Africa

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

September 8, 2016 (JUBA) – United States top envoys for South Sudan have issued conflicting statements on whether the South Sudanese former First Vice President, Riek Machar, should reclaim his position or not in the transitional government of national which was formed as a result of a peace agreement he signed with President Salva Kiir in August last year. The deal was to end 21 months of civil war.

Former U.S. special envoy for Sudan Princeton Lyman (Reuters)

Ambassador Donald Booth, U.S envoy to Sudan and South Sudan told a U.S. House of Representative during a hearing held on Wednesday that it was “not wise” to return Machar to his previous position as First Vice President after he was chased out of the country by President Salva Kiir's forces.

"Given all that has happened, we do not believe it would be wise for Machar to return to his previous position in Juba," said Booth.

"But this cannot become a justification for President Kiir to monopolize power and stifle dissenting political voices," he told the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Africa Subcommittee.

But Princeton N. Lyman, senior advisor to the U.S. president, described the idea to cut off Machar from the government as “illusion.” He made the remarks while testifying on the South Sudan's situation before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organization.

“It would similarly be an illusion to think that with the exile of former Vice President Riek Machar, and his replacement by Taban Deng Gai, we now have a true government of national unity that can unite the country,” Lyman said.

He said Gai who replaced Machar in a controversial process does not control the opposition forces in the country, adding that fighting is ongoing across the country.

“Taban Deng does not command the loyalty of all those forces that have been fighting the government of Salva Kiir. Without broad-based participation in a transitional government, conflict will surely continue. Indeed conflict continues now in several parts of the country,” he said.

He also warned that the conflicting messages further divide the United Nations Security Council, IGAD and the African Union, warning that with the current situation, peace will not be achieved in South Sudan.

“The UN Security Council (UNSC) is hamstrung by the divisions within IGAD and the African Union. There is a useful adage that applies here: when the Africans are divided, the UNSC will be divided. Without a strong call from IGAD or the African Union for an arms embargo or further pressures on the leaders of South Sudan, the UNSC will divide. Moreover, any arms embargo or other sanctions would have to be implemented by these same neighboring countries. If they are not so committed, even if the UNSC passed such measures, they would not be implemented,” he said.

RIVAL PARTIES REACT

Meanwhile, South Sudan government under President Salva Kiir has quickly welcomed the remarks attributed to the U.S. envoy, Booth, indicating preference for the armed opposition leader and the former first vice president, Riek Machar, to stay away from participating in unity government.

“Working relations is very important. If you are working with someone with whom you have no better working relationship then it is difficult to even convene a meeting. You cannot do anything. So it is important that our friends from the United States are showing an understanding,” presidential Advisor, Tor Deng Mawien told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

“We welcome these positive remarks. We are also expecting others to show similar understanding. The people of South Sudan need the world to stand with the transitional government of national unity to implement the peace agreement,” he said.

He claimed that President Kiir and his government are fully committed to implementing the agreement with the new first vice president, Taban Deng Gai, to “the spirit and letter.”

Booth's remarks have been interpreted by government officials as clearly indicating the U.S. acceptance of Taban Deng Gai as the First Vice-President after the US secretary of state, John Kerry, said in August that Machar's replacement was not illegal.

The opposition faction led by Machar commended the statement by the U.S. advisor to the president, Lyman, for understanding the importance of maintaining a peace partner and leader of the armed opposition, Machar, in order for peace to hold.

“Those who think replacing the main peace partner, Dr. Riek Machar, with someone who will surrender to Salva Kiir's dictatorship and violence are admitting their failure to help change such a bad leadership. They are surrendering to the status quo. Succumbing to dictatorship, corruption and violence is a bad cooperation. It is a bad idea because tt will not do good to the people of South Sudan,” said James Gatdet Dak, spokesman for the opposition leader, Machar.

He also said Machar is in full control of the co-national army known as the SPLA in Opposition, as well as leading its political wing, the SPLM-IO.

He said removing the SPLM-IO party and the SPLA-IO army from the peace agreement and its transitional government is an admission that the peace deal has collapsed.

(ST)

September 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Arab League (AL) Ministerial Council on Thursday has unanimously elected the Sudanese Internationals Cooperation Minister Kamal Hassan Ali as Assistant Secretary General of the regional organization.

International cooperation minister Kamaleldin Hassan (SUNA photo)

In press statement released on Thursday, Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Ghanodur, welcomed Hassan's election, saying it indicates the return of long-time isolated east African country to leading roles in regional and international organizations.

"The election of Kamal Hassan Ali shows Sudan's strong return to the leadership of regional and international organizations. also it reflects the outstanding role the Sudan is playing in the various arenas,'' said Ghandour.

Since Sudan involvement's in an attempt to assassinate former President Hosni Mubarak in June 1995, the government of President Bashir had been isolated for long years within the Arab league. Also it ultimately led to the end of the strong alliance between Cairo and Khartoum.

However, Khartoum recent efforts to end its relations with Iran and the relative amelioration in its relations with some European countries contributed to improve its image.

"The election of the Sudanese candidate reflects the distinguished role of the Sudanese diplomacy and its ability to play a leading role in the different forums, especially in light of the current challenges," said Sudan's Ambassador to Cairo and its representative to Arab League, Abdel-Mahmoud Abdel-Haleim.

The meeting of Arab foreign ministers in addition endorsed a draft resolution ssupporting Khartoum's efforts to promote peace and development and rejects the US unilateral economic sanctions against Sudan, said Abdel Haleim .

According to Abdel Haleim; Sudan has been also elected as a member in AL external offices committee, and recovery of cultural and historical treasures committee.

Kamal Hassan Ali, current minister for international cooperation, will occupy his new position during five years.

Previously he severed as a state minister for foreign affairs, Sudan's ambassador to Egypt.

(ST)

September 8, 2016 (WAU) – Authorities in South Sudan's Wau state have resolved that the United Nations peace keeping forces be allowed to conduct joint security patrols in town.

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

The state minister for law enforcement, Angelina Anthony Ubur, said the operation will protect sheltering at the UN protection sites and those in homes.

The UN, the minister said, formed a security committee that would patrol inside the UN, Red Cross and protection sides.

“We have also reached an understanding ground with the faith groups since the state government stands to maintain peace and reconciliation to start advocating for peace everywhere during their prayers,” said Ubur.

“We have reached an agreement that the UNMISS will be in a patrol operation, but the operation will be in all areas, UNMISS and the joint security forces will in the operation together during day time,” she added.

According to the minister, the move to involve UN peacekeepers follows the rising security threats in Wau.

“We are seeing that the current situation is good and will lead the citizens to return homes because these operations will start in the southern part of the town,” she stressed.

Meanwhile the minister said despite absence of clean water supply in Wau town, government was working hard to secure enough fuel to pump it.

(ST)

September 8, 2016 (TORIT) - Over 50 local artists in Imatong, one of South Sudan's newly-created states, have resolved to form a new union to steer peace and unity among citizens across the state.

Musicians performing in Jonglei capital Bor on September 6, 2015 (ST)

The artists, after nearly five hours of deliberations, elected Patrick Ohucoli as the new chairperson of Imatong State Artist Union (ISAU).

Speaking shortly after he was elected, Ohucoli promised to work hard to create peace and unity amongst all the artists within the state and the visiting partners from sisterly states and across borders.

He proposed that a concert be held every year to that the upcoming singers are promoted by those already in the industry.

The director-general in the state ministry of information, culture, youth and sports, Wani Kute Joseph assured the artists that government was working hard to resolve challenges facing artists.

He said the newly formed association of artists would make it easier for local musicians get support from donors and partners in the state.

“The organization will seek to develop unique talents and link artists beyond Torit and South Sudan borders,” said the director general.

Jacky Miss, a local artist, said the organisation will promote local events, facilitate interactive activities to keep youth off the street.

“It will most importantly create links between artists in Torit and South Sudan state capitals as well as the national town of Juba,” she said.

The new body, its officials said, will mainly organize events such as Miss Malaika, Talent Search and help stage Karaoke nights.

(ST)

September 8, 2016 (JUBA) – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said activists were being harassed following a meeting they held with the UN Security Council delegation in the capital, Juba.

South Sudanese people take to the streets as part of a peace march organised by civil society groups in the capital, Juba, on 8 January 2014 (Photo AP/Ali Ngethi)

15 members of the Security Council members led by the United States permanent representatives to the UN, Samantha Power visited the South Sudan capital last week to persuade the Juba government into accepting the deployment of regional troops to facilitate implementation of last year's peace deal.

The Security Council team also held talks with civil society activists.

“The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is deeply concerned by reports it has received of threats and harassment against some civil society members who met with the United Nations Security Council delegation during their most recent visit to Juba last weekend,” UNMISS said in a statement on Thursday.

“These reported actions are in violation of the rights to freedom of expression, movement and civil and political engagement, which are fundamental pillars of a democratic society. Any attempt to suppress these rights through threats and harassment must be condemned in no uncertain terms,” it added, without details.

According to UN mission, the meeting between the Security Council team and activists “was an opportunity for an open dialogue with a view to gaining greater understanding of some of the issues and concerns faced by South Sudanese citizens at the grassroots level.”

Such forms of intimidation, it further said in the statement, should cease and vowed to raise activists' safety with South Sudanese government officials.

Members of the United Nations Security Council on Monday wrapped up a three-day visit to South Sudan and reiterated its support for the country's peace process with calls for the Juba government to fulfill what was agreed upon in a joint communiqué.

ACTIVIST SPEAKS OUT

South Sudanese security agents are reportedly hunting for members of civil society entities and other activists believed to have attended a meeting with the Security Council delegation during their recent visit to Juba.

“I have been on the run since Monday. The security personnel have been calling me to report to their headquarters because I was one of those who attended meeting of the delegation of the security council of the United Nations. They are saying we have betrayed the country by failing to say what they have told us to tell the Security Council. They wanted us to tell members of the Security Council that we reject deployment of protection force”, an activist told Sudan Tribune Wednesday.

“my life and that of my colleagues is under threat. We are in danger of unknown gunmen. We don't what to do now? They are threatening us and even our family members to trace us”, he added.

(ST)

September 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan, Chad and Central African Republic (CAR) leaders held talks on Wednesday over the deployment of joint border monitoring units.

Joint Sudanese-Chadian border patrol forces in trucks (FILE)

The meeting was held in the capital of North Darfur state El Fasher were on the sidelines of the celebrations to mark the completion of Darfur Document for Peace in Darfur attended.

Sudanese Government Spokesperson Ahmed al-Balal, in a press statement Wednesday, said that Presidents Omer al-Bashir, Idriss Déby and Faustin Archange Touadér discussed the implementation of the Sudanese-Chadian experience with the Central African Republic through the deployment of joint forces on the CAR borders with Chad and Sudan.

“The Sudanese Chadian experience has proven its success,” he added.

Al-Balal said that Bashir and Deby reiterated their support to CAR's efforts to promote security and stability in the region. He further said that the tripartite meeting touched on the situation in Central African Republic and ways to achieve security and stability on its borders.

In the past years, the CAR governments discussed ways to join Chad-Sudan joint border patrols with the two countries but the political instability in Bangui prevented the poor country from joining this force.

Sudan and Chad established the joint border monitoring force in 2010 following political agreement between Presidents Bashir and Deby. Its initial purpose was to prevent cross border attacks by rebel groups from both sides.

(ST)

September 8, 2016 (JUBA) – The UK is to expand its contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping force in South Sudan, raising the planned total from 300 to 400, defense secretary, Michael Fallon said.

British troops in a parade (Getty Images)

The British troops heading to the world's newest country will join a 12,000-strong UN force from 50 nations already on the ground.

Once in young nation, the deployment will more than double the UK's global peacekeeping efforts, Fallon said in a statement.

The additional UK personnel, it said, will enable the provision of a field hospital, supporting deployed UK and other UN peacekeepers.

“This large scale deployment underlines how we are stepping up our global commitments,” observed the UK defence minister.

“Backed by a rising defence budget, its part of our effort to tackle the instability that leads to mass migration and terrorism. It will help keep Britain safe while improving lives abroad,” he stressed.

The recent UK role in South Sudan has involved vital engineering work to strengthen infrastructure – provided by two engineer squadron groups – and is in addition to longstanding advisory support to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) headquarters.

The first UK personnel arrived in the world's youngest nation in June, and the main body deployment is expected in country next year.

Britain's commitment comes in the wake an approval by the African Union to deploy protection forces with the aim of restoring peace and stability in and around the South Sudanese capital, Juba.

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, descended into violence in mid-December 2013, leaving estimated tens of thousands dead and displaced nearly two million people, aid agencies say.

Meanwhile, apart from its contribution to UNMISS, the UK is also backing a UN mission in Somalia to ensure security against terrorism threat.

(ST)

September 8, 2016 (YAMBIO) – The staff of the World Vision International was shot dead together with his wife and two children by unknown gunmen last night in Yambio, Western Equatoria. Also injured was a pregnant woman in a separate house while the house of the Member of Parliament in the newly created controversial Gbudue State came under attack the same night.

Non-food items distributing to IDPS by the UNHCR workers in Maridi on 4 March 2016 (ST Photo)

Speaking to the media, a Crime Officer in Yambio county, First Lieutenant Emmanuel Fidel, said unknown gunmen stormed the house of late Silivinio Caciano and shot him with his wife Josephine Nako John and also killed two children in the other bed room at around 12:00am on Tuesday night.

“What happened last night at around 12:00 am is that unknown gunmen attacked the house of late Silivinio Casiano and killed him with his wife Josephina Nako John and their two children in a separate bed room,” he said.

Emmanuel added that it remained unclear as to what motive was behind the killings for the last one week as the attackers are not interested in properties but to kill. He said the same incident happened when a boda-boda [motorbike] rider was killed over the weekend in Yambio Freedom Square. A Medicines San frontier (MSF) driver who was also killed with his wife on Bazungua road and no property was taken.

Meanwhile, across Yambio town the house of a Member of Parliament in the newly created Gbudue State Legislative Assembly called Joseph Tindiri came under attack the same night where heavy gunshots were heard and hand grenade was exploded but nobody was injured and no property was stolen except destruction of some properties and vehicles.

Joseph said unidentified people were seen several times at late hours near his house, harassing people. He added that he however did not have any personal problem with anyone which could lead to some unknown gunmen targeting him.

“I will not go to exile, I am a South Sudanese and this is where I was born. I will not go anywhere because I have no problem with anyone I will stay in my house and God will protect me,” he said.

The Government of Gbudue State has launched an investigation into the killing of the aid worker with his family and the rampart increase in insecurity in Yambio town. No arrest has been made so far.

On Tuesday, the state government issued an order banning boda-boda business as from 9pm up to 6 am in the morning as efforts have been exerted to allow the security personnel to hunt the criminals who are targeting civilians and boda-boda riders on the road.

Citizens in Yambio continue to live in fear due to the increasing insecurity which has created panic among the people as no one knows when and how the unknown gunmen may attack.

Some counties in Western Equatoria experienced brutal killings from unknown gunmen which emerged when violent conflict erupted between armed youth and soldiers belonging to the South Sudanese army since last year.

The violence however briefly subsided with signing of a peace agreement between the youth fighters of the South Sudan National Liberation Movement in Gangura payam, but other armed youths remain in the bushes claiming to be under the opposition faction of SPLA-IO under the leadership of former First Vice President, Riek Machar.

(ST)

September 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government Thursday said expecting the resumption of peace talks with the opposition groups in mid-September, adding that the chief negotiator may visit Khartoum soon for discussions on this respect.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki (L) meets with Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir at the new Presidential palace in Khartoum on August 3, 2015 (Photo AFP/Ebrahim Hamid)

Information Minister and Government's Spokesperson Ahmed al-Balal has said that the international community is carrying out efforts to convince the armed groups to sign a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements before to engage in political talks involving opposition parties.

In statements to the semi-official Sudanese Media Centre, the minister said that if these efforts succeed then the chair of the African Union High level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki will pay a visit to Khartoum to discuss the resumption of the negotiations.

He further pointed to the readiness of the government's negotiating teams to respond positively to Mbeki's invitation whenever they receive it.

"This year is the year of the final negotiations, so there is a need to reach understandings that satisfy all the parties," al-Balal added.

Last month, the AUHIP suspended sine die the talks for humanitarian truce in Darfur and the Two Areas after the failure of the parties to strike a deal. from 9 to 14 August.

But one week later, Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid who heads the negotiating team for the talks with the SPLM-N said that the African Union decided the resumption of the peace talks within two weeks without further details.

Hamid further expressed his government willingness to resume talks with the armed groups for the sake of peace.

Informed sources told (Sudan Tribune) Thursday, that the opposition Sudan Call groups prefer to resume the peace talks during the last week of September as they want to hold one-week consultations meeting before.

The sources further expected that the opposition Sudan Call alliance would hold their meeting after Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice to end by the 25 September. The pointed they want to coordinate positions before the strategic meeting on the other confidence building measures before to join the national dialogue process in Khartoum.

On 8 August, Sudanese Revolutionary factions and the National Umma Party signed the Roadmap Agreement, five months after refusing to ink it.

In a statement issued after the suspension of the talks, the mediation said an agreement on the Two Areas is only impeded by the difference over the humanitarian access. However it pointed to several obstacles preventing the signing of a deal on Darfur

(ST)

September 8, 2016 (JUBA) – United Nations has revealed that hundreds of troops belonging to the South Sudan's former First Vice President, Riek Machar, have crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with “extremely bad shape.”

First Vice President, Riek Machar, accompanied by SPLA-IO officers, Juba, 27 May, 2016 (ST Photo)

The fighters were evacuated to health facilities for medical treatment, the United Nations said Wednesday.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations Secretary General, told reporters in New York that the UN was consulting with the governments of Congo and South Sudan "with a view of finding solutions for these combatants."

He said MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping body in the DRC, evacuated the soldiers days after their leader, Machar, was also airlifted into the neighbouring country due to exhaustion and swollen legs.

“MONUSCO reports that following recent events in South Sudan, a number of armed elements and civilians of SPLM-In Opposition have crossed into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On 18 August, a day after the extraction of Riek Machar, the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) delivered some basic assistance to SPLM in opposition in Garamba Park in Province Orientale at the request of the Congolese authorities,” the UN spokesperson announced.

“Between 24 August and 5 September, MONUSCO further extracted some 300 individuals, including 90 civilians from the Garamba National Park on humanitarian grounds, many of whom were assessed to be in life-threatening condition. Altogether MONUSCO handed over 117 of these individuals, including Riek Machar, to the DRC authorities,” he further explained.

He said all those SPLM in opposition elements who were armed handed over their weapons to MONUSCO before being evacuated.

The UN, he added, was engaging with the governments of DRC and South Sudan with a view to finding solutions for these combatants in line with its respective mandates.

Dujarric said the supporters of the former First Vice President, Riek Machar, were found in the area around Garamba near the South Sudan border and evacuated by the UN "so they can receive urgent medical assistance, pending their voluntary disarmament."

Machar's spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, also confirmed that a number of their troops who accompanied their top leader to the DRC border from the South Sudanese capital, Juba, crossed into the DRC.

He said many of them, including some political and military leaders, were extremely exhausted, with many falling sick due to over five weeks of trekking through the vast Western Equatoria region and were exposed to harsh cold and rainy weather. He said the situation was coupled with continued fighting as President Salva Kiir's forces were attacking them.

He said the officers and troops that crossed into DRC will be transported into the opposition's controlled areas to join their leader.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but it was rocked by a civil war that began in December 2013 when government forces loyal to President Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, battled rebels led by Machar, his former deputy who is a Nuer.

At least 50,000 people were killed in the fighting and over 2 million people were displaced.

Again, a peace deal signed in August last year by the two rival leaders collapsed on 8 July when clashes resumed in the capital, forcing Machar out of the city and government.

(ST)

Lion hunting in South Africa is a big business, but some groups seem are shooting "canned meat" - animals bred in captivity just to be hunted, the BBC's Alastair Leithead reports.

A United Nations envoy continued today his consultations with Gabon’s political parties and diplomatic community as part of efforts to ease tensions which have arisen since the announcement of results of the country’s presidential election held on 27 August.

With piracy spreading along large swathes of Africa's coast, shipping firms and governments are deploying hi-tech weapons in the fight against the raiders.

The World Conservation Congress has backed calls to push South Africa to ban the hunting of lions bred in captivity – and something known as “canned lion” hunting.

It is a famous, gentle giant of the African savannah, but the giraffe's genetics have only just revealed that there is not one species, but four.

Kenya agree to step in and host the east and central African regional championships for both national teams and club sides.

Zimbabwe's ruling party is accused of deliberately withholding aid from opposition supporters in areas facing starvation because of drought.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations says it is working on paying the salary arrears owed to coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.

COMMUNIQUE

September 6, 2016

By Pa'gan Amum Okiech for South Sudan Reborn

The United Nations Security Council, with all of its strength and power, is now being challenged by a diplomatic rope-a-dope, directed to evil ends by a scheming practitioner. An African American boxer, Muhammad Ali, invented the rope-a-dope style in an African boxing ring in Kinshasa almost 42 years ago. For those old enough to recall, the entire African continent and African descendants across the globe relished the popular Ali's use of rope-a-dope to defeat the much more powerful George Foreman, in the “Rumble in the Jungle”, a boxing match recalled and much discussed even in South Sudan when Ali died on June 3 of this year.

The rope-a-dope strategy, of course, is one of fakery and delay, where the weaker of the boxers huddles against the ropes, covering up, pretending injury, and hoping his stronger opponent will “punch himself out”. The attacker uses all of his energy trying to hit an elusive target who refuses to directly engage, and lets the ropes absorb the bulk of the force used against him. The ultimate goal is to allow the rope-a-dope practitioner to fight more aggressively in the later rounds against a tired and distracted adversary, and eventually win. In Ali's case, the world, particularly the African world, loved Ali for his brilliant strategy, and many still do.

What an abomination and a disgrace to Ali's memory and to all of Africa, that Salva Kiir would seize upon exactly the same rope-a-dope strategy to prevent our regional neighbors, the African Union and the United Nations from creating conditions for peace, stability and transition to a true democracy, which will benefit every deserving citizen in Africa's newest country, South Sudan. The wheels were hardly up on the UNSC flight leaving Juba before the Kiir rope-a-dope and flip-flopping began. Kiir operatives claimed the right to dispute almost every element of the joint communiqué, read to the world in the presence of President Kiir.

The Regime's spokesperson engaged in obscure semantics, claiming the government “consented” to the deployment of the Regional Protection Force, but did not “accept” its deployment. In a classic rope-a-dope the government embarrassed itself by stating the long accepted number of troops, 4,000, was only a “ceiling” and that the number could be as low as 10. The Kiir spokesperson also said his government had to approve the type of arms the troops were carrying, the countries they would come from and a range of other issues already long settled. To the Kiir Conspiracy, the hard and fast September 15 deadline for agreement set by the Secretary General of the United Nations, will be nothing but a routine bell ringing, signaling the end of an early round in a lengthy and indecisive match.
Meanwhile, Kiir and his palace guard continue to systematically loot South Sudan. These same people are causing the armed conflict in the country to continue and then sending ill prepared and poorly led troops out to kill or be killed for no defendable cause.

The Security Council's Plan A appeared seriously threatened even before the delegation's plane had cleared South Sudanese air space. They cannot be blamed for trying. However, trying too long plays into the hands of Kiir's rope-a-dope strategy. September 15 must be the deadline for the Government of South Sudan's unconditional acceptance of the 4,000 troops. Otherwise, for the sake of the people of South Sudan, IGAD-Plus, AU and the UNSC will have to prepare quickly for Plan B.