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General : Agriculture faces many challenges ranging from climate change to rising food demand due to population growth. On 7 June MEPs adopted an own-initiative report on how technological innovation could help to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable way. Report author Anthea McIntyre, a UK member of the ECR group, answered questions about it during a live broadcast on the Parliament's Facebook page.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Agriculture faces many challenges ranging from climate change to rising food demand due to population growth. On 7 June MEPs adopted an own-initiative report on how technological innovation could help to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable way. Report author Anthea McIntyre, a UK member of the ECR group, answered questions about it during a live broadcast on the Parliament's Facebook page.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Le 16 juin 1976, des milliers d'écoliers étaient descendus dans les rues du township de Soweto pour dénoncer l'imposition dans l'enseignement de l'afrikaans, la langue de l'oppresseur. La police avait riposté, entraînant un bain de sang.

June 15, 2016 (BOR) -The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) funded project, Quick Impact Project (QIP), which aimed to improve the fishery sector in Jonglei state, was launched in Bor after its completion on 15 June, 2016.

A fisherman sailing a boat in the White Nile, 17 September 2013 (ST)

Implemented by Humanitarian Development Consortium, QIP created a fish market near the main fish landing site to improve the hygienic conditions associated with fish handling and storage.

Speaking in Bor when the project was handed over to the community, the UNMISS head of field office, Debora Schein outlined the impact the project has achieved.

“I am pleased that this fish market is an UNMISS quick impact project aimed at improving the sanitary conditions of the market, and the hygienic conditions of handling, storing and selling fish which protects your health and that of the entire community”, said Schein.

She said the market was not only a place to buy food, but a place where people socialize, talk to each other and meet friends, which would promote peace among the people, as the function was attended by people living in town and displaced living in the POC in Bor.

“This location, the Bor main docking port is the main entry and exit point for greater Jonglei, and this market should become a hub of activity bringing together people of all ethnic backgrounds. Today, we have with us women and men from the UNMISS Bor protection site. It is my hope to see this as a normal occurrence, with all people moving about freely and safely. People, goods and services moving freely in the port is an affirmation that life is beginning to return to normal and that development and prosperity is coming to Bor. I look forward to seeing a thriving fish market as a symbol of peace and prosperity for the benefit of all of the Community ”, added Schein.

There is alsways high demand of fish in Bor as fish carry relatively cheaper prices.

“In line with our UNMISS mandate of creating the conditions to enable the protection of all civilians, of all communities, the fish market project was designed to assist you, the fishing communities; you, the women; and everyone that enjoys a good fish dinner”, stressed UN official.

James Jok Alier, the deputy director of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) said the project would help the residents and fish dealers in several different ways.

“When we received the Quick Impact Project (QIP), we prioritised the fish market to be implemented.

"We are happy to both UNMISS and HDC, the implementing partner. They have safe our women from sun, from rains and from unhygienic environment, they will be able to sell their fish in a very conducive place”, said Alier.

Filbert Ahmat, the executive director of HDC, said the project aimed at improving and increasing both the quantity and quality of fish in Bor so that it is exported for cash.

With this project in place, Jonglei state has a better chance of feeding the entire population of South Sudan. We have brought this project so that the people of Bor can develop the fishery sector so that they are able to feed the people of South Sudan. It is not an emergency project, it is not a rehabilitation or recovery project, it is a development project. Now that we have developed the skills, you have to take over”, said Ahmat.

(ST)

Lors d'une réunion du Conseil de sécurité consacrée à la situation au Mali, le Représentant spécial du Secrétaire général pour ce pays, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, a dénoncé mercredi la lenteur de la mise en œuvre de l'accord de paix, un an après sa signature.

Project on Learning Areas for Peace and Happiness of ASEAN People

June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan on Wednesday said the leaders of the great Lakes region adopted a proposal it made to form ministerial committee to fight the activities of the negative forces in the region.

The Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), met in Luanda, Angola, on 14th June, 2016 where they discussed the political and security situation in the Region.

Vice President Hassabo Abdel Rahman headed Sudan's delegation to the summit which was held under the theme of “Accelerating the effective implementation of the Pact and its Protocols for a more democratic and stable Great Lakes Region”.

In a press statement after the return of the Sudanese delegation to Khartoum, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Obeid-Allah Mohamed Obeid-Allah said that the meeting adopted a recommendation proposed by the Sudan calling to form a ministerial committee to address the subversive activities of the Negative Movements in the region.

According to the proposal this committee will include the ICGLR ministers of defence, interior and directors of security and intelligence services. Also the Summit recommended the need for a joint coordination between the state members to limit the impact of the rebel movements.

Obeid Allah went further to say that the speech of the vice president in the closed-door session on Sudan's efforts to cooperate and coordinate with the neighbouring countries on security issues was largely appreciated by the ICGLR leaders.

The text of the final communiqué released after the end of the 6th ordinary ICGLR summit seen by Sudan tribune says the meeting "Noted with great concern the growing threat of terrorism and radicalization in the Region and internationally, and called for sustained solidarity in fighting this menace with greater vigour and resolve, including implementation of the earlier ICGLR Summit decision by establishing a Committee of Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence of ICGLR to expeditiously formulate a strategy and practical actions towards addressing this threat against the region".

The Lakes leaders also called on the ICGLR member states " for concerted efforts to neutralize the LRA and the threat posed by this negative force in CAR and the Region".

Sudan recently declined to join an African Union mechanism to fight the LRA rebels saying this group has no presence in its territory but however vowed to cooperate in this respect when ever is needed.

The regional summit also supported Sudan's efforts to lift the U.S. "unilateral and coercive economic sanctions" pointing to the "disproportionate and indiscriminate human cost of these measures on the Sudanese civilian population".

(ST)

On 16 June 1976, thousands of students took to the streets of Soweto to protest against the apartheid regime - an uprising that changed South Africa. What has happened 40 years on?

Americas

• The US Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to pass a $602 billion defense authorization bill, despite President Barack Obama’s threat to veto the annual policy measure over issues including a ban on closing the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Passing of the bill was ensured with a compromise on the use of Russian RD-180 rocket engines. Lawmakers eased a ban on their use late last year, worried that it could drive United Launch alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, out of business and leave only privately held SpaceX to transport satellites into space.

Middle East North Africa

• Despite much global interest, Israel has not received any export orders for its Iron Dome short-range missile defense system. Developed by the state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Iron Dome has gained notable world recognition since its first successful intercept in 2011 of a Hamas launched rocket from Gaza. Despite a 90% interception rate, Rafael execs have been working to entice customers with an expanded mission set including sea-based defense, drone killing missions, and the ability to intercept anything from mortars to precision-guided munitions.

• Rafael has completed its first export orders of its Spike SR (Short Range) shoulder-fired anti-tank missile to an unknown customer. Designed to respond rapidly against so-called targets of opportunity, the Spike SR can be fitted with two warheads, one to target tanks and fast traveling vehicles and a blast fragmentation penetrator designed for bunkers. As a next generation missile, the Spike SR allows infantry in congested urban environments to utilize a versatile, short, small diameter missile with an augmented penetration capability and a range from 50 metres to 1.5km.

Africa

• Gabon has signed a number of defense orders which will see French manufacturer Nexter provide a positioning system, unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), and mobile medical shelters to the west African country. The deal was announced by the company after signing, at the ongoing Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, although no details have been given on the value of the sale. UGVs such as the Nerva LG and NX-100 UAVs have already been deployed in the current UN peacekeeping mission in the central African Republic, where Gabonese soldiers have recently begun operations.

Europe

• French and Italian defense ministers signed a “Cooperation Arrangement” agreement in Paris to jointly develop the Aster 30 Block 1 NT missile. Tuesday’s signing will see the development program encompass not just the upgrade of the interceptor, but the modernization of the SAMP/T air defense system as well. This will see an increase in French and Italian air defense capabilities – notably against ballistic missiles – thereby making essential contributions to the NATO program in this domain.

• Airbus has announced a successful live firing of its HForce plug n’ play weapon management system on an H225M in Belgium from May 25 to June 3. The system is comprised of a central core unit, Thales Scorpion monocular helmet mounted sight display (HMSD), an electro-optical system (EOS) from Wescam as well as gunner armament weapon grips and weapon pods. Weapons fired during the trial included 12.7mm guns, 70mm rockets as well as 20mm cannons.

• JAS-39 Gripens operated by the Royal Swedish Air Force have been equipped with the latest MS20 software upgrade and showcased at the annual Tactics, Techniques and Procedures exercise. Materiel System 20 is an update of both equipment and software in the aircraft, and involves everything from upgrades in the presentation areas and linkages to new and enhanced abilities. New weapons on the aircraft include the METEOR missile and the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (GDB).

Asia Pacific

• After a rather public shunning of the Italian defense industry, the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has begun the task of searching for alternative suppliers to meet a growing range of weaponry requirements. Its latest cancellation of a $200 million deal to buy 98 Black Shark torpedoes from Leonardo-Finmeccanica subsidiary WASS leaves not only torpedoes on the shopping list, but also network-centric capabilities and naval gun solutions for its submarines. One alternative may be the German defense industry with reports of a deal to buy SeaHake torpedoes from Atlas Elektronic. Also in the mix is the purchase of six conventional submarines with air-independent propulsion technology under the Make in India program with negotiations between the MoD and ThyssenKruupp Marine Systems underway.

Today’s Video

• Rafael’s Spike SR:

Iron Dome concept
(click to view full)

On August 16, 2011, Rafael and Raytheon announced a partnership to market the Iron Dome system in the United States. This rocket interception system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has an all-weather range of up to 70 km (43.5 miles). To make the system mobile, the detection/tracking radar and battle management/control parts of the system are carried on trucks, while the missile firing unit is mounted on a trailer.

Then in November 2011 the Jerusalem Post reported that the US Army had expressed interest to protest its bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. South Korea is also reportedly interested. While exports remain tentative as of the end of 2011, several systems have been fielded in Israel in recent years.

Israeli Deployment

Iron Dome was selected by Israel’s government as its short range defensive solution back in 2007. At the time other options were also on the table such as the THEL/Skyguard laser-based system. In February 2010 IAI announced a $50 million export contract for the radar component of the Iron Dome system. After the US Congress approved $205M in military aid to procure 9 Iron Dome batteries, Israel said that it would start deploying the systems by the end of that year to protect civilians from rockets, mortar and artillery fired by Hamas.

The IDF announced in April 2011 that the Iron Dome battery deployed in Be’er Sheba intercepted two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip at night. However, beyond the initial investment, at issue is the cost asymmetry between improvised rockets at maybe $500 a pop vs. intercepts estimated to cost $50K+ each. More broadly, which approach to take for missile defense has been a subject of intense debate in Israel for years. This cost vs. benefit public discussion is still very much alive.

On August 7, 2011, Israel’s High Court of Justice answered a petition from a group of towns in the Gaza area by ruling in favor of the Defense Ministry which refuses to fund Iron Dome systems in all towns more than 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) from the Gaza Strip. Still, on August 31 planned deployments were continuing with the 3rd battery being stationed outside the city of Ashdod.

For larger, longer-range threats, IAI has developed the Arrow theater missile defense system with Boeing.

Updates

June 16/16: Despite much global interest, Israel has not received any export orders for its Iron Dome short-range missile defense system. Developed by the state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Iron Dome has gained notable world recognition since its first successful intercept in 2011 of a Hamas launched rocket from Gaza. Despite a 90% interception rate, Rafael execs have been working to entice customers with an expanded mission set including sea-based defense, drone killing missions, and the ability to intercept anything from mortars to precision-guided munitions.

June 15, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan government has grudgingly admitted falling short of cash to pay civil servants and for essential services, raising fears that such an open admission may lead to uncertainty and insolvency.

South Sudanese information minister Michael Makuei Lueth attends a press conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 5 January 2014 (Photo: AP/Elias Asmara)

Information Minister and government's official spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth, announced on Friday in a statement broadcasted by the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) that the government has no money to make prompt payments to the employees, claiming he himself has not been paid for the last three months and “did not complain.”

Lueth argued that people should not demand payments for months which were not paid but rather wait for the months ahead, asserting the government has no money to pay for accumulated and unpaid months.

“There is no money, even myself I have not been paid for the last three months,” said minister Lueth, in a statement broadcasted by the state-owned media.

He was answering a question put to him by a reporter about payment of the civil servants after attending a regular cabinet meeting in which the council resolved to ask the leadership of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the First Vice President, Riek Machar, to talk to one of his senior commanders, General Johnson Olony, to permit the use of river transport to move grains from Renk to Juba and other parts of the country in order to help the situation.

General Olony is the commander of Sector One in Upper Nile state in the areas under the control of the SPLA-IO. His forces have closed the river Nile route between Renk and Malakal in Upper Nile state.

But minister Lueth's open admission of lack of funds to make payments has received mixed reactions from the general public and from the government, with some officials describing it as “inappropriate statement.”

Others argued that the remarks were part of a political ploy to convince the civil servants to exercise patience as the government is seeking ways out to make payments.

Critics of the government have also interpreted the statement to mean attempt by the government to elicit sympathy and support from the international community.

Many in government, including President Salva Kiir, were persuaded to accept the signing of the peace agreement as a way to receive support to improve the currently struggling economic situation and to avoid sanctions and other measures as incentive for blocking peace efforts.

However, international support has not yet come forth, owing to the lack of political will to implement the peace agreement by the parties.

Among many issues that need to be tackled include the status of the controversial 28 states unilaterally created against the 10 states stipulated in the August 2015 peace deal and cantonment of opposition forces across the country.

International financial experts and institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have warned of further economic deterioration in South Sudan.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese police have freed five children from a child trafficking network in the eastern Sudan state of Kassala. Also, the Police arrested suspects in Khartoum in connection with this network, which smuggles children into Libya

Sudan is considered as a country of origin and transit for the illegal migration and human trafficking. Thousands of people from Eritrea and Ethiopia are monthly crossing the border into the Sudanese territories on their way to Europe through Libya or Egypt.

On Wednesday Police in Kassala announced that five children at the age of 15 years were on their way to Libya via Khartoum.

The Family and Child Unit Director, Colonel Amad Ahmed al-Tayeb, and the members of security committee in Kassla State attended the police press conference.

The children were attempting to leave Kassala without informing their families, according to Colonel Amad Ahmed al-Tayeb.

Colonel al-Tayeb added that the police managed to foil their plan after being informed by the Bus Association about the presence of several children seeking to quit the state.

He said interrogation revealed that the traffickers were in contact with a child trafficking network in Khartoum which was arrested as well.

The police official further said that the suspect had previously trafficked children below 18 years old.

Eastern Sudan in particular is believed to be serving as a passage for illegal immigration to Europe for Eritrean, Ethiopian and Somali nationals with the help of human smugglers.

Last week, Sudan, Italy and the United Kingdom said they arrested in Khartoum an Eritrean man suspected of controlling one of the world's four largest criminal immigration trafficking organizations.

In January 2014, the Sudanese parliament approved an anti-human trafficking law which punishes those involved with human trafficking with up to 20 years imprisonment.

(ST)

June 15 (YAMBIO) - A reintegration project targeting conflict affected communities has been launched in Yambio by the governor of the newly created Gbudue state. The three-year project, supported by UNICEF, targets women, children and youth who have been demobilized from the armed groups operating in Western Equatoria state.

Governor Patrick Zamoi said the youth and community in general will be empowered with skills on peace building; while the returning armed youth will be provided with vocational training to enable them earn money to sustain their families.

“We really completely forget about vocational schools to provide skills to our people and we had been so busy with IT as the computer come as new way to us but not vocational training. We need to provide skills to these people so that they will be in position to provide jobs for themselves and take care of their families,” Governor Zamoi said.

He also said Boda-boda [motor bikes business] cannot lead the youth anywhere, saying it is the obligation of the government with the partners from the international non-governmental organizations to find the best solution to the youth who are idle and creating problems in the state.

Following the signing of peace agreement between the government and the South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) on 2 April, 2016, in Yambio, the government through its relevant structures has embarked on peace building and reintegration activities as an effort to restore hope, peace and security of the conflict affected people.

State minister of education, gender, child and social welfare, Pia Philip, said his ministry will champion the three years project, adding it has secured funds from UNICEF to organize workshops on conflict resolution and peace building in the five counties of Gbudue state.

Pia stated that the objective of the project is to create conducive environment for the proper reintegration into the society of the children, youth and women associated with conflict.

“The stakeholders need to understand the different paradigms of conflict, acceptance and forgiveness, forge a local mechanism of managing conflict at the Payam levels,” he said.

He added that realities for the youth are changing including the loss of traditional livelihoods and widespread urbanization.

Jobs are being created in urban areas but these are offered to foreigners who have the requisite skills.

“With no jobs or skills, he added, the marginalized youth choose violence and that means coming together based on shared tribal and political interests and poverty also contribute to the conflict [and] gangs on the roads in South Sudan,” he said.

The opening ceremony started with a three-day workshop which drew participants from various payams in Yambio county. The project will be extended to other counties and in schools to inculcate peace into the community and youth in particular.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal said the opposition Sudan Call forces are divided and fragmented and wouldn't unite and pointed they are waiting for the outcome of the pressures to compel them to sign the Roadmap Agreement.

Sudanese Information Minister Ahmed al-Balal Osman speaks during a press conference in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on June 9, 2013. ( Photo AFP/ASHRAF SHAZLY)

Last March, the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and the Sudanese government signed a framework agreement calling to stop war in Blue Nile, Darfur, and South Kordofan and to engage in the national dialogue process.

However, four of the Sudan Call forces refused to sign the peace plan saying it excludes important opposition groups, acknowledges the internal dialogue process and ignores important confidence building measures such as ensuring political freedoms and release of political prisoners and detainees.

On Monday, leaders of the Sudan Call forces issued conflicting statements regarding a proposed meeting of the alliance to decide whether or not to meet the chief African mediator Thabo Mbeki to discuss the peace deal.

The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) accused several quarters including the Sudanese government of obfuscating on the Sudan Call meeting.
However, Osman described the SPLM-N accusations as an “attempt to justify the opposition failure”, saying the government has nothing to do with the opposition meeting.

Osman, who is also the government spokesperson, told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) that the SPLM-N and the Sudan Call forces failed to achieve unity in several meetings including in Paris and Berlin, adding the opposition parties can't agree with each other.

He pointed that the government didn't receive any official notification from any party that the opposition has agreed to sign the Roadmap Agreement despite the pressures that have been exerted on them, saying “we are waiting for the results [of these pressures]”.

Sudan Call forces had earlier disclosed that international parties including the United States (US) are making efforts to convince them to endorse the Roadmap Agreement.

MAHDI'S COMMENTS ON THE DIALOGUE OUTCOME

Meanwhile, the ruling political secretary of the National Congress Party (NCP) Hamid Mumtaz has described the recent remarks of the National Umma Party (NUP) leader al-Sadiq al-Mahdi on the outcome of the dialogue conference as proof of the inclusivity of the national dialogue.

Last week, al-Mahdi disclosed he got a copy of the recommendations that the internal dialogue conference has reached and stressed they are surprisingly identical with so many agendas that the opposition forces are calling for.

Mumtaz also told SMC that the ongoing dialogue's arrangements were meant to approve the recommendations according to the desires of the Sudanese people and the political forces.

He said that fixing the date of the general assembly has sent a message for those who doubted the feasibility of the dialogue initiative, adding that the dialogue is currently in its third phase and the general assembly would approve the final recommendations.

Following its meeting with President Omer al-Bashir on Sunday, Sudan's dialogue body known as 7+7 committee said that the national dialogue's general assembly would be held on August 6th.

Mumtaz stressed that his party would go forward to complete the political consensus and implement its outcome in order to achieve the national objectives that aim to unify the internal front to confront the challenges facing the country and on top of which realizing security and stability.

He praised the efforts of the African mediation to convince the opposition holdout groups to join the dialogue.

The internal dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on October 10th, 2015 amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood has split following differences between the Shura (Consultative) Council and the Controller General Ali Jawish on decisions made by the latter to postpone the General Conference and disband group's offices.

Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood Controller General Ali Jawish (SUNA file photo)

The Sudanese branch of the Brotherhood has undergone two famous splits over the last four decades. The first split occurred in 1969 when a group led by the late Hassan al-Turabi founded the Islamic Charter Front (ICF) while the second spilt was led by the late Suleiman Abu Naru in 1991.

An emergency meeting of the Shura Council on Wednesday has decided to relieve Jawish and appoint the former Controller General Al-Hibir Youssif Nour al-Daem in his place on a temporary basis and until the General Conference is being held.

Member of Shura Council Omer al-Hibir told Sudan Tribune that the emergency meeting followed a series of decisions taken by Jawish to disband the group's organs including the Executive Office and the Shura Council as well as postponing the General Conference which was scheduled to take place in July and appointing a committee to run the group's affairs temporarily.

He described Jawish's decisions as an “unjustified coup” to impose a new reality within the group in order to maintain the interests of specific members before holding the General Conference.

Al-Hibir stressed that the meeting Nour al-Daeam was assigned to carry out the tasks of the Controller General until holding the General Conference in mid-October.

He pointed that the emergency meeting, which Jawish didn't attend despite his membership in the Shura Council, also decided to suspend membership of all those whose names appeared on the list of the committee which was appointed by Jawish to run the group's affairs and to replace them by other members in the Executive Office.

Al-Hibir further described the move as “a de facto split”, saying it was caused by an old difference regarding a decision to merge with the group that had split in 1991.

Last January, the two groups signed an agreement to merge in one group under the name of the Muslim Brotherhood.

It is noteworthy that the Muslim Brotherhood led by Jawish had abandoned its partnership with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) following the latter's recognition of the Egyptian President Abde-Fatah al-Sisi who overthrow the regime of the former President Mohamed Morsi.

For his part, Jawish said his decisions were aimed to make the group avoid serious risks that could lead to a third split as has occurred in 1969 and 1991.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune

Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood Controller General Ali Jawish (SUNA file photo)

Wednesday, he said that a small group has been meeting since four years ago to control the Muslim Brotherhood and change its course during the upcoming General Conference.

He said that he was forced to make those decisions in order to maintain the unity, history and future of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“The General Conference has been delayed and the existing organs [of the group] including the Shura Council, the Executive Offices and its subcommittees within measures that seek to maintain the unity and coherence of the group,” he said.

Jawish further called upon the members to name a group of secretaries to run the work alongside the Controller General, pointing that a new Shura Commission has been formed from the states' officials to approve a temporary plan until the General Conference elects new leadership and develop a comprehensive work plan.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's national army, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), said they have repulsed “bandits” who had earlier on overrun Raja, the administrative capital of the newly-established Lol state in Greater Bahr el Ghazal region.

A SPLA soldier stands in front of a vehicle in Juba on December 20, 2013. (Photo Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

The SPLA spokesperson, Brig. Lul Ruai Koang, acknowledged that fighting erupted inside Raja town on Wednesday morning when fighters he described as “criminals” and “bandits” overran the town and chased out of the town senior government officials, including the state governor, Rizik Zachariah Hassan who fled in disarray.

“In the early hours of Wednesday, June 15, 2016, armed criminals and bandits attacked SPLA's defensive position in Raga town. The attackers have been repulsed and mopping operations is going,” Koang said.

“More updates will follow,” he added, in a press statement he issued on Wednesday evening, nearly 12 hours after the state capital was seized by the unknown gunmen.

Koang also assured the citizens of the SPLA's ability to defend them, despite the fall of the state capital under the control of the gunmen on Wednesday morning.

“SPLA would like to assure the people of South Sudan that it has ability and capability to defeat armed criminals/bandits against the implement of peace agreement and reconciliation,” he said.

It was unclear why it took the whole day delay for the army's official spokesperson to inform the nation about the incident. He did not also explain how the attackers entered the state capital and what were the casualties involved.

In the attack, which occurred while governor Rizik Zechariah Hassen and his cabinet were in a meeting in Raga, the unknown gunmen stormed the state capital, forcing the cabinet members to flee from the town and run in different directions for their safety.

While governor Hassan was reported to have successfully escaped up to Aweil West county, some of his officials' whereabouts, including the deputy governor, were not known during the day.

Koang, in his statement, also called on their partner's co-national army, the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), to help the SPLA fight the attackers.

SPLA-IO is under the command of the First Vice President, Riek Machar, while SPLA is under the command of President Salva Kiir. The two are co-national armies per the August 2015 peace agreement until they will be reunified in the years to come.

Although no group has declared responsibility for the assault on Raga, chiefs of the area had earlier voiced their rejection to the creation of the new Lol state which combines Raja county with parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

The area also witnessed presence of the SPLA-IO forces that have not yet been cantoned or assembled.

Residents of Raja said the gunmen were seen in the town, suggesting they had taken control of the state capital Wednesday morning.

Fighting continued in the afternoon when SPLA sent in reinforcements to recapture Raja.

(ST)

American MH-47 Special Operations Transport Helicopter

Une semaine avant le référendum britannique sur un éventuel Brexit, les deux ministres français et allemand des Affaires étrangères se sont rencontrés dans la ville de Brandenburg, près de Berlin. Les deux ministres ont entre autres évoqué ce sujet aux conséquences importantes pour l'avenir de l'Europe.