Africa

An agreement by Libya’s Prime Minister and a key rival military leader to improve political stability across the country through new general elections, has been welcomed by the UN Secretary-General.

The land is sandy, dry and scorched by the searing sun of the African Sahel, but that has not stopped the planting of some 50,000 trees at a camp for Nigerian refugees in the far north-east corner of Cameroon.

Worsening security in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo marked by attacks on Ebola clinics have made it a “given” that the deadly virus will spread further, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

An exhibition seeks to commemorate colonial soldiers who lost their lives in World War One.

A selection of photographs from around the African continent over the past week.

A teacher holds up a drawing of an adolescent girl who has just been caught unawares by her first menstruation cycle, while at school. She’s addressing neat rows of young women sitting in class, in the town of Bol, in Chad.

A large fire blazing in Mount Kenya is blamed on farmers clearing an area to plant marijuana.

A mystery man who reports news from one of the most repressive countries in the world gives his first interview.

Photographer Annie Risemberg documents the French bread bakeries that are ubiquitous in Bamako, Mali.

The day seven blind trekkers reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Why women in Sudan have taken anti-government demonstrations to heart by using Facebook to expose abuse.

How Louis Houenoude went from being a barber shop sign painter in Benin to having an exhibition in Finland.

February 11, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Sudan's president on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, said Foreign Minister El-Dirdeiry Ahmed in a statement released on Monday.

The meeting of al-Bashir with Guterres was reported by the official news agency SUNA saying it took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 32nd Ordinary Summit of the African Union.

The UN deputy spokesperson did not mention it in his daily briefing. Farhan Haq just pointed to Guterres participation in the African summit and his speech about bilateral relation between the two organisations.

According to SUNA, the meeting discussed Sudan's initiatives to achieve peace and stability in South Sudan and the Central African Republics.

"The Secretary-General of the United Nations considered (these initiatives) a shining point in Africa and an exceptional effort that deserved commendation and appreciation".

Speaking to the official agency, Dirdeiry said Guterres reiterated the support of the United Nations for the Sudanese efforts and pledged to support the implementation process of an agreement for peace and reconciliation in the CAR negotiated in Khartoum recently.

Also, the UN chief assured that they will exert their efforts to secure the necessary support for the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan.

This is the second meeting between al-Bashir and Guterres on the sidelines of the African Union meetings. They met for the first time on 28 January 2018.

At the time, Haq told reporters that operational necessities allow the UN chief to meet with the ICC-wanted president "from time to time" on issues such as the joint peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the UN peacekeeping mission in the disputed Abyei region (UNISFA).

Al-Bashir is accused by the International Criminal Court of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

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February 12, 2019 (NAIROBI) - Rights groups Monday have called on Kenya and South Sudan to investigate into the enforced disappearance of two South Sudanese activists in Nairobi more than two years ago.

Dong Samuel Luak, a prominent South Sudanese lawyer and human rights activist, and Aggrey Idri, a member of the SPLM-IO were kidnapped in the Kenyan capital on January 23 and 24, 2017, respectively.

Despite multiple reports about their arrest by the Kenyan police forces country and deportation to Juba, authorities in the two neighbouring denied any collusion in their disappearance.

On January 17, 2019, a Kenyan High Court ended its 24-month oversight of the police investigation and advised the families to pursue alternative administrative remedies such as filing a complaint with the Internal Police Oversight Authority.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called on the two countries to ensure "effective, transparent, and impartial investigations" into their disappearance, stressing such a decision may lead to a denial of justice.

“The families of Dong Samuel Luak and Aggrey Ezbon Idri have waited patiently for the truth for two years, their lives in limbo,” said Jehanne Henry, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“But this decision which lets Kenyan police off the hook risks sending this case into oblivion and denying the families justice,” Henry further said.

Kenyan police had already shown no enthusiasm to probe the two cases, triggering the filing of a case before Kenyan justice requesting that the police be ordered to produce Luak and Idri in court.

But the Kenyan judge rejected the claim saying he could not establish that they were in custody and that the police can investigate the matter.

However, as the police investigation stalled, their families sought a judicial order to the police to investigate the disappearance. But the police in February 2018, pledged only to keep the case open.

The joint statement underscored that the decision ends any judicial oversight into the police action on the case.

“How long will this charade go on as the families of Luak and Idri continue to languish in agony over their loved ones?” said Joan Nyanyuki, Amnesty International's Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International last year said they "had seen both men in National Security Service (NSS) detention in Juba, South Sudan, on January 25 and 26, 2017".

Recently, James Dak the former spokesperson of the SPLM-IO leader confirmed that he had been illegally deported to Juba as a result of close cooperation between the security organs in Nairobi and Juba.

The two rights groups said the South Sudanese government unwillingness to investigate the disappearance of the two activists "is an abdication of its binding legal obligations, demonstrates total disregard for the men's fundamental rights, and exacerbates their families' concerns".

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February 11, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir and Ethiopia's premier Abiy Ahmed Monday have discussed the formation of a joint border control force and completion of the border demarcation.

The two leaders met on Monday on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.

Al-Bashir and Ahmed also discussed ways to promote bilateral relations and enhance joint cooperation on the regional and international forums as well as the meetings of the technical and higher coordination committees between the two countries.

Furthermore, the meeting discussed ongoing efforts to achieve regional peace particularly in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Although Khartoum and Addis Ababa have close ties, the border area between the two countries remains a source of tension and violence between the two sides due to the human trafficking and smuggling to reach Egypt and Libya.

Also, Ethiopian farmers are accused by the Sudanese farmers of occupying vast agricultural land in the Al-Fashqa area of Gedaref State.

The third issue until recently was Ethiopian rebels who sneak over the border coming from Eritrea. Many have been detained and handed over to the Ethiopian authorities.

Earlier this month, there were media reports that Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Workneh Gebeyehu, has warned that Sudan's failure to curb continued arms smuggling into Ethiopia through its border may lead to cutting diplomatic relations.

However, the Ethiopian government has dismissed these reports as unfounded saying the Foreign Minister's remarks were taken out of context.

In October 2017, the security committee between Sudan's Gedaref state and Ethiopia's Amhara region decided to recommend to the leadership of the two countries to deploy a joint force along the border.

Last August, the Sudanese and Ethiopian armies signed an agreement to withdraw troops from both sides of the border and to deploy joint forces to combat "terrorism", human trafficking and to eliminate any potential security tensions. But it was not clear if effective steps have been taken towards its deployment.

On the other hand, it is noteworthy that the current borders between Sudan and Ethiopia were drawn by the British and Italian colonisers in 1908. The two governments have agreed in the past to redraw the borders and to promote joint projects between people from both sides for the benefit of local populations.

The joint Sudanese-Ethiopian High Committee announced in December 2013 that it reached an agreement to end disputes between farmers from two sides of the border over the ownership of agricultural land.

In November 2014, the former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and President al-Bashir instructed their Foreign Ministers to fix a date for resuming the border demarcation. The operation had stopped following the death of Ethiopia's former premier, Meles Zenawi.

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U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Steven Koutsis meets with Imam Sadiq Al-Mahdi on 11 Feb 2019 (Photo US Embassy)

February 11, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - U.S. Chargé d'Affaire Steven Koutsis discussed with the leader of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) the attack by the Sudanese security agent on a mosque of his religious sect, Al-Ansar, last Friday as the embassy expressed its concern about the recurrent use of violence.

On 8 February, Sudanese security forces fired teargas and beat worshippers attempting to stage a peaceful demonstration after Friday prayers at the Al-Sayed Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi Mosque in Wahd Nubbawi neighbourhood of Omdurman.

The attack resulted in injuries to several people.

"Chargé d'Affaires Steven Koutsis met with Imam Sadiq Al-Mahdi to discuss the inappropriate attack on the Al-Sayed Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi Mosque and its worshipers on February 8," said the U.S. in Khartoum in a statement released by the U.S. Embassy on Monday evening after the meeting.

The statement further said that the Embassy is concerned about the use of violence.

"We are troubled by the frequent use of force by the Sudanese government's security forces, including the use of live fire and beatings and the entering of mosques, hospitals, schools, private homes, and other locations that should be recognized places of safety".

Human Rights Watch released verified Video footage on Monday that shows government forces' extreme violence and shocking abuses against protesters during the seven weeks of peaceful protests across the country.

The rights group called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to appoint an investigation committee to investigate the human rights violations against peaceful protesters.

Koutsis welcomed the recent efforts by the High Prosecutor General and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the death of Kassala State teacher Ahmed Al Kheir. However, he called to hold accountable the security official who commit such crimes.

"We believe that a transparent, independent investigation that holds responsible officials to account will lead to a change in the government's treatment of those held in detention," said the American diplomat.

He also called for the release of the detained political opposition members, human rights activists, and peaceful protesters.

Jehanne Henry, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch, pointed out to the existence of credible evidence proving the use of excessive violence against civilians and called to hold accountable those who are responsible for these crimes.

"With each passing week the situation is getting worse,” Henry said.

“It is high time for the UN Human Rights Council to ramp up monitoring and reporting on the situation and to send investigators to the country at once,” she stressed.

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February 11, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - Presidential Assistant Faisal Hassan Ibrahim on Monday has expressed categorical rejection for all calls demanding the formation of a transitional government saying they are only committed to the 2020 elections.

Ibrahim, who is also the deputy chairman of the ruling National Congress Party, described the calls to form a transitional government as mere “illusions”, saying change wouldn't take place through protests, slogans, sabotage or foreign agenda.

Speaking to a crowd in West Darfur State, the Presidential Aid added the change of the government would occur through elections only.

“The Sudanese people would decide who will govern it through the elections in 2020” he pointed out

He further described the ongoing demonstrations as “leap in the dark”, accusing the protesters of seeking to abort the national dialogue and its outcome.

Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December 19, with demonstrators holding nationwide rallies calling on President Omer al-Bashir to resign.

The government said 31 people have died in the violence, while other credible reports including from Human Rights Watch says at least 51 people have been killed.

The popular protests are spearheaded by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), an umbrella organization of shadow trade unions including doctors, university professors, pharmacists, journalists, school teachers and engineers.

Last month, the SPA and the opposition groups including the National Consensus Alliance, Sudan Call and the Unionist Gathering launched the Declaration of Freedom and Change which calls for the removal of the regime and the formation of a four-year transitional government.

Also, other initiatives including from the University of Khartoum and a group of 52 intellectuals and Islamists led by the former prime minister Al-Gizouli Daffallah has called for the establishment of a transitional government as means to resolve the country's crisis.

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February 10, 2019 (KHARTOUM - Sudanese government has failed to end the cash crisis despite promises to resolve it through the printing of big new banknotes as banks are still unable to provide money to their customers.

Sudan's new currency sits behind a window at the central bank in Khartoum, Sudan, Sunday July 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)

Long lines of people who want to withdraw money are still waiting outside the Sudanese banks every day. Also, Sudanese line up to withdraw cash from automated teller machines (ATM)s, with dozens who abandoned their jobs and offices service.

Reliable sources told Sudan Tribune on Sunday about "complex" difficulties facing the printing of new banknotes in the Sudanese Money Printing Press, which contributed to the lack of funds for banks.

“The type of paper used in the printing was the principal cause of the problem, as it does not conform with the required specifications,” said the official who declined to be named because it is not authorized to speak to the press.

The sources said that the press however has so far been able to print only 17 million of 100-pound banknotes.

He added that the press used foreign experts to deal with intractable failures.

Plans were underway to print 100 million banknotes to curb the liquidity crisis in the first quarter of this year. However, this objective seems unlikely to reach, according to economists.

In October last year, the Bank of Sudan pumped huge amounts of cash to enable the banks to feed cash machines which set the withdrawal limit to two thousand pounds per day.

The confidence of customers in Sudanese banks has been shaken since mid-2018 after they failed to hand over money deposited in their accounts due to lack of liquidity.

In a workshop about the backing activities held by the economic sector at the ruling National Congress Party in June 2018, its bank's division recommended issuing new banknotes of 100 and 200 pounds to enable the Central Bank to build cash reserves.

Also, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) said in a paper presented at the meeting that one of the reasons for the crisis of cash shortage is weak banking secrecy.

The analyses presented by NISS Secretary of the Banking Division Mohamed Abdel Rahim said that the war on corruption and currency traders led to disclose the accounts of a large number of people in the newspapers and social media, in clear violation of the principle of privacy and confidentiality.

As a result; the contributed to weakening and destabilizing the confidence of customers in the banking sector because they feel that their transactions are monitored and details can be easily obtained.

The lack of confidence pushed the customers to deposit their money in foreign accounts but also to withdraw it in a “way to make them feel safe”.

The paper said that the inability of banks to meet the needs of customers from criticism led to shake confidence in banks and refrain from dealing with them.

The NISS warned against the continuation of distrust saying that cash feeding will not resolve the problem because customers will continue to withdraw their deposits and the collapse of the banking system.

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February 8, 2019 (JUBA) — South Sudan's opposition alliance said concerned by the repeated violations of the cessation of hostilities by the government forces and accused Juba of preparing new attacks in the upcoming days.

During the past weeks, the National Salvation Front (NAS) of Thomas Cirilo issued several statements about clashes with the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and accused the government army of violating the ceasefire.

On Sunday, NAS allied groups issued a separate statement, also, blaming the SSPDF of attacking their position in Central and Western Equatoria, the second since a first statement dated 30th January 2019.

"The South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA) is perturbed by the Juba regime and the SPLM/A-IO intentional violation of December 2017 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) by their aggression and attacks on multiple positions of SSNDA in Yei River State on the 31st of January and still continues to date," said the alliance spokesperson Kwaje Lasu.

The SSNDA forces, according to Lasu, have repulsed a "coordinated heavy attack" by the by the government forces in the areas of Morobo, Lojulo, and KajoKeji on 31 January.

He added that the SSPDF are randomly shelling villages in and around Yei area.

Further, he accused the assailants of attacking civilians and raping young girls and women.

The alliance which is formed by a number of groups that reject the revitalized peace agreement includes the National Salvation Front (NAS) of Gen. Thomas C. Swaka, People's Democratic Movement (PDM) chaired by Hakim Dario, National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Emanuel Aban and the United Democratic Republic Alliance (UDRA) of Gatwech K. Thich and South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC) of Vakindi L. Unvu,

The opposition official said they received intelligence that the government troops and their peace partner the SPLA-IO are now preparing for new attacks on their positions.

He went further to add they expect these attacks on their positions in " in Rokon, Wonduruba, Lo'bonok, Katigeri, and Mongala".

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, several times, expressed keenness to bring the non-signatory groups to the peace agreement.

Also, the IGAD Council of Ministers which brokered the peace pact directed the Special Envoy Ismail Wais to meet the holdout rebel groups and persuade them to join peace.

In December 2018, Wais met the non-signatories who later on provided him with their claims. However, they are still awaiting the resumption of meeting as they said ready to negotiate with the government.

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February 10, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - A tripartite meeting among the Sudanese, Egyptian and Ethiopian leaders on Sunday has decided to provide a high-level political umbrella to support the talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The planned Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project (AP)

The three leaders, Omer al-Bashir, Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi and Abiy Ahmed have met on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.

According to Egypt's presidential spokesperson, Bassam Radi, the meeting was a continuation of the talks among the three leaders that started in January 2018 aiming to overcome any impediments pertaining to the GERD negotiations.

He added that President al-Sisi stressed the importance of adopting a balanced and cooperative vision for the filling and operation of the dam to achieve the interests of the three countries.

Radi pointed out that the three leaders underscored the urgency of developing a unified view on the dam on the basis of the declaration of principles signed in Khartoum.

He further said the meeting discussed ways and means of promoting cooperation and relations among the three countries.

Egypt fears that its water share would be drawn down by the filling of the GERD which is expected to hold 74 billion cubic metres of water and generate electrical power of up to 6,000 megawatts.

In 2015, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia signed a declaration of principles on the dam project that tacitly approves the dam construction but calls for technical studies aimed at safeguarding the water quotas of the three riparian states.

On September 22, 2014, a tripartite committee from the three countries proposed the conduction of two additional studies on the dam project, the first one on the effect of the dam on the water quota of Sudan and Egypt and the second one to examine the dam's ecological, economic and social impacts of the dam on Sudan and Egypt.

The French engineering consultancy Artelia and BRL groups have been selected to undertake the dam impact studies. The U.K.-based law firm Corbett & Co was selected to manage the legal affairs of the tripartite committee.

Last May, the three countries agreed to set up a joint technical team - 5 members from each country- to study the filling of the GERD reservoir and operating the dam. Egypt withdrew its proposal to resort to the World Bank on the matter.

The technical team held four meetings to discuss options and strategies for filling the GERD.

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