Africa

May 31, 2018 (LEER) - Thousands of people are fleeing for their lives amid a sharp escalation in fighting and attacks on civilians in the Leer and Mayendit counties of South Sudan over the past month, the international medical humanitarian, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said, calling on all armed actors to stop the violence against the local population.

South Sudanese civilians flee fighting in an United Nations base in the northeastern town of Malakal on February 18, 2016, where gunmen opened fire on civilians sheltering inside killing at least five people. (Photo AFP/Justin Lynch)

Survivors, MSF said in a statement, reported incidences of gang rapes, mass killings, villages looted and burned, and food reserves and possessions destroyed. MSF mobile clinic teams are providing basic medical care to communities that they can reach and have treated 41 survivors of sexual violence in the past month alone.

"People are running away from the ruthless violence of the warring parties," said Akke Boere, MSF operational manager.

"They are caught between the front lines, and are themselves the target of attacks. Many tell us of neighbors and family members killed," he added.

The ongoing clashes are forcing thousands of civilians to seek refuge in the bush, swamps and islands, with some people fleeing repeated attacks, the agency said.

People displaced by the fighting have now gone for more than four weeks without adequate shelter, clean water or food, and little access to medical care. The most vulnerable people, such as children and pregnant women, are at great risk of contracting diseases.

"In our mobile clinics, we are seeing medical issues directly related to the living conditions, including acute watery diarrhea, respiratory and skin infections and musculoskeletal disorders, with patients suffering from muscle or joint pain," said Georgina Brown, MSF medical coordinator in South Sudan.

"The rainy season may worsen the situation considerably."

Attacks against health care facilities are reportedly also cutting off communities from much-needed medical assistance. In two locations where MSF works, medical supplies were looted and property destroyed.

The number of people that MSF is treating for sexual assault is very worrying, according to Brown. In one village, MSF treated 21 survivors of sexual violence in 48 hours, and a few days later, MSF treated 20 survivors in another area.

"We know many survivors don't receive any treatment," said Brown.

"People are still hiding in the bush and swamp areas because they're afraid of the ongoing violence, and so they don't have access to basic services, including health care. Until the violence calms down, we can't reach these people to give them the treatment they need," she added.

The current fighting, according to MSF, is the latest episode in the violence that has raged in Leer and Mayendit counties for several years. The warring parties have repeatedly targeted the civilian population and forced them to flee without shelter, food, water or medical care.

(ST)

May 31, 2018 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has proposed a meeting between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar takes place before the 31st summit of the African Union assembly duel on 1 and 2 July in Noukakchott, Mauritania.

President Salva Kiir greets First Vice President Riek Machar before to start a meeting at the South Sudanese presidency in Juba on 3 June 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The IGAD Council of Ministers, in a communiqué issued following its extra-ordinary summit in Addis Ababa on Thursday, said a final decision be made on the effective participation of the armed opposition leader on the peace process.

It will be the first time the two rival South Sudanese leaders will be meeting face-to-face since the July 2016 clashes in the capital, Juba.

The second round of the IGAD-led High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) ended last week without any deal after the warring parties rejected a proposed power sharing deal developed by regional bloc and IGAD is yet to announce the next date for the negotiations.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the regional bloc have directed mediators to develop a full revitalized text of the 2015 peace agreement, which it said should be endorsed by the IGAD Council of Ministers and submitted to the summit for the final approval.

The IGAD Council of Ministers, in the communiqué, also proposed that punitive measures be taken against violators of the ceasefire deal for approval of its Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

It further decided to submit its request to the IGAD Assembly to delegate the Council to decide on actions to be taken against violators of the ceasefire deal on the assembly's behalf.

The IGAD Council of Ministers, however, said it will work closely with the IGAD-Plus nations to realize the objectives of the HLRF process.

South Sudan plunged into war in December 2013, barely two years after independence from Sudan, after a disagreement between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar deteriorated into a military confrontation.

Tens of thousands have been killed by the fighting between troops loyal to Kiir and forces loyal to Machar. The conflict has also left a quarter of the country's population of 12 million either internally displaced or as refugees in neighbouring countries

(ST)

Salah Shuaib

The international community's keen focus on allowing al-Bashir's regime to be part of the formula for solving Sudan's crises will sooner or later prove wrong. Al-Bashir's unwillingness to faithfully implement the country's previous political accords is still existing as a severe obstacle for Sudan's comprehensive peace.

As blaming the opposition for not having a will for political reconciliation, the Sudanese president has succeeded in deactivating all peace accords signed by him and his opponents, and thus he had exhausted most of his tactical experiences in keeping his adamantly destructive policies alive.

In fact, the Sudanese opposition groups are not lacking the desire to achieve a stable peace in the country through negotiating the regime. But they rather lack a practical mechanism that deters the regime's systematic manipulation of these accords that are sponsored by the international community itself.

Certainly, after signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), all the country's political forces engaged seriously to reconcile with the regime's aggressive past and to build a new Sudan. The change forces made, for the sake of the country's unity, concessions on many of their fundamental demands to help in creating sustainable peace. Instead, al-Bashir's regime, then, succeeded in bolstering its evil intentions to destroy the opposition forces' capabilities rather than building solid foundations to accommodate them as partners for making a better Sudanese future.

For more than half a century, the Sudanese people had been struggling against the dictatorships that have spoiled all opportunities of making the country progressing in all its societal realms. The opposition forces, before three decades, realized the necessary need to defeat this Islamist tyranny, which has adopted a religious ideology that divided the country into two parts, damaged the state's economic and social structures, and initiated war as a means for giving legitimacy to the junta.

The international community should be entirely aware that the Sudanese people's struggle to obtain national democratic governance is inseparable from the worldwide popular movements to achieve freedom. The whole world knows that Al-Bashir's crimes have led the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant against him and his inner circle for their direct involvement in genocide and other forms of violations towards millions of civilians.

Besides that, his regime has contributed to endangering global peace by harbouring, supporting and training terrorist groups. Last but not least, the international community knows, too, that Al-Bashir's oppression has led millions of Sudanese to flee abroad while paving room for his brutal militias to sustain his corrupt regime.

No doubt, the critical obstacle to solving Sudan's crises is the ideology of political Islam, which aims to establish the Islamic rule in a multi-nation state. International partners, therefore, should support all forces of the Sudanese opposition to help create a democratic Sudan, rather than rewarding the regime for its tactical manoeuvring.

The soft-landing approach to end Sudan's problems, which is adopted by some international powers, is somewhat helping Al-Bashir's regime that is about to fall now due to its severe economic and political crisis. It will only be a stab in the heart of any Sudanese freedom-fighter whose only hope is to get rid of the worst totalitarian system in our planet today.

The international community has indeed noticed that all Sudan's signed peace accords have included essential items for political reconciliation that can end the war, separatist trends, and violations of human rights. The CPA constitution was comprehensive enough to accommodate aspirations of Sudanese people for a better life.

But unfortunately, Al-Bashir's deliberate neglect of implementing this regionally and the internationally sponsored document has led to escalating war in the conflict zones, increasing the number of displaced persons and refugees, and deteriorating living conditions in the country.

Also, the destruction of civil service structures, the intensification of ethnic and political injustice, and the deepening of the country's social problems were part of Al-Bashir's apparent mismanagement of the CPA.

Now, because of the regime's depletion of the state's treasury, two systems have been emerging in Sudan. There is a hidden system that Al-Bashir sustains with a full budget, where resources are exploited by all members of the Sudanese Islamic Movement (SIM) while the old formal state's system is running with limited resources for health, education, security, and development.

It should thus be clear that any efforts to put an end for the fragmentation of the Sudanese ethnical components should consider toppling the regime by radical change, which will preserve Sudan's territorial integrity.

There is no value to reforming the situation in Sudan in the existence of Al-Bashir's regime. For all these facts, the international community should not disappoint the people of Sudan, who place great hopes on it to support its quest for freedom, peace, and democracy.

The writer is a Sudanese journalist; he can be reached at salshua7@hotmail.com

May 31, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's former humanitarian affairs and disaster management official Thursday has dismissed as baseless and misleading information reports claiming he had switched political allegiance and rebelled.

Joseph Lual Acuil Lual, said reports alleging he rebelled prompted him to make a clarification.

“I Joseph Lual Acuil Lual do hereby write this statement for immediate release that I have no support or allegiance to either the SPLM-IO (Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition) led by Dr Riek Machar or the (opposition) South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by former army chief of staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan,” said Lual through a statement released to the public on Wednesday.

The former cabinet minister said he has s always been in Juba where he remained a strong member and support of the government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.

“I have always and will always remain a strong member SPLM-IG (Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Government). I am always in Juba based in my house. Therefore, I refute all allegations as false and baseless misleading information. No one should take them as true," he added.

Currently serving as the member of the council of states and member of the national dialogue committee, Lual denied any link to rebels under the former First Vice President, Riek Machar and later joined the faction under the leadership of the former army chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan.

(ST)

May 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Thursday complained that his country is still is still under economic embargo and deprived of international debt cancellation for political reasons.

In remarks delivered before Khartoum state government, the Sudanese president thanked Arab and Islamic financial institutions, brotherly countries particularly China and Turkey for their support to Sudan.

"Sudan is still under economic embargo, heavily indebted and deprived of the international debt-relief program for political reasons. Also, it is deprived of concessional financing facility provided by international institutions," he said.

Despite the lift of economic sanctions last October, Sudan is still designated a state sponsor of terrorism together with Iran, Syria and North Korea.

Washington admitted Sudan's cooperation in its counterterrorism efforts but maintains the east African country in the terror list hoping to use it to put pressure on Khartoum to sign peace agreements with the armed groups, ensure freedoms, achieve democratic reforms.

The two countries announced several times their readiness to resume talks on the normalization of bilateral relations but till now no meeting takes place.

The Sudanese president pledged to provide the needed funding for Khartoum state's service projects.

After the adoption of drastic austerity measures in the budget of 2018, the Sudanese pound fell to a record low on the black market and the inflation hit new records.

(ST)

May 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Australian gold miner Resolute Mining this week struck a 22.5 million Australian dollar deal with the Canadian Orca Gold, subscribing for 32.4-million of its shares in gold activities in Sudan.

FILE - Smoke rises after a blast in a quarry at the Ariab mine September 28, 2011 (Reuters)

"This strategic investment by Resolute demonstrates and supports a rapidly growing international mining interest in Sudan," said Ocra in a statement released on Monday 28 May.

In line with the deal, Resolute will own 32,364,960 shares of Ocra, representing approximately 15% of its capital.

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.

Sudan hopes to increase gold production to more than 140 tons during this year and make Sudan the first gold producer in Africa by 2018.

The Canadian company said with this deal it is now fully funded to deliver a Feasibility Study on its Block 14 Gold Project in Sudan and to expand its exploration endeavours on this 2,170km2 licence.

Ocra is currently completing a Feasibility Study on its 70%-owned Block 14 Gold Project in Sudan.

Also, it is conducting exploration on its gold properties in Côte d'Ivoire.

The deal also enables Resolute to acquire 1,876,422 shares of the Canadian company in connection with the acquisition of two exploration companies located and operating in Côte d'Ivoire.

(ST)

The centre of Nigeria's Boko Haram insurgency is overdosing on Tramadol.

May 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Amnesty International (AI)called on the Sudanese authorities to release a human rights activist deported from Saudi Arabia saying he is at risk of torture.

Hisham Ali (ST Photo)

Hisham Ali was deported from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, and detained upon arrival in Khartoum at the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) headquarters.

"Having been a courageous political and online activist against torture and corruption Husham Ali is at great risk of torture and other ill-treatment while in the hands of the NISS. Pending his release, he must be granted unfettered access to a lawyer of his choice and to his family," said Joan Nyanyuki, AI Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

Hisham was arrested in Jeddah by the Saudi authorities in November 2017 upon the request of Sudanese security apparatus. He contributed to various online forums to expose government corruption and expressed his support for the November and December 2016 civil disobedience in Sudan on his Facebook page.

There are three other Sudanese had been deported to Sudan from Saudi Arabia in July 2017, Elgassim Mohmed Seed Ahmed, 52, Elwaleed Imam Hassan Taha, 44, and Alaa Aldin al-Difana. All of them had been arrested following their participation in an online campaign to support calls for civil disobedience in November and December 2016.

All of them were arrested without charges for a period between one to three months before to be released.

"They told Amnesty International that they had been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during detention," said the human rights body.

The Sudanese authorities at the time denounced the massive participation of the Sudanese Diaspora in the civil disobedience campaign and vowed to hunt the activists.

(ST)

May 31, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - The Security Council Thursday decided to consider within a month imposing arms embargo or individual sanctions on six South Sudanese including four top government officials in the event of a ceasefire violation or lack of a viable peace agreement.

The resolution also renews for 45 days the sanctions imposed in 2015 on those blocking peace in South Sudan.

The 15-member body in a resolution endorsed by just 9 "yes" votes said the Council would consider applying the sanctions if the parties violate the cessation of hostilities or fail to reach a viable political agreement before 30 June 2018

China, Russia, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Equatorial Guinea, abstained from voting on a draft resolution submitted by the United States. Those who voted for the resolution are Côte d'Ivoire, France, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The final version requests the UN Secretary-General to report on the ceasefire violation or the failure to strike a peace deal in coordination with the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM).

The resolution further decided to renew until 14 August 2018 the mandate of the Panel of Experts overseeing the sanctions imposed on South Sudan, with instructions to provide the Council with an update every month.

In an editorial published on the Washington Post on Wednesday, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the America administration was supportive for the new nation but "we have lost patience with the status quo".

In her speech before the Council, repeated the content of her editorial Haley and called for sanctions on "those who continue to destabilize South Sudan", adding "We must stop making excuses and take real steps to end the conflict".

Speaking before the vote, the Ethiopian Ambassador Tekeda Alemu said the South Sudanese conflict could only be addressed through an inclusive political process. He further said the IGAD efforts are at a “very critical moment” and the sanctions would be detrimental to the peace process.

Alemu further stressed that it would have been sensible for the Council to give IGAD a chance, and that "waiting two months would not have caused the sky to fall".

If the first version of the draft resolution provides the imposition of travel restrictions and an asset freeze with immediate effect, the resolution suspends the implementation for 29 days if the parties fail to sign an agreement or violate the cessation of hostilities.

British Ambassador Jonathan Guy Allen voiced his country support to the IGAD-led peace process adding it was clear that the parties were still not ready to reach agreement on peace as horrific reports of violence and human rights abuses continued.

“This cannot be allowed to continue,” he emphasized before to add that the resolution was an important step towards increasing pressure on the parties to compromise. "Let it be a clear message to the parties and those who wish to prevent peace going forward," Allen said.

The South Sudanese Ambassador Akuei Bona Malwal said the resolution imposing sanctions on South Sudanese officials was not helpful for the IGAD brokered efforts to end the conflict.

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel” in the peace revitalization forum, and "the annexe to the resolution was unhelpful in that regard. Nevertheless, the Government of South Sudan would work closely with regional partners to achieve lasting peace," Malwal said.

Juba says the sanctions would encourage the opposition groups to refuse to make needed concessions for peace.

The South Sudanese officials identified in the resolution are Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk, Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuru, Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth, SPLA Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Malek Reuben Riak Rengu, SPLM-IO Bieh state Gov. Koang Rambang Chol and former army chief Paul Malong Awan.

In June, the Security Council will discuss the security situation in South Sudan after a briefing on the Secretary-General's 90-day report on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), together with his monthly report on violations of the Status of Forces Agreement.

Also in a related development, the SPLM-IO issued a statement denying that Governor Koang Rambang Chuol violated the ceasefire in Bieh State or denied humanitarian access to aid groups. Also, it denied his responsibility in the of two Kenyan pilots last February.

"Therefore, he does not meet the qualifications for travel ban and asset freeze as stated in Annexe 1 to the UN Security Council Zero Draft on Renewal of South Sudan Sanctions on individuals," concluded the rebel statement.

(ST)

The large-scale migration of people within Africa tends to boost growth and lifts the continent’s whole economy, a new United Nations report has said, urging the world to dispel misconceptions and “harmful narratives” targeting migration.

May 30, 2018 (JUBA) – South Sudan's army and rebels massacred civilians, burned children alive and gang-raped women, despite a ceasefire agreed upon in December last year, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) said in a new report on the war-torn nation.

Arms and light weapons have been used by both warring parties in South Sudan to commit abuses (Photo courtesy of SSANSA)

The 14 CTSAMM are yet to be publicly released despite pledges by regional leaders to have those who violated the ceasefire agreement punished.

Both South Sudan government and rebels have dismissed the report.

A group of 200 South Sudanese government soldiers attacked the village of Nyatot in Upper Nile state on 12 February and reportedly shot at random everything and everybody, according to Reuters.

22 civilians were killed and 72 wounded, the monitoring team said.

Gordon Buay, an official at South Sudan's embassy in Washington, said troops had targeted rebels in Nyatot, not civilians as claimed.

“Any civilian killed in that was not intentional. It was crossfire,” he told Reuters.

The reports says an attack on the town of Modit in Jonglei state on 26 February saw government forces raze buildings, loot a Christian charity and kill five people, including four children who were burned.

“Soldiers stood at the door of the (hut) to ensure the children remained inside and they were eventually burnt to death,” it said.

One of the reports also accused the armed opposition forces loyal to the country's former first vice-president, Riek Machar of using child soldiers around the South Sudanese northwestern town of Wau.

Tens of thousands have been killed in South Sudan's war, which began in December 2013 with fighting been soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Machar, an ethnic Nuer.

More than 3 million people have been displaced due to the civil war, while aid agencies say about 5 million people are food insecure.

(ST)

May 30, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley Wednesday called for international sanctions on individuals responsible for the continuation of the war in South Sudan and obstructing to humanitarian access affected civilians.

Haley made her call ahead of a vote on Thursday by the Security Council on a draft resolution she has submitted since Thursday imposing individual sanctions on three South Sudanese ministers and an army general, in addition to a rebel commander and the SPLA former chief of staff.

Referring to the four-and-half-year-old conflict in South Sudan, the diplomat recalled that the USA supported the independence of the new nation and invested more than $11 billion there since its independence.

"But we have lost patience with the status quo," she wrote in an article published on the Washington Post, calling for an action to end the armed conflict in the new nation.

"Sanctions on those who continue to destabilize South Sudan represent another critical tool at the Security Council's disposal," she stressed after referring to the arms embargo on South Sudan.

She said the targeted sanctions including ban travel and asset freeze, would ensure that individuals who threaten the peace pay for perpetuating violence in South Sudan.

South Sudanese government tries to get the support of the three non-permanent African countries at the Security Council. Also, Juba sought to reach Kuwait and Kazakhstan in addition to Russia and China which have the possibility to veto the resolution.

In a letter to Juba after an informal meeting on the draft resolution last week, the South Sudanese chargé d'affaires to the United Nations Cecilia Adeng was sceptic on her government capacity to reverse the vote.

"I am not sure if we have the numbers to stop the draft from being passed," said Adeng.

"The international community must come together to do what South Sudan's leaders will not: take action to restore hope to the world's youngest country," said Haley.

(ST)

Bodies are not buried for months, sometimes years, in Ghana as families bicker over funeral arrangements.

May 30, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sudan Jean-Michel Dumond has expressed readiness to provide technical assistance for the Sudanese economic sector.

EU's ambassador to Sudan Jean-Michel Dumond (EU Photo)

Sudan's State Foreign Minister Osama Faisal on Tuesday discussed with the EU envoy a number of internal issues as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

Faisal briefed Dumond on the latest political and economic developments in Sudan, pointing out that his government is capable of overcoming the economic crisis as it did in the past.

He said Sudan had previously managed to overcome the economic challenges which resulted from the U.S. sanctions and the secession of South Sudan.

The Sudanese minister called on the EU to encourage the European companies to invest in his country, stressing Sudan's cooperation in the human rights field.

For his part, Dumond said the EU is willing to provide technical support to Sudan in areas of financial reform and expansion of tax umbrella.

He also praised Sudan's role within the regional bloc IGAD to support the peace process in South Sudan.

Since January, the economic conditions have deteriorated significantly as prices reached high levels and the Sudanese pounds hit historic low against the US dollar leading to an unprecedented rise in the cost of living.

Also, the East African nation has suffered a severe shortage of gasoline and cooking gas.

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

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

(ST)

May 30, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The United States Chargé d'Affaires in Khartoum, Steven Koutsis has called on the Sudanese government to adopt new mechanisms to achieve sustainable peace in Darfur.

Following his meeting with North Darfur State governor Al-Sharief Mohamed Abad on Wednesday, Koutsis demanded the government to continue the disarmament campaign and meet the holdout groups in order to join the peace process.

He pointed out that the U.S. is exerting serious efforts in coordination with the United Nations to meet humanitarian needs and achieve peace in Darfur.

The U.S. envoy acknowledged the significant improvement in the security situation in North Darfur, saying it would contribute to improving the humanitarian situation.

For his part, Abad briefed Koutsis on the security situation in North Darfur, pointing to the presence of police and prosecution offices across the state.

He stressed the continuation of the disarmament campaign to impose the state's authority, pointing to his government's efforts to promote stability and peaceful coexistence in the state.

Abad added his government is facing a number of challenges including the provision of basic needs, livelihood and services for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who voluntarily returned to their original villages.

He pointed to a government plan to dismantle the IDPs camps, stressing the freedom of movement and access to all camps.

The governor praised the U.S. role in the provision of humanitarian assistance, demanding further support for the development and reconstruction programmes.

It is noteworthy that Koutsis and his accompanying delegation would visit Zam Zam camp for IDPs and meet with the native administrators and the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

CENTRAL DARFUR

In a related development, the Political Counsellor at the US embassy in Khartoum Wales Ryan paid a visit to Golo in Central Darfur state to inspect the security and humanitarian situation in the area which hosts IDPs camp and UNAMID new site.

In a press statement released after a meeting with the Governor Mohamed Ahmed Gad Elsid, the Central Darfur state said Ryan pledged to provide humanitarian assistance to the war affected civilians and to support the IDPs voluntary return programme.

Gad Elsid urged the United States to put pressure on the holdout armed groups to join the negotiating table in order to achieve stability and development.

The governor further stressed the keenness of his government to ensure the success of the agricultural season and encourage the IDPs to return to their areas of origin by opening tracks, securing villages and areas of production and take measures to avoid friction between the pastoralists and farmers.

The statement said the U.S. Chargé d'affaires would visit soon the Central Darfur state.

The recent fighting between the government forces and the SLM-AW rebels in Central Darfur pushed thousands of villagers to flee to IDPs caps in the state.

The Sudanese army has been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003. UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in the conflict and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

May 30, 2018 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese armed opposition official has joined South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by ex-army chief of staff, General Paul Malong.

South Sudan's former army chief Paul Malong addresses the media after returning to the South Sudan's capital of Juba, on May 13, 2017 (Reuters photo)

“ I want to inform all my comrades, men and women to unite our ranks and files under the SSUF/A leadership so that we overthrow this futile regime under deranged leaders in Juba,” said Major General Acuil Lual Acuil.

He appealed to all opposition groups in the country to join the Malong-led movement to effect change in the war-torn nation.

“It is only the SSUF/A that can and has the ability to bring change in South Sudan,” he said in a 26 May letter signed by 12 senior officers.

Relations between Malong and President Salva Kiir deteriorated after the former was sacked from his post as Army Chief of Staff in May 2017 and placed under house arrest for fear he would foment a rebellion.

Malong was freed in November following mediation led by the Jieng Council of Elders. The agreement refrained him from going to his home-town of Aweil in the former Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, but he was free to travel to any East Africa country.

In April, however, Malong announced the formation SSUF/A, saying it was a through which he would work with compatriots to overthrow the Juba regime.

(ST)

May 30, 2018 (JUBA/ADDIS ABABA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir Wednesday was in Addis Ababa to discuss the IGAD brokered peace forum on the implementation of 2015 peace agreement but also the looming UN sanctions on his senior ministers.

The visit comes 24 hours before an extraordinary meeting on the stalled peace forum of the IGAD Council of Ministers chaired by Ethiopia. Also, on Thursday the UN Security Council will deliberate and vote on individual sanctions targeting his top ministers.

Following a meeting with the visiting South Sudanese president, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed the support of his country to the peace forum adding that Addis Abba would continue to work hard for peace and stability in the neighbouring troubled South Sudan.

"We cannot have peace (in Ethiopia) unless there is peace in neighbouring countries," said Abiy, adding that “Ethiopia will work in cooperation with neighbouring countries to achieve development and growth plans".

President Kiir said on his part "Ethiopia is not only a supportive neighbour but our country," reported the official ENA news agency.

Last week, the peace forum suspended its meetings after the failure of the South Sudanese parties to back a draft agreement elaborated by the mediation reinstating the former First Vice President Riek Machar in his position but maintained a controversial regional administration reform establishing 32 states.

During the past months, President Kiir had sought to convince the IGAD leaders and South African to keep Machar far from the peace talks or his return to Juba as first vice-president.

It is not clear if Kiir came to insist on his position on Machar and to request the IGAD Council of Ministers to take it into consideration.

The agenda of the IGAD ministerial meeting, seen by Sudan Tribune, shows that the meeting would discuss two reports on the progress made in the peace process and the ceasefire violations.

The meeting further will discuss the "consideration of the punitive measures that should be taken against violators of CoHA," reads the agenda.

The spokesperson of the South Sudanese presidency Ateny Wek Ateny told reporters at Juba Airport upon Kiir departure that the President would discuss the UN Security Council sanctions on three senior ministers and a military commander.

During an informal meeting of the Security Council on 25 May, Ethiopia which is a non-permanent member at the Security Council contested the draft resolution submitted by the U.S., the penholder on South Sudan, saying the draft had to presented by the IGAD countries.

Juba seeks to convince Russia and China to use their veto against the resolution. But if they abstain, the abstention of three African Unions countries at the Security Council, Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire and Equatorial Guinéa, plus two countries like Kuwait or Kazakhstan can prevent the adoption of the resolution which needs get the vote of 9 members out of the 15 total members.

During the informal meeting of last Thursday, Cote d'Ivoire and Equatorial Guinéa said they would vote for the resolution. Ethiopia said it would abstain, the
same for Russia and China.

Juba says the sanctions resolution if passed would embolden the opposition groups and push them to resist regional pressures to make the needed concessions.

However, opposition officials retort by pointing to Juba intransigence in the talks and the repeated violations by its army of the cessation of hostilities agreement.

The draft resolution includes Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk, Malek Reuben Riak Rengu, Deputy Chief of Defence for Logistics in South Sudan's army, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elia Lomuro, and Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth.

(ST)

British citizen Andargachew Tsege has been freed by Ethiopia's government after four years on death row.

“Committing mistakes is something human and sometimes inevitable. However, not learning from mistakes may suggest that something is fundamentally amiss because it subjects the individual, group, country or society to perpetually commit the same mistakes” Dr. Peter A. Nyaba

By Bol Khan

What is IGAD's imperative priority on South Sudan's tedious peace revitalization process? Is IGAD aiming to bring about a peace accord that saves the lives of suffering ordinary people of South Sudan or a shaky peace deal that serves only the politicians' interests? The HLRF's Phase II that recently ended in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, without a signed deal was supposed to be the last round of South Sudan's Peace talks. Ahead of time, the public leaked it that in case the delegates fail to reach a comprehensive deal by themselves until 21th of May 2018, then IGAD would be coming up with a neutral and moderate proposal to narrow the gaps between the parties. This was what in the mind of every South Sudanese citizen. However, unexpectedly, when the IGAD's “Bridging Proposal” was out, circulated everybody was dumfounded including the author. I surprised and bewildered because the proposal squarely appeared as if South Sudanese's politicians drafted it themselves, in their own interests.

The Politicians' interests: Accommodative, large government that proposes benefits

The IGAD “Bridging Proposal” proposed an additional new position of Third Vice President, forty-two (42) ministers, fifteen (15) Deputy Ministers, four hundred and forty (440) members of Parliaments. A transitional poor government with five hundred and one (501) cabinet and parliament members excluding the Advisors, Council of States' members, bureaucrats at the various ministries, heads of commissions and Directors…name them. Just assume the parties have accepted and signed IGAD's Bridging Proposal”, how big would such a government be? Again, the IGAD proposed a six (6) member Transition Facilitation Council (TFC), monetary rewards for all those would be displaced persons from positions both in National and in the States governments. “Where, as a consequence of the allocation of positions under this agreement a post-holder is displaced from a post, the Transitional Government shall make every effort to find an alternative position for that person, including in the reconstituted boards and commissions as appropriate”. The proposal said: “the affected person may include: (a) A member of the Executive, (b) A Governor or other office holder in a State; and a member of TNL” (Transition National Legislature). “In the event that a person cannot be accommodated in a suitable alternative position, the Transitional Government shall endeavour to make an appropriate ex gratia payment or form of compensation to that person”. Generally, looking at the nature of proposed governance and security sectors, the IGAD did not only expose itself as a coalition that aims to create jobs or interests for politicians but also a regional bloc that might be unknowingly putting the lives of suffering ordinary South Sudanese citizens into further risk.

“Benefits and Standing of Former leaders”

Furthermore, the IGAD also proposed that a revitalized Transitional Government would work to give the benefits, incentive and standing of former leaders. “Within 30 days of the signing of this Agreement, Legislation shall be introduced in the TNLA to make adequate provision for the benefits, emoluments and standing of former leaders. Legislation shall provide for benefits of a former leader, including an office staff, protection and allocation of sufficient resource commensurate to their standing as leaders”. This increasingly casts much doubt in IGAD's precedence in South Sudan's peace revitalization process. Yes, it is not a dreadful idea to pay leaders benefits especially in stable countries where leaders serve the nation's interests. However, in reality, what good thing have those leaders done so far and/or in the people of South Sudan's interest than these immense damages they have been causing in South Sudan since 2013? They are not leaders of national stature. Therefore, the benefits IGAD's “Bridging Proposal” proposed are all unnecessary. Instead, the proposed resources should only be used to rebuild the nation and lives of the ordinary citizens who are suffering or to provide them better security, development and peace dividends in the country, South Sudan.

Legitimacy: Who are the elected leaders in the Republic of South Sudan?

Who are the democratically elected and legitimate Leaders in the Republic of South Sudan? In other words, who is a democratically elected President, Parliamentarian or Governor in the Republic of South Sudan today? I think there is none because there were neither Executive nor parliamentarian elections ever conducted in the Republic of South Sudan since 2011! Hence, there is no legitimate leader today in the Republic of South Sudan who could have claimed that he/she is a democratically elected leader. Since 9 July 2011-21 May 2018, South Sudan has been operating under two sequence transitional rules of unelected governments. The first transition, interim and constitutional government (leaders) term in offices (after independent) ended on 21 May 2015. The second transition government provided by August 2015 Compromise Peace Agreement also ended on 17 May 2018. This is the reason why the ordinary people of South Sudan have been calling on IGAD to impose a peace solution that is South Sudanese ordinary citizens' interest.

Conclusion

What is the interest of South Sudanese's ordinary citizens?

The central interest of South Sudanese citizens is to have a better peace deal in South Sudan that addresses the root causes of the conflict. A deal, that holds all perpetrators accountable for atrocities they have committed as stipulated in a revitalizing ARCISS. The interest of the people is a peace agreement that does not reward politicians for atrocities they have had committed instead. A deal, that installs a responsible, balanced and lean (small sized) government to implement peace and security, restore the deteriorated economic situation, a sincere honest government that will unconditionally organize free and fair general elections at the end of the transitional period. The people of South Sudan have interested not in a shaky peace deal that its aim is just to renew the lifespan of politicians in offices at the expense of innocent citizens' lives. The people of South Sudan do not want a precarious peace deal that shall be susceptible to their lives just like August 2015 Agreement.

With all this in mind, IGAD must acknowledge its proven failure in solving South Sudan's crisis because of its complicity in the sufferings the South Sudanese ordinary citizens are facing today in and around the country. Therefore, IGAD needs to choose one of the following, forthwith: (a) Prioritize the interest of sufferings ordinary South Sudanese citizens by bringing peace back to South Sudan within one or two weeks, maximum; (b) Or hand over the South Sudan's peace process to AU or UN, a global body. This is what the people of South Sudan are greatly yearning for. “Committing mistakes is something human and sometimes inevitable. However, not learning from mistakes may suggest that something is fundamentally amiss because it subjects the individual, group, country or society to perpetually commit the same mistakes”. IGAD should learn from the recent past mistakes, for instance, the lack of proper security arrangements, absolute impunity (no punitive measures being taken against peace violators) and imbalanced power that blocked smooth and successful implementation of August 2015 Peace Agreement. Where the transitional period agreed upon in 2015 become wasted three (3) years without stopping the sufferings of South Sudanese ordinary citizens both in the country and in neighbouring countries.

The author, Bol Khan, is a South Sudanese Activist and Freelance Writer. He is reachable on khanrom8@gmail.com or Twitter: @khanrom8

May 29, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The newly appointed Sudanese Foreign Minister Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed on Tuesday has arrived in Cairo to hold bilateral talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry.

Sudan's Ambassador to Egypt Abdel-Mahmoud Abdel-Halim said the two ministers would discuss ways to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

He added they would also discuss the work of the committees approved by the leaders of Sudan and Egypt to resolve the outstanding issues.

Abdel-Halim pointed out that the two sides would discuss regional issues particularly the situation in Libya, Yemen and Syria besides promoting coordination between the two countries in the regional and international forums.

According to the Ambassador, the meeting of the top diplomats would fix the date for convening meetings of the quadripartite committee between the two countries in Khartoum.

Following a meeting held on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa in January, President Omer al-Bashir and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed the tensions between the two courtiers and agreed to form a quadripartite committee to develop a roadmap to restore the relationship to the right track.

The quadripartite committee including the foreign ministers and heads of intelligence from both countries met last February in Cairo and agreed on a number of technical measures to diffuse the tensions.

The tumultuous relations between Sudan and Egypt experienced last December a new crisis over media attacks against al-Bashir after a visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Sudan. Also, Sudan accused Egypt and Eritrea of supporting rebel groups to attack Kassala state on the eastern border.

But the main differences remain the dispute over the border triangle area of Halayeb and the construction of Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam that Sudan backs.

(ST)