Africa

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July 29, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The United Nations Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Field Support, Atul Khare, said his visit to the disputed area of Abyei meant to build up coordination with the mission ahead of the expected review of the mission mandate.

Last April, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 October 2018 and warned that it would terminate a modification to its mandate decided in 2012 to support a Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism agreed by South Sudan and Sudan in line with the Cooperation Agreement of 27 September 2012.

On Friday Khare concluded a two-day visit to Abyei included JBVMM sites in Kadugli South Kordofan to inspect the mission's operational progress, its challenges and plans. In Abyei, he met with local leaders and UNISFA leadership and staff.

In a meeting with the UNISFA leadership on Friday, the senior international official thanked UNISFA leadership for its tireless efforts to carry out the mission's mandate despite political and security challenges. He further praised the Force Commander, General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu, for building a team and running an inclusive administration.

"USG Khare highlighted that his visit aimed to strengthen the coordination and support between Headquarters and the mission and assured Staff members that the current review of UNISFA's composition is aimed at aligning the mission with new realities on the ground," said a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

The Security Council in its resolution 2412 (2018) said the UNISFA's support for a Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) would be the final until the parties took action leading to progress on border demarcation.

The JBVMM is operating under the UNISFA and has been tasked to monitor, verify and investigate any movement by armed forces and armed civilians in the 2100 km Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ).

Accordingly, the Council decided to maintain UNISFA's authorized troop ceiling of 4,791 until 15 October 2018, and further that, as of that date, the ceiling would decrease to 4,250, unless the Council decided to extend the mandate modification.

Before to visit Abyei, the USG for Field Support spent three days in Darfur region where he discussed areas of cooperation, including support for IDPs and refugees to voluntarily return to their areas of origin, construction of internal road networks and capacity building of state government employees through training.

"UNAMID is going to be here for about two more years and within these years we will try to help as much as possible for the future," Khare said in according to a statement released by Darfur hybrid peacekeeping operation.

Ahead of the UNAMID exit from Darfur in two years, Khare added that discussions would take place with authorities at locality, state and national level to determine the best use of the facilities established by UNAMID to benefit communities. Some of the facilities, such as camps, could be converted to hospitals, colleges or schools and used for social development, among various options, he said.

(ST)

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July 29, 2018 'KHARTOUM) - Sudanese state minister for foreign affairs and Chinese ambassador to Khartoum discussed on Sunday the participation of President Omer al-Bashir in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit will take place in Beijing in September 2018.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, September 1, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Parker Song)

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Garib Allah Kidir said Minister Osama Faisal met Chinese diplomat Li Lianhe and discussed preparations for the participation of President Omer al-Bashir at the upcoming summit, as well as arrangements for a bilateral summit to be held with the Chinese President ahead of the forum.

He said the upcoming Sudanese-Sudanese summit will discuss ways of developing cooperation between the two countries in all fields, especially economic and trade cooperation.

According to the spokesperson, the minister of state referred to the meetings of the joint working group to develop cooperation in Beijing on August 28, ahead of the president's visit.

China's debt on Sudan is estimated at more $10 billion.

In August 2017, China announced a debt relief for Sudan worth $160 million saying it would provide about $75 million in financial assistance to Khartoum.

In return, Sudan proposed that China develop its oil investments in Sudan.

Also, among the issues to be discussed between the two sides, Sudan's debt arrears towards China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

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July 29, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudanese civil society groups called for the release of Peter Bair Ajak a rights defender known for his criticism for the failure of South Sudanese leadership to achieve peace.

Ajak was arrested on Saturday morning at Juba airport as he was heading to Aweil, for a meeting organized by one of his groups, Red Army Foundation.

The International Youth for Africa (IYA) and the Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ), called in two separate statements extended to Sudan Tribune for an immediate and unconditional release of the prominent South Sudanese activist saying say the arrest was politically motivated.

"To best of my knowledge Peter is innocent and must be released, should anyone have anything against him that let him go to the police and file a case," said Tito Anthony CPJ's Executive Director.

Anthony stressed that the Ajak was arrested without a legal order from the court pointing such arrest is a violation of the South Sudanese constitution which ensures freedoms of speech and movement.

For its part, the IYA said it is time for South Sudanese to search genuine peace not a time for arresting for the people who are advocating for peace in the country.

"Arresting individuals who are working for peace in South Sudan will never help us to solve the ongoing crisis in the country," said the youth group.

Akaj is the founding chairman of South Sudan Young Leaders Forum (SSYLF), Red Army Foundation and NxGeneration of SouthSudan group. He recently twitted and re-twitted several messages hostile to the South Sudanese leadership.

"We must stop thinking that the so-called leaders will bring peace to South Sudan. We, the great people of South Sudan, must organize ourselves to bring about the peace we deserve!," he wrote in a recent Twit.

However, the government didn't issue a statement on his arrest. But sources claiming close to the South Sudanese security apparatus said Ajak is accused of supporting the former army chief of staff Paul Malong who is now a rebel leader.

But his family and friends deny the accusation.

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July 29, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The government negotiating team for the Two Areas talks with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on Sunday has called on African mediation to set a date to resume the talks.

Mbeki speaks to participants at the inaugral session of Strategic Consultations Meeting in Addis Ababa on 18 March 2016 (AUHIP Photo)

Member of government team, Osman Andu, has appealed to the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to invite the two sides for a final round of talks to end the conflict and sign a just and comprehensive peace agreement.

Andu, who also serves as deputy chairman of the ruling National Congress Party in South Kordofan, described President Omer al-Bashir's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire as “advanced positive move”, saying it has created a conducive climate to achieve peace.

He pointed out that the unilateral cessation of hostilities has created a new reality in South Kordofan's peace file allowing contacts between the two sides.

Andu added the SPLM-N has also adhered to the unilateral ceasefire for the last three years, saying large numbers of civilians and rebels have returned to the state after they were convinced of the futility of war.

The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu and the other led by Malik Agar. The rift emerged last year over the right of self-determination and other organisational issues.

Several sources close to the file say the African Union mediation held recently several meetings with the al-Hilu faction but failed to agree with them on agenda for the talks.

The AU is brokering comprehensive peace talks to end the war and achieve democratic reforms. The two-track process comprises the Sudanese government and opposition forces including the armed groups in Darfur and the Two Areas.

During the recent round of talks from 1 to 3 February, the Sudanese government and SPLM-N al-Hilu failed to reach a cessation of hostilities agreement.

Al-Hilu group demands to deliver humanitarian assistance directly from abroad to the rebel-held areas, but Khartoum rejects such request saying all the relief operations should be conducted from the Sudanese territory.

Before the SPLM-N split, the rebel group called to establish a corridor from Asosa on the Ethiopian border to deliver 20 per cent of the humanitarian aid directly to the SPLM-N-controlled areas in the Blue Nile state.

In February talks, the mediation limited the discussions on the cessation of hostilities to the government and the SPLM-N al-Hilu saying Agar faction has no military leverage in the Blue Nile state.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

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July 29, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir received a letter from his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir on the expected resumption of oil production next September.

The letter was handed over by South Sudanese Oil Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth who met al-Bashir on Saturday evening.

After the meeting, the minister told reporters that oil production will resume on 2 September with 45,000 barrels per day from El Toor and Toma South fields. After what will restart the production of other oil fields in Munga and Unity.

"So, by the end of the year, production in the blocks 1,2,4 will be at its maximum capacity," he added.

The meeting, which took place at the Guest House, was attended by Salah Gosh the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Services.

On June 27, South Sudanese parties signed the Khartoum Declaration of Agreement, where they committed themselves to a permanent ceasefire and pledged to finalize a deal on the pending issues in the governance chapter of the 2015 peace agreement.

The declaration provides to resume immediately in collaboration with the Sudanese government the rehabilitation of the damaged oil installations in the Unity region, Blocks 1,2, 4 and 5.

On Saturday, South Sudan's Minister of Petroleum Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth and Sudan's Minister of Oil and Gas Azhari Abdel-Gader inspected the rehabilitation work at Toma South oil field.

In press statements following the visit, Abdel-Gader described the completion of the paved road ahead of schedule as “big achievement”, saying he and his South Sudanese counterpart are committed to implementing the agreement on the resumption of oil pumping.

For his part, Gatkuoth said the two sides are committed to resuming oil pumping in early September according to the agreed plan, praising efforts of companies operating in rehabilitating South Sudan oil fields.

He further instructed the companies to finish work at Toma South field as soon as possible and then head to Munga field which is ready for oil pumping.

It is noteworthy that the Khartoum Declaration does not provide for the immediate resumption of oil production because South Sudan's opposition led by Riek Machar rejected this idea saying this step should intervene after the signing of a comprehensive political settlement.

Khartoum proposed to repair and protect the installations in coordination with the South Sudanese government and to resume the production which will intervene within several weeks when the discussions are concluded.

South Sudan heavily relies on oil income to fund up to 98% of its budget. Also, it relies on the Sudanese pipeline to export its oil production through the Red Sea.

Analysts say the resumption of oil production will also benefit Sudan and Uganda.

Khartoum is in dire needs for hard currency from the exportation of South Sudanese oil through its pipelines and ports at the Red Sea, while Kampala wants to resume goods exportation to the South Sudanese market.

The world newest nation says it is producing around 130,000 barrels of oil a day but plans to double it by the end of the year.

(ST)

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