Africa

Here is a look at five African inventions to watch out for in 2017.

Descendants of two Namibian indigenous groups sue Germany over early 20th Century genocide.

Zimbabwe's farmers are concentrating on high value crops to sustain businesses.

Midfielder John Mikel Obi leaves Chelsea after a decade to join Chinese Super League side Tianjin TEDA.

Algeria and Leicester forward Riyad Mahrez is named the Confederation of African Football's player of the year.

(Dakar) – The government of President Yahya Jammeh, defeated in Gambia’s December presidential election, has arbitrarily arrested opposition sympathizers and closed three independent radio stations in the past week, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said today. Jammeh is required under Gambia’s Constitution to cede power to President-elect Adama Barrow by January 19, 2017.

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Supporters of president-elect Adama Barrow celebrate Barrow's election victory in Banjul, Gambia on December 2, 2016. © 2016 Reuters

Since December 31, intelligence agents have arrested and briefly detained at least six people for wearing or selling T-shirts bearing the logo of the #Gambiahasdecided movement, which has called for Jammeh to respect the election results and step down. Several senior members of the movement have fled Gambia after receiving credible threats from alleged National Intelligence Agency (NIA) officers. On January 1, 2017, intelligence agents forcibly closed three private radio stations, depriving Gambians of independent sources of information during this critical period.

“The targeting of the #Gambiahasdecided movement and the closure of private radio stations threaten the rights of Gambians to express their opposition to Jammeh’s attempt to stay in power,” said Jim Wormington, West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It’s at times like this that free expression is most crucial.”

Jammeh publicly conceded defeat the day after the December 1, 2016 election, but then rejected the results on December 9, criticizing what he called the “treacherous” Independent Election Commission (IEC) for its lack of independence. Gambian security forces on December 13 evicted Alieu Momarr Njai, the commission chairman, and his staff from their headquarters. Njai subsequently told Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International that he feared for his safety, and on December 30, he left Gambia to seek refuge abroad.

Jammeh’s party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), on December 13 filed a challenge to the election results in the Supreme Court. Because the Supreme Court has no permanent associate judges, and so hearing the case would require Jammeh to appoint new justices, the Gambian Bar Association has said this appeal is “fundamentally tainted.”

The targeting of the #Gambiahasdecided movement and the closure of private radio stations threaten the rights of Gambians to express their opposition to Jammeh’s attempt to stay in power. It’s at times like this that free expression is most crucial. Jim Wormington

West Africa Researcher

Jammeh’s refusal to accept the election results has been widely condemned internationally, including by the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). On December 17, ECOWAS said that when Jammeh’s term ends on January 19, Barrow “must be sworn in” and promised to “take all necessary actions” to enforce the election results.

Sources in Gambia described to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International how intelligence agents detained two men, Alpha Sey and Muhammed Kuyateh, wearing #Gambiahasdecided T-shirts on the evening of December 31. One witness said five men in civilian clothes forced Sey into a white pickup truck. “They asked to have a word with him and, after a brief conversation, they just pushed him into the car,” the witness said. “Sey was the only one wearing a #Gambiahasdecided T-shirt, and I heard him say, ‘There’s no need for me to get in the car, I can just take it off.’ But they forced him in anyway.”

Another witness described how on December 31, men in civilian clothes forced Kuyateh into a vehicle in Bakoteh, a suburb of Banjul, apparently for wearing a #Gambiahasdecided T-shirt. Kuyateh and Sey were held incommunicado at NIA headquarters, then released on bail on January 3, 2017.

Intelligence officers detained three store managers selling #Gambiahasdecided merchandise in the Westfield area of Serrekunda on the evening of December 31. Ebrima Sambou, Mamie Serreh, and Isatou Jallow told Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International that the intelligence officers came to their shops and confiscated T-shirts and other materials featuring the text #Gambiahasdecided, or graphics supportive of president-elect Barrow or the opposition coalition. They were then taken to the intelligence agency headquarters in Banjul, where they were questioned about the suppliers of this merchandise, and released a few hours later.

The store merchandise has not been returned. Serreh said that before she was released, an intelligence officer told her, “Anything you say about this, it will come back to you.” The wife of another of the store managers left Gambia soon after his release, fearing for her safety. Intelligence officers also reportedly detained a coalition supporter, Wandifa Kanyi, for selling T-shirts in Serrekunda on January 2. Kanyi was released on January 3.

Two founding members of the #Gambiahasdecided movement, Salieu Taal and Raffi Diab, fled Gambia on December 31, after receiving what they believe was credible information of their imminent detention by the intelligence agency. The agency has a long track record of arbitrarily arresting opposition activists, many of whom were tortured and sometimes killed while in agency custody. Taal, the movement’s chair, said that NIA officers nearly intercepted him outside his house on December 31. “I believe Jammeh is trying to send a message, to stop us from resisting his attempt to stay in power,” he told Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. “But we won’t be intimidated.”

On January 1, intelligence agents forced three private radio stations, Teranga FM, Hilltop Radio, and Afri Radio, to go off air. Although Afri Radio was reopened again on January 3, it is not currently airing news-related material. Given the government’s control of state television and radio, private radio stations provide an important outlet for Gambians to access dissenting views and opinions, although the security forces’ history of arresting and intimidating journalists have caused many to self-censor. Teranga FM and Hilltop Radio were two stations that discussed diverse political news in local languages.

Emil Touray, president of the Gambia Press Union, told Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International that the radio closures “denied Gambians several essential media outlets during a crucial phase in the country’s history.” Teranga FM has been closed three times in recent years and the station’s managing director, Alhagie Ceesay, was arrested in July 2015, beaten and tortured at the NIA headquarters, and then charged with sedition. He escaped from custody and fled abroad in April 2016.

As the deadline for Jammeh to leave office and transfer power nears, the Gambian authorities and security forces should respect and protect the rights of all Gambians to freely and peacefully express their political views and opinions, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said. Private radio stations should be free to operate without government interference or fear of reprisals.

“The risk of a crackdown against independent and critical voices will only increase as calls for Jammeh to step down intensify prior to the January 19 deadline,” said Sabrina Mahtani, West Africa researcher at Amnesty International. “The Gambian authorities must send a clear message that human rights abuses, including by members of the security forces, will not be tolerated and that those responsible for abuses during the transition will be adequately investigated and prosecuted.”

A selection of the best photos from across Africa this week.

January 5, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Khartoum and Juba governments Thursday signed an agreement extending river and land transit of international humanitarian assistance for the South Sudanese civilians for a six month period.

In July 2014, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to open a humanitarian corridor to deliver food assistance to vulnerable South Sudanese through the Nile river or by road.

The cross-border operation allows the World Foord Programmes (WFP) to reduce the costly airlift or airdrop operations in a time where the international agency faces serious financial challenges.

The MoU was signed by the Sudanese Deputy Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Ahmed Mohamed Osman and South Sudanese Ambassador to Khartoum, Mayan Dut Waal.

Speaking to the media following the signing ceremony, the Sudanese humanitarian official said the extension of the agreement contributes to consolidate human relations between the two countries.

He further stressed that the Sudanese government would continue to exert the needed efforts with international partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to the affected people in South Sudan.

"We reaffirm the keenness of the government of Sudan to provide all possible facilities for the passage of humanitarian aid into South Sudan," he added.

River transport of goods across the joint stopped after the border's closure following South Sudan's independence in 2011 as Khartoum accused Juba of supporting Sudanese rebels in the Two Areas.

The resumption of river and road transport enabled the WFP to deliver hundreds of metric tons of food to South Sudanese. Barges loaded of food reached South Sudanese in the Upper Nile state towns of Renk and Wadakona.

(ST)

January 5, 2017 (JUBA) - A top South Sudanese rebel commander has been killed after squabbles erupted over the allegiance and the objective of the armed struggle.

Gabriel Tanginye shakes hands with leading members of the Nuer tribal community in Unity state, Bentiu on October 19, 2010 (AP)

Gabriel Tanginye was killed on Wednesday during a clash in which more than 20 others lost lives. The exact circumstances under which the attack took place remain unclear. Military sources and relatives have provided conflicting accounts surrounding the incident.

Military spokespersons representing two rebel leaders, Lam Akol and RiekMachar, confirmed his death in separate statements without elaborating on the circumstances under the attack was carried and which the sides initiated it.

Tanginye was one of the senior rebel commanders who switched side from the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition under the overall command and leadership of the former vice president, Riek Machar before the signing of the 2015 peace agreement.

He remains one of the holdout rebel commanders and did not join Machar when the new conflict resumed.

He opted to remain at South Sudan-Sudanese border as independent commander until Lam Akol resigned from the unity government in which he served as the minister of agriculture and formed his own rebel movement.

Sources say Akol later recruited Tanginye as one of his commanders. Others refute the reports of having joined Akol, saying Tanginye was only in the area under the control of Akol's commander Yohanis Okech, whose headquarters came under attack on Wednesday by a group allied to Machar, resulting in the clash in which several lives, including Tanginye and his son were lost.

“As far I know, I don't think Tanginye was one of the commanders under Lam Akol. He was only in the area preparing to go to Fangak area, where he wanted to carry out his own recruitment.

His mission to the area took sometimes due to logistics and so he decided to stay with Yohanis Okich, who is the commander of the forces under Lam Akol. He was there because of personal relations between the two men. They are friends”, a source with the direct knowledge of the situation told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

The source explained Tanginye became the victim of an internal conflict between Okich and Johnson Olony, who is the commander, allied to Riek Machar forces in the area.

(ST)

One of the schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok by Boko Haram is found with her six-month-old baby.

January 5, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Interior Minister, Ismat Abdel Rahman Zein al-Abdin, Wednesday has called for the intervention of the army to end the control of armed militias over gold mines in North Darfur State.

Interior minister Ismat Abdel-Rahman (SUNA Photo)

Responding to a questions by a Sudanese lawmaker about presence of foreigners at the gold mines in North Darfur State, the minister admitted that the Jebel Amir gold mines are under the control of "foreign elements, and some dual national armed tribal groups in the region".

Fighting between two government allied Arab militias of Bani Hussein and Abbala Rizeigat tribes during the year 2013 resulted in the death of over 800 people and displaced 105,000 others. Since, the Abbala militiamen control the area.

In their report of July 2016, UN experts said Abbala militiamen under the control of Musa Hilal control at least 400 mines. They said the group earns some $54 million annually from levies on prospectors and support businesses, direct prospecting and the illegal exporting of mined gold.

"They are more than 3,000 heavily armed foreigners riding four-wheel-drive vehicles in the gold rich area in addition to other foreigners the interior ministry was not able to count because of the 'overlapping tribal ties in Jebel Amir," said the minister.

"The Ministry is in need of heavy machinery and tanks to break up the heavily armed groups." further said Ismat who is a former Chief of Staff of the Sudan Armed Forces.

He disclosed that an inter-ministerial meeting will be held next week including officials from the North Darfur State; ministry of minerals, interior ministry and other services to discuss the needed solutions and to mull over a plan on how to intervene in the area.

The minister stressed that the alone police would not be able to face what he called "the enormous quantity of foreigners", pointing they had failed to control the area in the past because of the huge military machinery of foreign miners and people with dual nationality.

"We cannot confront this colossal quantity of vehicles, and we need to advanced weapons," he said.

(ST)

January 4, 2017 (YAMBIO) – Hundreds of citizens, mostly women and children from South Sudan's Gbudue state have reportedly fled their homes and are currently taking refuge in schools around Yambio town as a result of the killings and burning of houses along the Rimenze-Yambio road.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

An elderly man who spoke to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity, said he fled due to fears he could be killed after all homes within his neighbourhood were set ablaze and properties looted.

“We are running away from our homes fearing death and all our belonging have been looted and houses are burnt and we decided to flee to Yambio town where life can be better for us,” he explained.

A few dead bodies, he added, were lying on the road between Rimenze and Yambio.

Eye witnesses have accused government's organized forces, who were deployed to the area to provide security, for the allegedly killing innocent people and burning their houses while warning the community in the area to evacuate and leave the area for destruction. Those who resisted were allegedly killed.

On Wednesday, the acting state governor, Victor Edward visited displaced persons in Nabima primary school and brief the displaced people about the situation, assuring them that calm would be restored.

“We are going for a security meeting to discuss about the safety of the community, if it is the organized forces who were deployed there are the problem, we will call them back from those areas,” said Edward.

The security situation in Gbudue state continues to worsen after the Christmas and New Year periods, as armed men have continued looting, while over five civilians were reported killed in the same period.

Meanwhile, World Vision, UNICEF, and the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission are reportedly conducting assessment in order to supply the necessary humanitarian assistance to the population.

(ST)

January 04, 2017 (JUBA) – Authorities in South Sudan's Jongeli state have assured citizens of security after several cattle raids and child abductions blamed on Murle tribesmen from neighbouring Boma state.

Jonglei state governor, Phillip Aguer speaks during the independence occassion July 9, 2016 (ST)

The governor of Jonglei, Philip Aguer said he was closely working with his Boma counterpart, Baba Medan Konyi and the national government to devise a proper plan for identifying the suspects.

"When we join hands with Boma [state] and South Sudan army, the unknown criminals will be known this dry season," stressed Aguer.

Cattle raiding and child abductions rocked Jonglei state in December last year, while an attack on Christmas day in Twic North county left over a dozen people dead and several others injured.

Although both raids were blamed on Murle tribesmen from Boma state, its officials have repeatedly denied involvement of their people.

The raids increased at the time both states were engaged in peaceful resolution of the tribal hostilities. A peace agreement between Bor and Pibor was signed on 4 December, 2016 - only to be followed by several attacks north and south of Jonglei.

In the agreement facilitated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the two states agreed to form a joint police force to patrol the borders of the rival communities and arrest cattle raiders.

However, the 500-strong joint police force is yet to be established.

(ST)

January 4, 2017 (JUBA) - Government official who just ended a visit to Yei says South Sudanese in the volatile Yei River State have called on President Salva Kiir to end war in and achieve reconciliation.

S. Sudan cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomoro (Photo KT Press)

UN officials including UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, issued reports about the deterioration of the security situation and massive displacement of civilians in Yei.

On Wednesday the delegation which had been led by the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai presented a report President Salva Kiir, petitioning him personally to reach out and speak out directly to the aggrieved population.

Cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomuro told reporters that every group they met has a special message to the President. So they decided to compile all the messages they were given by various groups into a single and detailed report.

“You know every group we met and held discussion with them has a special message to the president. Their messages are all about peace, they want the war to stop. " said Lomuro.

"They want their people come out from wherever they have run and return to their homes. They also want reconciliation and indeed I accept. This country needs to reconcile,” he stressed.

The minister who was part of the two-day visit to Yei said the journey was a successful mission, as they met all components of the government and civil society including traditional leader.

"We met with the governor and his cabinet members, members of parliament, traditional leaders, youth, women, members of the civil society, everybody," he said.

Last October, a delegation led former governor of Central Equatoria state, Clement Wani Konga, who is the current presidential advisor for special affairs with Daniel Awet Akot, presidential advisor on political affairs was in Yei to assess the security situation and the causes on the attacks on civilians by the government forces.

Local youth groups loyal to the SPLM-Io leader Riek Machar carried out attacks on the government forces. The latter launched reprisal assaults on the civilians in a bid to quell the insurgency.

Following a visit to the area last November, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide told reporters in Juba about violence escalating along ethnic lines, and mentioned the risk of a genocide there.

He also made a report to the UN Security Council where spoke about fears among local population

"When I visited, there was widespread fear among the population. One person told me in desperation, “Tonight I don't know what will happen to me.” An elder expressed terror that his community would be “finished.” Dieng told the Security Council.

(ST)

A malaria vaccine has passed a "critical milestone" in human safety trials, say researchers

By Longar Mathiec Wol

The problems that faces South Sudan are either made within or millions mile away and affect the innocent citizens of South Sudan. Regardless of the foil attempted coup according to the government description or misunderstanding or massacre of Nuer in Juba. The songs of regime changes continues from the initiators and implementers. Now, that the people of South Sudan has come back to their senses and agreed to bring peace to their country although is still shaking, we don't know whether the initiators of regime change will look for other avenues to overthrow the government of South Sudan.

Yes they are trying hard those avenues through economics and social uprising but the people of South Sudan have seen enough and I don't think whether they are ready to continue perusing the regime change that goes through rough roads. The only way I know people of south Sudan can change a regime is through ballot papers apart from that is a destruction of the country. But are we ready to destroy what we have been fighting for generations, almost half a century need to be destroyed only for the interest of the few who need to retain their positions.

Last three or more years we waged war against ourselves and now that the unstable peace has come back, not all of us are benefiting in term of positions that are shared among the warring parties, you and I who were not in the government still remain out of the government; then the question is why do we fight ourselves for the other people positions instead of continuing building a peaceful South Sudan where we do our own businesses and raise our children and educate them. The only benefit I know about this peace hopefully if it work is the silencing of the guns and some of us who their relative are lucky to be appointed in the government go for begging and grouping and gossiping for the whole day which is not helping us in any way.

So now the madness is almost coming to an end, but people are still contemplating what cause the conflict and if it stops from there, what will prevent the repeat of the same things in the future. Since we knew or some of us knew that we were either incited within or outside the country to kill ourselves for unknown reasons. Now we have known the disadvantages and advantages of what to gain and what to loose. Those who think that rebellion is the way to get the top positions in public services is nothing but a betrayal of your people who suffered for long.

Since we learn rebellions in the name of change is not taking us anywhere; therefore, is time to look for another alternative way of changing the government and that is through the ballot box. Here I am talking of democracy as the only main that can work in 21st century. Therefore, it will take us to why the regime change advocate outside democracy within or outside the country hasn't work and won't work.

Why regime change hasn't work is because people of South Sudan struggle for long and they were not ready to make short cut by overthrowing the government they struggle for long to bring to it existences. People were busy with their social activities to rebuild their lives that has been destroyed by the colonial regime. People were not ready for any struggle any time soon regardless of whether the dictatorship that has been advocated by the opposition exist or not. It was too early for another struggle for the people of South Sudan who were demoralized by the longer and brutal civil war in Africa unless through democratic main.

Lack of trust from the man who led the process by the majority of the people of South Sudan. since the leader of the opposition was one time betrayed the people of South Sudan during the independence struggle and kill many people to what become known as Bor massacre which make people lost confidence hope in him regardless of the apology he made to the people of Bor still it would have taken time for the people he apologized to observe him and slowly regain trust with time and to see whether to accept the apology or to live with it. But immediately the same man has repeat the same mistake that make many people to be reluctant in joining the second struggle.

Tribalism propaganda, the coup or whatever it's call, immediately after it fail the only option was tribe. So me personally I think the tribe propaganda led to the failure in opposition side even people who lost confidence in government remain behind assuming that they would be victimize based on the tribe. Also, since Nuer and Dinka has been having issues of cattle raiding and communal violent among themselves for so long complicated the matter. People turn blind eyes to the mistake both leaders from the government side and the opposition side did and remain loyal to them (two leaders) regardless of the failure both leaders had.

The mentality of Junubin won't allow coup in South Sudan regardless of whatever the case might be I think it will never work and if it work it might lead toward genocide since the tribe comes to power through coup might see itself as superior and the rest inferior. What make President kiir's government to continue to exist besides all the challenges is because some people know they have voted for it. That what I think safe it. You might have difference explanation. Another reason I think the use of force won't work is because we militarize society. We have been in war for long and our experiences toward war made people to not longer fear war since it almost becomes part of their daily life and war seems to be like a joke so when it happened some enjoy.

People are tired of the western countries incitement in Africa, some of the Africans are beginning to understand that western countries still have the indirect ideological colonization. They only accept leader or leaders in Africa who only do what they want and when the leader goes against their will they will come up with what is called regime change as tool of threatening the weak government in Africa. Now people have understand and will no longer be abide by that negative ideologies of divided and rule, where the divided people based on their tribes, incite them to kill themselves and when one tribe become victorious they install it in power so that they can access to whatever they want from that poor and weak country. Africans knew that trick and they are tired of it.

The opposition leader is not an alternative to Salva Kiir in my own view for a reason that they were in the same government as president and vice president respectively for eight years. If he was to do something good to the people of South Sudan he could have done since he was the man in charge of South Sudan since Salva Kiir was a First Vice President of the then Sudan government. What did he do to convince the people that during his time he has done this and that so that people will see him as an alternative for a position or not, he didn't do that. How does he expect people to choose him as alternative with failure that is known by everyone in the country?

Riek is tribalistic in nature, when someone who had been a vice president and a first vice president a man known as academician base his political interest all the time on tribe. That approach made people to think that if this person come to power than he might decide to silence or target certain tribes in his government.

The only way for the people of the great country South Sudan is to put aside their tribal affiliation and ask themselves tough questions and the way forward. Democratizing our country is best way forward toward resolving our own problems. We are a country multiethnic groups ever in Africa; if we put our tribal loyalty aside and become loyal to our country we will one day become strongest country in African and if possible in the world.

The author can reached at longarmaxiech@gmail.com

January 4, 2017 (JUBA)-The command of South Sudanese army (SPLA) has denied clashing with rebels in Eastern Equatoria region, describing claims to have captured military posts in Torit as "making of the New Year".

South Sudanese SPLA soldiers in Pageri in Eastern Equatoria state on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Samir Bol)

“The New Year celebrations in the country and particularly in Eastern Equatoria went well. The security situation is under control. There was no problem, no clashes; everything is quite and calm”, a military officer in Torit town told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday when reached to comment on reports that a military outpost was overran and briefly controlled by armed dissident youth in the area.

The acting spokesperson of the government forces, Dominic Santo said in a separate statement he was not aware of fighting in Torit and its environs, asserting that neither the state governor nor command of the government forces in the area had reached out to the general command with reports of clashes.

He however confirmed a road ambush by gunmen he described as "bandits" on Monday and raid on a village on Tuesday. Several civilians also confirmed road ambush incident and denied fighting in Torit town.

While the spokesperson of the government forces denied any knowledge of the clashes, the spokesperson of the rebel SPLA-IO led by Riek Machar claimed to have overran a military outpost where they killed 20 military and captured several other weapons in a place called Lolore and Cholore along Magwi road.

“It was in the afternoon when the SPLA-IG launched an attack on the SPLA-IO at the contention base along Torit, Maguiy (Magwi) road at the area called Lolore. The attackers were repulsed and pursued back to Cholore, the out cut (outskirts) of Torit town, 30 minutes' walk after a fierce battle shown to them by the freedom fighters commanded by Gen. Fatrick Ohiti”, the statement reads in part.

The statement bearing the name of Col. William Gatjiath Deng, spokesperson of Riek Machar forces, claimed 20 dead bodies were found exposed on the sunshine and 36 Ak -47, 4 PKM machine guns and 2 RPG-7 are captured in good condition. Other weapons claimed to have been captured after the clash was pickup truck mounted with 12.7. The vehicle has allegedly been destroyed.

It claimed wide spread vanishing of the civilians in the whole of Equatoria region since last year. Systematic killings of the innocent people, rape of teenage girls and women and the burn down villages everywhere, forcing the affected civilians to leave their homes and to take refuge in the forests.

(ST)

(ST)

January 4, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom on Wednesday has called for the need to achieve total peace between the two neighbouring countries.

Haysom, who met with the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir in Khartoum Wednesday, said the “international community seeks to restore normal relations between Khartoum and Juba and create opportunities to achieve development and stability in South Sudan”.

He called for the need to achieve full peace between Sudan and South Sudan through continued contacts.

The UN envoy told reporters that he discussed with al-Bashir the conditions in the two nations and the role that could be played by Sudan as a member of the regional bloc IGAD to achieve peace and stability in South Sudan.

“The meeting also reviewed relations between Khartoum and Juba and how they could cooperate to achieve peace and stability in the region,” he said.

It is noteworthy that Haysom, who was appointed last March, visited Khartoum in August and discussed with al-Bashir regional issues particularly the situation in South Sudan as well as the outstanding issues between Juba and Khartoum.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9th 2011 following a referendum on whether the semi-autonomous region should remain a part of the country or become independent. 99% of the southern voters chose independence.

Relations between the two nations soured after South Sudan's independence following a series of disputes over a number of issues including mutual allegations pertaining to harbour and support of rebels.

In September 2012, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.

In March 2013, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these cooperation agreements. However, the execution of the agreements didn't go according to the plan.

MEETING FM AND PRESIDENTIAL AIDE

In the same context, Haysom discussed with Sudan's presidential aide Ibrahim Mahmoud and Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour the situation in the region and the progress of implementation of agreements signed between Khartoum and Juba.

Ghandour briefed the UN envoy on the situation in Sudan especially with regard to efforts to achieve comprehensive peace and implementation of the national dialogue conference.

He also reviewed the current situation of relations with South Sudan, particularly regarding Juba's implementation of the requirements of the cooperation agreements and especially the security and political aspects.

(ST)

January 4, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government Wednesday disclosed it has agreed with two Darfur rebel movements on major issues at informal meetings held recently expressing hope to reach final agreement during the coming rounds of talks.

The Sudanese army and its allied militias have been fighting a number of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Last August, direct peace talks in Addis Ababa, between Sudanese government and two Darfur groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) under the auspices of the African Union (AU) have collapsed after rebels throw out government requests to disclose fighters' locations.

Since last year, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni facilitated informal meetings in Kampala and Addis Ababa between the Sudanese government, the SLM-MM and JEM leaders.

Following his meeting with the UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom on Wednesday, Sudanese presidential aide Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said the “government, in informal meetings held earlier, has reached an agreement with Darfur rebels on the major issues and we hope to settle the issue completely in the coming rounds of talks”.

He pointed that Khartoum has agreed to all proposal contained in the Roadmap Agreement and the arrangements agreed upon with the US Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth, stressing the Roadmap must be the basis for any peace process.

The Sudanese presidential assistant further said they provided some proposals to the rebels and waiting for their response, calling on the opposition to not use “temporary tactics” which only increase the suffering of the people.

He added that he discussed with Haysom the situation in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile as well as Khartoum's relation with Juba.

Hamid pointed that the “UN envoy was now sure of the government's seriousness in its quest for peace”, expecting the regional and international community to put pressure on the armed opposition to achieve peace.

“However, we hope the Sudanese don't resort to external pressures to bring security and stability to the Sudanese citizen,” he said.

It is noteworthy that South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile states, also known as the “Two Areas” have been the scene of violent conflict between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North rebels and Sudanese army since 2011.

The AU has been seeking to end the conflict for several years. However since last August the peace talks are deadlocked over cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access deals.

(ST)

The new Secretary-General will have to address critical failures in African peacekeeping operations.