Africa

Many people in Nigeria turn to traditional medicine for their dental care.

Fergal Keane visits the town of Bambari in the Central African Republic, where UN peacekeepers are literally keeping the two sides apart.

In the face of continued political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, a more sustained and well-coordinated approach is required to sustain economic gains, said the United Nations envoy for the country, calling for “faithful” implementation of a regionally-brokered road-map.

A new hungry caterpillar is threatening African crops already badly hit by record droughts.

In our series of letters from African journalists, Sudanese columnist Yousra Elbagir explains what it is like to live in a country subject to US sanctions.

February 11, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudanese internally displaced persons (IDPs) have opposed the re-deployment of the Kenyan peacekeepers in the young nation, accusing the East African nation of involvement of fueling clashes in the capital, Juba in July last year.

UN peacekeepers in South Sudan with one of their helicopters (UNMISS)

In a petition addressed to the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, the IDP urged the word body to reconsider its recent decision to re-deploy Kenyan soldiers in the country.

“We, the internally displaced South Sudanese in the protection of civilian camps across the country, have been following with great dismay and concern over the political developments again our country since July's assassination attempt on the life of Dr. [Riek] Machar the then 1st vice president and SPLM/A-IO in Juba one,” it read.

The displaced person, in their statement, raised concerns over the head of the U.N peacekeepers, a Kenyan, who they accused of allegedly failing to protect civilians when South Sudan army clashed with the armed opposition forces on 8 July, 2016.

“We strongly believe that you will strive to bring peace to our broken society and deliver us from the brutal dictator`s administration and leadership. We also want to underline here that Kenyan government is acting brutally towards our citizens in Kenya by abducting them and deporting them to the enemies in Juba to be inhumanely tortured and most of the times killed by the regime`s notorious security agents,” further stated the IDPs' petition to the U.N.

The internally displaced persons also expressed dismayed over renewed conflicts, that has turned ethnic in the country and urged the world body to do what it could to protect vulnerable civilians.

The group further called on the new Secretary General of the U.N pressure the warring parties into renegotiating the 2015 peace deal.

Reacting to the recent national dialogue initiative declared by President Salva Kiir, the IDPs are less optimistic about the process bringing an end to the ongoing hostilities in Africa's newest nation.

According to the group, only an inclusive national dialogue, which is achieved after all the guns have been put silent, will ensure peace.

(ST)

February 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Aid groups begin have launched a large scale humanitarian operation to deliver health care and nutrition services to civilians in the war affected area of Jebel Marra despite the fund challenges they face.

After years of inaccessibility, the international and local humanitarian organisation working in various fields have conducted a number of interagency missions to assess the number of civilians in these areas and their needs.

Since mid-2016 following an secret agreement with the American administration to normalize relations, the Sudanese government, has allowed aid groups to reach the conflict affected areas in Jebel Marra and stopped air raids on rebels retrenched behind defensive lines at the top of the mountainous area.

In its latest weekly bulletin of 5 February dedicated to humanitarian activities in Jebel Marra, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that several aid groups have scaled up health services in the area.

The humanitarian action, which has aimed to meet the needs of displaced and resident populations alike, cover the Central, West and North Jebel Marra localities.

In Central Jebel Marra locality, the international NGO International Medical Corps (IMC) has operationalised health care and nutrition services in Boori and Jokosty villages. Also the group with the Sudanese health authorities now run Golo hospital's out-patient department, dekivering helath and nutrition services.

The IMC has also started similar action in West JebelMarra locality in in Katti and Kurifal villages. While the international NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is supporting health and nutrition services in Abunga.

In North Jebel Marra locality, the CRS is running the health Centre in Rokero since December 2016 and has also targeted the health centre at Fanga Suk for intervention. The aid group will provide outreach medical services to be run by Sudanese health ministry staff in Abunga, Niscome, Borgo and Wara through its mobile health clinic.

The three localities had been inaccessible for aid groups for several years. The government says the western Sudan region of Darfur is now free of rebels but attack on civilians continue to be reported as the government has failed to collect weapons.

OCHA on a related development reported that the World Vision International – Sudan (WVI-Sudan) is preparing to reduce the delivery of health and water, sanitation and hygiene services to IDPs in the Otash, Manawashi and Duma areas as well as Marshing and Kass localities in South Darfur State due to funding challenges.

In the interim, "WVI-Sudan Vision is putting in place transitional arrangements to ensure that assistance to vulnerable children and communities—especially in the provision of primary health care services and clean water—continues for the next few months as the organisation seeks new funding," said the humanitarian bulletin.

(ST)

February 12, 2017 (RUMBEK) – 14 people have died of a Cholera-related disease in South Sudan's Eastern Lakes state, an official said.

A child receives an oral cholera vaccine dose in the South Sudan capital, Juba (Medair Photo)

Minister of Health said that at least 14 people have dead in cases suspected to be cholera.

“We have 14 death cases related to Cholera in Shambe, Lang-matot and Adior,” the state health minister, Achol Marial, disclosed.

“The death record in Shambe is 7 people and 7 others were in Lang-matot, which makes the total of 14 dead people,” he added.

According to Marial, 11 people were discharged in good conditions from Shambe, 30 from Adior and four others from Lang-Matot.

The health ministry, he said, faces numerous challenges, citing the presence of one motorboat, which is unable to cover 28 highlands.

“Lack of fuel is also affecting the motorboat operation,” added Marial.

(ST)

How mobile technology is profoundly changing access to money in the developing world.

February 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's opposition National Umma Party (NUP) on Sunday has condemned the killing of seven cattle herders in South Kordofan saying it is holding consultations to form a national committee to investigate the incident.

Seven cattle herders from the Hawazma tribe have been killed and one injured on Friday morning near Al-Hujairat area, some 30 kilometres west of Kadugli, South Kordofan capital.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) accused the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels of committing the crime and called on the African Union and the international community to investigate the incident.

For its part, the SPLM-N issued a statement denying any involvement in the attack, pointing its army has no presence in the Al-Hujairat area.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, the NUP said it is making contacts to establish the truth and identify the culprits, adding that consultations are underway to form a national committee to probe the incident.

It announced that a delegation from the NUP would arrive in the area during the coming days to offer condolences, calling on the residence to stay unified against those who attempt to create sedition in the homeland.

“The regime doesn't only bear responsibility for the deteriorating security situation in South Kordofan but also for failure to protect the residence due to its [failed] policies in the region,” said the NUP.

The statement pointed that the security situation in South Kordofan is extremely dangerous, saying that attacks and violations are being committed against the residents on daily bases.

The NUP further described the incident as “heinous massacre”, saying it represents a dangerous precedent and a continuation of the crimes targeting residents and their cattle amid complete absence of the state and its institutions.

It added that the incident is part of the repercussions and effects of the ongoing war in South Kordofan, pointing to the prevalence of armed robberies in the region.

The statement pointed that recruitment of the outlaws in the government militias poses serious security, social and economic danger on the lives of the residents.

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army since 2011.

(ST)

February 12, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Sunday dismissed charges that he and the SPLA chief of General Staff Paul Malong Awan have turned the national army into a tribal institution.

President Salva Kiir speaks during the inauguration of the new SPLM premises in Juba on 15 November 2013 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

“There are people when they are with the government and in the army, appreciate the work of the SPLA but when they go, they say it is a tribal army. When has SPLA become my army and when it has become a tribal army,” asked president in a meeting on Sunday.

The president made the remarks on Sunday at his residence in which he met and held a usual informal meeting with some prominent members of the Jieng (Dinka) Council of Elders.

A deputy chief of South Sudan army, General Thomas Cirilo, on Friday 10 February resigned from the army and accused President Salva Kiir and military leadership of spearheading a tribal agenda.

Cirilo further accused the He the duo (Kiir and Awan) of "deliberately orchestrated planned violations" of the August 2015 peace agreement" which led to fighting in Juba in July last year. He also accused them of targeting non-Dinka tribes, pointing to the ongoing violence in the Equatoria and Upper Nile regions.

The head of state attributed the dominance of his ethnic group to lack of people wanting to join military, citing the 2012 national mobilization when the army wanted recruits.

“When people are not ready to join the army and others accepted to volunteer, is it me or the chief of general staff who stopped them from joining”, asked Kiir. “If some people want to go, they are free to go but they should not make claims which are not true”.

Kiir said he was not surprised about people leaving the SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) because it was allegedly not the first time it was being left. “How many times have people left the SPLA and did the same people not come back,” asked president?

(ST)

February 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese police on Sunday has arrested several foreigners from some Arab countries after an explosion at a residential building where it uncovered base ingredients for fabricating a bomb.

Police official spokesperson Lt. Gen. Omer al-Mukhtar earlier Sunday stated that “police investigations are underway to find out the details and motives of the crime”.

Also Sky News TV, reported the police apprehended foreign Arab nationals and seized quantity of weapons and explosives.

In a statement on Sunday night, Sudanese police confirmed the explosion, saying a police officer who was stationed near the incident's site informed the rescue police that he “heard a small blast at Arkawit suburb, south of Khartoum,”. The police underscored that it was later made certain that it came from one of the buildings in the area”.

The statement added that “police force backed by forensic and explosive specialists besides a dedicated team from the National Intelligence and Security Service was dispatched” to the incident's scene, pointing the teams “stormed the apartment and found local materials used in making crude explosives and foreign passports”.

“The investigations revealed that a suspect began to make an explosive device but it detonated and caused him minor injury that forced him to seek treatment in a nearby hospital. [However] they refused to treat him without informing the police which made him leave without treatment,” read the statement.

The statement said that the police would resolve the case and captures the suspects within hours, stressing the seized materials are not highly explosive.

It is noteworthy that the police on Sunday morning has closed down a street in the 46th neighbourhood of Arkawit area and set up blocks 80 meters along the street and positioned its vehicles on both sides of the street.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that police found explosives in an apartment at the residential building; saying one of them exploded on Sunday morning and hit one of the residents, where traces of blood were seen at the scene.

According to the eyewitnesses, the police evacuated large number of yellow paper bags containing holdings that have been collected from the apartment.

They pointed out that they heard gunshots at 2:00 am (local time), saying the area was then cordoned off by police with sniffer dogs.

The same eyewitnesses added that the four-story building includes a number of apartments inhabited by Arab nationals.

Khartoum has remained a safe place for foreign diplomats and organisations also there was no terrorist attacks on the Sudanese government institutions despite the regional troubles, its collaboration in the war against Daesh and involvement in the Yemeni war.

The last terrorist attack in Khartoum was in 1993 when the Palestinian Black September Organization carried out an attack on the Saudi embassy in the Sudanese capital.

(ST)

By Adeeb Yousif

The idea of this is to guide and provide an analysis of the impact of female activism on peace building efforts and it will discuss the effects of such activism on the ability to establish sustainable peace in war-torn countries such as Sudan. The involvement of women in peace building and post conflict reconstruction is a vital part of establishing sustainable peace in Sudan, as well as in other war-torn communities across the globe. Like many other women in the world, Sudanese women are essential to the provision of care and support to the family structure as well as the community at large. The ongoing conflict in Sudan “has made the burden of women even heavier.” (McFarland, 2001) “Many are charged with the sole responsibility of caring for the entire family while their husbands are away at war or after their husbands have been killed.” (McFarland, 2001) Women are crucial to maintaining cohesion in the community, especially during times of war and during the post-conflict period that follows. Unfortunately, the women who live in these conflict zones continue to be either excluded from formalized peace processes or they continue to be minimally engaged in such processes. Consequently, it is imperative that women's groups and organizations become more heavily involved in peace building efforts. Moreover, this project is aimed at building the capacity of women so that they can be positive agents of change in their communities.

Throughout the 60-years of Sudan's independence it has been embroiled in protracted civil conflicts for about 50 years. This conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, widespread sexual assaults, the burning of villages and the displacement of millions from their homes which has caused many to live in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps or refugee camps with limited humanitarian services and poor security (Natsios, 2012). In many conflict zones, including Darfur, women often pay a high price. Oftentimes many women have been subjected to sexual violence, including rape, abduction for the purposes of sexual exploitation, indecent assault, sexual humiliation and serious injuries or killings and displacement (Security Council, 2015). In addition to being victimized by the aforementioned crimes, many women have assumed the additional burden of being the sole providers for their families because large portions of the male population have been killed in battle.

Consequently, many women are forced to raise their children, provide care for other family members and generate income without additional support. Thus the family network is compromised, and many widows fall into cycles of poverty. Despite the significant role that women have played and are still playing to support their families and cope with the detrimental ramifications of conflict, their intrinsic value in the conflict resolution process continues to be marginalized. Although some efforts have been made to include women in decision-making forums regarding peace building; the Sudanese government and the international community have to make more strides toward understanding the inseparable link between gender equality and peace and security in order for sustainable peace to be obtained in Darfur in the near future.

An examination of female agency in the Darfur peace processes will greatly contribute to an understanding of the plight of women living in conflict zones, the ways in which they cope with such incredible hardships and the various forms of political activism that are utilized by these women to overcome their dire circumstances. Such a study will highlight the need for more female agency in the political processes of Sudan at the local, regional and national level. Additionally, this study will augment current scholarship on women's culture because the “efforts of women's civic organizations and how women organize themselves within these organizations will be addressed. This will provide further insight concerning female perspectives pertaining to power and development” (McFarland, 2001).

The lack of women's participation in conflict resolution forums promotes the victimization of women through a culture of impunity and gender inequality, which makes sustainable peace more difficult to attain. Widespread gender bias and the perpetual violence that has been committed against women, continues to prevent them from making great strides as peace builders in war-torn communities. Women are oftentimes excluded from participating in peace processes because they have a much more inclusive approach to peace and security matters rather than a “winner takes all approach” which is commonly adopted by their male counterparts. Because women have a much more inclusive approach to peace and security matters, the engagement of female activists in conflict resolution processes will result in other social and economic issues being addressed that would otherwise be ignored.

To examine the assumption mentioned above there is a need to consider the following questions: How to empower women so that they can be viable participants in the peace-making processes in Darfur as well as in other parts of the country? How can current political institutions and civic organizations in Darfur be more effective at institutionalizing democratic processes by ensuring that women's voices are heard on a local, regional and national level? What needs to be done to build a bridge between male decision makers and their female counterparts? What can be done to change the stereotypic views of women, which characterize them as victims? I think minimal or no involvement of female agency in conflict resolution forums has an adverse impact on the ability to attain sustainable peace in war-torn regions such as Darfur, Sudan.

In order to achieve sustainable peace, women must be involved in all stages of the peacemaking process, including participation in conflict resolution forums and the restoration of justice. As a group disproportionately affected by the conflict, and as victims of widespread sexual violence, it is critical for women to be empowered and available to other women and children that have experienced trauma. The resilience, courage, and above all compassion that women possess are necessary to the rebuilding of healthy communities. Lasting peace requires an inclusive process that addresses the root causes of the conflict as well as restoring communities that have been ravaged by war. This conflict has permanently altered Sudanese society, thrusting women into independence and new territory of non-traditional roles. Women's participation will also help transform corrupted Sudanese institutions to democratic institutions and help with laws that focus on rape as weapons of war and the recruitment and use of youth as soldiers. Once a peace agreement is finally reached, there is no guarantee for peace, making it critical that the proper structures are put in place and there is a strong and inclusive civil society.

Adeeb Yousif, is Doctoral Candidate in School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. He can be reached at: aabdela2@gmu.edu

By Dr. El-tahir El-faki

In the year 2011, the swift events in the Arab world ‘called the Arab Spring' took the international community by surprise. The incidents drew urgent security arrangements to safeguard against possible or unforeseen political turns in Sudan. Distinction between organized civil disobedience or spontaneous demonstrations as processes and mechanisms of political change must be differentiated from their consequences as legitimate dynamics of violent uprising, chaos, insurgency and collapse of the state. For a particular political force to claim monopoly of the process is more likely to end up alone bearing the consequences of overthrowing the National Congress Party (NCP). Accordingly a united forum is necessary to harmonize the process, control and minimize the consequences.

The principle at the bottom of any political opposition is to endorse clear political objectives. The success or failure is evaluated in terms of the opportunities and methods available or created to achieve harmony and leadership. The objectives - obvious principles for the Sudanese opposition groups - remain outstanding. The Sudan Call forces over the last year expressed a desire to observe that principle, alas without success. The two main reasons for the disappointment are the lack of political understanding and the ideological mistrusts between the groups. The political understanding is the failure to differentiate between opposing the NCP as a corrupt political body or against the Islamic ideology shielding it.

The oppositions have yet to realise that their incapability to unite, select a leader or adopt a coherent policy is a strong factor for the NCP to survive. The continuous failure to achieve despite the pace set by the urgency of the political stratum frustrated the national and the international communities. This situation allowed the NCP to endorse its National Dialogue and brandish non-contributories to lack national sentiments and demoralise the Sudanese people.

So far, reaching agreement among Sudanese opposition factions remains unlikely, even though a prerequisite to national and international support for positive action in the country. Bellicose declarations by some members of the oppositions suggest that they prioritize strategic counter political rivalries than focussing on comprehensible policies against the NCP.

The most apparent example was the rift of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) in October 2015 when the SPLA/N at the end of its term refused to hand over the leadership to the successor Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The incident was blatant abrogation and arrogant retraction of its commitment to democratic transference of power between the members of the group. Despite intervention by leading national and international figures to save the alliance the SPLM/N insisted to cling to power and dashed all hopes of unity. The dispute sent the coalition into disrepute and seriously damaged its image. The split exposed a fragile hope of creating an intelligible political caretaker for peaceful or military transformation in a country struggling to build new political order. The unexpected schism disappointed the wider Sudanese people and frustrated the international community that had put much hopes on the group to venerate democratic values against narrow ideological or political differences. Splintered opportunist political and rebel groups have been encouraged by the hiatus to join the NCP banner for financial or political proceeds. The NCP snatched the chance to validate that the SRF is no better an alternative and electrified its propaganda machinery to downgrade the as-yet limited but rising threat it signified.

While it is morally inexplicable to disagree with the fairness of the Sudanese opposition's stance on regime change; the methods that have been pursued so far failed to bring the NCP down. And to continue with the same methodology is more likely to extend the lifespan of the regime. The opposition forces need a strong will to unite on major collective political compromise under one leadership. All sides must accept the fact that if there are no compromises there will be no change. The compromise has two sides. Firstly acknowledgement of genuine threats to own political or military survival and time is not on one's side and assurances are within a united front. Secondly every member of the front insures attainment of its objectives through the democratic process preserved within the unity.

The NCP regime at the moment is particularly weak, unstable and facing significant domestic and international difficulties. At the same time and without any doubt is potentially brutal if endangered. A successful creation of nominated leadership will undoubtedly threat Bashir's authority and credit peaceful transition to democracy for the country. A united front brushes away fears of the most negative and dreadful consequences that overshadow the ousting of Bashir and safeguard state institutions without which the country would descend into chaos. Bashir has already orchestrated that the nation will shrink into tribal, sectarian loyalties and allegiances if he is overthrown. His reliance on the tribal Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for protection is the example. In a workshop in Khartoum in August 2016, the chief of military staff warned that the Sudanese army has become a nexus for tribal influence. In this sense and in the absence of a coherent opposition and no matter how appealing supplication for political change may be the country will descend into an abyss that's very hard for successors to salvage. And from past experience Bashir is not concerned with preservation of Sudan's integrity.

Here, we have to credit Imam Sadiq Al-mahdi for resisting calls to resort to arms or take to the streets in direct confrontation with the NCP. His approach for continuing to seek peaceful resolution despite personal pains, insults and sufferings inflicted at the hands of the Bashir reflects his outstanding character as a patriotic leader.

Bashir has already been in power for 27 years and would not depart peacefully as his grip is too herculean and burly. A peaceful democratic transfer of power is a dream of all freedom loving Sudanese. It is likewise for the opposition parties to realize the danger for the future of Sudan is not the NCP alone. A weaker and incoherent opposition in waiting or successor is disastrous. Collateral scuffles for power among the groups are recipes for internal instability and probable civil war. This issue dreads those with national vision and the international community about an unstable future Sudan. The message for the NCP is clear. Because the opposition parties lack the stomach to unite under a leader that situation will not be for long.

While we utterly believe that the ultimate remedy for Sudan's ills is regime change and the NCP's institutions entirely dismantled we acknowledge what Imam Sadig Al-mahdi has been calling for ‘Soft Landing'. This is not implausible. The regime is already weak and nationally unpopular. And will be even more unpopular as the corruption and the economic collapse gets worse. In the meantime, the Sudanese opposition parties must ensure that the NCP shouldn't be allowed to portray itself as the only credible factor for a stable Sudan. The adoption of the Soft Landing policy pulls the rug off the NCP's feet and demonstrates that the opposition forces care for the stability of the country.

More expected, the NCP supporters will conclude that their Islamic rule have survived for 27 years on irreconcilable and defying policies to internal and external pressures and will blatantly continue to do so without any need for compromise.

The proposals of uniting the opposition must aim at addressing the many contradictions of the past experiences. These contradictions are the products of failed political and ideological rivalries plaguing the country for nearly three decades of corrupt Islamists political hegemony. The response to these contradictions has been security-led. The spiraling spending on security invited corruption and skewed society around military patronage to maintain supremacy in the face of economic, political pressures and protracted revolts.

Bashir recently faced real insecurity when the youths used social media in their bids for mobilizing civil disobediences against hiking commodity prices. Nervous and habituated to coercion, NCP stretched its security muscles by closing daily newspapers and arresting members of the oppositions. At his heights Bashir called upon opponents to come out and face him in the streets if they were to overthrow his regime.

Now calls to unite all the Sudanese opposition groups is paramount and welcome process if sincerely espoused. Alliance or unity inspires widespread optimism where the factions set examples of compromises and accept democratic majesty before calling others to do so.

The Sudanese people are longing for unity of the political and military forces against Bashir but it is extremely difficult to trust those whose courses of actions led to the split of the opposition.

The author is the Chairman of JEM Legislative Assembly. He is reachable at tahirelfaki54@gmail.com. This is his personal opinion and it does not officially represent the voice of JEM

February 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has accused the SPLM-N rebels of killing of seven cattle herders in south Kordofan State and called on the African Union and the international community to investigate the incident.

Seven cattle herders from the Hawazma tribe have been killed and one injured on Friday morning near Al-Hujairat area, some 30 kilometres west of Kadugli, South Kordofan capital.

Before the official reaction of the NCP, several officials from the ruling party accused SPLM-N elements saying they were behind the assault.

The SPLM-N on Friday issued a statement denying any involvement in the attack, pointing its army has no presence in the Al-Hujairat area.

Nonetheless, the NCP accused on Saturday the rebel group saying it takes advantage of the unilateral cessation of hostilities to target civilians and steal their cattle.

"We call on all parties keen to stop the war and achieve peace in the Sudan and in particular the African Union, international and regional organizations and the international community to the strongly condemn the ongoing crimes, which have been committed by the SPLM-N," said the statement of the ruling party.

It further called to designate the SPLM-N as a terrorist group saying the rebel group "has been committing acts of murder and triggering the displacement of civilians".

The ruling party recently said frustrated by the SPLM-N refusal to accept an American proposal to break the deadlock over a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement between the two parties in the Two Areas.

The SPLM-N said they were attached to their demand to open a safe humanitarian corridor to the rebel controlled areas through the Ethiopian border town of Asosa, to transport 20% of humanitarian relief.

They said this safe corridor can also serve to transport the sick and wounded fighters abroad for treatment and the movement of its negotiators between their territory and the venue of the peace talks in Addis Ababa.

(ST)

Yesterday, Zimbabwe’s High Court freed prominent activist and pastor Evan Mawarire on US$300 bail after a week in prison. Mawarire’s arrest on February 1 at Harare International Airport after he returned from six months in the United States caused an outcry from local and international rights groups. However, the sham charges against him – subverting a constitutional government, which carries a 20-year prison sentence, inciting public violence, and insulting the national flag – remain, and are reportedly being investigated.

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Zimbabwean pastor Evan Mawarire speaks on the mobile phone upon his release from Chikurubi Maximum Prison in Harare, Zimbabwe, February 9,2017.

© 2017 Reuters

It’s clear that the authorities are abusing the law to persecute Mawarire for his role as leader of the #ThisFlag campaign, which led protests against President Robert Mugabe’s government and called on authorities to address rights problems and a failing economy.

Zimbabwe’s authorities should stop their judicial harassment of Mawarire and drop the sham charges. Like all citizens, he should be free to speak out against injustice and corruption without fear of reprisals.

Early this morning, Somali friends in Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp that’s home to more than 300,000 people, were celebrating the selection of Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” as the new president of Somalia. Residents in Dadaab have been waiting years, and in some cases decades, for Somalia to be safe enough for them to return home, and many appear to see Farmajo’s election as an encouraging sign.

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An aerial view shows makeshift shelters at the Dagahaley camp in Dadaab, near the Kenya-Somalia border in Garissa County, Kenya. Photo taken April 2011. 

© 2011 Reuters

With the election victory still fresh on people’s minds, news came that Kenya’s High Court had passed an important ruling, which will help protect the rights of Somali refugees in Kenya. It ruled that recent attempts by the Kenyan government to repatriate Somali refugees back home, close Dadaab camp, and disband its Department of Refugee Affairs, are unconstitutional.

The case was brought in 2016 by two Kenyan rights organizations, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and Kituo Cha Sheria, and supported by Amnesty International. Today, Judge Mativo ruled that plans to close Dadaab and send residents home are illegal because they discriminate against Somali refugees and violate the principle of nonrefoulement, which forbids the forced returns of refugees.

Dadaab residents have already been through months of anxiety. They’ve had the possible camp closure hanging over their heads, and increasingly restricted asylum options – in no way helped by the recent suspension of refugee resettlement by the United States. So the court’s decision may offer them a moment of respite, and the sense that they may still have a choice other than being sent back to a country which remains insecure and drought-ridden.

The Kenyan government has already said that it plans to appeal the decision. It might also just ignore the ruling – and not for the first time. In July 2013, the High Court ruled unconstitutional a government directive ordering all refugees in Nairobi and other Kenyan cities to move into the Dadaab and Kakuma camps. But one year later, the government basically re-issued the same directive.

For Dadaab refugees’ flicker of hope to become a reality, the Kenyan government should not appeal the decision, but rather move quickly to implement it. It should ensure that Somalis throughout Kenya have access to fair, transparent, and effective asylum procedures. And it should publicly tell the many Somalis in Kenya who still fear persecution, violence, or hunger back home that they are welcome to stay in Dadaab.

February 11, 2017 (JUBA) - The United Nations Security Council has again condemned in the “ strongest terms” the continued fighting in the Equatoria and Upper Nile regions of the South Sudan and warned that attacks on civilians could renew calls for sanctions.

The UN Security Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan (Photo: UN/Devra Berkowitz)

Members of the 15-member Council, in a statement, called on all parties involved in the conflict to cease hostilities immediately.

According to the Council, there are reports of killing of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, destruction of homes, ethnic violence, and looting of livestock and property during the fighting.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that targeting civilians may constitute war crimes and those involved could be subject to sanctions as authorized under resolution 2206 (2015) for actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan.

“The members of the Security Council urged the Transitional Government of National Unity to take measures to ensure that those responsible for the attacks are held accountable,” the statement noted.

More than 84,000, according to the U.N have fled South Sudan since beginning of January and many continue to be displaced internally.

In its statement, members of the Security Council stressed the primacy of the political process and that there is no military solution to the conflict and reminded all parties in South Sudan that implementation of the ceasefire is critical for the success of any genuine, inclusive political process, including national dialogue, and that such a process should be based on the framework provided by the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (the Agreement) and aimed at achieving national reconciliation and enhancing trust among parties in South Sudan.

They reiterated their call on all stakeholders to commit to full implementation of the accord on resolution of the South Sudan crisis.

However, while the Security Council expressed appreciation for its South Sudan mission's (UNMISS) tenacity in its efforts to carry out its protection of civilians mandate, it also expressed deep concern that UNMISS continues to face obstacles from the Transitional Government of National Unity hindering the ability of UNMISS to carry out its mandate to protect civilians and create conditions conducive to delivery of humanitarian assistance.

ARMY DISMISSES ACCUSATIONS

Meanwhile, South Sudanese army (SPLA) dismissed accusations that it denied UNMISS patrol team access to civilians displaced in the various parts of the country.

“No mere notification or request was submitted to SPLA GHQs. SPLA challenges UNMISS to produce evidence indicating it was denied access for us to take responsibility and administrative measures against those involved in alleged blockade,” said SPLA spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang.

The official also dismissed accusations of rapes, looting of livestock and destruction of property, and challenged UNMISS to produce concrete evidence so that the army leadership can take punitive measures on the culprits.

He reiterated the army's commitment to fight impunity, willingness and readiness to keep working and cooperating with all U.N bodies and other monitoring mechanisms.

(ST)

February 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) — Kuwait's Army Chief of Staff Lt Gen. Mohammad Khaled Al-Khodher Saturday has started a three-day visit to Sudan for talks on military cooperation.

According to the official SUNA, the Kuwaiti senior military official and his accompanying delegation, aims to strengthen military cooperation in the areas of training and exchange of experiences between the Sudanese Kuwaiti armed forces.

Al-Khodher was received on Sayruday evening by his Sudanese counterpart, Lt Gen. Emad Al-Din Mustafa Adawi at Khartoum airport and will meet the Sudanese Defence Minister Awad Ibn Ouf.

Also, he will attend the graduation ceremony for the Kuwaiti officers from the Sudanese Military Academy and visit a number of military academic and training institutions.

The visit of the Kuwait military official comes four days after a similar visit to Khartoum by the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Lt Gen. Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi.

It confirms the improvement of Sudan's relations with the Gulf countries which have increased its political and economic support to Khartoum since its participation in the Saudi-led regional coalition against the Shiite Houthi militants in Yemen.

Also Khartoum broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran and expelled Iranian diplomats after an attack on Saudi embassy in January 2016.

(ST)

February 11, 2017 (JUBA) - More than three years of civil war in South Sudan has forced 1.5 million people to flee into neighboring countries, creating Africa's largest refugee crisis and the third largest in the world, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said.

South Sudanese refugee Nyarout Chuol with her children at a UNHCR-run refugee camp in Gambella, Ethiopia (Photo: William Davison)

Over 3.5 million people, it says, have been displaced since fighting erupted between the government of President Salva Kiir and rebel forces led by the country's former First Vice-President Riek Machar in mid-December 2013.

More than 2 million people have been displaced within the country, while more than 1.5 million have reportedly taken refuge in Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Congo, and Central African Republic.

A spokesperson for the agency, William Spindler, said more than 760,000 people fled across borders after the collapse of a peace deal between the government and the armed opposition forces.

"More than 60 percent of the refugees are children, many arriving with alarming levels of malnutrition — enduring devastating impact of the brutalities of the ongoing conflict," he said in statement.

Some half-a-million had to flee the young nation in the last four months since September 2016, according to the U.N refugee body.

The South Sudan crisis, Spindler said, adds to the numerous humanitarian challenges the agency is grappling with, yet the refugee body lacks enough funds to tackle all these world problems.

He expressed concern about the South Sudan situation, citing the large size of its refugee crisis, which has also spread to its neighbours.

Last year's appeal for $649 million, said Spindler, was funded to only 33 percent, making it extremely difficult to provide critical services, such as clean drinking water, food, health and sanitation facilities.

He, however, said that UNHCR was currently working with authorities in the host countries to provide life-saving support and basic needs for the many South Sudanese arriving in desperate condition.

Uganda is reportedly hosting nearly 700,000 South Sudanese refugees and its authorities have been commended for helping them.

Meanwhile UNHCR has appealed to the international community responded to the refugee agency's appeal for $782 million to enable it could carry out its regional humanitarian operations.

(ST)