Africa

December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Popular Congress Party (PCP) and Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Minni Minnawi agreed to work together for peace in Sudan in line with the African Union-brokered roadmap and national dialogue outcome.

On 18-19 December, Ali al-Haj, the Secretary-General of PCP which is now part of the National Consensus Government led by President Omer al-Bashir discussed, in the German city, the issues of war and peace with a delegation of the SRF a coalition of armed groups led by Minni Minnawi.

The meeting comes within the framework of an initiative for peace in Sudan launched by the PCP which historically had a negative position from foreign processes to bring peace in the country. The initiative is also in line with the outcome of the dialogue process concluded in October 2016.

"The two parties commit themselves to work towards advancing peace, peaceful settlement and comprehensive political settlement based on their reference to the African Union Road Map for the (Sudanese) Revolutionary Front and the outcomes of the national dialogue for the Popular Congress (Party)," reads a joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday evening.

They further agreed to establish a joint mechanism to ensure the continuation of dialogue on all national issues.

Also, the parties said they will brief their respective allies about the outcome and discuss with them "on expanding the circle of joint political work," says the statement without elaboration.

However, the statement stressed the need to ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance, and release "fundamental freedoms". Also, the meeting welcomed the release of prisoners of war and called to free those who remain in jail.

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December 19, 2017 (JUBA) - The United Nations' humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan on Tuesday called for safe return of six aid workers abducted in Raga and Wau towns of South Sudan.

In a statement, Alain Noudehou said one international and five national aid workers went missing on Sunday while travelling between Raga and Wau, where they operated from.

Solidarites International said it "lost contact" with three of its workers, but it could not be independently verified if they were kidnapped.

A deputy spokesman for the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO), Lam Paul Gabriel, said their forces intercepted a convoy “carrying weapons” between Wau and Raga town, allegations Sudan Tribune could not easily verify.

He said four aid workers, “used as shields by the government in the transportation of military hardware” were rescued during the operation.

"They [aid workers] are currently safe and sound with our forces around Raga and will be handed over to the concerned third party as soon as possible," Lam said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

A South Sudan rebel official separately admitted they abducted 15 people during the attack. The rebel appointed governor of Lol state, Ayman Mohamed Ibrahim, claimed those abducted were government troops and Sudanese rebels.

Nine aid workers were killed in South Sudan in November, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), said last week.

Over 90 aid workers, the UN said, have been killed in South Sudan ever since the conflict in South Sudan, which was caused by political differences, broke out in 2013.

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Rwanda's President Paul Kagame would arrive in Khartoum on Wednesday on a two-day official visit to hold talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omer al-Bashir.

President Paul Kagame has called for Africans to advance African solutions (photo credit: Village Urugwiro)

According to the Sudanese presidency, the two Presidents would discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

Kagame would be accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, Defence Minister, James Kabarebe, Trade Minister, Vincent Munyeshyaka, intelligence chief Joseph Nzabamwita and the director general of bilateral cooperation at the foreign ministry, Faith Rugema.

The two sides would hold bilateral talks on the political and economic relations and prospects for trade exchange between the two countries.

Kagame will visit the National Archaeological Museum and the International University of Africa where he will address university students.

At the conclusion of the visit, the two sides would sign an agreement to establish the joint political consultation committee between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said Rwanda has been among the African nations that continued to support Sudan's just issues in the regional and international forums.

It added Rwanda, under Kagame's leadership, managed to overcome the plight of genocide and destruction during a short period, saying the country's economy has been ranked among the fastest growing in Africa.

Last August, al-Bashir attended in the Rwandan capital, Kigali the inauguration ceremony of the Kagame for the third term.

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Human Rights Watch (HRW) voiced concern about the arbitrary detention of Sudanese activists and called on the government to try or to release them pointing to reports of alleged torture.

In a statement released Tuesday, HRW said the Sudanese security service has detained on 6 December a "human rights activist Rudwan Dawod, a 35-year-old dual Sudanese-American citizen, who visited El Jereif suburb in Khartoum to " to show solidarity with local community protests against government land expropriations.

"He is being held in an unknown location, without access to a lawyer or his family" further reads the statement.

The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) continue to arrest political and rights activists in Sudan despite the recommendations of the national dialogue conference in October 2016 and government's commitment to release freedoms before the lift of U.S. sanctions.

“Sudan locks up activists for weeks on end, holds them incommunicado, and subjects them to abuse, including torture,” said Jehanne Henry, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“Authorities need to end these detentions and grant all detainees full access to family, lawyers, and medical care,” Henry further called.

The statement, also, reported the case of Nasreldin Mukhtar, a prominent Darfuri student activist arrested on August 22, and eight Darfuri students arrested in mid-September while protesting NISS detentions of two other students.

Rights activists and political opponents say the NISS continue to carry out arbitrary detention and arrests operations, putting aside pledges to allow them to work in a safe and enabling environment without fear.

“Torture and prolonged, arbitrary detention are still routine practice in Sudan, used as a means to stifle dissent and dialogue,” Henry said. “These tactics are further evidence of Sudan's appalling rights record.”

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Utensils and bottles of urine were also allegedly found in parliament as politicians expressed their disapproval.

December 19, 2017 (JUBA) - Authorities in South Sudan's Maiwut state have relocated from the country's capital, Juba to the state days after Governor Bol Ruach Rom issued several orders for appointment of a new cabinet.

The speaker of the state parliament said an advance team headed by state advisers for peace and reconciliation, child, education and environment, minister of local government and law enforcement agencies, minister of finance and public service, minister of education, minister of rural development, minister of health, county commissioners, town mayor and deputy will this week travel to the state before the governor and speaker of the state assembly follow.

Choul Kiir said priority of newly appointed officials will be to engage with their respective communities, currently in Ethiopia-South Sudan border due to fighting in July between government troops and the armed opposition forces in the state.

The relocation comes after the formation of the state government following months of consultations and negotiations with members of ethnic Koma community, whose a quarter of their political figures have preferred being annexed to northern Upper Nile state.

The tension and deadlock were resolved with the appointment of the deputy governor and some cabinet ministers from the Koma community. The state government was operating from Juba and relocation will be first of its kind since the state was created through a presidential order early this year.

Rev. Simon Ruot Riang, Advisor for Peace and Reconciliation, Dorach Both Nyuot, Advisor for girl Child Education and Environment B. Ministers, Major General, Gach Puok Dak, Minister of Local Government and Law enforcement Agencies, Buk Lul Joak, Minister of Finance and Public Service, Chol Bol Wur, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Duop Abshiry Duop Bichiok, Minister of Education, Simon Duop Puok Tir, Minister of Rural Development, Gatluak Liphoth Diew, Minister of Health and Environment, will be in the advance team to relocate to the state headquarters in Pagak, a former rebel headquarters at South Sudan- Ethiopia border.

The border area changed hands from the armed opposition to the government. The county commissioners include Col. John Miyieny Lual Roth, commissioner of Longechuk county, James Yach Lul Puok Thiwat, and commissioner of Jiokow county. The state deputy mayor, Tut Gang Met is also part of the advance team.

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government has expressed readiness to resume peace talks with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on the Two Areas.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Tuesday quoted the spokesperson of the government negotiating team Hussein Hamdi as saying they have constant contacts with the African Union and the international community to resume the talks.

He added “peace is a strategic goal and moral principle for the government”, saying the government team is ready to resume negotiations.

Hamdi pointed out that the rift within the SPLM-N has caused the delay of the talks, saying they are waiting to resolve the issue and determine who would represent the Movement at the negotiating table.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Talks between the Sudanese government and SPLM-N for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since August 2016.

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 several months ago over the right of self-determination and other organisational issues.

In September, Abdel-Rahman Abu Median, member of the government negotiating team, said they wouldn't negotiate with an SPLM-N Agar faction, pointing the group has no ability to implement what will be agreed upon.

The SPLM-N al-Hilu has a similar point of view as they say there is no split within the rebel movement, but only a change of leadership stressing they have the SPLA-N support.

On the other hand, the SPLM-N Agar recognizes the rift and proposes to form a joint delegation. If this proposal is rejected they propose to coordinate with the SPLM-N al-Hilu.

The African mediators met the two factions last August, but they didn't fix a clear position on the matter, while the facilitators from the Troika countries and the European Union also didn't determine a unified position on the matter.

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President Omer al-Bashir waves during a rally in Nyala town in South Darfur on December 29, 2010. (Reuters Photo)

December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The National Initiative of Youth Around the President (NIYAP) on Tuesday has officially launched a campaign to re-nominate President Omer al-Bashir for a third term.

Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum Tuesday, the head of the NIYAP's higher preparatory committee Yasser Mohy al-Din said “there is no alternative to al-Bashir except al-Bashir”.

He said al-Bashir is the “nominee for the 2020 elections”, calling on the youth to support the NIYAP campaign.

Mohy al-Din added the NIYAP would establish “al-Bashir house” across the Sudanese states and counties to list names of those supporting al-Bashir re-election and assist the poor people.

He pointed out they would organize a large celebration to give Bay'ah (declare allegiance) to President al-Bashir next month.

Al-Bashir's term ends in 2020 and he couldn't run for office again according to the constitution. However, some voices within the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the government have recently called for amending the constitution to allow him to run for the presidency again.

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Popular Congress Party (PCP) and Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Minni Minnawi held two-day discussions on Sudan's peace in the German city, Bonn.

The PCP, which historically was opposed to foreign initiatives to end the war in Sudan, launched several months ago an initiative to bridge the gaps between the National Congress Party-led government and the opposition groups that boycott the National Dialogue process.

Last week, Ali al-Haj who leads the Islamist party after long years of exile in Germany said he would meet the with the armed at the end of a long series of meetings held with Sudanese political leaders including President Omer al-Bashir who supports this initiative.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, the PCP said al-Haj on Monday evening held a dinner in Bonn in honour of the PCP and SRF delegations that would meet from 18 to 19 December.

According to the statement, the dinner was attended from the SRF side by the rebel umbrella leader Minni Minnawi, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Gibril Ibrahim and the member of the SRF leadership council Amin Daoud.

On the other hand, PCP members who attended the dinner include deputy secretary of foreign relations Mohamed Badr al-Din Hamid, PCP representative in Britian Siddiq Mohamed Osman and the party representative in Sweden al-Bashir Mohamed.

Following the dinner, the two delegations held a preliminary meeting to set up the agenda of the main meeting which would be held on Tuesday morning in Bonn.

PCP's delegation spokesperson Siddiq Mohamed Osman said a good brotherly spirit has prevailed over the meeting, pointing the PCP initiative was very well received by the SRF delegation.

The statement said the meeting would discuss the PCP initiative as well as the required confidence-building measures to achieve a lasting peace in Sudan.

Last October, the SRF held its general conference in Paris and elected Minnawi as a leader for the upcoming period.

The Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi and the Justice and Equality Movement are part of the African Union-brokered peace process.

They failed to reach a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement with the government in August 2016 as they demand to open the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur for discussion, a matter that the government rejects.

Since, the government and the two groups have mad sole progress in this respect thanks to the efforts undertaken by the international facilitators but still, there are divergences on several points between the two parties.

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December 19, 2017 (JUBA) – A member of South Sudan's national dialogue committee has expectedly admitted that the war-torn nation has “collapsed”, citing the displacements, destruction of properties and deaths of innocent civilians due to the country's ongoing conflict.

Aldo Ajou Deng Akuey, also a member of the Dinka council of elders, said the country was at the point where people are suffering and called on political leaders to come together instead of continuing to make procrastination without breaking the sufferings.

“Seriously speaking South Sudanese have reached the climax in their suffering. Insecurity: political, economic, social, cultural and livelihood have been brought down to earth in every field of humanity. The prove is that more than eighty people have died; two million are internally displaced from their homes, four million have left the country to neighbouring countries and beyond and six million are starving and dying of related disease,” wrote Akuey on Monday.

He added, “The real conclusion underlines that the country has truly collapsed, rating the inflation to over 1050 percent. A quite impossible reverse. This huge disaster only occurred between 2013 and 2017. The cry of the people is unanimous: Peace now! Enough”.

The official, who is also the chairperson of the specialized committee for human rights and constitutional affairs in the Upper House of parliament, said it was time to end the war and bring peace in the country.

“Peace now, but with great lack of confidence and mistrust of leaders by the public, the mediators, Troika, IGAD, AU and UN, express skepticism that the ARCSS High-Level Revitalization Forum, (HLRF), may fail the warning that this is the last chance available for peace in order to bail out the country and its people from the deadly disaster”, he added.

Akuey's comments follow statements from the European Union and the Troika nations in which they warned anti-peace elements with sanctions if they continue obstructing durable peace in the country.

While addressing reporters in the capital, Juba on Sunday after meeting the cabinet affairs minister, the ambassador of the Royal Norwegian embassy, representing the European Union, said the international community has a high expectation in the country's leadership in the High-Level Revitalization Forum of the agreement.

"On the side of the international community we have made clear to the minister that the leaders of the country will be judged on their actions, not on their words and that there will be consequences and costs for those who want to spoil the process," said Lars Andersen.

“This is a critical moment in which decisive action can be taken for the benefit of the well-being of the people of South Sudan", he added.

Andersen said they expect the concrete outcome of the forum that there will be a secession of hostilities, an unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to the people in need and that there will be space for everybody who wants to build the country to participate in the discussions on what kind of country South Sudan wanted to be like.

The representative of the Troika countries, Ambassador Geert Geut said they will closely watch the HLRF taking place in Addis Ababa.

"We will be watching the process closely, we will support the process and we will stand ready to take action on those that are working against peace,” said Geut.

He added, I don't want to leave any doubt on the determination of the International community to sanction those who want to spoil the peace process."

Meanwhile, the director of international cooperation in South Sudan's ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation John Andruga Duku reaffirmed the government's commitment to the delegation of the troika and EU to achieving peace in the country.

"The government is committed to seeing that the delegation going there led by the minister will go with open-minded and be going there with the idea that finds a solution to the long conflict in the Republic of South Sudan”, said Duku.

On Monday, the IGAD Council of Ministers threatened to take punitive measures against spoilers of South Sudan's peace process.

The regional bloc, in a statement, vowed to take necessary actions against individuals and groups that spoil or derail the revitalization process from progressing.

The five-day forum provides a unique opportunity to bring IGAD, regional and international parties together towards ending the conflict in South Sudan with the help of stakeholders on the negotiation table.

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For children and women in the Central African Republic, 2017 has been a very difficult year and sadly, the situation is not expected to improve in the coming months, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said Tuesday.

December 18, 2017 (WAU) - Seven aid workers were abducted by unknown gunmen in Raja town of South Sudan's Lol state on Sunday, officials said.

"The rebel's loyal to Riek Machar attacked four commercial trucks coming from Aweil near Mogayat in Raja, and at the same time there were two NGO vehicles coming from Raja," the state minister of information, Omar Isahaq told Sudan Tribune Monday.

The abducted aid workers, the minister said, were from HealthNet and Solidarity International.

“There are four aid workers from Solidarity International, and three aid workers from HealthNet. The rebels took the two vehicles belonging to the NGOs,” said Isahaq.

A dozen civilians were reportedly killed when the gunmen attacked four commercial vehicles near Mogayat area.

A South Sudanese rebel official separately admitted they abducted 15 people during the attack.

The rebel appointed governor of Lol state, Ayman Mohamed Ibrahim, claimed those abducted were South Sudan government soldiers and Sudanese rebels.

Nine aid workers were killed in South Sudan in November alone, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), said last week.

More than 90 aid workers, the UN said, have been killed in South Sudan ever since the conflict in South Sudan, which was caused by political differences, broke out in 2013.

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December 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A Sudanese court Monday decided to postpone until Thursday a verdict in the trial of a Sudanese journalist accused of wearing indecent clothes.

Wini Omer (Facebook photo)

Wini Omer a journalist, human rights defender and 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow had been arrested charges of “indecent and immoral acts” before to be released on bail several hours later.

She was arrested on 10 December after attending the hearing of 24 women charged with indecency for wearing pants during a private women-only party.

After hearing the parties, the Judge decided to delay the ruling until next Thursday upon the request of the defence to hear three witnesses including the director of the Center For Training And Protection Of Women And Child's Rights (SEEMA) Nahid Jabrallah, and two other people who were present at the moment of Wini's arrest.

In her statements before the judge of Aldaym Court Kamal Ali al-Zaki, Wini denied the charges of indecent clothing stressing she is a "Muslim and she knows her religion well"
"What I wear is not an indecent dress, but a dress worn by all the girls on the public street." She further confirmed that her head was half covered at the moment of arrest.

In a video posted on the social media, Wini explained that the police officer who arrested her said he did not like the way she walked.

The U.S. embassy in Khartoum on Sunday said concerned by the arrest of the female journalist on a charge of indecent dress and recalled Khartoum commitment to protect basic freedoms after the lift of economic sanctions on Sudan.

The diplomatic mission further pointed to the visit of U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan to Khartoum last November and his call for “concrete and demonstrable progress through better policies and improved laws” before to removal of remaining sanctions on Sudan including the State Sponsor of Terrorism designation.

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December 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The minerals minister said Sudan's revenue from gold is currently equal to oil revenues before the secession of South Sudan in July 2011.

Gold bullion blocks pictured at a gold refinery in Khartoum on 11 October 2012 (SUNA)

After the secession of South Sudan in July 2011, Sudan lost 75% of its oil production, the main source of state revenue and hard currency needed to pay for imports. Since the government focuses is efforts on gold mining to keep the economy afloat.

"Gold revenues are 1.5 trillion pounds which are equal to oil revenues before the secession of South Sudan," Sudanese Minerals Minister Hashim Ali Salem said in response to a parliamentary question on Monday.

There are two million gold miners in the country, he further estimated.

More than a million Sudanese work in the mining private sector, which produces the bulk of gold, but reliable data is still difficult to obtain.

The minister added that the country's production of gold from January to November 2017 amounted to 95.1 tons.

He complained that gold smuggling is not included in the smuggling law, pointing out that the low prices set by the Central Bank of Sudan encourage the smuggling of precious metal, particularly there is no local gold bourse, in addition to the proximity of mining areas from the country borders.

Sudan's gold production for 2016 was 93.4 tons and Sudan is the third largest African producer of gold after South Africa and Ghana. By 2018, the government to top the list of gold producing countries in Africa.

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December 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has confiscated copies of Al-Watan newspaper from the printing house in the early morning of Monday without providing an explanation.

Also, Al-Watan managing editor Abdel-Wahab Musa told Sudan Tribune the newspaper's chief editor Youssef Siraj was detained in the early hours of Monday and hasn't yet been released.

He said the newspaper administration has notified the chairman of the pro-government Sudanese Journalists Union (SJU) al-Sadiq al-Rizaigi and the Information Minister Ahmed Belal of Siraj's detention, saying they vowed to contact the competent authorities to resolve the issue.

Journalists working for Al-Watan said the news daily was likely seized for constantly publishing reports discussing the rising commodity prices and a high cost of living.

On Saturday, the newspaper carried headline saying: Bread and Fuel crisis in Wad Medani (capital of Gazira State), while on Sunday the headline said: High Prices and Fears of Diminishing Flour Quota.

Last month, Al-Watan along with Al-Tayyar, Al-Jarida and Akhir Lahaza newspapers were confiscated eight times by the NISS.

Press censorship was officially abolished in Sudan in 2009, but gradually the security services resumed the confiscation of newspapers since the secession of South Sudan in 2011.

Confiscation of printed copies is seen as an economic penalty on the press the security service decides when a newspaper publishes news or opinion articles criticising the government.

But sometimes the measure aims to prevent publication of statements or disclosure of information on sensitive issues.

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December 18, 2017 (JUBA) - At least 30 people died in communal clashes that erupted in South Sudan's Tonj East county on Sunday, an official said.

The map of Warrap state in red

The attack reportedly left dozens injured while properties, including cows were either driven away, looted or structures burnt down.

Efforts are still underway to establish the actual cause of the fighting, which occurred in Marial Lou village, located north east of Tonj town, the administrative headquarters of Tonj state, the deputy governor of Tonj state, Manhiem Bol said.

Bol told Sudan Tribune that has been coordinating efforts to ensure that the security forces are dispatched to the scene of the incident and to ensure that the two communities that clashed are separated.

The deputy governor, who hails from the area, identified the feuding communities as hailing from Jal-wau and Ngaap-agok Counties.

“We are working hard with the traditional leadership, county commissioners and the national government to contain the situation. We are talking to both communities so that they stop fight and listen”, Bol said on Monday.

The official, with no clear information on actual numbers of casualties from the clash, said he expects a rise in numbers of those killed.

“Actually there is no clear information about the number of the people killed. But the information we are getting indicates some lives were lost, 35 people from both sides. This number could rise, it could increase because nobody has been able to reach where the fighting took place. People are just giving us figures of those they know to have been lost during the first. The youth involved in these unfortunate clashes are the ones giving us information”, he added.

With the help of other local officials, Bol said they hope to verify the situation after ensuring the situation has been brought under control and security forces have been dispatched to the scene to take charge.

Tonj is one of the areas in war-torn South Sudan that has been bogged down in constant communal feuds over pastures. Other key drivers for the inter-communal conflicts include competition for scarce resources, border disputes and political differences.

Meanwhile, the county governments in collaboration with the humanitarian partners are reportedly coordinating ongoing humanitarian interventions on the ground and its teams have identified critical needs across all sectors including food, health, shelter and non-food items, education, water, hygiene and sanitation and protection.

The clashes occurred after a joint peace conference, held this year, brought together governors from the Bahr el Ghazal region to discuss how to could come up with ideas and implementable action plans to resolve communal disputes. The conference, among other resolved that forceful disarmament be carried out among the civil population and that special courts to try suspects of violence be established.

Last week, President Salva Kiir declared a three-month state of emergency in Gok, Eastern Lakes and Western lakes states, where inter-communal clashes had intensified.

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December 18, 2017 (JUBA) - The Intergovernmental Authority Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers has threatened to take punitive measures against spoilers of South Sudan's peace process.

The regional bloc, in a statement during Monday's launch of the revitalization forum, vowed to take necessary actions against individuals and groups that spoil or derail the revitalization process from progressing.

The five-day forum provides a unique opportunity to bring IGAD, regional and international parties together towards ending the conflict in South Sudan with the help of stakeholders on the negotiation table.

“In this regard, the Council [of ministers] calls upon the TGoNU [Transitional Government of National Unity], and all South Sudanese parties to focus on the higher goal of the national interest, and securing the future of the South Sudan,” the statement reads in part.

The Council, however, noted with deep regret that in spite of the continuing efforts by the East African regional bloc, the African Union and the United Nations as well as the contributions from the other international partners, the peace in South Sudan remains elusive.

Only a full and timely implementation of the peace agreement and effective enforcement mechanism will deliver a comprehensive and lasting solution to the South Sudan crisis, further stressed the Council.

LEADERS SPEAK OUT

The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, said during the opening session of the revitalization forum on Monday that the two South Sudanese warring factions should leave their differences aside.

Desalegn, also the IGAD Council of Ministers chairperson, who urged the South Sudanese warring parties to do their part for the peace and stability of the war-torn nation, stressed that the five-day forum in Addis Ababa provided the last opportunity to ensure peace in South Sudan.

He warned IGAD will take necessary actions if current peace efforts fail.

The African Union chairperson, Moussa Faki said there have been many opportunities to put an end to this tragedy over the last four years, citing the peace agreement that was signed in August 2015.

“But these opportunities have never been seized. And the reasons are as simple as they are distressing,” said Faki.

The AU chief, speaking at the forum launch, also blames South Sudan's woes on the “failed” political will from the country's leaders.

“You [South Sudan leaders] must realize the second and final phase of the fight for freedom that the SPLM [South Sudan ruling party] was, at other times, carrying, by acting in a way that respects the right to life, the aspiration to the well-being of your compatriots,” said Faki.

He also said too much time had been lost and the urgency is great.

“You cannot leave this forum without solemnly and sincerely committing to an immediate end to violence and building on such a foundation to accelerate the journey towards peace and reconciliation,” stressed the AU chief on Monday.

The Troika (Norway, United States and Britain) described the revitalization forum as a "new chapter" in the quest for peace in the war-torn East African nation.

"All parties must engage sincerely and make concessions in the national interest; otherwise, the conflict and suffering will continue," the Troika said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the IGAD council of minister, during its 59th extra-ordinary session, also emphasized that IGAD member states have followed with concern the continuation of the senseless violence in South Sudan, which is inflicting enormous pain and suffering on the South Sudanese people, and has resulted in massive displacement of the population, a dire humanitarian situation, and the devastation of the economy unprecedented in the history of South Sudan.

Violence broke out in South Sudan in December 2013 after a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar saw a split within the ruling party (SPLM). The 2015 peace agreement, which temporarily ended the war and saw a coalition government formed, collapsed in July 2016 as renewed violence forced Machar out of the capital, Juba.

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