors who were released on 29 October are required to report every day to the NISS offices from 8am to 10pm,” added the statement.

Amnesty International has further called on the Sudanese authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of the detained doctors; release them immediately unless they are promptly charged with a recognizable criminal offence and to ensure that the ten doctors are granted regular access to their family and medical treatment.

It is worth noting that NISS has detained several leaders from CCSD including its chairman Dr. Hussein Karar, CCSD spokesperson Dr. Husam Badawi, CCSD member Dr. Omar Salih and the general surgeon Dr. Ahmed al-Sheikh.

Earlier CCSD pointed that NISS has summoned 42 doctors across Sudan.

In a related development the Sudanese presidency has denounced doctors' strike, saying it is a pressure card used by doctors to respond to their demands.

Speaking at the National Blood Transfusion Workshop in Khartoum on Tuesday, Vice President Hassabo Abd al-Rahman pointed that medicine is a humane profession and it is not wise to use it as a pressure card.

“Government allocates $ 155 million annually to provide free of charge service to emergency, heart, cancer and kidney patients,” said Hassabo, adding that health services sector is heading on the right direction.

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November 9, 2016 (RUMBEK) – The 24 South Sudanese youth arrested by Kenyan police at a wedding gathering in the capital, Nairobi on Thursday have been released.

The group was accused of holding a public gathering without notifying the Police.

Their release came after the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and South Sudan chiefs intervened.

Daniel Yor Deng, one of those detainees, described the three days in detention as a “tough one”.

In an earlier interview with Sudan Tribune, Andrew Agok, a South Sudanese embassy official in Kenya, blamed the youth holding an illegal gathering.

“You all know that our relationship with the Kenyan government is in excellent stages since their general [head of United Nations peacekeepers was sacked from South Sudan,” said Agok.

“Our cooperation should continue. If you abuse the law then the law will have a solution [for you]”, he stressed.

Last week, Kenya deported South Sudan rebel leader, Riek Machar's spokesperson from Nairobi, despite UNHCR's appeal to halt the process.

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November 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) has called on the residents of Khartoum to mobilize for civil obedience and popular uprising and escalate various forms of daily resistance to overthrow the regime.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, SCP chapter in Khartoum said the political and economic crisis has taken hold, saying the recent austerity measures are clear evidence of a steadily worsening situation.

Sudanese government on Thursday lifted fuel subsidies and increased electricity price in a bid to stop the surge in inflation and control the fall of Sudanese pound in the black market.

The statement added that large segment of the society couldn't bear price hikes, saying the regime and its affiliates are the primary beneficiaries from the government decisions.

It further mentioned the recent protests against the austerity measures, pointing to ongoing efforts of the various segments and sectors of the society including students, farmers, professionals and workers to topple the regime.

It is noteworthy that several small-scale protests broke out in several towns across Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, Atbara, Wad Madani and Nyala against government's decision to lift fuel and electricity subsidies.

On Monday, Sudan's Minister of Interior General Ismat Abdel Rahman Zein al-Abdin said his ministry is ready for the worst scenarios, adding that the security situation is stable now.

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

Meanwhile, the opposition United People's Front for Liberation and Justice (UPFLJ) described the government decision to lift fuel subsidy as “false claim”, saying it aims to enrich the corrupt regime affiliates.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, UPFLJ chairman Zaineb Kabashi Issa, said the moment of revolution has indeed come, stressing the regime exhausted all the tricks it has.

It pointed that the regime continued to repress and impoverish the Sudanese people for twenty seven years, saying time has come to overthrow the worst regime in Sudan's history.

(ST)

November 8, 2016 (KAMPALA) - The Union of Jieng Council of students in East Africa has re-instated former chairperson, Kuol Gai who was dismissed last year over his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal.

South Sudanese students at their embassy in Kampala, Uganda (ST/File)

Gai was this week declared free from any corruption accusation.

The union speaker, Bol Kuany told Sudan Tribune this week that the student body, at a meeting, found that Gai was innocent.

Kuay described those who opposed the former chairman as “self-motivated” individuals who want to destabilize the student body.

“Due to the presentation of accountability that the most wanted chairman made, it was satisfactory and left everyone without doubt including the “worms” in the government,” said Kuay.

The deputy secretary general of the union, Thomas Luac, said Gai missed his entire semester as he was mobilizing funds for the union.

Charges against the former chairman, he stressed, were unfounded.

The ex-leader of the union, it was alleged, confiscated SSP140,000 (about $2000), which caused uproar and his eventual dismissal.

However, in the vote to have him reinstated, the former chairman was voted by the 2/3 majority (29), yet only 1/3 of the members had earlier passed the resolution that paved way for his impeachment.

Gai resumed office on 3 November. The next election is in May next year.

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Nov 07, 2016 (YAMBIO) – At least six armed men were killed when they attacked a South Sudan army (SPLA) barracks in Gbudue, one of the country's newly-created states, officials said on Tuesday.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

The attack, the Ezo county commissioner said, also displaced hundreds of civilians.

“At 6:30 am this [Tuesday] morning, I was inside my house and I heard sounds of shootings believed to be between rebels and the government forces. The situation was tense when I came outside, forcing me to run to the nearby church where I am now with hundreds of civilians,” Badin Michael Mboro told Sudan Tribune.

The displaced, he said, fled to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), while others found refuge in bushes and in a nearby Catholic church within Ezo.

The unknown attackers, according to the commissioner, were repulsed and fled after they looted several properties from civilians. No soldier was injured or killed.

Locals in Ezo lauded the United Nations mission in the country (UNMISS) for its immediate response to the attack, in line with its rightful mandate to protect civilians.

No groups or individuals have claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack.

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November 8, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudanese government has accepted participation of neighbouring countries in a UN mandated regional force, representing a major shift in its earlier position opposing contribution and deployment of troops from countries with which it shares direct borders.

The circumstances under which the government made such an abrupt decision remain unclear. No official explanations were made with the regards to the previous stance on the contribution of troops from neighbouring conuntries.

However, several military and security officers told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that the initial concerns were due to how some countries were perceived as sympathetic to the cause of armed opposition under the leader of the former First Vice President Riek Machar.

The Chief of General Staff of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), Paul Malong Awan, accepted and welcomed contribution of the countries from the region. General Awan reversed the previous stance of the government during a meeting with Ethiopian military officials about how they could participate in the regional force.

The decision followed a recent visit of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to South Sudan capital, Juba, where he struck a deal on bilateral cooperation with the government of President Salva Kiir, including assurance to not support and host armed dissident group operating against either of the regimes.

The Ethiopian prime minister's visit was later followed by a visit of the chief of general staff to Ethiopia where he had the opportunity to meet and discussed bilateral security matters with security officials. Also, the two sides agreed to upgrade and strengthen their military cooperation.

In a bid to confirm what South Sudan's army commander had relayed to his Ethiopian counterpart, the top military officers and intelligence officers in the Ethiopian government also visited South Sudan where they were finally assured of the commitment to allow their participation in the regional protection force.

A presidential source on Tuesday said the President has permitted the participation of neighbouring countries because they have now recognised the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai as the legitimate replacement of his predecessor and agreed to not host or support armed dissident groups operating against the Transitional Government of National Unity.

“There was a fear that troops coming from countries with direct border with us were going to take side in favour of the SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar as part of the regime change agenda. But now it is clear, given the ways things are happening these days," a presidential source told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

"The political environment appears to be changing because these countries seem to have now understood the position of the government on a number of issues. So there is no reason to reject their contribution as long as they stand their position of the government and their role in the protection force,” he stressed.

Meanwhile Santo Domic, a SPLA Deputy Spokesperson said that Chief of General Staff Gen. Paul Malong discussed the matter with the Ethiopian officials and agreed they participate in the deployment.

The discussion, he said, centred on the deployment of the protection force and implementation of the country's peace agreement.

Awan, according to Dominic, stressed that South Sudan is not against the participation of any troops from the neighbouring countries in the regional force. The chief of general staff described neighbouring countries brothers to accept any forces from them.

During a visit of a Security Council delegation to Juba last September, President Kiir accepted the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional force mandated by the UN Security Council to protect civilians, in addition to the 12,000 UN peacekeepers already deployed.

(ST)

November 9, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has launched massive arrest campaign against members of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), detaining its chairman and seven leading members on Tuesday.

SCoP leader Omer al-Digair (ST Photo)

In the early morning of Wednesday, Sudanese Congress Party announced the arrest of its leader Omer al-Digair, in addition to several other members from the party's headquarters in Shambat suburb, north of Khartoum.

According to a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, al-Digair was arrested at 02:00 am on Wednesday 9 November from his home in Omdurman.

The opposition party said with the al-Digair's arrest, the number of its detained members has risen to twenty-one members.

SCoP has escalated popular mobilization activities against the government following a decision to raise fuel and electricity price.

On Friday, the NISS arrested SCoP deputy chairman Khaled Omer Youssef from his home after holding an open air address in Khartoum's southern neighborhood of Al-Deim.

On Sunday, SCoP's chairman of the Central Council Abdel-Qayoum Awad el-Sid, and deputy Information Secretary Abdalla Shams al-Koun were also arrested besides a third student activist from West Kordofan state.

On Monday the NISS arrested three SCoP leading figures including its former chairman Ibrahim al-Shiekh, secretary general Mastoor Ahmed and political secretary Abu Bakr Youssef.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday, SCoP described the arrest campaign as “deliberate targeting” of its leadership following the recent protests and popular activities carried out by the party.

Also, SCoP chairman Omer al-Digair told Sudan Tribune on Monday that his party wouldn't abandon its national responsibility, saying they are exercising their constitutional right to peaceful expression.

He vowed to continue their peaceful resistance until achieving victory for the Sudanese people, stressing that he is not afraid of detention.

Al-Digair further pointed that the arrest campaign against SCoP's leadership is clear evidence that the government is not serious about holding a genuine national dialogue, saying the regime tries to adjust by making cosmetic changes.

The SCoP was established in January 1986. It was first chaired by the former chief-justice Abdel-Mageed Imam who was succeeded by Ibrahim al-Skeikh and has recently elected al-Digair as its third president.

The center-left reformist party calls for social justice and separation of religion and state. It also believes that peaceful transfer of power is the only way to stability and unity of the country.

In recent months, the SCoP has challenged the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and organized political activities in public and open places calling on the citizens to resist the regime and take to the streets in protest against the deterioration of living conditions at all levels.

SLM-MM DENOUNCES DETENTIONS

Meanwhile, the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minnawi has expressed solidarity with the detained SCoP members.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, SLM-MM spokesperson Mohamed Hassan Haroun described the arrest of the SCoP leadership as deliberate targeting of all Sudanese who resist injustice, saying the regime's acts wouldn't deter the opposition.

He called on all Sudanese to stand ready to uproot the corrupt regime and end the suffering of the people, demanding them to unite to achieve peace, security, democracy, freedom and justice.

(ST)

November 8, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudanese government under President Salva Kiir announced on Tuesday that it has pulled out troops from the common border with the neighbouring Sudan in compliance with the agreement it has reached with the Sudanese authorities to implement non-aggression deal signed four years ago.

Sudanese military personnel inspect the belongings of South Sudanese on the Sudanese border on 18 April 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

South Sudanese Defence Minister, Kuol Manyang Juuk, said Tuesday the move is in line with security arrangements under the Cooperation Agreements the two countries signed on 27 September 2012.

Minister Juuk, who in late October participated in a security arrangement meeting with his Sudanese counterpart in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, said the agreement requires that South Sudan and Sudan withdraw their forces from the border immediately and unconditionally.

The withdrawal of the troops from the common border areas, he said, would be followed by the establishment of Joint Border and Verification mission and a Buffer zone.

In accordance with the cooperation deal, the two countries have to withdraw their troops 10 kilometres from either side of the contested border. The demilitarized zone to be monitored by a joint force and the UN forces in Abyei (UNISFA).

The buffer area aimed to avoid armed clashes over the disputed areas between the two sides and to prevent cross border attacks by rebels from both sides.

Also, the spokesman of the government army, SPLA, confirmed the withdrawal and said it is the implementation of what the leadership of the countries have agreed during a series of recent meetings between officials in the transitional government and their Khartoum counterparts.

Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang described the pulling out of the troop from the common border as “significant and in line with the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement and a direct result of the meeting”.

He said withdrawal of the troops from the border will reduce tension and allow full implementation of the agreement, including free movement of people and goods, trade and several others.

On 25 January 2016, President Kiir said he had instructed the army to withdraw to at least five miles south of the common borders of 1st January 1956. However, the decision was not implemented.

(ST)

The United Nations envoy on conflict prevention has said that the international community and the Government of Burundi would find a common ground for implementing the Security Council resolution that proposes the deployment of unarmed UN police officers through continued dialogue.

A currency shortage in Zimbabwe brought on by an economic crisis has pushed banks to limit amounts that can be withdrawn forcing depositors to sleep outside banks to increase their chances of accessing their money, writes the BBC's Shingai Nyoka.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned today’s attack against peacekeepers of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), which resulted in the death of one Congolese girl and injuries to 32 ‘blue helmets.’

November 7, 2016 (NYAL) – Two children have died and over 30 people admitted following a Cholera outbreak in South Sudan's Unity state's Nyal and Ganyliel payams of Payinjiar county, health officials said.

A child receives an oral cholera vaccine dose in the South Sudan capital, Juba (Medair Photo)

The county health director, Stephen Gatliah described the situation on ground as “worrying”, owing to the lack of Cholera treatment kits.

Of the suspected cases, he said, 21 people tested positive in Nyal and 11 were confirmed to have Cholera in neighbouring Ganyliel.

Gatliah warned of possibilities of the disease escalating in coming weeks, due to the complete absence of Cholera treatment kits.

“It is sad that today, we have lost two kids simply because we do not have no enough health treatments kits for Cholera,” he explained.

Local and international non-governmental organizations on the ground also confirmed the disease outbreak in the two payams located in Payinjiar.

The county health director, however, says lack of Cholera treatment materials could jeopardize efforts to fight the water-borne disease.

He appealed to humanitarian relief agencies to quickly intervene.

“We are appealing to the international organizations and United Nations agencies to quickly come and rescues lives of innocent civilians on the ground,” he told Sudan Tribune.

Meanwhile, county officials have attributed the spread of the disease to traders conducting business with people across the river.

For the last three weeks, Cholera has affected thousands of people in South Sudan, as aid agencies redouble efforts to treat patients by creating more awareness among the population living in UN camps.

(ST)

November 7, 2216 (JUBA) - Ten civilians were wounded in an attack by unknown gunmen in Bentiu on Sunday, as they attempted to target government soldiers in the capital of Northern Liech State

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) on guard in Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan's Unity state on 12 January 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that shots were fired last evening in Bentiu by unknown gunmen attempting to attack soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army at a checkpoint located in close proximity to the UN base.

"As a result, ten civilians were injured. UN peacekeepers immediately responded to the incident causing the assailants to flee" Dujarric said.

The wounded received medical treatment and are in stable condition, he added citing a report from the UNMISS

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Oct 06, 2016 (YAMBIO) – Ellen Margrethe Løj, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) paid a farewell visit to Yambio over the weekend before leave the country at the end of November.

The new head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Ellen Margrethe Loj (Photo: UN/Staton Winter)

Speaking to the press after a meeting with government officials, the SRSG said the purpose of her visit to Yambio was to fulfil a promise she made to visit all the South Sudanese states and to see how UNMISS staff and UN agencies are operating. The visit aimed also at assessing the cooperation between UNMISS and UN agencies with the Government of Gbudue State, as several reports say UNMISS patrols was denied access to different areas in the state.

Løj said that, as she is ending her mission as head of UNMISS, she thought of visiting all the states to speak to the citizens, to promote peace and to stop gun fire to give peace a chance which will end suffering of the South Sudanese for over 20 years now.

She added that they had a fruitful meeting with the Acting Governor of Gbudue state Victor Edward Kpiawandu who pledges support to all UN agencies and UNMISS staff to operate freely without hindrance.

Since several months, armed groups have intensified their operations in the state. As a result the state government barred UNMISS access to the conflict affected areas because of deteriorating security situation.

After conducting meeting with the Government Officials, she met with UNMISS staff, UN agencies to thank them for the tireless work they are offering to the people of South Sudan adding that, despite the challenges and killing of humanitarian personnel they should continue to deliver service to the needy people.

Meanwhile, the Acting Governor Kpiawandu appreciated the SRSG's visit to Yambio even if her last visit before her departure by the end of November. He said the Government of Gbudue State will continue to support UN family and both sides should improve their communications strategy in order address issues arising.

He further urged the outgoing SRSG to consider people of South Sudan and to lobby for peace in South Sudan and continuous international support to the needy people of the South Sudan.

He added that, she should put in her handing over note to remember Western Equatoria citizens for promoting agriculture which feed people in the whole of Sudan during the 21 years of struggle. And that the Western Equatoria is a fertile land which needs investors and training to the farmers to produce more food locally than importing food from outside.

The issue of road construction was on the top of the issues raised to chief of UNMISS as to repair major roads and feeder roads to reach the farmers to bring food to the town.

Minister of Education, Gender, Child and Social Welfare Pia Philip said, UNMISS should consider that engaging youth is a productive activities if UN wants to end conflict or support the people of South Sudan.

“If UN needs to help the people of South Sudan they should embark on productive activities for the youth because the more youth are idle they will continue to create problems and enter the bush for looting on roads, killing and rape," Philip said.

(ST)

November 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Minister of Interior General Ismat Abdel Rahman Zein al-Abdin on Monday said his ministry is ready for the worst scenarios after various protests against the government austerity measures.

Interior minister Ismat Abdel-Rahman (SUNA Photo)

Sudanese government on Thursday lifted fuel subsidies and increased electricity price in a bid to stop the surge in inflation and control the fall of Sudanese pound in the black market. The step created limited protests in various places across Sudan.

In a press statement, the Minister of Interior pointed that police is not sure how the protests might develop, adding that the situation now is stable.

“We would not raise the state of alert to 100% until we see how things are going to develop,” he said.

Zein al-Abdin said that police received information that some people are planning activities that he did not disclose; underlining that police cannot raise the state of alert from this early stage.

“This time the situation is different from September 2013,” he stressed.

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

At the time, Police failure to stop the protests, led to the intervention of the security apparatus and the use of bullets against protesters.

The minister of interior went to say that people understand the motives behind government's decision to lift fuel and electricity subsidies, adding that government has also increased salaries.

On Monday small-scale protests continued for the second day in several towns across Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, Atbara, Wad Madani and Nyala. Opposition groups called to keep the protests.

(ST)

November 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The independent doctors union, Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) on Monday said the third day of their renewed strike (Sunday) was a complete success.

On 6 October, Sudanese doctors staged a strike and refused non-emergency treatments to patients to protest the poor working conditions, lack of medicines and protection of doctors after increasing attacks on medical staff by frustrated patients and their families.

On 13 October, the CCED called off the strike following government pledges to introduce a bill to the parliament to protect doctors, improve training conditions for registrars and improve work environment in hospitals.

However, the CCSD last Tuesday announced resumption of a two-day strike every week during November, saying the government didn't honour its commitments.

In a report released on Wednesday; the striking doctors said that 60 public hospitals have participated in the strike on Tuesday. They also warned against attempts by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) to intimidate the doctors and bread the movement.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, the CCSD expressed commitment to continue the strike to meet the doctors' demands, pointing to the large support rendered by doctors to the CCSD as their sole representative body.

It added that the strike would enter its fourth day on Monday, saying that 9 doctors from the CCSD's central committee and subcommittees are being detained for the seventh day while several others have been summoned by the NISS.

(ST)

November 6, 2016 – South Sudan's main opposition party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement for Democratic Change Party (SPLM-DC) have elected a new leader to replace its founding chairperson.

Onyoti Adigo Nyikec (mcclatchy)

This comes after Lam Akol, the party's founder, resigned in August.

He served as Agriculture minister in the Transitional Government of National Unity.

Akol formed an armed opposition party, known as the National Democratic Movement, to remove President Salva Kiir from power.

However, in a vote marred by boycotts, SPLM-DC elected Onyoti Adigo, formerly leader of the minority in Parliament, to replace Akol.

Onyoti vowed he would work for the interest of all party members, including those who opposed his election to increase support base.

The party's secretary general, Deng Bior absented himself from the poll process, citing improper preparations prior to the voting day.

“The extraordinary convention of the party has no agenda and it should be cancelled,” he told reporters in the capital, Juba Monday.

But attempts by the secretary general to halt the process failed as acting party leader, Donald Gideon Azomuna insisted that discussions focuses on electing a new chairman to replace Akol.

“Deng Bior and those who boycotted the meeting will be dealt with by the new chairman and their issue will soon be resolved,” said Azomuna.

The SPLM-DC is the only entity that defeated ruling party in six constituencies during the country's 2010 general elections. The party did not win outside the Shilluk area, from where both Akol and its new chairperson hail.

(ST)