Africa

(Johannesburg) – Armed men linked to Mozambique’s main opposition party, the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO), have raided at least two hospitals and two health clinics over the past month. The attacks on the medical facilities, which involved looting medicine and supplies and destroying medical equipment, threaten access to health care for tens of thousands of people in remote areas of the country.

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Damaged medicine cabinet in Morrumbala District Hospital after the raid by RENAMO gunmen on August 12, 2016. 

© 2016 Nova Radio Paz - Quelimane

“RENAMO’s attacks on hospitals and health clinics are threatening the health of thousands people in Mozambique,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “RENAMO’s leadership needs to call off these attacks on health facilities immediately.”

In the most recent attack, on August 12, 2016, about a dozen gunmen who identified themselves as RENAMO entered the town of Morrumbala, in the central province of Zambezia, at about 4 a.m., several witnesses and local authorities told Human Rights Watch. The men first raided a police station, freeing about 23 men detained there, and then looted the local district hospital.

A nurse who was there said that the men opened fire at the building. “I was in the emergency room when they fired gunshots through the windows,” he said. “We were hiding beneath chairs, beds…anything we could find.”

The nurse and two Zambezia-based reporters who arrived at the hospital just after the attack said that the gunmen had looted medicine from the facility’s main pharmacy.

On July 30, a group of armed men who identified themselves as RENAMO entered the village of Mopeia, in Zambezia province, at about 3 a.m., two local residents said.

The armed men first raided the house of a local official of the governing FRELIMO party, who is the chief nurse at the local Centro 8 de Março health clinic. When they did not find him, they went to the clinic. A doctor who visited the clinic the following day said the gunmen burned patients’ medical records and stole vaccines, syringes, and medicines. The clinic stores essential medicines, including antiretroviral medicines for HIV/AIDS patients, for a population of over 8,000 people, he said.

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Bullet hole in the window of Morrumbala District Hospital after the raid by RENAMO gunmen on August 12, 2016. 

© 2016 Nova Radio Paz - Quelimane

The armed men then went to Mopeia’s main hospital, about eight kilometers from the clinic. A nurse at the hospital said that she saw about 15 men in dark green uniforms enter the main ward in the early morning, most of them armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles. They entered the ward where patients were sleeping, threatened patients and medical staff, ordering them to leave the hospital, and carried away medicines, serum bags, bed sheets, and mosquito nets. The nurse said none of the patients or medical staff were hurt.

Together, Mopeia district hospital and Mopeia village clinic serve over 100,000 people, local health authorities said.

On July 31, about a dozen armed men who identified themselves as RENAMO raided the village of Maiaca, Maúa district, in the northern province of Niassa. The administrator of Maúa, Joao Manguinje, told Human Rights Watch that the gunmen attacked the local health clinic and the police station. They took five kits of HIV tests, four boxes of syringes, and over 600 vials of penicillin, he said.

Manguinje also alleged that on July 24, RENAMO gunmen had raided the health clinic in the nearby village of Muapula, where they stole, among other things, five obstetric kits, over 200 tetanus vaccines, and over 300 vials of penicillin. Human Rights Watch was not able to verify this attack.
 

I was in the emergency room when they fired gunshots through the windows. We were hiding beneath chairs, beds…anything we could find. A nurse who witnessed the hospital looting.

Mozambican authorities say that RENAMO gunmen have carried out similar attacks on health clinics over the past month in Sofala, Manica, and Tete provinces, in central Mozambique, but Human Rights Watch was not able to verify those reports.

The RENAMO party, which has offices in the capital, Maputo, has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the attacks. However, the party leader, Afonso Dhalkama, who is believed to be hiding in the Gorongosa bush, in the central province of Sofala, told the Mozambican private television station, STV, on August 5 that he had given orders to attack some areas of Zambezia province. He did not specify the targets or mention medical facilities.

Dhlakama said the attacks were a “military strategy” aimed at dispersing government soldiers who are surrounding RENAMO positions in Gorongosa bush, about 200 kilometers south of the villages that were attacked. Several districts of Tete, Zambezia, Manica, Sofala, and Niassa provinces have had recent armed clashes between government forces and Renamo fighters.

“RENAMO’s raids on medical facilities seem part of a repugnant strategy to damage health facilities and loot medicines,” Bekele said. “What they are succeeding in doing is to deny crucial health services to Mozambicans who need them.”

Background Information
After the 1992 peace agreement that ended Mozambique’s 16-year civil war, RENAMO leader Afonso Dhlakama was allowed to keep a 300-man private armed guard. Successive failures to integrate other RENAMO fighters into the national army and civilian life have encouraged former fighters to join the private guards and to camp in old RENAMO training grounds. RENAMO, a political party that currently holds 89 seats in parliament, is now believed to have an armed force of more than double what it was permitted.

Over the past four years, tension has increased between RENAMO and the governing party, FRELIMO, including an increase in armed attacks by RENAMO and counterattacks by the government. The parties signed a new peace agreement in 2014, but RENAMO says the government has failed to integrate RENAMO fighters into the national army and police in accordance with the agreement. The government says RENAMO has refused to hand over a list of its militia to be integrated into the security forces because it wants to use them as leverage for political negotiations. FRELIMO won elections in October 2014, but RENAMO says it wants to govern the six provinces in which it claims it received more votes.

In February 2016, Human Rights Watch documented abuses committed by government forces in Tete province, where RENAMO enjoys support among the population, including alleged summary executions and sexual violence. At least 6,000 people fled the area for neighboring Malawi. The Malawi office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says that most of these people have now returned home, following assurances of safety by the Mozambican government.

In May, Mozambican and international media reported the discovery of several unidentified bodies near Gorongoza, between the provinces of Manica and Sofala. Human Rights Watch called on the Mozambican authorities to investigate the gravesite thoroughly, to identify the victims, and to hold perpetrators to account. The government says it launched an investigation in June, but it has not yet announced any findings.

 

It is exactly one month since 37-year-old journalist Jean Bigirimana vanished after leaving his home in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, for Bugarama, a town about 40 kilometers away. There are unconfirmed reports that he was arrested there by members of the intelligence services, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

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Jean Bigirimana. 

© 2016 Iwacu

As the days passed without news, Jean’s young family, friends, and colleagues at Iwacu newspaper began wondering if he might be dead. The cruel nature of such cases means there’s no certainty about the victim’s fate, and no possibility of closure.

It wasn’t until Jean’s colleagues at Iwacu launched a campaign that the government ended its silence. Three days after he vanished, police spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye flatly denied that the security forces had arrested Jean. A week later, the president’s communications advisor, Willy Nyamitwe, tweeted that the government was investigating and was deeply concerned. He implied the opposition might be responsible, and said he feared the worst.

Then, on August 5, a dead body was found in the Mubarazi river, in Muramvya – the province he’d been heading to when he vanished. There was speculation that it might be Jean’s. An intrepid team of Iwacu journalists went to the scene to investigate. Police, judicial, and intelligence officials joined them, but found nothing. On August 7, the journalists returned alone, and discovered a dead body in an inaccessible part of the river. Two days later, a second corpse was found in the river, while media reported that a third was discovered in neighboring Gitega province.

 

The two bodies were eventually fished out of the Mubarazi river but were badly decomposed. One had been decapitated, the other weighed down with stones. At the morgue, Jean’s wife was so overwhelmed that she was only able to look at the corpses’ hands and feet, and guessed that neither of them was Jean. The authorities made no further attempt to identify the victims or establish how they died. There were no autopsies, no DNA tests. Police simply announced that Jean was not among the two dead, and last week local officials buried the bodies.

Is that the end of the story? No. Jean’s family has the right to an investigation to determine what happened, and, if a crime took place, to see those responsible prosecuted – as do the families of the two victims, whoever they are. The Burundian authorities should launch thorough, independent investigations, if necessary calling on outside medical or scientific expertise.

Jean Bigirimana is not the only person to have been abducted or disappeared in Burundi in the past year. Let us not forget the human rights activist Marie-Claudette Kwizera, from the Burundian group Ligue Iteka, who was taken away by a vehicle thought to belong to the intelligence services last December, nor the scores of other Burundians who have disappeared or gone missing, or been found dead, with barely any reaction by the government.

All the families have a right to full, independent, and speedy investigations into what happened to their relatives. It is high time the authorities ensure this happens. 

August 24, 2016 (LEER) -As fighting intensifies south of Unity state, there is massive displacement of civilians as about 2,000 have reportedly left their homes in the last one week following clashes between the armed opposition forces and government soldiers.

The map of Unity state

James Yaoch Bideng, the spokesperson of armed opposition, told Sudan Tribune government forces attacked their position in villages of Leer and Koch counties.

He said humanitarian agencies on the ground especially south of Unity state were overwhelmed after renewed fighting displaced thousands of people.

“Majority of the population remained in the bush with hundreds of people fleeing every day into the United Nations protection of civilians camp in Bentiu town and others more risk walking to the neighborhood of Payinjiar county for safety,” he said.

Last week, the armed opposition forces clashed with pro-government soldiers in the northern part of Leer, the capital of Southern Liech, one of South Sudan's new states.

Bideng further said most of the people that are trapped in the conflicts went and hid and currently live in swamps and highland areas which have no access to aid agencies.

Koch, Leer and Mayiandit counties remained some of the most insecure territories in the southern part of the oil-rich Unity state since violence erupted in South Sudan in 2013.

The armed opposition official urged international organisations and the United Nations agencies to rescue the civilians on the ground that still lack humanitarian responses.

(ST)

August 24, 2016 (JUBA) – A group of armed and unarmed political parties opposed to South Sudan President Salva Kiir's government have resolved to overthrow what they described as the "totalitarian regime” along with supporters, mainly from the Dinka tribe.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir (Photo: AP/Sayyid Azim)

The resolution emerged at the end of a consultative meeting attended by former agriculture minister, Lam Akol and ex-education minister Peter Adwok Nyaba in Nairobi from 18-20 August on the theme “Towards National Democratic Revolution.”

“The political situation in South Sudan underlying the current civil war is a contradiction, as well as a struggle, between narrow ethnic sectarianism represented by President Salva Kiir and Jieng [Dinka] Council of Elders (JCE) on the one hand and South Sudan nationalism on the other hand,” partly reads a seven-page dossier from the group.

“The parties to the Consultative Meeting have to cooperate and coordinate efforts in all spheres of the struggle to overthrow the totalitarian regime in Juba,” it added.

While, Nyaba represented the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) loyal to former first vice president Riek Machar, Akol represented National Democratic Movement (NDM) which he formed after resigning from non-violent Democratic Change party last month.

The other politicians who attended the meeting were Clement Juma Mbugoniwia from the People's Revolutionary Movement/Army (PRM/A), Juma Zackaria Deng of Western Bahr El Ghazal Group (WBG Group), Fr Joseph Otto (Eeastern Equatoria Group), Justin Joseph Marona, Pasquale Clement Batali and Dominic Akwai Henry Bahgo.

Describing the meeting's resolution as a “blueprint” towards removing “totalitarian regime in Juba,” the politicians insisted that the peace agreement signed by President Kiir and the armed opposition leader in August last year should remain on course.

“We insist that the resuscitation of ARCISS [Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan] must be contingent on […] the Regional Protection Force under the banner of the UN should be deployed to take charge of the security all over South Sudan to create an environment conducive for free political discourse on the future of the country,” further noted the document.

They group appealed to the people of South Sudan to join them in liberating the country.

“We appeal to our people to lend it their full support and call upon the other political organizations and groups that could not take part in this dialogue to join us in future discussions. We must unify our ranks to save our country from imminent collapse,” stressed the group's paper.

In the document, however, the opposition parties outlined the major economic, political and social reforms that will be taken once President Kiir's government was overthrown.

It still remains unclear as to how the opposition politicians intend to achieve these goals

(ST)

August 24, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Wednesday discussed with the United States Secretary of State John Kerry bilateral relations between the two countries and recent developments in Sudan and the region.

John Kerry (R) shakes hands with the Sudan's FM Ibrahim Ghandour as they pose for photos at the Palace Hotel in New York, October 2, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Stephanie Keith)

The meeting, which took place in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, comes two days after the American top diplomat met with the five foreign ministers from the regional bloc IGAD to discuss the situation in South Sudan.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said Ghandour briefed Kerry on the progress of the national dialogue process, pointing to the participation of the political, societal and armed forces in order to reach national consensus that achieves security and stability in the country.

It added the meeting also discussed the outcome of the recent peace talks between the government and the opposition Sudan Call forces in Addis Ababa, pointing to the obstacles that hampered talks on Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

A six-day round of talks from 9 to 14 August between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on the Two Areas had stalled over humanitarian access.

Also, the Sudanese government, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minnawi failed to sign a cessation of hostilities in Darfur after the parties disagreed on how to determine the sites of the rebel fighters.

According to the press release, Ghandour stressed his government is determined to resume negotiations to reach a cessation of hostilities that paves the road to complete the national dialogue and achieve stability and national consensus.

It pointed that Kerry expressed his country's keenness and support for the national dialogue, mentioning the importance of Sudan's role in addressing regional issues.

On Tuesday, Sudan's Presidential Assistant and head of government negotiating team for the Two Areas talks Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid briefed the acting U.S chargé de Affairs in Khartoum Ambassador Stephen Koutsis on the outcome of the recent round of peace talks

Following the meeting, the U.S diplomat said he discussed with Hamid the bilateral relations, the situation in the Two Areas and Darfur. Also, he reiterated his government readiness to back the African Union-led efforts to achieve peace in Sudan.

“U.S government is ready to help the parties to reach peace agreement,” he said.

It is noteworthy that the US Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth has led the international efforts to convince the opposition to sign the Roadmap Agreement and engage in the peace talks with the government.

Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labelled as "genocide".

Also, Sudan has been on the US list of countries supporting terrorism since 1993, for allegedly providing support and safe haven for terrorist groups.

(ST)

August 24, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir say they wished their peace partner and ex-First Vice President, Riek Machar does not return to Juba and assume his position in the coalition government.

President Salva kiir(C) FVP; Riek Machar (L), and VP, Marilyn, raise their hands after swearing in ceremony of Machar on April 26, 2016. (Photo Lomayat Moses)

Senior officials allied to President Kiir on Wednesday announced willingness to fully implement the August 2015 peace agreement which the President Kiir signed with the opposition leader, Machar.

Presidential advisor on decentralization and intergovernmental linkages, Tor Deng Mawien, described the implementation of the agreement to be moving at rapid speed with the appointment of Taban Deng Gai as the replacement of Machar after he was unilaterally removed from his capacity as First Vice President by Kiir due to his absence.

“Anybody who has been following the turns of events and the level of movement would appreciate the speed at which the president has demonstrated his commitment to implementing the peace agreement because he has now found a partner. General Taban Deng Gai has demonstrated willingness to working collaboratively with the president to implement the peace agreement so that to move the country forward. This is what is very important. It is not who occupies which position,” Mawien, a relative and a strong political ally of President Kiir, said during an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune.

Mawien said it was now time for the region and the international community at large to extend a helping hand and work together with the current transitional government of national unity as recommended by the outcome of the communique of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

“With such changes taking place within the presidency, where there is now a better working relationship, the region and the international community should take advantage of this new spirit and the working environment of cooperation to come out and extend support to implement the agreement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gordon Buay, one of the senior representatives at South Sudanese embassy in the United States, claimed that the world was now accepting the appointment of Gai because they have realised that it was not easy for president Kiir to work together with Machar.

“The entire world is convinced that Riek Machar cannot work together with President Kiir given the incident of July, 8, this year coupled with December, 15, 2013. Therefore, the world accepted Taban Deng Gai to implement the peace [agreement] with President Kiir simply because bringing back Riek Machar to Juba to the Presidential Palace is like lightening a match near kerosene or benzene. The result is fire, fire, fire, fire, fire and fire,” Buay told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday from Washington DC.

He claimed further that the world leaders have reached a logical conclusion that Riek Machar has no place in the transitional government of national unity because he is purportedly “a combustible product that can easily explode and kill people.”

Gai, on the other hand, he described, is like “an air condition that cools the room. He is the right person to work with President Kiir to cool South Sudan.

However, both IGAD communiqué and United Nations Security Council's resolutions criticized the replacement of Machar as “inconsistent” with the peace agreement and called for reinstatement of Machar to his position as First Vice President.

Observers are keen to underline that the speed at which the assembly reconstitution and after the replacement of Machar suggests there was an underground conspiracy to remove him from office and replace him with someone who would not stick to implementation of the key provisions in the deal.

President Kiir himself announced at the opening of the assembly that the delay was due to petty political differences and lack of better working relationship between him and Machar at the time.

He declared he would from the time of opening the assembly work collaboratively with Gai to implement the agreement. Gai declared at the inaugural function of his appointment that there was no need for two armies in the country and president Kiir was the only existing commander in chief in the country.

(ST)

August 24, 2016 (JUBA) – A peace conference between rival communities of Dinka Bor and the Murle aimed at ending child abduction, cattle raiding and creating harmony in two regions of South Sudan's Jonglei state is in the offing, an official has disclosed.

The map of Jonglei state in red

The commissioner of Bor county, Isaac Mamer Ruuk said the governor of Jonglei state Philip Aguer and his counterpart for the newly-created state of Boma, Baba Medan Konyi both agreed to bring traditional chiefs and political leaders together in a week's time.

“On August 30, 2016, we are going to have a peace conference either in Gumuruk or Pibor,” he said in reference to main towns inhabited by members of the Murle tribe.

Also expected to attend the conference is the country's deputy minister of defense and veterans affairs David Yau Yau who is popular among the armed cattle wrestlers.

The conference, according to the commissioner, would also involve issues of child abduction and how to stump out crimes between the two neighbouring communities.

“We want the communities to interact amongst themselves through trade and other activities,” he told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

“We have a plan that after peace conference, the traders doing the business between the two states will be escorted by organized from Boma State until the reach safely into Jonglei State and back” he added.

Planned efforts to reconcile the two communities has been welcome by several citizens.

“We can't live as enemies if we want peace and delivery of basic services in our greater Jonglei state,” John Chol posted on the social networking site Facebook.

Currently, there are no business activities between Pibor and Bor. Cattle traders from Pibor travel directly to Juba by-passing Jonglei state. The two communities of Dinka Bor and Murle often trades accusations of cattle raiding, child abduction and deadly attacks on their villages but local officials have not initiated any grassroots peace conference.

However, if the proposed peace initiative commences later this month as planned, it will be the first time the rival communities directly discuss their differences in 15 years.

The first ever peace conference held in 2001 resulted into four years of tranquility in the area.

(ST)

August 23, 2016 (WAU) - Shortage of fuel in South Sudan's Wau state has badly affected the supply of water to residents living in town, the urban water manager in the area said.

Tankers line up before water distribution in Juba (MDI photo)

Eng. Olwak Mugo said lack of fuel forced the station halt pumping and supplying water.

“The station consumption is two barrels per day of which the station could not afford such amount of money because at the end of the month, the station could reach 66 barrels which is 1,748,000 SSP of which the station cannot afford it,” said Mugo.

He said the station was being supported by the United Nations children fund (UNICEF), but the funds have reportedly been halted due to the high prices of fuel.

But the station management, he said, was in contact with UNICEF to offer more support.

According to Mugo, the recent violence in Wau town which forced thousands of people out of their homes also affected the station's subscription ccollections used to buy fuel.

Reconstructed in 2011, Wau's water treatment plant was meant to supply over 100,000 households within the town and the construction was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at an estimated cost of about $8 million.

(ST)

August 24, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A reconciliation conference between Darfur's Rizeigat tribe and a clan of the Ma'alia tribe known as Agarba kicked off on Wednesday in West Kordofan's state town of Al-Muglad.

West Kordofan State (Wikipedia)

The conference, being held under the auspices of West Kordofan and East Darfur states, aims to settle the longstanding conflict between Rizeigat and Agarba tribes.

The first session of the conference was held in the presence of the Minister of Federal Government Chamber and representative of the presidency Faisal Hassan Ibrahim.

For his part, head of the Agarba delegation Muslim Saeed said they came to the conference determined to open a new chapter of relations with the Rizeigat.

On the other hand, the representative of the Rizeigat, Mahmoud Khaled Mohamed said it is hightime to settle the prolonged differences between the two tribes.

Ibrahim said that First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih would attend the closing session of the conference on Thursday if the two sides reached an agreement, stressing the government is determined to end the tribal conflicts.

Governors of West Kordofan and East Darfur states praised participation of the two sides in the conference, underscoring the need to achieve reconciliation between the two tribes.

Meanwhile, traditional and youth leaders from the Ma'ala have issued a statement ahead of the conference, describing it as incomprehensive because it only includes one clan within the tribe.

It added that the traditional administration of the Ma'alia is not aware of the conference and has nothing to do with it, saying the tribe refuses to participate in any reconciliation conference that doesn't recognize its unity as a social entity.

Tribal clashes are now seen as the first source of violence in the western Sudan region and displaced thousands of civilians in Darfur five states.

The conflict between the Rezeigat and the Ma'alia tribes in East Darfur state is considered one of the longest and most deadly in the region.

Both the Rizeigat and the Maalia are pastoralist tribes, based in East Darfur. The centre of Rizeigat territory is in El Daein town, while the Maalia centre is in Adila, the second largest town after El-Daein.

Numerous reconciliation conferences and mediation efforts have failed to end the long-standing feud especially after reports that the disputed land contained oil.

Last year, the reconciliation conference between the two tribes, which was held under the auspices of Sudan's first vice-president, Bakri Hassan Salih in the locality of Merowe in the Northern state, stalled over the right of land ownership known as Hakura (traditional land grant).

Tribal clashes are now seen as the first source of violence in the western Sudan region and displaced thousands of civilians in Darfur's five states.

(ST)

The largest town that Boko Haram ever controlled still lies in ruins, frozen in time nearly 18 months after Nigeria's military recaptured it, writes the BBC's Martin Patience.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is "interested" in Manchester City's Wilfried Bony after missing out on AC Milan's Carlos Bacca.

South Africa's finance minister has said he will not appear before the police despite a request to do so.

Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca earn the draw they need in Zambia against Zesco United to finish top of Group A in the African Champions League.

Satirist Ikenna Azuike is in Malawi to find out why the African country won no Olympic medals.

Young Johannesburg voters tell the BBC why talk of apartheid is no longer such a big factor in South African politics.

Nine Nigerian banks are suspended from foreign currency trading for not paying a total of $2bn owed to the government, a central bank source tells the BBC.

Veteran South African medallist Elana Meyer tells the BBC South Africa’s Olympic success in Rio is ushering in a new era on the track.

August 23, 2016 (JUBA) - Governor of the newly created Yei River state, one of the new controversial 28 states which came into existence through presidential establishment order in 2015, has issued an order appointing new county commissioners.

Governor David Lokonga Moses speaks to the press in Yei May 31, 2016 (ST)

David Moses Lokonga, according to his Tuesday' order, has appointed 13 county commissioners after issuing an order to create more counties in fulfillment of the presidential directives authorizing all the governors of the new states to create counties and appoint new officials in their new territories.

The order named Luka Nyombe as the county commissioner for Kajokeji, Juluis Tabule for Kangapo, Lasu Erasto for Kupera, Augustino Kiri for Lanya, Victor Ware for Liwolo and Toti Jacob for Lujulo

Other officials include Samuel Henry who has been named Marobo county commissioner, Natalino Lasuba for Mugwo, Beneia John for Mukaya, Julius Lokonga for Nyepo, Anthony Ande for Otogo, Martin Dodo for Tore and Bidali Cosmas for Yei River county.

The appointments also came as fighting escalates around Yei River state's capita between rival forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and opposition leader, Riek Machar, as opposition forces control some of the areas in the state.

Yei is located south of the South Sudanese national capital, Juba.

(ST)

August 23, 2016 (KHARTOUM).The African Union envoy to Sudan on Tuesday welcomed the initiative of the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP), Sadiq al-Mahdi to end the deadlock of peace talks between Sudanese government and armed groups over humanitarian truce.

AUHIP chief Thabo Mbeki (R) meets opposition NUP leader Sadiq al-Mahdi on June 2, 2016 (Courtesy photo of NUP)

Last week the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) suspended the two tracks of talks on cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements after the failure of six-day meetings to strike a deal over the two matters

The Head of the African Union Office in Khartoum, Mahmoud Kan said the regional body has welcomed the initiative of Sadiq al-Mahdi to end deadlock of peace talks between Sudanese government and rebel groups. He further said that the mediation is in consultation with the Sudanese parties to reach agreements on the cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian access.

“Sadiq al-Mahdi is an important part and can play a vital role in solving the pending issues,” said Kan in statements to the semi-official Sudanese Media Center (SMC) on Tuesday.

On Monday, the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP), Sadiq al-Mahdi announced that he would submit an initiative to the AUHIP in a bid to break deadlock of talks, pointing that the initiative would help creating agreement.

However the NUP leader didn't give the elements of his proposals.

Al-Mahdi, who is residing in Cairo since two years ago, cosigned the Roadmap Agreement with the SPLM-N, JEM and SLM-MM. However, would only participate in the process with other opposition groups, after the signing of the agreements on the humanitarian truce.

The talks are expected to resume during the first two weeks of September, but Kan pointed that AUHIP did not yet fix a date for the next round of talks between government and rebels groups yet.

After the failure of the talks the government and armed groups accuse each other of lacking seriousness to reach a peace deal.

In a related development, Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid Tuesday met the acting U.S chargé de Affairs in Khartoum Ambassador Stephen Kontess and briefed him on the outcome of the recent peace talks in Addis Ababa from 9 to 14 August.

In statements to media after the meeting, the U.S diplomat said he discussed with Hamid the bilateral relations, the situation in the Two Areas and Darfur. Also, he reiterated his government readiness to back the African Union-led efforts to achieve peace in Sudan.

“U.S government is ready to help the parties to reach peace agreement,” he said.

Sudanese Vice President, Hasabo Abdel Rhaman, renewed his government's rejection of the SPLM-N's demand to deliver 20% of the humanitarian assistance directly to the rebel controlled areas in the Blue Nile State.

Abdel Rahman stressed that the relief should pass through the regular government procedures.

The government says no aid can reach the rebel areas without being inspected, hinting the SPLM-N could seek to use such channel to deliver weapons to their fighters there.

(ST)

August 23, 2016 (NEW YORK) – United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will conduct an independent investigation into the recent violence in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, which also targeted civilians and the response of the United Nations peace keeping forces in the capital, reveals a statement released by the world body in New York on Tuesday.

A woman prepares food as displaced women, men and children gather, in Juba, South Sudan at the UN compound in Tomping area, Tuesday, July 12, 2016 (AP Photo)

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, on Tuesday announced the appointment of Major General (retired) Patrick Cammaert of The Netherlands to lead an independent Special Investigation into the violence in Juba, which occurred in July 2016.

The statement said the investigation will review reports of incidents of attacks on civilians and cases of sexual violence that occurred within or in the vicinity of the UN House Protection of Civilians (POC) sites in Juba.

Dozens of South Sudanese women were raped outside the UNMISS compounds and American female relief workers were also raped by soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir in Terrain Hotel near the UNMISS compound as well. The Mission failed to respond to their pleas despite reported contacts to alert the peacekeepers.

Also a young man working and staying with the American relief workers in the Terrain Hotel was shot dead after being identified to be from the Nuer ethnic group.

The investigation will include the level of response by UNMISS forces in Juba, which have been criticized for non-response during the targeting of civilians despite the Chapter Seven of the UN mandate that authorized them to respond.

“It will also determine the actions of UNMISS and whether the Mission responded appropriately to prevent these incidents and protect civilians within its resources and capabilities at the time. In addition, the investigation will review the circumstances surrounding the attack on the Terrain Hotel and assess the Mission's response,” it said.

It added that the Special Investigation team will undertake a field visit to Juba to interview the relevant interlocutors.

A final report will be presented to the Secretary-General within one month, the findings of which will be made public.

The appointed head of the investigation team, Major General (retired) Cammaert recently led a board of inquiry on the circumstances of the clashes that occurred in the UNMISS Protection of Civilians site in Malakal on 17-18 February 2016.

Cammaert previously had a distinguished military career in both The Netherlands with the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and the United Nations, including as Force Commander in United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).

He also served as Military Advisor to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), and as General Officer Commanding the Eastern Division in the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).

(ST)