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Provides an overview of South Sudan, including key events and facts about Africa's newest nation

December 6, 2015 (NYAL) - At least 15,000 people arrived in Payinjiar county as fighting intensified in Leer, Koch and Mayiandit areas between government forces and the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) in recent weeks, opposition officials told Sudan Tribune

A view of the Protection of Civilians (POC) site near Bentiu, in Unity State, South Sudan, which houses over 40,000 IDPs 25 August 2014 (Photo UN/JC McIlwaine)

John Tap Puot, an area commissioner for SPLM-IO, said many civilians have assembled in Nyal payam, seeking shelter due to fighting in neighbouring counties.

Puot called on humanitarian aid agencies to embark on ground action. He described their situation as "horrific", calling for humanitarian measures to save the lives of children and women in dire need for assistance.

“We are calling on the United Nation, their partners and faith based organisations to hurry up and save on innocent civilians who are at critical human suffering. It is not our wish, but man-made crises that have placed our people in such circumstances,” he said.

Peter Zimzim Desh, a humanitarian worker in Payinjiar county, told Sudan Tribune in a separate interview that there was high influx of displaced persons in the area.

He said the new arrivals lacked enough food ratios. Desh, who works with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Ganyliel warned that delays in humanitarian action to assist such huge numbers of internally displaced persons will risk their stay.

“The little food ration stored for IDPs has already being exhausted than the expected time because of heavy influx of IDPs from neighboring counties of Guit, Koch, Mayiandit and Leer ,” he said.

However, the rebel appointed commissioner urged communities from Lakes and Unity states to work for peace, adding it was time to implement the August peace agreement.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The regulatory council for law profession in Sudan announced the results of the bar exam taken in February 2015 which revealed an anemic pass rate.

The council's secretary, Babiker Ahmed Gashi was quoted as saying by Sudan News Agency (SUNA) on Sunday that the number of students who have registered for the exam totaled 4,420 of which 188 were absent.

Of those present, only 466 have passed in all subjects, 422 with one makeup exam and 1,127 with two makeup exams.

Gashi added that the council is reviewing causes of the delay in the announcement of the results and ways to address the problem in the future.

He also said that a meeting they held agreed to hold a workshop to look at the reasons for the low pass rate using experiences of other countries.

The official disclosed that they will hold meetings with the minister of Education and deans of universities among others to discuss this issue along with obstacles facing the law profession.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - A senior Sudanese opposition party is warning about impending famine in vast areas of the country, urging for immediate action to contain the situation.

National Umma Party 'NUP)'s General-Secretary Sara Nugd Allah speaks in a press conference held in Khartoum on Sunday December 2015 (ST)

The National Umma Party (NUP) of former Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi said Sunday its warning was based on a report of what it called "a committee of experts'' that toured agricultural production areas .

NUP Deputy Chairman Fadllalah Burma Nasir reviewed the report before a press conference . He said the committee , after tours of all agricultural production zones in the North, East, Centre and West of the country, has concluded that ‘' the situation needs immediate action .''

He said the committee, which was made up of NUP experts, had noticed ‘' a big scarcity of food stuffs , a matter that obliges the government to officially declare its need for international intervention and call for help.''

For her part , the Party's General-Secretary Sara Nugd Allah has read out the committee's report that said ‘' the economic crisis, the dire living conditions , the signs of famine under which the country is living is but a natural outcome of the selfish and erroneous policies pursued by the ruling National Congress Party.''

“The Government policy of consolidating its power , its reliance on the proceeds of gold and oil , its negligence of the real production sectors(agriculture and industry), favouritism in the government machine , usurpation of public money and lack of accountability had led to the declining production and the rise of poverty and unemployment ,'' Ms. Nugdallah has read out from the report.

The report said lack of planning has led to the mismanagement of oil revenues which were squandered on needless buildings, the federal rule whose budget was inflated by 181.25 percent , spending on political activity and security and the military that together consume 70 percent of the government resources , in addition to festering corruption.
“ Those erroneous policies had squandered the oil proceeds that totaled 80 billion US Dollars , a matter that led to the deterioration of production infrastructures , the decline in agricultural and industrial output and the widening poverty that has now reached 80% ,'' said the report.

“In addition, those policies had led to the drop in the value of the national currency(the pound) that now sells at 11 pounds per one US Dollar and raised the external debt to 47 billion US Dollars and the internal debt to 140 billion pounds,'' it said.

“All these conditions had turned the life of Sudanese into an unbearable hell and caused them to flee the country to the four corners of the globe or , else, move to the Khartoum State , a matter that changed the demography of the State that is now encircled with belts of displaced and poor citizens , thus posing a threat to the Capital City's security and social peace,'' according to the report.

The report has described the government measures to counter this situation as ‘' very limited and do not address the root causes of the crisis.''

“ One of those government measures is to sell the project for national dialogue to the international community in exchange for lifting the sanctions and debt cancelation,'' said the report.

“Another measure is to shuttle between regional alliances to obtain funds for redressing the big deficit in the trade balance ,'' it added.

In a statement read out to the press , the NUP has described the ongoing national dialogue as ‘' sterile and unfeasible , because it just brings together the supporters of the ruling party and does not allow for other voices.''

It said the way out of this crisis rests with a political solution that starts with the acceptance of the African Security and Peace Resolution Number 539 that calls for a peaceful solution in Sudan. It also rests with a serious response for convening the preparatory meeting in Addis Ababa to convince the armed movements about the need for dialogue , build confidence and create favourable climate for serious dialogue inside Sudan.

For her part NUP Deputy Chairperson Mariam al-Sadik al-Mahdi has announced that the preparatory meeting which was supposed to convene on December 7 in Addis Ababa , was postponed for more consideration and was not cancelled altogether.
She said her party was on very good terms with all the opposition forces operating inside Sudan.

She said a new opposition alliance was now in the making and will soon be declared. She said the alliance will include her party and other political forces she did not name.
Mariam said her party was engaging the national forces alliance and other political forces in talks aimed at paving the way for holding a conference to unify the ideas of all the opposition forces ‘' in a bid to create real change.''

She said the recent differences among the members of the national consensus forces ‘' was a positive sign and can be overcome.'
(ST)

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December 6, 2015 (RUMBEK) - A senior police officer in South Sudan's Lakes state survived an ambush on the road between Payi and Aluakluak payam in Yirol West county.

Map detail showing South Sudan's Lakes state in red

Authorities said Marial Abur fell into the ambush over the weekend as he traveled from the South Sudanese capital, Juba to his home area in neighbouring Warrap state.

His car was stuck in the mud before gunmen indiscriminately opened fire, officials said.

The peace and reconciliation advisor to Lakes state governor, Daniel Chol Koknyin confirmed the incident, which he outrightly condemned. He however said Abur was not hurt, but his bodyguard was wounded after exchanging gunfire with the unknown gunmen.

“The general [Abur] was not harmed, only his bodyguard sustained injury but it was a simple injury. Thevgeneral was travelling from Juba aiming to reach Warrap state, but unfortunately he fell in this ambush. We sent forces to help him in the same night of the attack. He was attackedbbetween Payi and Aluakluak payam of Yirol West”, said Chol.

Lakes state has remained in a vicious cycle of counter revenge attacks since caretaker governor Maj Gen Matur Chut Dhuol took over more than two years ago, with activists, traditional authorities and intellectuals calling upon South Sudan's president Salva Kiir Mayardit to remove Dhuol, but so far all the calls have been overlooked by the president.

(ST)

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December 6, 2015 (KHAROUM) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate to meet the needs of conflict-affected people and other vulnerable groups in areas of food security, nutrition and education.

WFP food assistance being offloaded from a truck at a distribution site in the South Kordofan capital Kadugli. (Photo WFP)

The MoU was signed by the WFP Sudan country director Adnan Khan and SRCS secretary general Osman Gafar Abdalla at a ceremony in WFP's Sudan country office in Khartoum.

According to a joint statement from the WFP and the SRCS extended to Sudan Tribune Sunday, the two sides will also work together in areas that include resilience-building and emergency response, at both national and state levels.

“This MoU will ensure that both parties work together in a more strategic manner to effectively support the needy populations across the country” the statement read
Khan said the signing of this MoU reflects their “strong belief and recognition of the value that this partnership will bring to the work of our organizations in Sudan, especially in responding to the needs of vulnerable communities and promoting long-term food security across the country”.

Abdalla, for his part, described the MoU as “a very important agreement”, underscoring further cooperation between the two sides to work together to help the vulnerable people across the country.

The statement pointed out that the two organizations have a long history in Sudan of working together, dating back to 1985 when SRCS worked with WFP in East Sudan during the drought. Since then, the partnership between the two organizations has continued to grow and mature.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement -North claimed killing nine Sudanese government troops in an attack carried out near Dilling, north of Kadugli the capital if South Kordofan state Last Thursday.

A SPLA-N fighter stands near Gos village in the rebel-held territory of the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, May 1, 2012. (Reuters)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, SPLM-N official spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi said the government force was moving towards Kendkil garrison located 10km north of Dilling.

"Nine members of the (government) militias were killed during the operation. Our troops seized one RPG-7, one PK machine gun, and three Kalashnikov rifles," Lodi said.

He further said that their fighters are deployed throughout the region monitoring the reinforcement and movements of the government forces .

The rebel official stressed that "the head of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front" Malik Agar directed to repulse the Decisive Summer operations and defeat them".

The Sudanese army spokesperson was not reachable for comment.

Talks for a cessation of hostilities agreement under the auspice o the African Union didn't reach an agreement last November in Addis Ababa.

Following what the two parties announced preparations for military operations on the ground.

Before the resumption of the talks, the Sudanese army had announced an unilateral two-month cessation of hostilities while the Sudanese rebel groups said it would be for six-months.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (RUMBEK) – South Sudanese returnees from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, said they have become victims of rapists in Rumbek, Lakes state capital.

Displaced people walk after arriving by river barge from Bor to Awerial in South Sudan's Lakes State on Jan. 2, 2014 (Photo AP/Ben Curtis)

The female returnees who returned to the country since early 2011 and stayed in Rumbek have recently complained of high rape cases targeting the returnees in the outskirts of Rumbek town.

for rape and abuses being done to them in Khartoum-Jadid (New Khartoum) area by unknown armed men at night.

The returnees were given a new special residential area, called Khartoum-Jadid, in western part of Rumbek town, located 3 kilometres away from the town.

The residents have however begun to desert their homes and move into Rumbek town center to avoid being raped and physical torture at night by unknown gunmen whom they also accused of looting their priorities.

One of the returnees' representatives, Bajah, said that all houses without men in Khartoum-Jadid have been deserted because of fear.

“There are men with firearms that rape women and loot property at night. At night the gunmen come and order you to come out in your house and chances to rape you are high,” she said.

She appealed to the state government to quickly deploy police in the area to patrol at night and day. Abajah said that there are no police or security personnel deployed in Khartoum-Jadid which made the situation worse.

“We need police to be deployed in Khartoum-Jadid area,” she urged.

Meanwhile, Lakes state government claimed to have deployed forces in the area, but the community dismissed it as propaganda.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese armed opposition group, the SPLA-IO, under the leadership of former Vice-President, Riek Machar, said their cantonment areas came under attacks by forces loyal to President Salva Kiir in Western Bahr el-Ghazal state despite the ceasefire deal signed in August by the two warring parties to end the 21 months of violent conflict in the country.

SPLA soldiers in Malakal, capital of the battleground oil-state of Upper Nile on 15 May 2014 (Photo AFP/Ivan Lieman)

Official spokesman of the opposition leadership confirmed that attacks were reported on Saturday on their bases.

“Forces loyal to the regime in Juba have continued to target our cantonment areas in clear violation of the ceasefire and security arrangements,” said James Gatdet Dak.

“On Saturday government forces attacked our cantonment area in Bazia. They have been however repulsed, but fighting has continued even on Sunday,” he said.

He accused government forces of targeting civilians in the area, saying President Salva Kiir's forces falsely accused civilians of being supporters of the opposition fighters in the area.

Dak called on the government to respect the ceasefire and stop targeting cantonment areas across the country.

Earlier, the opposition faction accused government forces of air raiding Mundri cantonment area in Western Equatoria state in which they lost two Brigadier Generals and a number of soldiers in the attack.

The two parties in October agreed on a security arrangement to assemble their respective forces in cantonment areas, pending reunification process for at least 18 months of the transitional period.

The attacks came as members of the advance team from the opposition group are preparing to travel to Juba for the implementation of the peace agreement.

Other unofficial unreliable sources also claimed that government forces were matching towards the Lou-Nuer area to attack it in Jonglei state.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Central Darfur Governor Jaafar Abdel-Hakam has announced that a recent audit in his State bodies has revealed enormous administrative corruption .

Central Darfur governor, Jaafar Abdel Hakam (Photo SUNA)

"Wide administrative corruption was discovered with respect to salaries .It was found that a big number of workers collect salaries without reporting to their jobs .The pay sheets also contained names of workers who had already died or moved to other occupations elsewhere,'' said the governor following a meeting of the state's cabinet, on Sunday.

He said the meeting has also issued a firm directive as regards the speedy implementation of President Omer al-Bashir's decree to computerize the government salaries and payments.

Any hesitation or delay in implementing this decree will be seen as administrative corruption and an obstruction of the administrative reform adopted by the government, he further warned.

In this respect, the Central Darfur Government had directed the local banks to open accounts for all the state's employees as of last November.

After endorsing the State's budget for 2016, the Government has also urged all ministries and municipalities to stop any employee who is on leave for learning purposes or who is absent from his job without any legal permission.

The Government has also stopped any appointments in scales 14 and 17. It said appointments in scale 9 should only be made through the public service recruitment committee from now onwards.

(ST)

Following the triple suicide attacks carried out on the island of Koulfoua on the Chadian side of Lake Chad yesterday, which left more than 30 dead and many more injured, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon condemned the brutal attacks stating that these &#8220despicable acts demonstrate yet again the brutality of Boko Haram.&#8221

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