Africa

January 18, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan government has lifted the ban it had earlier imposed on flights to Payinjiar county in the wake of continuous rebel activities in the area.

The Payinjiar community at a meeting in Bentiu town, August 23, 2015 (ST)

The move came after the country director for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) petitioned the humanitarian affairs and disaster management ministry last week.

The undersecretary in the humanitarian affairs ministry, Gatwech Peter Kulang assured WFP of government support.

“I'm pleased to inform you that the ministry of interior has advised that all humanitarian flights and boats to Payinjiar can resume operations at your own risk,” reads a letter addressed to WFP.

South Sudan's national security service, in a circular it issued on 31 December, 2016, warned humanitarian agencies operating in the area and banned water and air transport.

The decision, officials said, forced most international and national staffs to pullout out of Payinjiar last week after the government requested them to abandon their operations.

Although it remains unclear why government imposed the ban, multiple sources, including aid worker said the decision was meant to prevent rebel groups controlling the area from benefiting from relief items.

Currently, Payinjiar county is reportedly hosting nearly 200,000 internal displaced persons (IDPs), mainly from Guit, Koch, Mayiandit and Leer counties of oil-rich Unity state.

(ST)

January 21, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - A splinter faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) signed on Saturday a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur State, after three months of secret negotiations.

The ceremony was held in presence of the North Darfur deputy governor; members of the state government, and the leader of the dissident faction Sadiq Adam Abdel-Karim (aka Foka).

The Commissioner of Tawila locality, Adam Yagoub Gadid who negotiated the peace agreement with the splinter group told Sudan Tribune that the peace agreement was signed under the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.

He further stressed the government seriousness to implement all the terms of the signed deal which include security, political and civil provisions.

According to Gadid, Foka has 1500 fighters under his command, a figure that Sudan Tribune was not able to verify. However, the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) said the group has only 15 vehicles loaded with military hardware and ammunition.

Officials and rebels used to magnify or shrink the number of fighters or causalities depending on the circumstances. Also, they say every vehicle carries 10 fighters.

Speaking at the ceremony the group leader said their decision to join peace expresses "a definite and sincere desire to participate in the construction and development" of the country.

He added that the war brought only devastation and destruction, stressing the seriousness of his group to bring stability in the region.

Sudanese government troops carried out attacks on the SLM-AW fighters in Jebel Marra during the last year, accusing them of armed robbery and attacks on commercial convoys.

Last November, Central Darfur government signed a peace agreement with another splinter group from the SLM-AW led by Amin Toro. But the SLM-AW minimized the move, saying their number does not exceed 20 fighters.

The SLM-AW refuses to negotiate with the Sudanese government as they ask the government to implement unilaterally a number of measures including restoring security and financial compensations before to negotiate the root causes of the conflict.

(ST)

The United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) have commended the &#8220goodwill and the statesmanship&#8221 of the former President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, who decided to facilitate an immediate and orderly transition process and transfer of power to President Adama Barrow.

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“This is the day we’ve been waiting for,” Sanna told me as he and hundreds of Gambians gathered outside their country’s embassy in Dakar, Senegal to celebrate the inauguration today of President Adama Barrow. Barrow took the oath of office at the embassy, wary of returning to Gambia where his safety would be at risk. Expand

Gambians await the inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow outside the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

© 2017 Amnesty International/Sabrina Mahtani   But Gambia’s political crisis remains unresolved – with now former president Yahya Jammeh clinging to power in the capital, Banjul, and an Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) force at the border, preparing to intervene. In stark contrast to the jubilant scenes in Dakar, Banjul remains eerily quiet and on lockdown, with people fearing a military intervention or a crackdown by Jammeh’s security forces.    Gambian activists in Banjul told me they were happy the crisis would soon be over, but feared the political standoff would not end peacefully. “We don’t want to be Jammeh’s last victims,” one told me.   Since coming to power in 1994, Jammeh and the Gambian security forces have used enforced disappearances, torture, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests to suppress dissent and preserve Jammeh’s grip on power.   Barrow’s taking office could be hugely significant for the advancement of human rights in Gambia. He has promised to dramatically improve the country’s rights record, including by releasing political prisoners and ending Jammeh's planned withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.   Since the December 1 election that he lost, Jammeh has arrested a number of opposition sympathizers and army officers deemed disloyal. He also closed several independent radio stations.   Many Gambians outside of the embassy were still hopeful Jammeh will agree to step down peacefully. “We’re close,” Salieu Taal, a founder member of the #Gambiahasdecided movement, told me today. “It will be a new dawn for human rights and civil society in Gambia.”    If Jammeh does not step down, it is vital that the Gambian security forces, wherever their loyalty may lie, respect human rights; that all Gambians resist reprisals; and that ECOWAS forces who may enter Gambia respect rights and do all they can to avoid civilian harm.

Human Rights Watch reviewed satellite imagery in the town of Rann, Kala Balge Borno State, recorded on the morning after the attack and identified two distinct areas of destruction in densely populated areas on the western side of the town that are consistent with the detonation of multiple air dropped munitions. At least 35 structures were destroyed in the attack, including shelters for displaced people.

 

January 19, 2017 (JUBA)- The newly appointed governor of Gogrial state, South Sudan, has issued an order relieving a security advisor previously appointed by his predecessor and appointed his own pick.

Women from a cattle camp walk near Gogrial (Photo Tim Freccia/Enough Project)

Governor Gregory Deng Kuac Adol, best known as Gregory Vasilli Dmitry, appointed former Gogrial east county commissioner, Akot Lual Akot as the new security advisor.

In another order, he appointed Anyuon Dhol Anyuon as Commissioner of Apuk East, replacing Anyuon Chan Ajuong.

Also, Joseph Atem Gal was named commissioner of Awan Riau County, replacing Lual Lual Mal and Simon Apet Deng Kon was appointed commissioner Awan Chan County, replacing Peter Atem Yak.

Gogrial State which is the home of President Salva Kiir is one of the 32 states of South Sudan. It is located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it borders Twic to the north, Aweil East to the northwest, Aweil to the west, Wau to the southwest, Tonj to the southeast, and Northern Liech to the northeast.

(ST)

January 19, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has issued an order appointing three officials into the national legislative assembly.

Members of South Sudan's parliament sing the national anthem during the reopening of parliamentary sessions in the capital, Juba, on 11 June 2012 (Photo: Giulio Petrocco/AFP/Getty)

The presidential order read on the stated own South Sudan broadcasting Corporation, named Malong Lual Diing , son of the prominent SPLM official and a former presidential advisor on political affairs, Lual Diing Wol. The second is Mathiang Bellario Ahoy, another son of a veteran politician Bellario Ahoy Ngong, both of whom died in 2015 and 2016. They were serving members of parliament at the national legislative assembly when they passed away.

A third nominee into transitional legislative assembly is Oliver Majok Aleu. He replaced Garang Diing Akuong, whom President Salva Kiir appointed two ago years into foreign services and dispatched him to the United States where he is presently serving as the head of mission.

The basis of the appointment remains contentious. Presidential sources cite article 64 (1) (b) of the transitional legislative assembly which gives the president powers to appoint upon receiving notification from the speaker of the legislative assembly after the seat has fallen vacant.

Critics, however, argue that the speaker had to write first to the national elections commission to organize elections and only to the president when it is not possible to organize elections, particularly when it is remaining only three months period into the general elections.

“The Speaker of the appropriate House shall, in writing, notify the National elections commission Notwithstanding sub-Articles (1) and (2) above, if a vacancy occurs in respect of any seat in the National Legislative Assembly or the Council of States before the expiry of one year from the beginning of the Transitional Period: (a) the Speaker of the appropriate House shall, in writing, notify the President within ten days from the occurrence of that vacancy; (b) the President shall appoint the successor to the seat within sixty days.

Following the occurrence of the vacancy after consultation with the relevant constituencies, political parties and state legislatures concerned, as the case may be national Elections Commission within ten days from the occurrence of that vacancy”. A by-election to fill the vacancy shall be held by the National Elections Commission within sixty days following occurrence of the vacancy, a presidential source told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

(ST)

January 19, 2017 (JUBA) – The United States Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of African Affairs visited Juba on Wednesday but failed to meet President Salva Kiir or any government representative, local media reported on Thursday .

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, testifies on Jan. 9, 2014, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on situation in South Sudan. (Photo AP Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Linda Thomas-Greenfield arrived to Juba on Wednesday in a one-day visit before to travel to Ethiopia. The purpose of the visit was to discuss issues if mutual concern, to discuss humanitarian assistance with the international organisations working in the country.

She concluded her visit by meeting the U.S. Embassy staffs and a selected number of editors from South Sudanese newspapers and radio stations.

“I am disappointed that I cannot meet the President or other member of his government,” Linda told the journalists, according to the English language newspaper, The Juba Monitor.

The American diplomat, said her one day trip was meant to empathize Washington position on deployment of UN Security Council authorized Regional Protection Force and continued support to the full implementation of the shaky peace agreement.

Linda said the national dialogue announced by President Salva Kiir last month should be inclusive.

“It has to be one in which people feel confidence in the process,” she told editors from the US funded Eye Radio, UN's Radio Miraya and independent The Juba Monitor newspaper in a brief encounter in Juba on Wednesday.

“So it is not just the process that is being controlled by the government but is an open process that everyone who is participating makes some contribution to how it will be organized,” she said.

The National Dialogue announced by President Kiir will be headed by former political and religious leaders.

President Kiir appointed the steering committee of more than 50 members without consulting his rivals from the armed SPLM In Opposition or any other political parties, attracting criticism of attempting to negotiate with himself.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 19,2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopia and Sudan on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to bolster existing bilateral cooperation to a higher level.

The two neighbours expressed their commitment here in Addis Ababa when Ethiopia's state minister for foreign affairs, Hirut Zemene, conferred with Gamal al-Sheikh Ahmed, Ambassador of Sudan to Ethiopia and permanent representative to the African Union(AU)

According to the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs, the two sides expressed determination to further enhance relations and to boost existing cooperation to attain shared strategic visions.

Hirut and Ahmed further discussed on ways how to solidify existing regional and global cooperation.

The state minister said the two countries are enjoying the "close and excellent cooperation" in political, social and economic frontiers.

She stressed that the partnership between Ethiopia and Sudan should further be pronounced.

The Sudanese Ambassador to his part emphasized that his country greatly values the age-old strong ties and strategic partnership with government and people of Ethiopia.

"Sudan's cooperation with Ethiopia at bilateral level and at the AU is a number one priority" Ahmed said.

Cooperation between the two neighbouring countries has increasing gained momentum within the framework of mutual benefits.

The Sudanese diplomat added that he would make sure that the momentum of cooperation between the two countries sustains during his tenure.

The two countries expressed commitment to jointly work for regional peace and security.

They also reaffirmed to working together on a wide range of continental and international issues of common interest.

Currently Ethiopia and Sudan have a number of joint projects on pipeline among others on road and railways to link their borders.

Other cooperation agreement include Security, trade as well as on rebel and criminals extradition deal.

Sudan has also linked its grid with Ethiopia to import Ethiopia's hydro power processed electricity.

The countries are also working on creating a free zone area along their shared border to facilitate movement of people and trade.

(ST)

At least 45,000 people &#8211 mostly women and children &#8211 have arrived in Senegal from The Gambia after former President Yahya Jammeh&#39s decided to not step down, United Nations agencies today said warning that more people may leave if the political situation is not resolved peacefully.

With conflict in South Sudan now entering its fourth year and its people facing dire humanitarian challenges, the United Nations refugee agency has revised upwards its funding requirements for 2017 to address new needs of those who have been displaced due to renewed fighting, increased violence and resulting food insecurity since July last year.

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