Africa

December 8, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has released a college student who has been detained for seeking to join the Islamic State (ISIS) in Libya.

ISIS fighters in Derna, eastern Libya (Photo Reuters)

Multiple sources told Sudan Tribune Tuesday that Salih Kamal al-Deen al-Majzoub has been arrested at the crossing point on the Sudanese/ Libyan border while he was trying to join ISIS last July.

The same sources pointed that al-Majzoub, who is a sophomore student at the University of Bahri, left his parents' home in Al-Doroshab neighborhood in Khartoum North under the pretext that he is travelling to offer his condolences on the death of his friends' father in Gadaref State in eastern Sudan.

According to the sources, al-Majzoub has disappeared and his family informed the police and issued a criminal leaflet including his photo and circulated it in the social media networks.

It is noteworthy that al-Majzoub's father is a leading figure of the Sudanese Islamic Movement (IM) and holds the position of the movement's organizational secretary in Khartoum North.

A well informed source told Sudan Tribune that NISS have identified al-Majzoub after he crossed Al-Daba station along the North highway, saying he was detained inside a shed in the Great Desert (Sahara) before he reached the Libyan border.

According to the source, al-Majzoub was then transferred to a detention center in Khartoum where he spent about four months before he was released and handed over to his parents last week.

NISS organizes discussion rounds with the extremists inside their detention centers in order to review their thought. They usually pledge before their release not to seek to join any Jihadi movement abroad.

The flow of Sudanese youngsters- both males and females- to join ISIS has become a recurrent event this year with authorities in Khartoum seemingly unable to stop it.

In October, a college student who attends the Faculty of Medicine at the Islamic University of Omdurman has perished in mysterious circumstances on the borders with Libya while trying to join ISIS.

The list of Sudanese ISIS recruits included the daughter of former foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq who flew to Syria via Turkey with 17 others. Her father at the time reportedly accused circles in the state of facilitating her departure.

ISIS infiltration into Sudan among the youths has become known last March after British media outlets confirmed that nine medical students from Sudanese origins entered Syria via Turkey to work in hospitals under the control of ISIS.

Last October, the ministry of interior in Khartoum announced that about 70 Sudanese both males and females have went on to join the ISIS franchises both in Libya and Syria.

(ST)

December 8, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Officials of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) have defended the recent appointment of Angelina Teny, wife of the South Sudan's opposition leader, Riek Machar, to head their national committee for security and defence, saying there was no reason for critics to be “sensational” about it.

Angelina Teny (ST)

After her appointment became public on Tuesday, the topic dominated discussions in various social media groupings with proponents congratulating the SPLM-IO leadership while opponents criticizing it, arguing that the opposition leader should not have appointed his wife to the top defence position in the movement.

Critics, some of whom are supporters of the SPLM-IO, raised concern that there would be “conflict of interest” if she heads the important security and defence national committee while her husband is the commander-in-chief of the SPLA-IO forces.

Machar's media official, James Gatdet Dak, responded to the circulated criticism, saying Angelina's appointment was not based on being wife of the opposition leader.

“There is no reason to be sensational about it. Madam Angelina was not appointed to the position as wife of our chairman. She qualified as South Sudanese citizen, as active member of the SPLM/SPLA. And not only as active official of the SPLM/SPLA (IO), but also as somebody who represented the movement during the peace negotiations which led to the peace agreement,” Dak told Sudan Tribune when contacted on Tuesday.

“She played a leading role in the negotiations, and particularly on the security arrangements,” he further explained.

Dak further reminded critics that Teny negotiated the peace agreement without conflict of interest.

He said she is knowledgeable in the security sector reform in the peace agreement, adding she is an “outright politician” whose capacity to effectively contribute to the welfare of the nation should not be denied just because she is wife of the leader of the opposition faction.

Teny served for years as deputy minister of petroleum and mining in the then Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in Khartoum before South Sudan split from Sudan in July 2011 while her husband, Machar, was at the same time serving as the vice president of the then Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS).

She also contested in the April 2010 elections for the position of governor in her home state of Unity, but narrowly lost to the opposition faction's current chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, at the same time when her husband was also serving as vice president.

He also said the British educated woman was instrumental in organizing women in the SPLM-IO, by playing a leading role in establishing their women league in the movement.

It is for the first time that the opposition faction has appointed an official to head the defence national committee which had been vacant for the past two years of the war.

The security and defence national committee will be responsible for formulating and initiating security and defence policies of the opposition army, pending reunification of the two separate armies after 18 months of the would be transitional period of 30 months.

It will oversee the implementation of the security arrangements as well as ensure adoption of security and defence policies in the reform and transformation agenda of the country's security sector.

A peace agreement was signed in August between president Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Machar, to end 21 months of brutal war which erupted on 15 December 2013 when differences emerged over democracy and reforms within the leadership of the ruling SPLM.

Tens of thousands have been killed and millions others displaced either internally or to neighbouring countries, with the country's economy on the verge of collapse.

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December 7, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese and international groups, and prominent rights activists Monday called on the UN chief and American president to hold the Sudanese government responsible for prevention humanitarian access to civilians in the war affected areas.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) meets with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C. on 4 August 2015 (UN Photo/Mark Garten)

In a letter extended to Ban Ki-moon and Barak Obama, the signatories said that blocking humanitarian access to civilians in the rebel held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile should be recognized as a crime and violation of the international humanitarian law.

The letter seen by Sudan Tribune further says that the Sudanese government can be held accountable for this crime against humanity in line with the international law principles and treaties.

"Article 7 of the Rome Statute, the founding legal statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), sets forth crimes against humanity as including inhumane acts of intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health".

The International Criminal Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), in its judgment in Kristic, "found that the blocking of aid convoys was part of the “creation of a humanitarian crisis,” which, combined with crimes of terror and forcible transfers, incurred individual responsibility for inhumane acts and persecution as crimes against humanity" the signatories further stressed.

Also, they mention the UN Security Council Resolution 2046 (2012) on Sudan which strongly urges the warring parties in the Two Areas to comply with international humanitarian law and the guiding principles of emergency humanitarian assistance for safe, unhindered and immediate access of the United Nations and other humanitarian personnel to deliver equipment and supplies and to assist conflict-affected civilian populations.

Adding that the African Union Peace and Security Council has repeatedly urged the parties to respect human rights and International Humanitarian Law and to allow humanitarian assistance to reach those in need.

During the recent round of talks in Addis Ababa last November, the two parties failed to strike a deal on the Humanitarian access to the war zones.

The government refused the SPLM-N demand for "multiple access of humanitarian assistance",
saying relief operations can be conducted only from government-controlled areas.

"For obvious reasons, the people of the Two Areas do not trust the government of Sudan, and many parts of the population may well refuse to accept assistance that emanates from government-controlled areas. This will make assistance coming solely from government controlled areas ineffective and will undermine the very result that the international community is hoping to create," the letter said.

The call has been signed by 93 groups including Sudanese organization in the Diaspora, Act for Sudan, Humanity United United to End genocide and Waging Peace- London.

Among the signatories also, former U.S. special envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios, human rights Lawyer and former UN special representative in Gaza, Bosnia and Lebanon Amin Mekki Medani, House of Lords member, Baroness (Caroline) Cox, Sudan researcher Eric Reeves, Lord Alton of Liverpool who is also a member of the All Party British Parliamentary Group on Sudan and former head of the UN in Sudan Mukesh Kapila.

(ST)

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December 8, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Angelina Teny, wife of South Sudan's opposition leader, Riek Machar, will chair the national committee for security and defence in the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), a position corresponding to the ministry of national security and defence in the government.

Riek Machar sits next to his wife Angelina Teny in front of their tent in rebel-controlled territory inside Jonglei state, on 31 January 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

Teny has been appointed with effect from 6 November 2015 in accordance with the resolutions of the opposition faction in Nasir and Pagak, respectively.

“Pursuant to SPLM/SPLA Conference Resolutions (Nasir and Pagak), I, Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM/SPLA, hereby appoint Cde Angelina Tenya as Chairperson of National Committee for Security and Defence,” reads the appointment letter extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday morning.

It is for the first time that the opposition faction has appointed an official to head the defence national committee which had been vacant for the past two years of the war.

The security and defence national committee will be responsible for formulating and initiating security and defence policies of the opposition army, pending reunification of the two separate armies after 18 months of the would be transitional period of 30 months.

It will oversee the implementation of the security arrangements as well as ensure adoption of security and defence policies in the reform and transformation agenda of the country's security sector.

Teny has been playing a leading role in the peace negotiations on security issues leading to the agreement on the permanent ceasefire and security arrangements for the transitional period.

Before the split of South Sudan from Sudan in July 2011, she served as deputy national minister of mining and energy in the then government of national unity in Khartoum.

The opposition leader also appointed Losube Ludoru Wongo as chairperson for national committee for land, housing and environment.

He also appointed Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, as chairperson for labour, human resources development, relieving him from his previous position as chairperson for public enterprise.

The latest appointments came as the opposition group prepares to return to the national capital, Juba, for formation of a transitional government of national unity with president Salva Kiir.

(ST)

December 7, 2015 (WAU) - The chairperson of South Sudan's opposition People's Liberation Party (PLP), Peter Mayen Majongdit was last week rushed to a nearby clinic in the capital, Juba after he was allegedly poisoned, close relatives disclosed.

Peter Mayen Majondit (ST)

"He started vomiting and fell on the ground unconscious; we immediately took him to hospital”, Aluet Majongdit, a sister to the opposition leader told Sudan Tribune Monday.

A report from a local clinic where Majongdit was admitted reportedly showed the PLP leader was "poisoned", but was slowly recovering at the Juba-based medical facility.

“I did eat local food with [an] unknown gentleman, who introduced himself as Mr. James and he said that he like my party and he did invited me for food at nearby restaurant closed to where I was waiting for a friend to meet”, recalled the vocal opposition figure.

A family member said they repeatedly warned Majongdit over his lifestyle.

"He [Majongdit] just believes in everyone, he interacts freely with everyone and he likes common places. He does not behave like a politician. He is so simple but that can be damaging to him”, said the family member.

“We as a party shall now regulate his movement and communication our chairperson lifestyles shall now must be regulated by, that shall include his meetings, visits and all appointment must be made to the party leadership”, said the party's secretary general.

“We cannot point at anyone [responsible] for now due to lack of enough evidence”, he added.

Last month, the PLP attracted public attention after it threatened to stage protests if government failed to address the economic meltdown in the country. He specifically cited fuel crisis, high prizes in markets and lack of foreign currency as major setbacks.

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December 7, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese minister of Finance Badr al-Din Mahmoud urged lawmakers to endorse his government's plan to introduce new cuts to subsidies on flour, wheat, fuel and electricity in the 2016 budget.

Sudanese finance minister Badr al-Din Mahmoud

Several hundreds of demonstrators were killed during nationwide protests in September 2013 after the government cut fuel subsidies in order to mitigate the financial downfall created by the secession of the oil-rich south in mid-2011.

Mahmoud said in remarks before the national assembly on Monday that over the past year 10.5 billion SDG pounds (USD $1.7 billion) were allocated to subsidies.

The curtailment of subsidies will enable the government to direct funds to other productive sectors to bring the country out of the current “economic bottleneck” and “distress” currently experienced by the Sudanese people, he said.

He stressed that the 2016 budget aims to reduce inflation and imports and direct more resources to agricultural production and boost non-oil revenue.

The minister urged the national and state legislative councils to lead a campaign to increase productivity and transform Sudan “from a consuming nation to a producing one”.

Mahmoud pledged to increase wages and pensions and widen social safety net to support the poor and improve living conditions, through the provision of basic goods and reducing of government expenditures.

The Sudanese pound has fallen against the dollar to a new low of 11.5 SDG in the black market compared an official rate of approximately 6 SDG thus increasing the prices of basic goods imported mostly from abroad.

(ST)

The United Nations today stepped up its efforts to mitigate the effects of the worst drought to strike Ethiopia in 30 years, with an appeal from the heads of four UN humanitarian bodies for massive international funding now to pre-empt the high risk of death and large scale suffering later.

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December 7, 2015 (BOR) - The governor of South Sudan's Jonglei state, John Kong Nyuon last week relieved and reappointed his health minister to the finance ministry.

The state decrees on the new changes were made by the office of the governor in Bor.

Angok Kuol, the former minister of health was relieved from his position and was reappointed as the minister of finance in the state. The finance ministry had been vacant since the former minister in charge, Dhano Obongo was sacked on 24 May this year.

Meanwhile, Nyoun appointed Barnabas Okuny, the Akobo county MP, as the new health minister.

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December 7, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's foreign ministry under-secretary Abdel-Ghani al-Naem will lead his country's delegation to the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva.

Aid workers from the ICRC and Sudanese Red Crescent distribute blankets to Sudanese refugees in Sudan's Darfur. (File -Photo ICRC).

Representatives of nearly every government in the world, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and partner organisations will gather in Geneva between 8 to 10 December for the 32 nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq told reporters last week end that the conference would tackle three major issues including ways to prevent and respond to violence, safeguard safety and access to humanitarian assistance and services and reducing disaster risk and strengthening resilience.

He pointed that events accompanying the conference would focus on the reduction of the severity of effects and consequences of conflicts besides the lessons learned in peace-building and reconciliation.

Al-Sadiq added that an open discussion session on the fundamental humanitarian principles will also be held during the conference, expecting effective participation from his country's delegation in this regard in light of Sudan's experiences in this domain.

He further pointed that several sessions would be held on the sidelines of the conference to discuss migration issues and how to protect migrants, noting that Sudan's participation in those sessions would be based on its long experience in dealing with refugees from neighbouring countries.

It is noteworthy that the conference, which meets every four years to reflect and take decisions on pressing humanitarian issues, is the premier global forum to enhance and inspire humanitarian debates.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

December 7, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia and Kenya in partnership with the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) launched on Monday a program to end conflicts and foster peace along their common borders.

Ethiopian prime minister, Hailemariam Dessalegn (Getty)

Ethiopia's foreign affairs minister, Tedros Adhanom and his Kenyan counterpart, Amina Mohamed inked the agreement to implement the initiative known as the “Marsabit County of Kenya-Borana zone of Ethiopia Integrated Cross Border and Area-based Program”

The five-year Integrated Program intends to arrest long-standing cross-border conflicts between communities of both sides and bring about sustainable development in the northern Marsabit county of Kenya and Ethiopia's southern Borana zone.

The Ethiopian prime minister, Hailemariam Dessalegn and Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, launched the $200 million program and unveiled a peace declaration at a ceremony held at the border town of Moyale.

“This is a historic a function. The presence of the Prime Minister is a reminder of Ethiopia's commitment to deeper relationship between the countries and the people” said Kenyatta at the launch of the program.

The Kenyan leader, during the occassion, further stressed that lasting security and development could only be achieved when the various local communities were involved.

“The program being launched is transformative in nature. Poverty and violence have rained and we must do everything to end conflict and ensure people in those marginalized areas have equal opportunities like all other parts of the country”, he said.

Dessalgn, on his part, said both governments are committed to enhance peace and development in the sub-region and expressed hope that peace would soon prevail at the borders.

“Cross-border cooperation is an integral element of the inevitable and already begun process of regional integration between and among our sisterly nations”, he said.

The Ethiopian prime minister said his government was committed to address historical marginalization of the region and will heighten efforts to uplift the people out of poverty.

Desalegn further said the program will have an important contribution to advance the Lamu-Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor.

The Ethiopian leader further expressed commitment to support the cross-border program aimed at bringing durable peace and development in the two countries.

The launch of the border peace program is a follow-up of an initiative launched in October 2014 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, World Bank President Jim Kim and the IGAD Council of Ministers to boost economic growth, reduce poverty and promote business activities in the Horn of Africa through cross-border cooperation, among others.

The Ethiopia-Kenya border had long been a source of conflict between Ethiopian and Kenyan communities residing along the border line mainly over natural resources.

During the past few years, conflicts along the common border have led to deaths of hundreds of people from both sides and forced tens of thousands to displace.

Relations between Ethiopia and Kenya came under threat after Ethiopian forces recently crossed borders into Kenya to hunt members of the Oromo Liberation Movement (OLF) a group designated as a terrorist entity by the Ethiopian government.

(ST)