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Sudan declines Ethiopian proposal for data sharing on GERD filling

dim, 11/04/2021 - 08:40

April 10, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan has declined an Ethiopian offer to share data on the second filling of a giant dam before reaching a legally binding agreement. Egypt has adopted a similar position.

Ethiopia's foreign ministry on Saturday said it has formally requested Sudan and Egypt to "nominate dam operators to exchange data before the second filling of the GERD commences in the upcoming rainy seasons in Ethiopia".

"In the letters addressed to Minister of Water Affairs of Sudan and Egypt, the Minister of Water Affairs of Ethiopia invited the two countries to nominate focal persons/ dam operators to exchange data among the three countries with regards to the second-year filling which will take place in July and August 2021".

The Ethiopian offer triggered an immediate rejection in Khartoum by both the foreign affairs and the water ministries.

"Any sharing of information without a legally binding agreement comes as a gift from Ethiopia that can be held back at any moment," said the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mariam al-Mahdi in a statement on Saturday morning.

"It is important to reach a legally binding agreement on the information of the filling and operation together and not one without the other," al-Mahdi further stressed.

Ethiopian officials say nearly 80% of the dam has been built and plan to carry out a preliminary energy-generating trial this year before reaching its full capacity of 15,695 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually, in the future.

In a separate statement, the Irrigation Ministry said that the Ethiopian irrigation minister in a letter on Thursday 8 April informed Sudan they will release about one billion cubic meters of water in less than 48 hours to test the lower gates of the dam.

"This is a short period for taking preventive technical measures, showing the importance of reaching a binding agreement before filling the dam," stressed the statement.

The ministry further added these measures mean that part of the filling process will take place during May and June, contrary to the agreed schedules that provide the start of filling in next July.

"This will put pressure on the Sudanese electricity generation system," added the emphasized.

It worth mentioning that the technical details of the filling process have been agreed upon by the parties during the 9-years talks.

The irrigation ministry stressed the need to strike a binding agreement according to which the parties can manage their needs in water and strategic projects adding that it remains possible to negotiate it in one week.

Ethiopia had proposed to negotiate two separate deals one on the filling and another on the operation of the dam. Also, they repeatedly said that the downstream countries want to control the Blue Nile water.

Last year, they proposed to negotiate a water-sharing deal but Cairo and Khartoum rejected the idea pointing it was not part of the 2015 Declaration of Principles. As a result, Addis Ababa proposed to restart talks from scratch.

Sudan during the past years sought to reassure Ethiopia and often backed its positions even when Egypt lodged a complaint to the UN Security Council, Khartoum backed the idea to maintain the file at the level of the African Union.

However, Sudanese authorities have been surprised by the unilateral filling of the first phase without any notification from Addis Ababa.

The irrigation minister said in December 2020, Addis Abba refused to respond to their question about the sudden change of the percentage of silt in the water saying any information sharing will be effective once an agreement is signed.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Sudan's women call for parity in political representation

sam, 10/04/2021 - 12:01

April 9, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Women groups in Sudan on Friday released a Women Manifesto calling for empowering women's political representation and to repeal gender discriminations including that in the personal statutes.

Sudanese women massively participated in the 4-month protests that toppled down the oppressive regime of Omer al-Bashir that excluded women from the public space and confiscated their rights in the name of Islam.

However, the Sudanese government still did not ratify an international treaty on women's rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and an African charter known as Maputo Protocol, despite several pledges made by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.

To urge the government to meet is pledge to sign CEDAW and to amend or repeal discriminatory laws by the former Islamist regime, women groups from all trends staged a protest on Thursday outside the ministry of justice and the Attorney General Office in Khartoum calling for the gender equality and empowerment of women political participation.

The protesters handed over a petition calling to ensure gender in the parliament and to amend the election law to allow women to run for office on behalf of their communities, not just on the women's lists.

Further, the petition urged the abolition of all discriminatory laws and policies, including criminal law and labour law.

Also, it called for the enactment of legislation criminalizing discrimination based on gender, including the abolition of male guardianship authority, equality for women before courts, and the recognition of full testimony in courtrooms.

The march mobilized "thousands of women together to protest against militarization, pervasive injustice against women and girls, gendered killings, and the normalization of sexual violence as the result of severe discriminatory laws that are still in effect in Sudan despite the fall of the ex-regime of Al-Bashir and his militant Islamists," said SIHA Network in a statement released after the protest on Thursday.

The Horn of Africa women group further denounced attacks on the female protesters.

"One woman was taken to hospital, but there are no further reports yet of other major injuries. Other men came out of their cars to physically assault the protestors," said the group.

"One student has said that she was punched and that her attacker threatened to rape her. Several of the protestors have already gone to the local police station to make formal reports of these incidents, 8 of which have already been recorded,"

The driver has been arrested, but it is unclear whether the other attackers have been apprehended, SIHA stressed.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Sudan has legitimate concerns about GERD unilateral filing

sam, 10/04/2021 - 08:52

April 9, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan has legitimate concerns about the unilateral filling of the Ethiopian giant dam, said a South Sudanese minister during a visit to Khartoum.

South Sudan's Irrigation Minister Manawa Gatkuoth met with his Sudanese counterpart on Thursday to discuss bilateral cooperation and ways to update a framework cooperation agreement between the two sides.

Gatkuoth "affirmed Sudan's legitimate concerns about the unilateral filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)," said the Sudan News Agency after the meeting.

"He called on the parties to the negotiations to reach a legally binding agreement on the GERD," further reported the official agency on Friday.

The visiting minister requested technical assistance from the Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation to build water harvesting pits and small dams, in addition to providing technical support in rehabilitating and maintaining pumps for Renk schemes.

Technical teams from the two countries will exchanges visits in the coming weeks.

On 2 April, the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported that Minister Gatkuoth received the Ethiopian Ambassador to Juba Nebil Mahidi.

According to the official agency, the South Sudanese minister said Ethiopia reaffirmed Ethiopia's full right to utilize its natural resources for its development.

"According to the Minister, amicable negotiation will be the key to resolve the issues with the downstream countries on the GERD," further said ENA.

Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt again failed to strike a deal on a mechanism to finalize an agreement over the outstanding issues including the exchange of data related to the filling process with downstream countries, conflict resolution mechanisms and a legally binding agreement.

"The tripartite talk on the GERD within the framework of the African Union is the key to resolve the issue sustainably," said Ambassador Mahidi, expressing the rejection of his government of a four-way mediation led by the African Union including the United Nations, the US and the UK.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

UN urges Sudan to hold accountable responsible for W. Darfur tribal violence

sam, 10/04/2021 - 07:26


April 9, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the Sudanese government to investigate the tribal attacks in West Darfur and to hold accountable the perpetrators.

Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday issued a statement to condemn the new tribal violence between Masalit and Arab tribes in El Geneina that resulted in the death of 125 people and injured over 200 others.

"We are appalled by the latest resurgence of violence" in West Darfur, said Hurtado. "We are also disturbed by the slow progress in ensuring accountability for this and previous violence, despite repeated calls by victims and their families" she added.

The region witnessed similar attacks between the Massalit and the Rizeigat that occurred in El-Geneina in December 2019, and January 2021.

The Sudanese Attorney General announced that 15 prosecutors have been sent to West Darfur to investigate the recent violence.

Also, the prosecution referred 33 alleged perpetrators for trial over the clashes in January 2021 and established a committee to investigate December 2019 violence.

The statement welcomed the steps taken by the authorities to contain the situation in El Geneina after the deployment of additional troops and stressed the need for concrete measures to address the disputes over land, pasture and water resources which are the root causes of the violence.

"Independent, impartial and thorough investigations into these acts of violence must be initiated without delay. Effective accountability processes must be established to pave the way for genuine reconciliation and lasting peace".

Further, the spokesperson urged the transitional government to ensure prompt, transparent and effective follow-up to these investigations. All those responsible for human rights abuses must be held accountable".

"Grievances from both sides must be tackled after decades-long ethnic disputes stoked by the previous regime".

West Darfur Governor Mohamed al-Doma on Thursday urged to restore the state authority and to collect weapons, as well as protecting civilians.

He said the state authorities have requested the interior and defence ministries in vain to send more troops.

The governor who is from the Massalit tribe said he offered his resignation but the transitional government rejected it to avoid igniting further rifts on ethnic bases similar to what happened in Kassala state.

The OHCHR official urged the Sudanese government to protect civilians and to accelerate the implementation of the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Aweil community asks Kiir to remove NBG's governor, warns chaos

sam, 10/04/2021 - 05:18

April 9, 2021 (JUBA)- Aweil community leadership in South Sudan's Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has requested to remove Governor Tong Akeen Ngor, warning a failure would wreak chaos in a peaceful community.

The request comes after the arrest of an activist who campaigned against the governor management of state affairs and his efforts to create a new constituency.

In a petition to President Salva Kiir on Friday Awel Community elders accused the governor of causing social disharmony and disunity instead of implementing peace in the state.

"He is dividing people. He is arresting people and he is diverting resources to enrich himself," reads a statement signed by Aweil Community elders extended to the Sudan Tribune.

The statement elders further said the governor ordered the arrest of a young man called Samuel Garang Dut because he questioned the basis of a decision to divide some areas in Aweil to form a new constituency. Also, he shared on social media a picture showing a new house of the governor.

“For peace and unity of our people, this governor, your Excellency, must be removed. His actions are stoking anger, the statement reads. "We will not accept and we will accept nothing but his removal", it adds.

Police authorities in Aweil confirmed Dut's, pointing to his activities on social media.

"We are acting on directives given to us. If you want to know ask the governor or someone in his office. (The governor) is now at the airport going to Juba. If you want to know, wait for him at Juba airport and he will speak to you about this arrest", a policeman told Sudan Tribune on Friday.

The Sudan Tribune failed to reach the governor after his arrival in Juba. Also, his office was not available for comment on Dut's arrest.

Governor Ngor who was picked for the position by President Kiir has joined the SPLM after the 2005 peace agreement after working with Khartoum for long years.

Those who took part in the liberation struggle contest the appointment of such people who are often described as South Sudan's National Congress Party (NCP) in reference to the former ruling party in Sudan.

Contested authority

Many veteran politicians and senior officers in the army turned down assignments offered to them by the governor, preferring to stay without assignments than working under his authority.

"This is a clear humiliation. Nothing explains this. When I was a commanding officer fighting the government in Khartoum, this guy was busy fighting us. He mobilized Murrahallen and came to fight us in 2001 in the battle of Tit Chok Mareng. Have you not heard about it?"

"He was on the other side of the enemy and I was in the liberation struggle fighting to liberate our people. If the leadership has forgotten my contribution and the cause of war, then I better stay in my home," a liberation veteran told Sudan Tribune on Friday when asked to comment on the demand of the community.

The veteran who preferred anonymity said the governor feels the lack of acknowledgement and legitimacy so, he tries to impose his authority.

"Ngor feels small in their eyes and therefore wants to exert his rule using force and intimidation," he said.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Sudan, Qatar agree to reactivate bilateral agreements

ven, 09/04/2021 - 12:27

April 8, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and Qatar agreed to reactivate bilateral agreements, said the head of the Sovereign Council at the end of his first visit to the gas-rich Gulf Arab state on Thursday.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan concluded a two-day visit to Doha where held talks with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad, his government officials, Qatari businessmen and the large Sudanese community in Doha.

Before returning to Khartoum, al-Burhan told reporters in Doha that he agreed with Tamim to "reactivate bilateral agreements and visits".

Al-Burhan said that there are more than 36 agreements and protocols between Sudan and Qatar that will be reactivated. Also, a government and businessmen delegation will visit Khartoum next week to discuss cooperation and investment in Sudan.

Also, he requested that Qatar continue its support for peace in Sudan pointing to its previous efforts to end the conflict but also as one of the guarantors of the Juba Peace Agreement.

On 31 January 2021, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo "Hemetti" visited Doha where he met with the Emir and government officials.

Hemetti, at the time, spoke about "was frank and direct" with Tamim about bilateral relations, as the Sudanese government official abstained from visiting his country during the rift with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

WFP cuts food rations for refugees, IDPs in South Sudan

ven, 09/04/2021 - 09:56
People in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan collect food from WFP (WFP/eter Testuzza Photo)

April 8, 2021 (JUBA) - The World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday said it is cutting food rations for nearly 700,000 refugees and internally displaced people in South Sudan, citing the significant funding gaps.

The WFP Representative in South Sudan, Matthew Hollingworth said effective from April, refugees and internally displaced people will start receiving 50 per cent of a full ration, from 70 per cent.

“It is a very painful decision to take from the hungry to give to the starving, but this is the reality; because of the alarming rise of food insecurity in remote locations, WFP has to reduce the size of its rations in some communities, including refugees and internally displaced people, who are in a less precarious situation,” he explained.

The agency said its resources in South Sudan are stretched thin at a time when levels of food insecurity are at their highest in a decade and donors are grappling with the economic impact of COVID-19.

“We must try to save the lives of those likely to face famine during the lean season if they do not receive sufficient assistance. WFP simply does not have enough resources to provide full rations to all of those in South Sudan who rely on our assistance to survive,” said Hollingworth.

WFP said it urgently needs $125 million for its food assistance operations for the next six months to provide food in sufficient quantities, including larger food rations for refugees and the displaced.

Those affected reportedly include some 440,000 internally displaced people in Bentiu, Bor, Juba, Malakal, Mingkaman and Wau as well as nearly 260,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Sudan, who rely on WFP assistance to meet most of their food needs.

The situation remains dire across the country as almost 7 million people or 60 per cent of the population are struggling to find enough food each day, aid agencies say.

South Sudan has been struggling to recover from five years of a civil war that killed almost 400,000 people, according to reports. A coalition government formed in February last year between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar is implementing a revitalized peace agreement that is behind schedule, while deadly violence continues in parts of the country.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Death toll in West Darfur tribal violence rises to 125

ven, 09/04/2021 - 09:54

April 8, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The death toll from tribal violence in West Darfur State has risen to 125, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said in a statement on Thursday.

Fresh clashes between the Arab Rizeigat and Masalit communities erupted in the capital of West Darfur State on Saturday 3 April despite the deployment of troops in the region to prevent such violence.

"The CCSD recorded further 38 deaths and 17 wounded, bringing the total death toll to 125 deaths and 208 wounded," said the medical group.

The new Inter-communal fighting displaced over 109,000 people and generated new needs.

For its part, the government declared a state of emergency in the state and deployed more troops to prevent escalation of the violence.

The UN humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) in Sudan said the intercommunal fighting has affected the distribution of humanitarian assistance to some 700,000 people in West and Central Darfur states.

Citing the government Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), the OCHA said that two internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps and four gathering sites have been partially burnt during the recent attack.

The death toll and number of IDPs are likely to increase as more information becomes available.

The security forces that patrol El Geneina have been authorized to open fire if needed to stop the tribal attacks and to collect weapons.

The West Darfur Governor Mohamed Al-Doma Thursday blamed the transitional government for not implementing the state of emergency.

"There is a carelessness towards (the situation in) the state, and I feel injustice as a result of this negligence," added the governor who is a member of the Massalit group.

Also, he said that these gunmen who committed the recent attacks came from Chad.

"These militias can be dismantled according to a plan in which the countries of the region participate. The United Nations can also participate in the protection of civilians, he said.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

UAE's initiative aims to divide Al-Fashaga between Sudan, Ethiopia: Agar

ven, 09/04/2021 - 08:02

April 8, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - A Senior Sudanese official rejected an initiative by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to settle the border dispute with Ethiopia saying it aims to divide the claimed Al-Fashaga area between the two countries.

"The UAE wants to divide our land and we will not accept that," said Malik Agar member of the Sovereign Council and SPLM-N faction leader in remarks delivered during an event at the Horn of Africa Studies and Research Center in Khartoum on Wednesday.

Agar is the first Sudanese official to speak about the content of the UAE initiative which was disclosed by the Sudanese cabinet last month. Also, Khartoum dispatched the foreign and defence minister to Abu Dhabi to discuss the initiative without elaborating on it.

"The UAE wants to distribute our land. This is a biased initiative that will cast its shadow and repercussions on the region," added the former rebel leader who hailed from the Blue Nile region bordering Ethiopia.

According to several Sudanese officials, the UAE proposed to withdraw the Sudanese troops from the border areas that it has controlled since November 2020, divide the income of the UAE investment projects in Al-Fashaga by 40% for Sudan, 40% for the Emirates and 20% for Ethiopian farmers.

Agar said that there were no Ethiopian claims in the past but the ousted regime created this crisis.

His statements allude to the reported deal between the former president and the late Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi providing to prevent the Eritrea-supported Sudanese rebel groups from sneaking into Sudan through his country. In return, al-Bashir allows the Ethiopian farmers to cultivate a fertile area.

"I was leading a rebellion and I know well that what is happening now is nothing but the creation of myths," he said about the claims by the government of Abiy Ahmed who reconciled his country with Eritrea.

Al-Burhan who spent most of his career in the border army repeats everywhere that al-Bashir was responsible for the current crisis because he had ordered to abandon the border military stations and redeploy troops leaving the Al-Fashaga area to Ethiopian farmers and their militias.

The border dispute gave al-Burhan an opportunity to increase his popularity as the army retook control of 95% of the Sudanese border.

The crisis dashed hopes for a regional economic market in the Horn of Africa after the end of a 20-year border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

NAS says not responsible for killings on Juba-Yei road

ven, 02/04/2021 - 11:39

April 1, 2021 (YEI) - The Leadership of National Salvation Front (NAS) has strongly refuted allegations that its forces ambushed and killed people on the Juba-Yei road.

At least nine Ugandan drivers were been killed in a deadly ambush on the Yei-Juba highway in neighboring South Sudan last weekend, authorities confirmed.

The opposition group, in a statement, said it was not the first time its forces were wrongly accused by President Salva Kiir's government.

“On the same note, NAS condemns the irresponsible remarks made by the Governor of Central Equatoria State (CES) Hon. Emmanuel Adil Anthony who falsely accused NAS of carrying out road ambushes and further describing NAS as terrorist organization,” partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

It further stated that citizens of Central Equatoria State, in particular, and South Sudan in general lived in agony because of the “atrocities being committed by the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) and its allied militia”.

“The SSPDF and its allied militia have been repeatedly looting, burning houses, killing, raping women and displacing the citizens from their villages,” it stressed.

The hold-out opposition group largely blamed the recent attacks on innocent civilians on the country's national army and pastoralists operating in these areas.

“On the other development, the cattle keepers from different areas of South Sudan are freely marauding and grazing in the whole of Central Equatoria State, armed with modern weapons, and constantly supplied with food as well as ammunition from their benefactors from Juba,” further noted the statement.

Meanwhile, NAS reiterated its commitment to the Cessions of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed in 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and to the Rome Declaration signed in 2020 in Rome, Italy.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

South Sudan's Kiir vows to prioritize fight against hunger

ven, 02/04/2021 - 11:38

April 1, 2021 (BOR) - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has said his government will prioritize the fight against hunger across the young nation.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

The South Sudanese leader made the remarks while addressing citizens during his visit to the Jonglei state capital, Bor on Thursday.

The situation remains dire across the country as almost 7 million people or 60 percent of the population are struggling to find enough food each day, aid agencies say.

“The president and his accompanying delegation visited the IDPs [internally displaced persons] in Mongalla payam and other camps along Juba-Bor road and keenly listened to their problems and demands,” the presidency said on Thursday.

Kiir also inspected the ongoing construction of the project on the Juba-Bor highway and commended the progress so far made on it.

For his part, senior presidential advisor, Kuol Manyang Juuk said the president is tirelessly committed to deliver services to the population.

He advised citizens not to listen to activists intending to divide the country, while urging the people of Greater Jonglei state to unite and support the president in the implementation of the peace deal.

The governor of Jonglei state, Denay Jok Chagor assured the South Sudanese leader that citizens fully support the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU).

South Sudan has been struggling to recover from five years of a civil war that killed almost 400,000 people, according to reports. A coalition government formed in February last year between President Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar is implementing a peace agreement that is behind schedule, while deadly violence continues in parts of the country.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Sudan can protect civilians in Darfur, Hamdok tells AUPSC

ven, 02/04/2021 - 10:40

April 1, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Prime Minister reassured African Union about his government's ability to protect civilians in Darfur after the end of the hybrid operation in the western Sudan region.

Abdallah Hamdok and head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met on Thursday with a visiting delegation of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), at the end of a three-day field mission from 29 March to 1 April.

The purpose of the visit is to assess the implementation of the Juba peace agreement and the progress towards the democratic transition in line with the Council's mandate to promote and enhance peace, security and stability in Africa.

"Prime Minister Dr Abdullah Hamdok reaffirmed the Sudanese government's ability to protect civilians in Darfur and the readiness of its forces to fill the void left by the exit of UNAMID (from the western Sudan region)," said his cabinet in a statement after the meeting.

The Sudanese government, up to now has deployed in Darfur 6,000 of 12,000 troops to protect the civilians in Darfur. The Africa Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation, UNAMID, terminated its mandate on 31 December 2020.

The PSC delegation visited Abushuk camp for displaced people outside El Fasher of North Darfur. Also, they met with UNAMID officials who are overseeing the liquidation process.

Al-Burhan who held a separate meeting with the delegation praised the support of the African Union to Sudan's efforts for the success of the transitional period and the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement.

He further urged the PSC to persuade the holdout Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdel-Wahid al-Nur, to join the peace process.

Also, the head of the Sovereign Council stressed that the Peace and Security Council should work to settle all African issues including the GERD process and the border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan.

For his part, Mohamed Idriss Farah Djibouti's Permanent Representative to the AU who spoke on behalf of the PSC delegation told reporters they touched al-Burhan's keenness to activate the role of the African Union to find African solutions to the continent's problems.

"The meeting agreed on the need to provide the African Union with the necessary technical, political and legal capabilities to make its role in mediating the GERD issue a success," he added.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to meet Saturday in DR Congo

ven, 02/04/2021 - 06:52

April 1, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia will meet in the Congolese capital for talks on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on Saturday.

The foreign minister of the riparian countries will meet from 3-5 April in Kinshasa, sources at the foreign ministry and presidency in Kinshasa told the AFP confirming a report published Wednesday by the Jeune Afrique.

It will be the first to be hosted by President Felix Tshisekedi, who took over the chair of the African Union last February.

The meeting will be attended by the chairman of the AU's Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, according to Jeune Afrique.

However, the agenda of the discussions was yet not released.

Sudan has called to establish a four-way mediation headed by the African Union including the European Union, the United States, and the United Nations.

Egypt backed the proposition but Ethiopia said they want an AU mediation.

"Talks to change the modalities of the negotiations should be treated according to the provisions of the DOP, which was signed by the tripartite in 2015," said the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry.

The DOP provides that the three parties will settle any dispute over the DOP implementation through consultation or negotiation in accordance with the principle of good faith.

"If the Parties are unable to resolve the dispute through consultation or negotiation, they may jointly request for conciliation, mediation or refer the matter for the consideration of the Heads of State/Head of Government," reads the Declaration.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Peace monitors call for 35% women representation in parliament

jeu, 01/04/2021 - 11:15

March 31, 2021 (JUBA) - The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) has called for the quick reconstitution of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), while urging the parties to the peace deal to adhere to the 35% level of women's representation in appointments to it.

Members of South Sudan's parliament sing the national anthem during the reopening of parliamentary sessions in the capital, Juba, on 11 June 2012 (Photo: Giulio Petrocco/AFP/Getty)

In a statement to the RJMEC members, the Interim Chairperson H.E. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said a reconstituted TNLA is required to enact a range of legislations critical to the ongoing implementation of the revitalized peace agreement (R-ARCSS).

“I appeal to the RTGoNU [Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity], to reconstitute the assembly to enable the enactment of the Bills into law, and expedite judicial reforms,” said Gituai.

He added, “There is a clear need for more women to be appointed at all levels of government, especially at the state executive and legislative positions.”

Separately, Gituai said the cantonment sites and training centers continue to face serious logistical constraints, such as food, medicines and sufficient shelter, which are still lacking.

He further observed that the female combatants continue to lack appropriate facilities as well as personal hygiene items.

“Training of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) has stalled, and no graduation or redeployment plans have been announced. The lack of sufficient funding to the Security Mechanisms is a constraint,” said Gituai.

The Interim Chairperson of the R-JMEC further said the humanitarian situation in South Sudan is dire, as a result of multiple factors, including widespread sub-national violence, floods, COVID-19 related restrictions, economic challenges and acute food insecurity, impacting humanitarian movement and operations, threatening the safety of staff and assets.

“It is the responsibility of the RTGoNU, as per article 1.2.2, to restore permanent and sustainable peace, security, and stability, and I call upon the Central and State Governments to work jointly with local leaders and curb the violence,” said Gituai.

The operationalisation of the State Security Committees will be instrumental is alleviating the situation,” he stressed.

South Sudan has been struggling to recover from five years of a civil war that killed almost 400,000 people, according to reports. A coalition government formed in February last year between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar is implementing a peace agreement that is behind schedule, while deadly violence continues in parts of the country.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Sudan, Egypt air forces hold new combat drills

jeu, 01/04/2021 - 11:02


March 31, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese and Egyptian armies are conducting new joint air exercises with the participation of special operations units, four months after similar drills.

On 15 November 2020, the two armies launched joint air exercises, dubbed The Nile Eagles1, in Sudan's Marawi military airbase, north of Khartoum.

The Nile Eagles 2, which aim to build up capabilities and to carry out joint operations involving special forces, come amid the growing tensions in the region over the filling of the Ethiopian dam and border dispute with Sudan.

In a press statement on Wednesday, the Egyptian Army Spokesman Brig-Gen Tamer al-Ruffai said that the two armies were conducting the second joint air exercise at Meroe airbase in northern Sudan.

According to the al-Ruffai, the participating forces carried out several joint sorties to attack enemy targets and protect vital sites, with the participation of a group of multi-task fighters.

He added that the special forces carried out exercises on storming, concealment and camouflage operations, and to carry out attacks from different positions.

In a press statement on Wednesday, the Egyptian Army Spokesman Brig-Gen Tamer al-Ruffai said that the two armies were conducting the second joint air exercise at Meroe airbase in northern Sudan.

The Military Media of the Sudanese army issued a statement saying that the chief of staff Lt Gen Mohamed Osman al-Hussein paid a visit to the airbase and met with the forces participating in the joint drills.

Preparations for war

Maj-Gen Amin Ismail, a military expert and lecturer at the Sudanese Higher Security Academy said that the ongoing drills should be considered as a part of the expected scenarios due to the stalemated negotiations on filling and operating the Renaissance Dam.

"There is an option to negotiate and reach an agreement, and there is the option of military action against the dam. So, this (second) option requires to be prepared and the exercises are one of these preparations," he told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

Ismail pointed out that the manoeuvres are also a message to Ethiopia that Sudan and Egypt are ready for military action. Also, it is also a message to the international community that "if it does not intervene effectively, the two countries will turn to the option of war," he stressed.

Sudanese foreign minister told the U.S. Envoy Donald Booth that they stopped the nine-year direct talks because they are no longer trust Ethiopia which Khartoum backed in the past hoping they can broker an acceptable compromise for the three parties.

The unilateral first filing was the turning point between the two countries as Khartoum did not expect that Addis Ababa will deprive them of water for three days and not alert them to protect the two downstream dams.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Community-based militias accounted for 78% of violence in South Sudan, says UNMISS

jeu, 01/04/2021 - 10:46

March 31, 2021 (JUBA) – 78 per cent of killings, injuries, abductions and other forms of violence were committed by community-based militias in South Sudan last year, the United Nations mission in the country (UNMISS) said.

David Shearer UNMISS head briefs the Security Council on 26 September 2017 (UN photo)

The shocking revelations are contained in an “Annual Brief on Violence Affecting Civilians” released by Human Rights Division of UNMISS, which documented killing of 2,421 civilians.

Over 1,500 people, the report noted, were injured last year, up from 866 in 2019.

“Many of the victims of violence were killed or injured during a wave of attacks by armed community-based militias across Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, as well as in Warrap and Lakes,” partly read the UNMISS report released on Wednesday.

“In some cases, these groups were supported by local and national elites driven by political and economic interests,” it added.

According to the report, most of the clashes in the country were concentrated in 13 per cent of the country's 540 administrative areas and largely involved community-based militias rather than conventional parties to the conflict.

Also cited in the report was the rise in cases of abductions, with majority of victims being children stolen from their families during militia-led raids.

Last year, UNMISS deployed peacekeepers to the affected areas ahead of the dry season when conflict traditionally erupts due to tensions between communities over scarce resources.

The UN Security Council has already extended the mandate of UNMISS until March 15, 2022.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Rwanda deploys 80 police officers for peacekeeping in S. Sudan

jeu, 01/04/2021 - 10:08

March 31, 2021 (KIGALI) - A contingent of 80 Rwandan police officers on Tuesday departed for a one-year peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

A contingent of female Rwandan police officers (New Times photo)

The Formed Police Unit Three (FPU-3) replaced another unit which was deployed to at the UN mission in the country in March last year.

The 80 officers had, prior to their departure, spent 14 days in quarantine, tested negative for COVID-19 and given test certificate.

Stationed in Malakal, Upper Nile State, the FPU-3 is largely charged with protection of civilians in internally displaced camps, UN personnel, security of key installations and humanitarian assistance.

UNMISS was established on 8 July 2011 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1996 (2011).

Currently, almost 20,000 peacekeepers serve with UNMISS to protect civilians and build durable peace in the conflict-affected country. The civilian, police and military personnel from 73 countries carry out many duties under the mandate provided by the Security Council.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Sudan calls for U.S. pressures on Ethiopia over GERD filling

jeu, 01/04/2021 - 08:04

March 31, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan has called on the United States to pressure Ethiopia not to fill its giant dam before reaching a legally binding agreement with the riparian countries, while several Arab countries expressed their support for Egypt and Sudan.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated on Tuesday that his government would not allow any prejudice to Egypt's right to the waters of the Nile as a result of the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

"No one can take a drop of water from the waters of Egypt. Whoever wants to try, let him try. But this would destabilize the whole region," he stressed on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mariam Al-Mahdi held a meeting with the visiting U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Donald Booth to discuss the GERD and bilateral relations between Khartoum and Wahington.

"The Minister called on the United States to engage constructive negotiations that would lead to convincing Ethiopia not to fill (the dam) without the consent of the concerned parties," said the Sudanese foreign minister in a statement issued after the meeting.

"Ethiopia's unilateral actions have undermined mutual trust between the two countries," Al-Mahdi further added to explain the shift of the Sudanese position after the unilateral first phase of GERD filling in July 2020.

Sudan has proposed the four-way mediation mechanism after realising that "Ethiopia was manoeuvring to buy time" to complete the second filling of the dam, the minister stressed.

The quadripartite mediation that Sudan proposes, with the support of Egypt, provides forming a mechanism headed by the African Union, with the participation of the European Union, the United Nations and the United States.

Ethiopia opposes the proposal and says it accepts only an African mediation.

In a related development, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman and Kuwait, in addition to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, declared their support for Egyptian and Sudanese position on the GERD filling and operation. The UAE, for its part, called for the resumption of negotiations under international laws.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the Kingdom's support for Egypt and Sudan.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia "affirms that their water security is an integral part of Arab security, and affirms its support for any efforts that contribute to settling the issue of the Renaissance Dam and take into account the interests of all parties, (...) in accordance with international laws and standards."

For their part, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan issued statements similar to the Saudi one.

The UAE foreign ministry stressed the need to negotiate under "applicable international laws and standards to reach a solution acceptable to all and secures the rights and water security of the three countries."

Abu Dhabi is seeking to narrow the gaps between the three countries and has established separate discussions with the three countries over the matter.

In the same vein, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which includes 26 African countries, called for continuing negotiations to reach a comprehensive and fair agreement that preserves the rights and interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, which is facing growing international pressure, declared its adherence to African mediation and declined the four-way mediation.

Before coming to Sudan, Booth met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen to discuss the tripartite process on the GERD.

"Ethiopia is keen to sustaining the African Union-led talks under the Chairmanship of the Democratic Republic of the Congo," said the Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman on 29 March when he referred to the meeting of Mekonnen and Booth.

"Talks to change the modalities of the negotiations should be treated according to the provisions of the DOP, which was signed by the tripartite in 2015," he further stressed.

Ethiopia says determined to carry out next July the second phase to fill the reservoir of the hydropower dam with 13.5 billion-cubic-meter.

Sources close to the file say Ethiopia proposed to coordinate with Sudan to protect its downstream dams. However, Khartoum stressed the need to put it in a tripartite legally binding agreement over all the outstanding issues.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

S. Sudan: IMF releases $174m for urgent balance of payments need

mer, 31/03/2021 - 11:48

March 30, 2021 (WASHINGTON) – The International Monetary Fund said it had released $174.2 million to South Sudan under its Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) for urgent balance of payments needs.

The IMF headquarters is seen in Washington. File Photo: AP

"The pandemic-related oil price shock and devastating floods have led to an economic downturn. The ... downturn widened the fiscal and the balance of payments deficits, opening large financing gaps in the absence of concessional financing,” IMF said in a statement on Tuesday.

“It expected the economy would contract 4.2% in the 2020/21 fiscal year,” it added.

In November last year, the IMF's Executive Board approved a disbursement of $52.3 million to South Sudan under the RCF.

This was the first time the IMF was giving the world's newest nation financial assistance since it joined the institution in 2012 shortly after its independence.

The loan, IMF said, was granted after the Bank of South Sudan implemented its recommendations to record all oil exports and transactions under the Transitional Financial Agreement.

According to South Sudan's IMF report on external sector statistics mission published in January 2020, there was a need for essential economic policy-making by the authorities to meet the data needs of key stakeholders to assess the country's external sector developments.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

Eritrean forces kill two refugees near border with Sudan

mer, 31/03/2021 - 11:09


March 30, 2021 (GADAREF) - Eritrean forces killed two refugees on the Sudanese-Ethiopian border as they were returning to their areas in Tigray from the Hamdayet reception centre on the Sudanese border.

Many Ethiopians who recently fled their areas of origin after the eruption of fighting in the restive Tigray decided to return home due to the lack of services in the crowded reception centres, as the two existing camps are full and a third one has not yet been established.

Eyewitnesses in the border area told the Sudan Tribune, Tuesday that Eritrean forces killed two Ethiopian returnees in the Dima area and wounded two others, while at least 76 escaped the attack.

The refugees were on their way from the Hamdayet centre to Humera town in the northern Tigray Region.

Some of those who survived the attack transported the injured to Sudan for treatment. Also, the dead were buried in Sudan.

On 26 March, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed flowing his return from Asmara said that Eritrea would withdraw troops from the Tigray Region, as he admitted for the first time their involvement in the war against the TPLF.

Thousands of Tigryans are believed to have been killed since November 2020. Fighters from the Amahara region and Eritrean soldiers are accused of committing war crimes including rape against women.

The witnesses said that the dead were shot directly by bullets in the head.

Also, they added that some Oromos were injured alongside the Tigryans.

According to Sudan's Commission for Refugees (COR) daily report of Tuesday 29 March, there are some 30048 refugees at the border facilities for refugees in Hamdayet and Madina.

The report further said that the Gadaref State proposed a location for the third camp but no decision has been made as it should be first visited by the UNHCR and the COR before making a final decision.

(ST)

Catégories: Africa

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