Africa

The already serious humanitarian situation in Central African Republic (CAR) has worsened amid a spike in violence which threatens to overtake almost every area of the country, a top UN aid official said on Monday.

Mamoudou Gassama earned widespread praise and Spiderman comparisons for saving a small boy.

The head of a government youth agency is among those held over a scheme allegedly involving fake sales.

Nigeria international winger Moses Simon is ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury that will sideline him for up to a month.

The 'Ultras White Knights', staunch fans of Egyptian giants Zamalek, disband their group, bringing the Ultras era in Egypt to an end after 11 years.

Flanker Siya Kolisi will become South Africa's first black Test captain in the three-match series against England next month.

The US has imposed tariffs on Rwanda over an obscure import: Second-hand clothes.

The US has imposed tariffs on Rwanda over an obscure import: Second-hand clothes.

Mohamed Salah says he is "confident" of playing in the World Cup after suffering a shoulder injury in the Champions League final.

Real Madrid's Achraf Hakimi heads to the World Cup in confident mood after becoming the first Moroccan to win the Uefa Champions League.

May 26, 2018 (ADDIS ABABA) - Sanctions imposed on South Sudanese government by the United States are encouraging rebels to stall at peace talks, a South Sudanese official said on Saturday.

A general view of the closing session of the IGAD brokered second phase of the HLRF on 23 May 2018 - (Photo Ethiopian FM)

South Sudan's envoy to Ethiopia and the African Union, James Morgan said the imposed arms embargo and individual sanctions slapped on some government officials have delayed the peace process.

He, however, said South Sudan government was ready to accept peace proposals in line with the country's constitutional process.

Morgan further said the Juba government is prepared to adopt proposals capable of bridging gaps with the rebels, citing the move to reform the army and their representation in the national assembly.

In an interview with the VOA last week, Brian Shukan, a director of the office of the US special envoy for South Sudan said plans are underway to impose sanctions on individuals seen to be blocking the peace process.

"We have taken an approach using sanctions where we want to apply pressure and also to hold people accountable," said Shukan.

On Tuesday, Rival parties in South Sudan peace talks concluded the Second Phase of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) without striking a deal on the implementation of the governance and security arrangements.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, after a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Machar, leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced.

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May 26, 2018 (KAMPALA) – Police in Uganda have arrested nine South Sudanese refugees for leading riots and damaging equipment of a humanitarian agency in the West Nile district of Arua.

South Sudanese refugees carrying Core Relief Items walk down a road in Bidibidi refugee settlement, Yumbe District, Northern Region, Uganda. (UNHCR/David Azia)

An alleged delay in the supply of food rations caused the riots.

The West Nile regional police spokesperson, Josephine Angucia was quoted saying the South Sudanese refugees broke into the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) stores, stealing food items, wheel barrows, hoes, slashers, three computers, tarpaulin and spray cans.

"When police swung into action, the riots were stopped. Nine suspects were arrested and detained at Yoro base camp police station pending transfer to Arua CPS [Central Police Station]," she told Xinhua.

According to the police, 11 wheelbarrows, 11 hoes, 9 slashes, some electric items and computer accessories have been recovered.

"Refugees are advised to use proper channels of sharing their grievances through their leaders to the concerned authorities instead of taking the law into their hands," said Angucia.

"When some continue to misbehave and not abide by our laws and procedures, they will be arrested and prosecuted according to Ugandan laws," she added.

Last year, WFP announced a food aid cut by 50% to hundreds of thousands of refugees living in Uganda, citing financial constraints.

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May 26, 2018 (JUBA) - China has handed over 2,048 tonnes of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to assist millions of people affected by the conflict in war-torn South Sudan.

People in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan collect food from WFP (WFP/eter Testuzza Photo)

The donation is reportedly part of 8,800 tonnes of rice Beijing pledged to the young nation in 2017 to fight severe food shortage.

South Sudan is in the midst of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis driven by three years of brutal civil war. More than 7 million people are currently food insecure in South Sudan and China's recent food aid would rescue thousands of hungry people from starving.

According to WFP officials, the Chinese donation would help provide emergency food aid to some 136,000 people for a one month period.

He Xiangdong, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, said the contribution is part of China's efforts to support the world's youngest country to overcome the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The chairperson of South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), Manase Lomole said cooperation between Juba and Beijing have been fruitful and should be strengthened to benefit the people of both countries.

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May 26, 2018 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopian security forces seized over hundred guns and ammunition smuggled from neighbouring Sudan.

According to the Ethiopian News Agency, the security forces in Amhara regional state in northern Ethiopia captured 116 guns and thousands of bullets smuggled from Sudan.

The three-day operation involved the region's security forces and the Ethiopian army said the Chief of West Metema locality police, Aberaraw Yehuala.

The police official said three lorry drivers have been arrested in connection with the weapon trafficking operation.

In reaction to this development, the security authorities enhanced the security measures at the checkpoints on the border with Sudan.

The two country have a security cooperation agreement.

The official agency didn't provide further details on the destination of the lorries loaded with the sized weapons.

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May 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Saturday has called on all political parties to participate in the 2020 elections.

An official closes a ballot box following the end of elections in Khartoum on 16 April 2015 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

During a meeting with his party's student sector, NCP political secretary Abdel-Rahman al-Khidir said the main objective of the 2020 elections is to make the ballot boxes the only means for the peaceful transfer of power.

He expressed his party's readiness to run for the presidential and parliamentary elections, saying the 2020 elections must be held on its scheduled timeframe.

Al-Khidir praised the political parties who decided to participate in the elections.

Last month, a coalition of some opposition left parties, the National Consensus Forces (NCF), announced the boycott of the 2020 elections, saying it won't meet with the ruling party to discuss these elections.

On the other hand, several opposition groups that are part of the opposition Sudan Call forces consider participating in the next general presidential elections in 2020 if the regime of President Omer al-Bashir provides needed guarantees for a fair election and ensures freedoms.

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May 26, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - United Nations Security Council is expected to impose sanctions on South Sudanese government officials including Defence Minister and Minister of Cabinet Affairs who chairs the government delegation to the peace revitalization forum.

The 15-member body on 31 May will adopt a resolution renewing the measures related to targeted sanctions in order to support the search for an inclusive and sustainable peace in South Sudan.

The United States which is the penholder on South Sudan circulated a draft resolution on 25 May at an informal meeting. The adoption requires nine Yes votes out of the 15 total votes.

The draft resolution seen by Sudan Tribune provides to renew until 31 May 2019 the targeted sanctions including ban travel and asset freeze, to extend until 30 June 2019 the mandate of the Panel of Experts and to impose sanctions on five officials from the government and one from the rebel side.

According to the draft resolution the list includes SPLM-IO Governor of Bieh State Koang Rambang Chol, Kuol Manyang Juuk South Sudan Defence Minister, Malek Reuben Riak Rengu, Deputy Chief of Defence for Logistics in South Sudan's army, Martin Elia Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth Minister of Information and Gen Paul Malong Awan Former SPLA Chief of Staff sacked by Kiir in May 2017.

Awan, Lueth and Rengu are already blacklisted by the U.S. administration for their roles in destabilizing South Sudan.

For the rebel commander, Chol is sanctioned for ordering to restrict the movement of humanitarian workers. "He was responsible for the detention of two (Kenyan) pilots delivering aid, obstructing their humanitarian activities" last February.

The resolution said the head of the government negotiating team Lomuro "threatened members of the press, obstructed humanitarian missions, and threatened to eliminate the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM). Lomuro also obstructed the activities of UNMISS".

Regarding the defence minister, the draft resolution says under his command the army violated the ceasefire of December 2017 by attacking civilians. But also the SPLA expanded or extended the conflict through offensives in Pagak.

The resolution further says the South Sudanese defence minister supplied the Sudanese rebel of the SPLM-N with military equipment in violation of the 2015 peace agreement.

LOBBYING SECURITY COUNCIL

The Deputy head of the South Sudan mission to the United Nations told Juba in a note dated on 25 May the Security Council would likely adopt the resolution.

"From the way some members of Security Council spoke during the Panel of Experts report, the draft will likely pass as the penholder only requires 9 yes votes out of the 15 total votes," said the south Sudanese diplomat in its note seen by Sudan Tribune.

The diplomat advised to reach out China and Russia asking them to use their veto vote.

She further recommended that Juba lobbies the Council members in a way to prevent the penholder, the United States from getting the nine votes required to pass the resolution.

So, the note recommended to particularly contact two African non-permanent members of the Council- Cote d'Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea - to request them to abstain during the vote. The two countries reportedly are in favour of the targeted sanctions.

Also, it considered good to reach the other non-permanent countries including Bolivia, Ethiopia; Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland and Sweden to convince them to not support the draft resolution.

In a recent interview with the VOA, Brian Shukan, director of the office of the U.S. Special Envoy for South Sudan said they want to impose sanctions on individuals seen to be blocking the peace process.

"We have taken an approach using sanctions where we want to apply pressure and also to hold people accountable," said Shukan.

Also, UK special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Christopher Trott approved the approach.

"We are in the process of looking [for] ways in which we can introduce sanctions on individuals, both for corrupt practices and for obstructing the peace process," he told VOA.

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Zimbabwe's Axcil Jefferies hopes to be the first African racing driver on the F1 grid for 25 years.

May 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has prevented a rights activist from travelling to Nairobi and confiscated her passport without giving reasons.

Intisar al-Agly

In a short statement issued on Saturday, Intisar Al-Agaly said the NISS agents at Khartoum Airport prevented her from boarding the plane.

“After I completed the procedures and received my boarding pass I waited for a long time upon the request of a security agent and then I was informed that I'm banned from travelling” read the statement

She added the NISS agents confiscated her passport and cancelled her ticket reservation, describing the move as a constitutional violation.

Al-Agaly vowed to take the necessary legal procedures against the NISS, saying the denial of her right to travel without due cause has caused her material and moral losses.

Last week, the NISS banned the secretary-general of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP), Sara Nugdallah, from travelling to Egypt to see her doctor.

Also, the NISS on Tuesday prevented 4 journalists from travelling to Saudi Arabia without stating reasons.

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May 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has approved the continued participation of Sudanese troops in the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

?Speaking to the state-run Radio Omdurman on Saturday, NCP political secretary Abdel-Rahman al-Khidir said his party has reached its decision after making a comprehensive and objective assessment for the various aspects of Sudan's participation in the Saudi-led coalition.

He pointed out that the decision to participate in the alliance was based on a strategic, not emotional view, saying Sudan is part of a large coalition.

President Omer al-Bashir on Wednesday stated that the Sudanese troops would continue to fight Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen despite the tough economic situation his country is experiencing.

Earlier this month, State Defence Minister Ali Mohamed Salim said his ministry was evaluating pros and cons of the participation in the Yemen war in order to decide on it soon.

Al-Bashir has been under pressure to withdraw his troops from Yemen because Gulf countries particularly Saudi Arabia do not provide financial support to the country to overcome its economic crisis.

The Sudanese army has been participating in the Saudi-led military coalition since 2015 in a regional effort to back the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after he was ousted from the capital Sanaa by the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels.

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South African disability rights campaigner Eddie Ndopu says he is "a living manifestation of possibility".