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Le souverain pontife est attendu fin novembre à Bangui. Les autorités françaises tentent de le convaincre d’écourter, voire d’annuler, son étape dans le pays déchiré depuis deux ans par les violences.

November 10, 2015 (RUMBEK) - An unknown gunman killed a prison officer in South Sudan's Lakes state for reasons yet to be established, authorities disclosed on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the prison service, Samuel Matoc Mathiang confirmed Deng Ring Malual's, describing the deceased as a very noble man who was dedicated to his job.

An investigation, he said, is underway to establish the motive behind the officer's murder.

“An uknown gunman killed our corporal, 1st Lt. Deng Ring Malual on Monday in our prison service farm located about 10 kilometers away from Rumbek town. His gun was taken away by the unknown assassin and we are putting all what we can to bring the suspect to justice, " said Mathiang, describing Malual as an officer who was very loyal.

The late Malual reportedly joined prison service in 2008 under the department of wardens and correctional service, but was later on promoted to become a garden monitor.

Meanwhile, Brigade General Deng Atem, urge Lakes state's rural communities to support the state government and fully cooperate to allow officers carry out effective services.

He appealed to communities near Gok-Akon to help track the police farm monitor's killer.

Lakes state has been blighted by conflict since South Sudan got independence in 2011 while citizens' calls for the removal of the caretaker governor have largely been ignored.

(ST)

Décidé à tout faire pour empêcher Marine Le Pen de prendre la région Picardie-Nord-Pas-de-Calais – celle où le Front national est selon lui le plus dangereux – le Premier ministre affirme à qui veut l’entendre...

Eurofighter has revealed that the integration of multiple new systems and capabilities onto their Typhoon fighter jet is now ‘well advanced’ and ‘delivering promising results’, with customers having recently tested the aircraft’s latest software suite in a

Every year the International Armoured Vehicles event brings together military practitioners, acquisition staffers, key decision makers, programme managers, technical experts, industrial suppliers and strategic leaders in the armoured vehicle domain to discuss capabilities and explore f

Lt Gen (Rtd) Sir Gary Coward KBE CB, returned to chair the International Armoured Vehicles conference in London in 2015. In this exclusive interview with Defence IQ , he reflects on the most interesting discussions emerging in the conference room and the key trends this market has seen

November 10, 2015 (WAU) – Authorities in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state announced on Tuesday the launch of it's weekly art and cultural activities, allowing artists and young writers to collectively share their creativeness and experiences.

The mayor of Wau town, who also doubles as the arts commission head, Alfred Derick Oya said the event to held every Thursday aims to restore cultural activities in the state.

“Today we are here in Wau's peace hall at the council of ministers and we are launching a weekly forum for art and culture and this weekly forum is actually one activity of the commission for arts and cultures which was recently launched at the state," said Oya.

"We are taking this opportunity in this forum to give perfectives of the commission so that the people know the warrant of the establishment, the vision, the mission, the objectives and the plans of action,” added the mayor.

Established by the state governor early this year, the commission for art and culture seeks to help young artists and writers develop by doing things in a professional way.

(ST).

November 10, 2015 (JUBA) - Mobile phone subscribers in South Sudan can now use their local sim cards in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda without acquiring new cards, an official said.

One of South Sudan's largest mobile phone network providers - Zain (ST)

"You don't need to remove your local card when you are visiting Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda”, said the telecommunications minister, Rebecca Joshua Okwaci.

“Today from here you can call Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda using your local sim card and you will be paying the same cost that you are paying when you are in Juba. The one network area is now operational between South Sudan and the three East African countries”, she added.

According to the minister, those using their South Sudanese numbers in these countriez would not incurr costs as rates would not change for Viva Cell, Gemtel, Zain and MTN.

The minister had just returned from the Rwandan capital, Kigali, after attending the just concluded Transform Africa Summit under the theme: ‘Accelerating digital innovation'.

According the South Sudanese telecommunications minister, the one network area, was a directive of the 5th Heads of State Summit held in Kenya in May 2014. Another summit held in Rwanda in July reportedly expressed satisfaction with progress as line ministries were directed to ensure immediate implementation of one network system in the region.

(ST)

November 10, 2015 (EL-FASHIR) - Two people were killed and six others injured Monday in clashes between farmers and camel herders in Amaray area in the locality of Kutum, North Darfur state.

UNAMID's Ethiopian peacekeepers interact with children while helping local communities with their farming activities in Korma, North Darfur. (UNAMID Photo).

Eyewitness told Sudan Tribune that a group of pastors entered their camels into the residents' farms leading to damaging large amounts of the crops, saying 2 cattle herders were killed and 3 others injured while one farmer was wounded in the clashes which erupted between the two sides following the incident.

He added the farmers seized 85 heads of camels belonging to the pastors to compensate those whose crops were damaged.

The same source stressed that clashes between farmers and camel herders would continue unless the government of North Darfur takes strict security measures to prevent them, pointing to tensions among the tribes residing in Kutum locality.

He expressed fear that the crisis would exacerbates if the government didn't address the incident quickly.

For the last two years, North Darfur has witnessed deadly clashes between Barti and Zayadia tribes.

The two tribes have given the governor of North Darfur, Abdel-Wahid Yossef a preliminary approval to hold a reconciliation conference to end the fighting and resolve their differences according to the local traditions and customs.

Tribal fighting has intensified in four of Darfur's five states during the past two years leading to thousands of deaths and injuries and forcing over 300,000 people to flee their homes.

They are usually triggered by land disputes, pasture rights and fighting over water resources. More than 7,000 people were killed in those clashes since 2007.

(ST)

Ständerat Hannes Germann möchte Bundesrat werden. Bereits zum dritten Mal nimmt er Anlauf. Im Weg stehen dem auf Ausgleich bedachten SVP-Vertreter aus Schaffhausen in erster Linie Parteikollegen.

Veränderte Konstellationen und eine globale Sicht werfen für die Entwicklungspolitik neue Fragen auf. Ein Sammelband bietet ein Spektrum von Perspektiven.

In Zeiten von Kopftuch- und Minarettbauverboten ist auch der Religionsfriede zunehmend gefährdet. Eine Dissertation arbeitet nun das Schweizer Religionsverfassungsrecht auf.

Der Lokalhistoriker Hans Kläui machte sich in der Nachkriegsschweiz einen Namen als Verfasser zahlreicher Ortsgeschichten. Kaum bekannt war indes, dass er zuvor ein glühender Frontist gewesen war.

November 10, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudan government issued Tuesday a circular directing aviation officials to increase surveillance on cargo plane use in the country.

A wreckage of the plane that crashed in Jonglei state, November 14, 2014 (courtesy photo)

“Aviation rules are very clear. They do not allow cargo planes to be used for people”, David Martin, the undersecretary at the ministry of transport told Sudan Tribune.

The warning followed fresh reports of another crash in the oil-rich Upper Nile state, barely a week after a similar mishap killed dozens in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.

"I just heard about it but I have no clear information about what happened, who were on the plane. We are talking to the people on the ground and the state authorities to give us the information about this incident”, said the senior official when reached on Tuesday.

Multiple sources and Upper Nile officials confirmed that a cargo plane crashed in Malakal shortly after take-off. No casualties were, however, reported.

Several eye witnesses told Sudan Tribune by phone that they could see thick smoke billowing at the crash site near Malakal airport shortly after the plane had taken off.

The state information minister, Yor Akec, told Sudan Tribune from the area that another incident had taken place but that none of the crew members aboard the cargo plane died. Those injured, he added, were rushed to a United Nations-run clinic in Malakal.

“We are still trying to get the details of what happened. We are just like you. We are hearing it from the people on the ground but we do not have details. So I cannot give you any confirmation”, said Akec.

(ST)

November 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The African Union (AU) has officially announced that talks on security arrangements between the Sudanese government and the rebel groups in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and Darfur region will be held on 18 to 19 November.

JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim (C) speaks at the opening session of Darfur negotiations flanked by SPLM-N secretary-general Yasir Arman (L) and SLM-MM leader Minni Minnawi in Addis Ababa on 23 November 2014 (Photo courtesy of AUHIP)

The head of the AU Liaison Office in Sudan, Mahmoud Kane, told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) Tuesday that invitations have been handed over to Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour and the leaders of the armed movements.

He added the discussions on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur, and the Two Areas will be held separately between the government and Darfur rebels on one side and the government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on the other side on 18 and 19 November.

The foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour is expected to lead the government delegation, while Yasir Arman will head the SPLM-N delegation. Ahmed Tugud is expected to lead the joint delegation of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement -Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM).

The Sudanese army and its allied militias have been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Also, the border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile state have been the scene of a violent conflict since 2011 when fighting broke out between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army.

Nine rounds of talks between the two sides have stalled over issues pertaining to the security, humanitarian and political arrangements.

(ST)

Related Article

Talks on cessation of hostilities in Sudan are delayed for mid-November : UN

November 10, 2015 (JUBA) - President Salva Kiir will address the nation on multiple issues on November 12, announced the South Sudanese presidency on Tuesday.

President Salva Kiir addresses the nation from the State House on September 15, 2015, in Juba (Photo AFP/Charles Atiki Lomodong)

The state of the nation address, according to his spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny will take place on Thursday at the presidential palace known as J1 at around 10: 00 am local time.

Ateny said the country had gone through events and issues requiring attention of the president in his capacity as the head of state as a way to interact with the citizens to update them on what has taken place and what the government was doing .

This will be the second time in less than two months for President Kiir to talk to the nation since September when he held a similar national briefing about the need to ensure a successful implementation of the cease-fire agreement aimed at restoring peace and stability to the country.

The national address or the state of the nation address, which is usually covered by the public and private media, serves as a means through which the president presents to the nation outlook of issues encompassing security, peace, economic, political, and social condition of the state and the society.

It is also becomes the opportunity to review his plans and the accomplishments of programs of government for a particular period and how these objectives could be achieved during period of holding public office.

The Address which lasts ranging from one hour to several depending on the number of messages and precision with which the speech has been prepared is broadcast on television, radio, and print media guided by state agencies such as South Sudan Radio and Television and private media organizations.

(ST)

The guns ceased their firing on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month of 1918.  Defense Industry Daily hopes that our readers have a meaningful day, and take some time to give thanks to those and for those who have sacrificed so much.

“But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, Is their monument to-day, and for aye.” -Thomas Dunn English

Ce mercredi après-midi s’ouvre à Malte un sommet Europe-Afrique consacré au phénomène migratoire, réunissant les chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement d'une cinquantaine de pays des deux continents. Après une année marquée par de nouveaux naufrages meurtriers en Méditerranée, l'objectif affiché de la Commission européenne est d'établir un plan d'action avec les pays d'origine et de transit des migrants africains pour empêcher que les drames se répètent, et donc tarir les routes de l'exil vers l'Europe de dizaines de milliers d'Africains.

The Pentagon has stationed a new fleet of fighter jets in Turkey. While ostensibly aimed at protecting US bombers targeting the self-proclaimed Islamic State terrorist group, top defense officials also say the jets are meant to deter "Russian aggression."

Americas

• Raytheon has received a $10.4 million contract modification for Navy Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) SeaRAM upgrades. The company received a $159 million production contract in October for CIWS systems, with the contract also covering support equipment for the Rolling Airframe Missile-based SeaRAM system. The SeaRAM improves the CIWS’s Phalanx Block 1B radar system with an eleven-missile RAM launcher to expand the system’s defensive capabilities.

• Argentina is slated to sign a contract for 14 Israel Aerospace Industries Kfir Block 60 fighters in November. The aircraft will also come equipped with EL/M-2032 Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems, provided by Elta Systems. The Argentine Air Force retired its aging fleet of Mirage fighters in August, with reports in July indicating that the service was in talks with IAI over a possible acquisition of secondhand Kfir Block 60s. Argentina previously attempted to procure Gripen E fighters, with this subsequently blocked by the United Kingdom, leading the Argentinean government to look everywhere for new fighters after other attempts to buy JF-17s proved to be too expensive.

Middle East North Africa

• Boeing is reportedly eyeing an Egyptian order for additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters next year, with other potential deals also covering support services to the country’s existing Apache fleet. Egypt received ten AH-64D Apaches in December 2014, following the lifting of a delivery freeze imposed by the US after the country’s military seized power in July 2013. In May 2009 the Egyptian government requested twelve of the helicopters.

• Egyptian plans to acquire Ka-52K naval attack helicopters – reported in October – will not go ahead until the Russians have finished dismantling the sensitive equipment on board the Mistral LHDs they will equip. Russian specialists began removing sensitive communications systems, combat information systems and other equipment in September [Russian], after the Egyptians announced the acquisition of the two Mistrals, signing a contract in October. Completion of the removals is expected in November, with Egypt yet to submit a formal request for the helicopters.

• Following on the heels of other aircraft acquisitions, the United Arab Emirates has inked a Memorandum of Understanding for three AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotor aircraft, beating off competition from the Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey. The aircraft will operate in a search and rescue capacity, operating with the country’s Joint Aviation Command. Deliveries are expected from 2019, with the MoU coming just days after a fatal crash involving a prototype AW609 during high-speed flight testing in Italy.

Europe

• Sweden has ordered more IRIS-T SLS missiles from Diehl Defence through an option on a previous acquisition deal. The InfraRed Imaging System – Tail vector controlled surface-to-air missile was first ordered in March 2013, with the SLS version of the weapon a SAM version of the original air-to-air missile.

• An Italian firm is collaboratively developing a new jamming capability for the Italian Air Force’s Tornado and Eurofighter aircraft, reportedly capable of fitting into an under-belly pod on the aircraft. The new pod is designed to retrofit existing in-service aircraft, meaning that the capability is not being developed for Italy’s inbound F-35 JSFs.

Asia Pacific

• Boeing and Indian firm Tata Advanced Systems have announced a joint venture, with the latter set to manufacture AH-64 Apache fuselages locally in India as part of a deal announced in September for 22 Apache and 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters. Boeing announced in October that it planned to assemble one of the two types locally, with the company subject to a 30% offset clause as part of the $3.1 billion deal.

• China has reportedly tested an exoatmospheric missile thought capable of knocking out satellites in orbit. This latest test of the Dong Neng-3 missile is the eighth, with Beijing referring to the test as a missile defense system. A similar test took place in May 2013, with that involving the less advanced Dong Neng-2 missile. This recent testing took place at the Korla Missile Test Complex in the country’s western Xinjiang province.

• Japanese forces have successfully test fired the Chu-SAM Kai surface-to-air missile system at White Sand Missile Range, firing the system ten times, including an interception of a supersonic target. The medium range system received a perfect score in downing cruise missile targets, with the tests also validating the US Navy’s GQM-163A Coyote supersonic cruise missile target. The Chu-SAM Kai is an improved version of the Japanese-designed Chu-SAM, incorporating improved sensors and networking to improve the system’s range and engage more advanced targets.

Today’s Video

• The two Italian F-35 pilots who recently completed training at Luke Air Force Base: