Africa

Ethiopia says 23 prisoners have died after a fire at a prison where prominent anti-government protesters are reportedly being held.

Mauritania coach Corentin Martins does not know if he will stay on despite leading the team to their best qualifying performance.

A surge in illegal hunting is threatening the eastern gorilla, the world's largest primate, says an international conservation group.

September 4, 2016 (JUBA) - The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has, in coordination with local authorities and South Sudan's Commission for Refugee Affairs, opened a new refugee camp in the northern part of the country's oil-rich Unity state.

New arrivals wait in line to register with the UNHCR at the Yida refugee camp along the Sudan-South Sudan border on 3 July 2012 (Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

The new facility, the UNHCR said in a statement, will provide better protection and services to Sudanese refugees relocating from Yida settlement and new arrivals from the war-torn Nuba Mountains.

The new camp, some 80 km south of the contested border with Sudan, it further said, is ready to accommodate up to 20,000 people at the moment. UNHCR and partners have so far demarcated 5,000 family plots, built a primary school and a health care centre.

“Drinking water is available through a sun-powered water pumping system and teachers are on site to start classes as soon as the school term resumes,” partly reads the agency's statement issued Sunday.

“Our aim is to ensure that refugees access to quality services according to international standards, but our long-term strategy is to provide them with the tools and means that enable them to become more self-reliant and less dependent on humanitarian assistance,” said UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner George Okoth-Obbo.

“This means boosting education, investing in agriculture and skill development opportunities,” he added.

According to the agency, in addition to hosting the newly opened refugee camp in Pamir, northern Unity state has two other refugee settlements: Yida, right next to the contested border with Sudan, with a population of 59,000 people and Ajuong Thok, home to more than 40,000 refugees. The latter camp, it said, has received some 10,000 new arrivals from South Kordofan in first eight months of 2016 as well as more than 4,400 refugees who had previously registered in Yida.

“With Ajuong Thok at full capacity, we had no option but opening a new camp,” said Okoth-Obbo.

“We cannot thank enough the authorities and communities of South Sudan for being so generous and hospitable to the refugees. Without their support, we never would have been able to extend protection and assistance to refugees in the first place,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the governor of Northern Unity state, Mayol Kur Akuei said that refugees and local communities have been living together peacefully for the past five years, sharing land and resources.

“We appreciate the great cooperation with UNHCR and we hope that this partnership will go a long way as to also benefit our communities, who are often in worst conditions than the refugees”, he said.

The initial development of Pamir camp, UNHCR said, was possible as a result of funds from Canada, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Educate a Child Initiative, ECHO, Germany and the United States. Additional contributions will be required to extend development of Pamir to its full intended capacity of 52,000.

In war-torn South Sudan, UNHCR reportedly works with authorities and partners to protect and assist nearly 260,000 refugees and is also part of the multi-agency response to 1.61 million internally displaced people, as lead of the protection cluster.

(ST)

The United Nations Security Council wrapped up a three-day visit to South Sudan today by reaffirming its support for peace in South Sudan and reiterated its calls to the government to fulfill commitments announced in a joint communique.

September 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir will not participate in the upcoming summit of the Non-Aligned Movement which will be held in Venezuela this month, the foreign ministry announced Sunday.

Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir, left, is welcomed by Indian foreign minister Vijay Kumar Singh as he arrives for the India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, October 28, 2015. (Photo AP/Saurabh Das)

During the recent years, al-Bashir adopted a defiant position toward the Hague based war crimes court and travelled across the world to take part in international meeting and conferences.

Last August Sudanese government announced considering Bashir participation in the meeting, despite the fact that Venezuela is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

However in a statement released Sunday, the foreign ministry said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Ghandour, will lead Sudan's delegation to the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement that will be held in Caracas from 3 to 18 September.

The ministry's spokesperson Ambassador Garib Allah Khidir Sudan's delegation during the international gathering will develop six key issues including the ongoing efforts reach a peaceful settlement ending armed conflicts in the Two Areas and Darfur and the national dialogue process.

Khidir further added that these issues will be included in the main document of the summit.

The 17th summit will discuss issues related to terrorism, sustainable development and economic cooperation, , and the Middle East issues and the impacts of climate.

(ST)

September 4, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's main armed opposition faction led by former First Vice President, Riek Machar, said it has commended the “clear message” from the visiting United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to deploy thousands of more peacekeepers to the troubled nation with the mandate to protect the people of South Sudan from the “irresponsible” government led by President Salva Kiir.

South Sudan's former FVP Riek Machar, speaking to visitors at his residence in Khartoum, on 1 September 2016 (courtesy photo of SPLM-IO)

A five-member team from the UN Security Council, led by Samantha Power, the United States permanent representative to the Council, visited Juba from Thursday for talks with the government on the deployment of 4,000 “protection force” and to acquaint themselves with the humanitarian situation on the ground.

The Security Council members reminded President Kiir's government about the resolution the Council passed in August for the deployment of the troops and called on the government to comply.

The UN Security Council also condemned the replacement of Machar after the 8 July clashes, saying the action was “inconsistent” with the peace agreement signed by Kiir and Machar in August last year, which ended 21 months of civil war. The East African regional bloc, IGAD, also called for reinstatement of Machar as the First Vice President upon his return to Juba and once the regional force is deployed in the capital.

The government had earlier rejected the deployment of the forces, but gradually modified its position by accepting the force deployment in “principle” subject to further negotiations on the details of the force.

However, in a public statement while in Juba, the U.S. Representative to the Security Council, Samantha Power, warned the government against rejecting the deployment of the troops, revealing that any noncompliance would result to the Council resorting to a “Plan B.”

Although no details have yet emerged about what the Plan B would be, the UNSC resolution includes imposition of sanctions and arms embargo on the country which is already experiencing deteriorating economic situation.

The Security Council also urged the African Union to establish an hybrid court in South Sudan to try leaders implicated in war crimes and crimes against humanity beginning from 15 December 2013 when civilians were massacred, including in the capital, Juba.

Meanwhile, the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of Machar said they welcomed the message from the UN Security Council to force the “regime” to accept the deployment of the foreign troops.

“Sure, we welcome it. This is a clear message to the regime in Juba. Actually our leadership proposed the need to deploy a third party force in Juba as a buffer between the two rival national forces. It was part of the cessation of hostilities arrangement declared on July 11, 2016,” James Gatdet Dak, opposition leader's spokesman told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

He also said President Kiir's government is a “failed leadership” which has turned against its own citizens, arguing that it was important the people should be temporarily protected by foreign forces from “this irresponsible government” until the needed change is effected in the country.

“South Sudan under the leadership of Salva Kiir is irresponsible which has used and turned the state machinery against its own people. The army, the police and the other security organs are the ones looting the property of the citizens, raping their women and young girls, killing and torturing their own people, even in the heart of the city, Juba. It is a failed, perverted leadership,” he said.

He also said it was equally important for the world body to take “serious note of the fact that as long as Salva Kiir remains the head of state, South Sudan will never recover.”

He argued that the opposition forces of the SPLA-IO loyal to Machar are far more disciplined than the forces loyal to Kiir, saying this was demonstrated during the recent fighting in Juba where no opposition forces involved in the looting of civilians in the locations they briefly controlled in the capital, including Gudele area to the west.

Dak said it was a shame for President Kiir and his government that a foreign force has to be deployed to the country, including in the national capital, Juba, in order to intervene by protecting the citizens from their own government.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

September 4, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – As unrest continues across parts of Ethiopia, protesters in Amhara region have attacked foreign-owned flower firms in the northern region.

Amhara regional officials on Sunday told journalists that protesters have caused series damages in at least seven foreign-owned flower farms.

A Dutch, Netherland, Israeli, Indian, Italian, and Belgian flower farms are among those attacked during the weeks-long anti government protests.

The recent waves of violent anti-government protests in Amhara and Oromiya region have reportedly claimed the lives of at least 100 people.

Questions linked with disputed regional territorial boundaries, release of political prisoners, political and economic rights are the causes for the violent protests.

According to the officials, some of the flower farms have been burnt to the ground, others partially vandalized during the attacks this week.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ethiopian Horticultural Producers and Exporters Association said “Details are still being gathered. The scope of damage requires further investigation”

According to the statement no injuries have been reported from the attacks.

Also a Dutch company, Esmeralda, which is the worst affected said that a 10 million euro worth of investments “went up in smoke” in an attack on its farm.

The company's country manager Haile Seifu, who himself fled to Addis Ababa after the attacks said a large group of protesters invaded the farm land and start damaging all the properties.

“They were so aggressive, there were also soldiers who couldn't control them, so we just ran away, as it's life or death” he told journalists.

“They came actually at once through our compound, through our fence, through our main gate, so everybody left.”

Sources told Sudan Tribune that the attacked foreign-owned plantations had business links with the government.

Ethiopia's cut flower industry has become among the fastest growing. Currently flowers one of the country's top exports.

Ethiopia is Africa's second largest (after Kenya) and world's fifth largest cut flower exporter.

(ST)

September 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Trial of human rights activists affiliated with the Centre for Training and Development (TRACKS) has resumed Sunday in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

Sudan's constitutional court in Khartoum (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

On 22 May, eight activists from TRACKS have been arrested after they were summoned to the Office of the Prosecutor for Crimes against the State following charges filed against them by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).
Five of them were later released while three are still being detained.

The state's security prosecution office transferred the case of TRACKS's staff members to the court after charging them with counts that could lead to the death sentence and life imprisonment. They have also been accused of undermining the constitutional order, provoking war against the state, criminal complicity, instigating an insurgency against the regime, and disseminating false news.

During the trial on Sunday, the police detective presented 133 books containing human rights topics besides a number of personal computers and laptops and mobile phones saying they were seized from TRACKS premises upon a search warrant issued by state security prosecutor office.

He also presented human rights training manuals and education materials calling to boycott Sudan's general elections which were held in April 2015.

The detective added they also seized books educating trainees about human rights violations and rape incidents that occurred in Darfur and Abyei besides the killing case of Awadiya Agabna.

Agabna was shot dead in 2012 in front of her house by a member of the Public Order Police (POP) named Hamid Ali Hamid during an altercation between them and her brother after they accused him of being drunk and attempted to gain entry into his house.

The police detective pointed they found a message the centre received from the United States Institute of Peace and a letter written in English showing that the funding which was allocated to Al-Khatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development (KACE) has been transffered to TRACKS.

KACE was shut down by the NISS in 2012 after it was accused of being linked to the opposition and working to topple the regime.

The detector added the court ordered to send some of the seized documents which were written in English to the Translation and Arabicization Unit at the University of Khartoum for translation.

Last week, several rights groups and UN experts called on the Sudanese authorities to drop charges against TRACKS staff and immediately and unconditionally release three of them who have been in detention since May.

(ST)

September 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher on Sunday has arrived in Khartoum in a two-day visit to hand the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir a written letter from his Yemeni counterpart Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi.

Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher (L) received by Sudan's FPV Bakri Hassan Salih at Khartoum airport on 4 September 2016 (ST Photo)

Dagher was received at Khartoum airport by Sudan's First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih and a number of ministers and state ministers besides members of the Yemeni embassy in Khartoum.

Yemen News Agency (SABA) Sunday said Dagher would hand al-Bashir a message from Hadi pertaining to the latest developments in Yemen including peace talks in Kuwait, the Gulf initiative and the outcome of the national dialogue.

The four-months UN-sponsored talks for establishing peace in Yemen have ended in early August without a breakthrough, as fighting continues between government forces from one side and Houthi fighters and the party of former President Ali Abdallah Saleh from the other.

According to SABA, Dagher would also meet with the Yemeni community in Sudan and check on conditions of the injured Yemeni's who are receiving treatment in Sudan's hospitals.

Sudan had received hundreds of wounded Yemenis and their family members.They arrived in Sudan as part of the agreement signed between the Sudanese Red Crescent (SRC) and King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid (KSCHA).

Last February, the KSCHA and the SRC signed three agreements pertaining to supporting the rare specialties, supporting medical cadres inside Yemen besides treatment of wounded Yemenis in Sudanese hospitals.

According to SABA Dagher's visit comes within the framework of strengthening ties between the two countries and to express Yemen's gratitude to the Sudanese people and government for participating in the Arab coalition in Yemen.

Sudan participates with over 850 troops in the Saudi-led "Decisive Storm" coalition against the Iranian-allied Houthi militants in Yemen.

The Yemni Prime Minister was accompanied by the Foreign Minister Abdel-Malik al-Mukhlafi, Minister of Civil Services and Insurance Abdel-Aziz Gibari besides electricity, health and youth ministers and state minister Hani bin Braik and the newly appointed Sudanese ambassador to Yemen Mohamed al-Dabi.

DISCUSSIONS ON BILATERAL TIES

Meanwhile, the Sudanese and Yemeni sides held joint discussions on bilateral ties and latest developments in Yemen.

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters following the meeting that the Sudanese side stressed that the legitimate government in Yemen must be reinstated, saying they were being briefed on the peace talks that took place in Kuwait.

According to Ghandour, Sudanese government underscored full coordination with the Arab coalition countries led by Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

He added the meeting directed foreign ministers of the two countries to follow-up on the developments of the Arab position toward the situation in Yemen, saying the two sides would hold further discussions on joint cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Yemen's Foreign Minister Abdel-Malik al-Mukhlafi said the visit comes within the framework of the historic relations between the two nations, praising Sudan's participation in the Arab coalition.

He also hailed support rendered by Sudan to Yemen in the regional and international forums, stressing the need to confront all sectarian schemes aimed at dividing the Arab nations.

(ST)

September 4, 2016 (JUBA) –South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has eventually accepted the deployment of 4,000 soldiers authorized by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to boost implementation of what appears to be a shaky peace accord.

The decision was reached on Sunday during a meeting with the visiting UNSC team led by U.S permanent representative to the UN, Samantha Power.

South Sudan's cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elias Lomoro read out the joint communique agreed by the Juba government and the UNSC in the capital, Juba.

“To improve the security situation, the Transitional Government of National Unity gave it consent to the deployment, as part of the UNMISS, of the regional protection force recently authorized by the United Nations Security Resolution 2304,” said Lomoro.

“Further, the United Nations Security Council agreed that the troops contributing countries, UNMISS and the Transitional Government of National Unity will continue to work through the modalities of deployment; building upon the consultations of August 25 and September 1 respectively and anticipating any further discussion that will follow,” he added.

The United Nations Security Council and the Transitional Government of National Unity agreed to work in a fresh spirit of cooperation to advance the interest of South Sudanese people, particularly the aspiration for justice, liberty and prosperity, stressed the communiqué.

The UNSC and government also agreed that “security and humanitarian needs were paramount.”

According to the communique, the government also “confirmed it commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement” and the reformed agenda therein “now that the Transitional National Legislative Assembly is in place.”

According the communique, the UNMISS will accorded unimpeded access and freedom of movement in the country.

“To this end, the Transitional Government of National Unity commits to devising a plan with UNMISS by the end of September 2016 on concert steps to remove impediments to UNMISS's ability to implement its mandate,” Lomoro said.

Any bureaucratic processes that delay UNMISS access to different parts of the country to respond to protection of civilians such as requirement of written permission from the government will be removed.

Asked if the extra UN force, mandated to use “any means” force to ensure implementation of the peace agreement might be bias as earlier claimed by the government, US envoy Power said there is no question of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) impartiality.

“We on the UN Security Council have the utmost confidence in UNMISS's impartiality, its independence,” said Power.

The government had, in the past, accused the UN forces of sympathising with the opposition.

Power said President Kiir assured the UNSC that his government will extend all support to the work of UNMISS.

President Kiir stood silently as his cabinet affairs minister read out the communique. Asked by a reporter if he support the communique, he responded that “the communique is very clear.”

The armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) of former first vice president Riek Machar is demanding the deployment of troops before Machar, who fled Juba in Juba, could return. He has since been replaced by the opposition chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai.

The communique did not mention if Machar could return to Juba to take up his position or when the protection forces would be deployed.

(ST)

A web series where justice is determined by the audience and delivered by a vigilante group has become a huge hit in Kenya.

Uganda qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1978 after beating Comoros on Sunday.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says the decision by judges to allow anti-government protests to go ahead showed a reckless disregard for peace.

September 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) –The Payinjiar community living in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum have impeached their community leader, John Kassara Koang, accusing him of having allegedly been bribed with over $500 when South Sudan's first vice president Taban Deng Gai visited Sudan.

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

Dominic Keah Puot, an executive committee member of Payinjiar board in Sudan told Sudan Tribune that the entire community dismissed Koang for taking a bribe.

“We would like to inform the public that Payinjiar community executive board has impeached community chairman John Kassara Koang Nhial who recently joined [President] Salva Kiir camp. We totally rejected the behavior that may spoil the community who played a great role for progress of SPLM/A I.O in Unity State,” he said.

The community has now appealed to its members across the globe to cut ties with Koang for his allegedly bribery involvement. He the embattled chairperson also failed to attend a meeting organized by the community in the Sudanese capital last month.

Kuet Chuol, the deputy chairman of the community, vowed to execute his duties diligently.

He accused the former community chairperson of allegedly misusing his position and abusing his constitutional mandate.

“The step which has been taken by John Kassara Koang is a criminal act. Koang has surrendered himself to Jieng Council of Elders after he was bribed with only 500 USD. We are therefore asking the authority of Nuer communities to cut communication with him [Koang],” explained Chuol.

Sudan Tribune was unable to reach the ex-community leader, despite repeated attempts.

(ST)

September 3, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese army (SPLA) has declared that the country was not under any worrying security threats after it allegedly contained armed activities in various areas in Central and Western Equatoria which the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar, used as an escape route to Congo.

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

Speaking at a press conference held at the army headquarters on Friday, Military Spokesperson Brig Gen Lul Ruai Koang described as “stable” the security situation in the country .

"SPLA is glad to tell you that we have succeeded in containing spread cases of insecurity that happened in July in Juba. It is to acknowledge that insecurity spread to some areas, but those had been contained to some extent," he told reporters in the capital, Juba, on Friday, the same day where a visiting United Nation Security Council delegation arrived the country from New York.

"Frankly speaking, the general security situation is not bad as its being painted by some elements against peace and stability. SPLA general headquarters would like to once again assure about the ability and capability to maintain law and order across the nation," he added.

SPLM-IO officials reported that recent clashes took place this week in Eastern and Central Equatoria states between Torit and Liria.

Koang reiterated commitment of the army to persecute “wrongdoers” within its ranks. He cited the recent conviction of 60 soldiers as an indication of commitment of the leadership and command of the army to ensuring that justice is fully served when mistakes are identified.

He admitted some attacks were carried and showed a level of sophistication and coordination that affirms the presence of organized criminal activity perpetrated by anti-peace elements.

Meanwhile the chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan, said in a separate meeting with senior military officers that it was their duty to create and build confidence in civil population and to assure that security situation was stable and encourage them to return to their homes to resume their normal activities.

“It is our duty to create an enabling environment so that we build a confidence in the civil population by letting them know we are their protectors, not their enemies. We should now work hard to ensure that all the civilians are safe. We also need to come out that security is under control”, said Awan.

(ST)

September 3, 2016 (EL-FASHER) - Gunmen opened fire on a car carrying a family in North Darfur's county of Kabkabiya, killing a man who was driving his family back home on Friday night.

Pro-government janjaweed militiamen on top of a heavily armed pickup patrol the main road out of the Kirinding-2 refugee camp at the outskirts of Al-Geneina, April 24,07 (Reuters)

A relative of the victim, Hadi Adam Ahmed, told Sudan Tribune that the dead, Ahmed Mahdi Khairallah is a teacher, in Kabkabiya. He further said that the attack occurred on Friday evening as they was returning home after a visit to their family in the area.

"Three masked men riding motorcycles intercepted the car and shot the passengers. They wounded his wife who was taken to the hospital, while the teacher died on the spot," Ahmed said.

Kabkabiya is the homeland of armed militias affiliated with the government, particularly those known as ''Janjaweed''. The presence of weapons in the area encouraged armed attack, robberies and tribal violence in the area.

Recently, following the sharp deterioration of the security situation in North Darfur state, Governor Abdel-Wahid Youssef declared a state of maximum readiness in the state capital El-Fasher.

Earlier the state government banned riding of unlicensed vehicles and motorcycles besides wearing of Kadamool (a turban which covers the face).

The Sudanese government vowed to disarm civilians but not concrete measures are taken on the ground, as the uncontrolled gags continue to carry out criminal activities.

(ST)

South Sudan&#39s government has accepted the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force recently mandated by the United Nations Security Council, in addition to the roughly 12,000 UN peacekeepers already serving in the African nation.

Expressing a serious concern over the ongoing political impasse in Guinea-Bissau, the United Nations Security Council today urged leaders in the West African country to find a solution to the crisis, and ensure a functioning government.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, and Jean Ping, presidential candidate of the Démocratie Nouvelle party, to help end violence that ensued the recent, closely-contested presidential election in the African country.