Africa

June 4, 2016 (JUBA) – The Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), said it would not accept a one-party nomination of the speaker of the would-be transitional national legislative assembly in the country.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit speaks to the National Legislature on the occasion of the inauguration of the three years extension of his mandate, on July 8, 2015 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The group said the one-party move would amount to a violation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) signed in August 2015 by President Salva Kiir and the SPLM-IO's chairman, Riek Machar.

Machar is also the current first vice president of the transitional government per the executive power sharing arrangement in the peace deal which ended 21 months of civil war which erupted in December 2013 between the two factional leaders.

An inclusive transitional national legislative assembly with memberships from all parties to the agreement was supposed to be formed concurrently with the transitional cabinet two months ago. However, disagreement over mode of electing the new parliament's speaker has delayed its formation.

President Salva Kiir's faction recently disclosed their position that the speaker should be nominated from their party alone or to be appointed by President Kiir.

They argued that the position of the speaker would be to compensate for the position of the vice president, James Wani, President Kiir's ally, who has become number 3 in the hierarchy of the top executive or presidency.

The opposition's faction, the SPLM-IO, however said they will not accept their partner's position to single-handedly nominate the speaker or appoint him, saying this would be violating the peace agreement.

“The leadership of the SPLM (IO) will not accept a one-party nomination process in electing the speaker. This would be a violation of the peace agreement. And why would we accept an act that violates the agreement?” Machar's press secretary, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune.

Dak also said “appointing” a speaker would be another violation, adding that parliament's speaker is elected, not appointed by the President.

The opposition's media official further reaffirmed that SPLM-IO is committed to the full implementation of the peace agreement in accordance with its provisions.

He said the peace agreement did not restrict nomination of the speaker to one party, adding he or she should come from any party to the peace agreement as long as the person is an Equatorian.

The SPLM-IO, he said, would also select their Equatorian member to contest for the speakership.

Earlier, on Wednesday, President Kiir said he did not trust the “majority” number of his faction's members in parliament to secure a vote for one of his members to become the speaker, saying some of them may defect and vote in favour of opposition's member.

There are concerns that pro-reform members from President Kiir's faction may also vote in favour of someone from the opposition so as to push for the reforms in the parliament.

(ST)

July 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan on Sunday has criticized being placed by the United States on the blacklist countries involved in human trafficking, saying the report as "biased and intentionally distorting" Sudan's efforts to combat human trafficking..

Eritrean migrants wait aboard a navy ship in the Sicilian harbour of Augusta, March 4, 2015 (Photo Reuters/Antonio Parrinello)

The U.S “Trafficking in Persons Report –June 2016” which was released last Thursday has placed Sudan with the 27 countries that do not comply with minimum international standards in combating human trafficking.

“The Government of Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so,” said the report.

The report mentioned un verified reports about South Sudanese children sold for agricultural work particularly in West Kordofan. It accused the Sudanese army of recruiting children aged between 16-17 years. It also accused the government militia of the Rapid Support Forces of using child soldiers citing unverified reports.

It further said that asylum seekers from African and Arab countries are "highly vulnerable" to sex trafficking and forced labor in Sudan, citing kidnapping of Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees from east Sudan who are transferred into other countries for blackmailing and ransom. The Sudanese law enforcement agencies are accused of being involved in this criminal activity.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that U.S report on human trafficking lacked accurate information on Sudan and neglected to acknowledge the government's efforts to end recruitment of child soldiers and human trafficking.

The ministry stressed that Sudan has established law enforcement agencies in both federal and state levels, working with a high degree of coordination, to combat human trafficking.

Regarding the cooperation with international community in combating human trafficking, the ministry of foreign affairs said that Sudan has hosted in 2005 the UN Conference for Transitional Organized Crimes that covered human trafficking. And signed the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) of 2000.

In 2014 "Sudan issued Anti- Human Trafficking Act that included capital punishment in some cases," stressed the foreign ministry. It pointed to the national and regional efforts to combat human trafficking in eastern Sudan, including the establishment of a national committee to combat child trafficking and illegal immigration.

Earlier this year , the European Union granted a €100m development package to address the root causes of irregular migration in Sudan. The financial support came after pledge by the Sudanese government to cooperate with Brussels to stop human trafficking to Europe.

But Amnesty International criticized the EU policy saying it only focus on ''keeping people out, by preventing their arrival and facilitating their return, with no meaningful steps taken to increase mobility nor safe and legal routes for refugees''.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement stressed that Sudan is committed to all its obligations with the international community and European Union to combat human trafficking.

“Sudan is committed to the international laws that it has ratified and will be an active member in the fight against human trafficking,” stressed the statement.

Last June, Sudan handed over to Italy an Eritrean man suspected of controlling one of the world's four largest criminal migrant trafficking organization.

COURT SENTENCES HUMAN TRAFFICKERS

In a related development, s Sudanese court in Khartoum, on Sunday, sentenced to 10 years in prison 8 persons for human trafficking.

Khartoum Central Court, headed by Judge Osama Ahmed Abdalla, condemned eight defendants and acquitted one for the lack of evidence.

The defendants, who work for a human trafficking criminal network between Sudan and Libya, were condemned for criminal complicity and human trafficking across the border.

The court has decided to toughen the penalty against the defendants on the ground that human trafficking is a serious crime that threatens the security of the society and the state.

The court has also said that “based on facts, the defendants were found guilty of criminal accomplice with regard to sheltering and transporting people from Sudan to Libya after deceiving them that they are being taken to work in the traditional gold exploration in al-Muthalath (triangle) area in Sudanese northern state.

(ST)

July 3, 2016 (JUBA) - A top South Sudanese religious leader has criticized the hate speech employed by high ranking officials and their supporters to polarize the country, calling for solidarity among those victimized by the “smear campaign.”

Bishop Edward Hiboro (ST file photo)

Bishop Edward Hiboro of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura based in Yambio said one of the triggers of violence in the country is the manner in which people chose the language and words to communicate their messages.

“Language is doing much more violence, sometimes even much more harm than the gun,” said Bishop Edward while speaking to a United Nations sponsored Miraya FM radio on Thursday.

The religious leader appealed to South Sudanese to avoid “harsh and divisive” language and instead develop a language that can build the country.”

“Take off too much negativity, take out provocative language, the anger needs to give way to the language of peaceful communication, non-violent communication to help the country wake up from the current situation,” he further advised.

He said there is need to develop a new language and a conscience to prevent crime and consolidate the country's peace process.

His remarks come amid growing concerns about the growing insecurity in Wau. He said the violence in Wau, while regrettable, stems from lack of dialogue, adding “when dialogue is missing immediately people resort to violence and fighting.”

“South Sudanese need to learn to talk. It is talking that brought us South Sudan. It is not cowardice to speak to your brother and sister and say look we have gone wrong here, how do we go about this.”

While acknowledging the problems in the country, he said there is huge mistrust, and people are afraid to speak to each other. Instruments such as the church, civil society, international NGOs, he added, have the power to engage in Dialogue.

“But how can they do it?” he asked. He stressed that every leader, individual and family in South Sudan should find time for a retreat and use this time to reflect on the kind of South Sudan they want.

He urged the government to find ways to reach people “with the power and closeness of peace.

“If there could be a general ceasefire, no more shooting, no more fighting, the rest of things would fall in place. We prepare people in the church, we pacify them, we need the government to step in and reinforce the messages spread by the church to pave way for a peaceful stable nation,” he added.

(ST)

July 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and Brazil have on Sunday agreed to develop and promote bilateral relations in the various fields especially trade and investment.

Brazilian Ambassador to Khartoum José Mauro da Fonseca Costa (ST Photo)

Brazilian Ambassador to Khartoum José Mauro da Fonseca Costa on Sunday has discussed with Sudan's Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Abdel-Ghani Al-Naem the bilateral ties and ways to enhance joint cooperation between the two nations.

During the meeting, Costa briefed the Sudanese diplomat on joint private sector investments and ways to promote them, stressing his government's desire to develop economic relations with Sudan.

He pointed to the importance to embark on arrangements for the next meeting of the joint political consultations committee between the two nations which would be held in Brazil.

The Brazilian envoy added that he would exert every possible effort to coordinate with officials in both nations to promote bilateral ties in all domains particularly trade exchange and investment.

For his part, Al-Naem briefed Costa on the recent economic and political developments including the national dialogue besides President Omer al-Bashir's declaration of a four-month ceasefire in South Kordofan and Blue Nile and the Roadmap Agreement for peace and dialogue brokered by the African Union.

He also pointed to Sudan's efforts to enhance regional security and stability especially in Libya, South Sudan and Yemen, calling for the need to speed up actions to move bilateral ties to more advanced stages particularly in areas of trade, agriculture, investment and technical cooperation.

The Sudanese diplomat further underscored the need to resolve all problems facing the flow of investment between the two nations.

(ST)

June 2, 2016 (WAU) – The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in South Sudan has reached 70,000 displaced persons in Wau with relief aid, its head of delegation, Jurg Eglin said.

Eglin, who visited Wau in the aftermath of the recent violence, said ICRC had to respond to the humanitarian needs of people in Wau.

“No what happened last week, there was a violence, there was an attacks, there was looting and killing, people had fled their homes and more than 10,000 people had fled their homes from the town to the western part, people are really in desperate under the trees looking for support,” Eglin told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

The displaced, he added, were provided with food, shelter, medicines and water, in addition to uniting lost children with their families.

Currently, ICRC is reportedly accommodating 5,000 displaced people at its compound in Wau town, its delegation head said.

“The conditions at the compound are quite difficult as sanitation facilities are not enough, including lack of space,” Eglin said, but stressed that ICRC was doing its best to address the situation.

(ST)

July 3, 2016 (BOR) - The quality of fish may not be of high standard due to the lack of refrigerators for preserving the huge catch, but local fishermen in South Sudan's Jonglei state still earn good cash from their fish daily, which has improved their living standards.

Fishermen in Mayen village loading boats for distribution, December 17, 2015 (ST)

Currently, there are hundreds of fishermen who go fishing along the River Nile and some open water bodies' rich in different varieties of fish species.

James Achiek Dengic, a 39 year-old man from Jarwong in Malualchat of Bor told Sudan Tribune that he has, for now 20 years, been fishing for business. Although he never revealed how much he had saved in his traditional saving “hole” as referred to it, Achiek said he was able to buy an engine-powered boat, which ferries people to Lakes state.

The fishing business, he said, was one that does not require licensing from government. His father, for instance, never had any major economic activity other than fishing.

Acheik was born and raised up by parents who all belonged to the fishing community.

In his community, fishing sites are managed by local laws and orders passed and implemented by chiefs. The sites are open all times for anyone belonging to the community.

“Fishing is easy and free business each member of a community can do. It is quick rewarding with minimal loses all year round”, Achiek told Sudan Tribune.

Life style in the fishing camps has also proved to be better than that in the cattle camp.

South Sudan is a cattle-dominated economy, but this is changing slowly. Many cattle keepers are now changing their lifestyle by abandoning cattle keeping for fishing.

Akech Bol, a fisherman in Bor, said he abandoned cattle keeping for the fishing industry.

“With cattle, you go out every day to look after them in the grassing field. They, while there, you can be killed by people who come to steal or raid your cattle. Or you kill somebody who comes around. This way, our population get reduced day by day. That is the common problem we have in Jonglei,” said Akech.

"If you don't want to be in the cattle camp, you cattle will not be taken care of by someone else properly, which is still another problem. This forced me to sale my few heads of cattle I had in 2010 and started fishing as my main economic activity. Today, I am a happy man with my eight children and two wives”, he added.

The fishermen live in small camps along the Nile River bank, some cultivate maize on the islands not commonly prone to flooding. They use various fishing tools, including gill nets, traps and in rear cases cast nets. Hooks and long lines are used in shallow tributaries.

Each morning, fishermen jump into their rowboats and sail to the siting site not always far from their residential place, and return before lunch with their catch.

The most common types of fish caught include, Cat fish, Gymnarchus, Heterotis, Tilapia, Distichodus and Citharinus.

Each day he goes out, Akech says, he sells his fish to fish vendors who come to the docking site near his village. He doesn't have to sail or walk or pay transport cost to Bor town for marketing. But his profit margin isn't good compared to his labour cost.

For the last five years he had been fishing, he managed to pay school fees for his children in Uganda, and use the rest of the money to feed his dependents at home. He spends any amount of money that remains to buy goats, which he said are easy to manage.

Currently, he has more than 20 goats he keeps at home, a good sign of his pride as a man.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported them with fishing nets and gears, and boats, and technical ways of fish preservation, through Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Oxfarm, HDC among others.

The preservative plating of the fish is used then sun dried. One plated thread contains five to 10 fish, depending on the type and size of each constituent. Such a thread is prized upto 250 South Sudanese pounds ($6 at the current rate) in the local market.

(ST)

July 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) -The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) denied that a date has been fixed to resume the Two Areas talks with the Sudanese government.

Sudan government and SPLM-N delegations on the meeting room with the mediator before to engage in discussions in Addis Ababa on 21 November 2015 (ST Photo)

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army since 2011.

Last December, negotiations between Khartoum and the SPLM-N stalled after the government delegation insisted that the objective of talks is to settle the conflict in the Two Areas, while the SPLM-N team has called for a holistic approach to resolve ongoing conflicts across Sudan.

On Saturday, member of the government negotiating team Hussein Karshoom revealed that his team will meet with the chief African mediator Thabo Mbeki after Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking) to discuss the latest developments on the Roadmap Agreement.

He expressed readiness to meet with the Sudan Call forces if they sign the Roadmap in order to arrange for the cessation of hostilities and agree on the security and humanitarian issues besides completing the framework agreement which they had previously agreed on 90% of its items.

Last March, the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) proposed a roadmap agreement to the Sudanese government and four opposition groups from the Sudan Call forces.

However, only Khartoum government signed the framework text while the four groups declined the text, saying the Roadmap would reproduce the regime.

The opposition groups handed over a supplemental document to Mbeki and vowed to reconsider their rejection of the Roadmap if he accepts it to ensure that the Roadmap becomes a gateway to an equal, serious and fruitful dialogue.

The Sudanese government declined to accept the opposition supplemental document on the Roadmap, saying the peace plan is definitive and cannot be modified.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, SPLM-N peace file spokesperson Mubarak Ardol said his movement isn't making any arrangements to meet with the government.

He pointed that Karshoom's statements come within the framework of a “feverish campaign targeting the unity of the opposition”.

“Any claims that the opposition would sign the Roadmap without responding to the Sudan Call demands is nothing but pure fantasy and reflects the [depth of the] regime's crisis and its dire need for the opposition forces”.

Ardol further said if the government is in hurry to meet the SPLM-N and the Sudan Call forces it “should respond to the demands to hold an equal dialogue”.

“Without [responding to the opposition demands], no peace talks or dialogue will commence after this Eid or the next Eid,” he said.
The opposition calls to hold a preparatory meeting for the national dialogue; ensuring political and press freedoms, release of political detainees and to set up a transitional government to implement the outcome of the national dialogue.

(ST)

July 3, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese security forces have stepped up security measures in and around the capital, Juba, after gunmen, reportedly to be members of the Military Intelligence (MI), killed an officer and a guard of top military commander of the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).

South Sudanese soldiers sit on a truck at the airport in Juba on 12 June 2014 (Photo: AFP/Samir Bol)

Lt. Colonel George Gismala, eye witnesses said, was shot while seated and smoking shisha at a tea place in Kator residential area at around 11:20am.

A government military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed in statements to Sudan Tribune that Colonel Gismala was killed by members of the MI. It was not clear why the officer was targeted.

The incident sparked panic and uncertainty among residents, some of whom said had witnessed the shootings.

Exact circumstances under which Colonel Gismala was shot dead remain unclear. Neither the SPLA nor SPLA-IO military spokespersons have come out to make a public statement on what transpired and the measures being put in place to diffuse tension.

Also, residents in the area told Sudan Tribune they witnessed the shooting but did not know what sparked it. The body of the dead was later on seen being carried onto a vehicle of those who shot him and took it away.

Late George, a relative to General Martin Kenyi who is a senior military commander of the SPLA-IO, defected from President Salva Kiir's government two years ago and was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel by the armed opposition faction. He previously served as Military Intelligence (MI) officer in the government at the rank of Captain before his defection to the SPLA-IO.

Some Eye witnesses claimed the deceased was shot dead after engaging in a discussion with members of national security at a tea place over the issue of the delay of the establishment of cantonment sites as well as the continued presence of additional government soldiers and security personnel inside Juba, despite transitional security arrangements recommending a limited number of joint force to be in the town.

Bodyguards of General Martin Kenyi, another high ranking armed opposition figure, were also shot at, resulting in injury, one of whom remains in critical condition.

Attackers were not yet identified by names and no arrest was made, although the body of the deceased was reportedly carried to a military base in Juba.

In an attempt to control the situation, government soldiers and plain cloth security personnel were seen patrolling key streets in the town in what residents described as efforts to impose security measures to avoid another flare up.

Police spokesperson told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that a tighter partnership between police, defence and security forces and the population would ensure “the best possible intelligence can be put to use.”

“There is nothing. People should not panic. The presence of the security forces on the street is to strengthen the human and material resources of all our defence and security forces to adapt to new challenges. We are living in an unprecedented situation, which requires us to be civil-minded and much more vigilant,” said Brigadier General Daniel Justin Boulo, when reached to comment on the development.

He called on residents to notify police authorities and security officers of the presence of unknown people in their neighbourhoods, especially those in unusual and suspicious activities.

This comes after a similar incident occurred last month when members of national security opened fire at the bodyguards of the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar, in Juba.

Also unknown gunmen fired guns near the resident of Machar at Jebel Kujur on Saturday night, but his forces did not return fire.

The series of incidents have received mixed reactions from the citizens, with some asserting that the incidents were politically motivated to send out a message to the people that anti-peace elements in the government are not ready for peace and are therefore working everything possible to trigger a return to war.

Juba residents say there are fears of growing insecurity situation in the capital.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

July 3, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudan has congratulated Ethiopia on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council to serve two year term commencing as of January 2017.

The UN Security Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan (Photo: UN/Devra Berkowitz)

Khartoum extended the official congratulatory message through its foreign affairs minister Kemal Seid Ismael who arrived in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday where he met his Ethiopian counterpart Tedros Adhanom.

“Ethiopia's membership to the United Nations Security Council is important not only to Sudan but also the whole of Africa” said Ismael.

He extended his gratitude to the Republic of Sudan and the whole of Africa for the full support they displayed for Ethiopia to secure a seat in the world's powerful organ.

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday elected Ethiopia for membership during an election Session for five non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Ethiopia secured an overwhelming support from 185 countries out of the 193 UN member states.

The Ethiopian and Sudanese foreign ministers further confer on a range of issues including on ways of further bolstering their bilateral relations.

The Sudanese minister noted that the High-level Joint Commission has started to bear positive development, particularly in the economic domain.

Tedros to his side noted that the ties between the two neighbours are showing advances in political economic, social and cultural frontiers.

Tedros particularly noted the boost in the trade volume and investment flow between Ethiopia and the Republic of Sudan.

The Minister further expressed his hopes that the upcoming High-level Joint Commission meeting between the two neighbouring countries would further strengthen the bilateral ties.

Mean while Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Dessalegn, who is in an official state visit in Mozambique said Ethiopia as member of the UNSC will stand firm in safeguarding the interests of Africa.

Speaking at a state dinner hosted by President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique, the premier commended the country and African countries in general for their support during its election campaign.

Hailemariam said climate change, poverty, unemployment, peace and stability, terrorism and illegal migration will be among areas Ethiopia will focus to be addressed during its two years long third term in UN Security council.

Addis Ababa has further vow to boost roles of African countries in the global decision making process which had been dominated by western powers.

(ST)

New signing Souleymane Coulibaly hopes to star for Kilmarnock as he seeks an international call by Italy or Ivory Coast.

July 2, 2016 (ED DAEIN) - Governor of East Darfur State Anas Omer has issued a general amnesty for the outlaws and those who are wanted by justice authorities for committing crimes in his state.

East Darfur governor Anas Omer (Photo Ashorooq TV)

Addressing a social activity organized by the ruling National Congress Party at El Firdous locality on Friday, the governor said the greatness of Ramadan provides an opportunity for forgiveness, and to grant a general amnesty for the outlaws who committed a crime in the past months, especially those who have been officially wanted by the justice and legal authorities in East Darfur.

The governor has also stressed the importance of opening a new chapter to achieve development projects in the state, pointing to need to stabilize the security situation in the state.

The governor went on to say that “the government cannot continue antagonizing any person as long as it is responsible for protecting the citizens”.

The governor also has called for forgiveness, citing a verse from the Holy Quran that calls for forgiveness. “Those who showed forgiveness will be rewarded by Allah”, he pointed out.

On 18 April, suspected tribal gunmen fired R.P.G. shells targeting East Darfur governor's house. Six of the governor's guards have been killed in the attack.

The shells, which fell on a nearby house, have also killed two women and wounded a child as well as four students.

The attack, which burned down the house of the governor, is said to be carried out by Rezeigat Savanna Militia members to protest against the death of a leading member of a Rezeigat militia.

It was also preceded by clashes between the Rezeigat and gunmen belonging to their arch-rival Maalia tribe, where 12 people were killed over stolen camels in Yassin county in East Darfur.

(ST)

July 2, 2016 (JUBA)- The newly appointed Governor of Wau state, Andrea Mayar Achor, has unveiled his plans to restore stability in a region, which experienced violent onflict in whereby over 40 people were killed, according to the national government spokesperson.

South Sudan's information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters last week that government had formed a high level committee led by the minister of health, Riek Gai Kok to visit Wau town to establish the circumstances behind the violence, which forced out hundreds of civilians from their homes into churches and premises of the United Nations in search of security as well a protection.

He said the bodies of 39 civilians, including two Sudanese traders and four police personnel, who were allegedly killed while guarding and protecting properties of civilians who fled their homes, were discovered.

The official did not elaborate on the circumstance in which police personnel were killed.

Speaking exclusively to Sudan Tribune from Wau town on Saturday, Governor Achor said the investigation committee from Juba had arrived and started their work in town.

“The committee has come and they have started their work,” Achor told Sudan Tribune.

Achor said the security situation had returned to normal and people in town have resumed their normal activities after giving directive to security forces to lift restriction on movement of humanitarian workers and the people to provide and access services.

“After consultations with the heads of all the security organs, our SPLA commanders and representatives of the different communities in Wau, I gave out directives to security organs to lift restriction on the movement of the people in town so that people are able to provide and access services. Now the security situation has improved. All the checkpoints have been removed and clear directives have been issued by the security committee to the army not to prevent any citizens from moving”, he explained.

The governor said that he had informed all the humanitarian organizations in the state to move freely at any time during the day and night to help citizens, explaining these directives have been communicated to the public to know through microphones and letters in the case of other governmental institutions.

"The first priority now is to stabilize the security situation and the second phase is to talk to the people to come together and say what happened so that a way forward is found. Talking to people is very important because our values are stronger than hatred, killings and destruction”, he explained.

The third phase, he added, is to open up for reconciliation, forgiveness and accept one another in order to live in peace and harmony as one family again as it was before.

(ST)

July 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Ministry of International Cooperation on Saturday said it would review the national strategy on foreign aid in order to allocate it in an optimal way.

International cooperation minister Kamaleldin Hassan (SUNA photo)

On Saturday, the Minister of International Cooperation Kamal al-Din Hassan Ali held a meeting with the members of the commission in charge of reviewing the national strategy on foreign aid including representatives from the relevant ministries and the Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) in the presence of the State Minister of Finance Magdi Hassn Yassin.

He told reporters following the meeting, that they began consultations to develop a precise vision to review the national strategy on foreign aid according to the new realities which require controlling the foreign aid and using it in an optimal way and to better define the relationship between Sudan and the donors.

Ali further said that the strategy seeks to define the aid and how it could be used, pointing the review would focus on the international principles included in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (PDAE).

In February 2005, international community came together at the Paris High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness. At the Paris meeting, more than 100 signatories—from donor and developing-country governments, multilateral donor agencies, regional development banks and international agencies—endorsed the PDAE.

The PDAE is a roadmap to improve the quality of aid and its impact on development. It gives a series of specific implementation measures and establishes a monitoring system to assess progress and ensure that donors and recipients hold each other accountable for their commitments.

(ST)

July 2, 2016 (NYALA) - Darfur's internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees association has welcomed the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) resolution to extend the mandate of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) for additional year.

Peacekeepers from the hybrid African Union-United Nations operation in Darfur (UNAMID) patrol the damaged and empty Labado village in South Darfur on 10 December 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

On Wednesday, the UNSC unanimously decided to extend UNAMID's mandate until 30 June 2017, stressing that the situation in the western Sudan region continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security.

Deputy Chairman of the IDPs and refugees association Adam Abdalla Idris told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that the resolution has aborted a “government conspiracy” to exit the mission before ending the tragedy of the IDPs and refugees.

He stressed that the humanitarian situation of the IDPs and refugees has not yet improved, pointing to the decline in food rations provided by the World Food Programme (WFP).

Idris also pointed to the growing numbers of IDPs particularly in areas around Jebel Marra, saying any attempts to exit the UNAMID would again endanger civilians' lives.

He underscored the need to mandate the mission's troops to protect the IDPs against armed militias, pointing that UNAMID failed to defend the IDPs who grow crops and collect firewood from around the camps against the continued attacks by those militias.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict since 2003, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

UNAMID has been deployed in Darfur since 2007 with a mandate to stem violence against civilians in the restive region.

It is the world's second largest international peacekeeping force with an annual budget of $1.35 billion and almost 20,000 troops.

(ST)

July 2, 2016 (JUBA) - Lecturers of the five public universities in South Sudan have announced halting a strike after receiving assurances from the government their demands would be met in due course.

Philip Finish Apollo, Chairperson of the Teaching Staff at the University of Juba and the spokesperson of the coalition of lecturers from the five public universities told reporters on Saturday that the decision was made at the general assembly meeting held on Thursday to review progress made on demands.

Apollo acknowledged the receipt of the salaries for two months and promised to pay the remaining allowances in instalments. He however said they would resume should the government renege.

“It was decided in the general assembly meeting held on Thursday to halt the strike temporary", said Apollo.

"They (officials from ministries of finance and higher education) promised that they will pay us in instalments. So the general assembly agreed to lift the strike from today up to the end of September,” he further said.

Apollo called on all students of the five public universities to attend lectures and asked the administration of the affected higher learning institutions in the country to adjust their calendars and timetables to cover the time lost due to strike.

The decision to call off the strike followed a call by the heads of schools from the University of Juba, the lead university in the country, on lecturers to end the strike, saying it was no longer justifiable after salaries for the months of March, April and May were paid.

(ST)

July 1, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan government has announced plans to amend the Mining Act to reduce area given to companies and relax preliminary requirements for exploration.

Gold panners in Nanakanak, Eastern Equatoria state, South Sudan. (Source: Hannah McNeish/IRIN)

The proposal, an official said, was presented to the council of ministers, which approved it.

“The minister mining is instructed to coordinate with the minister of justice [Paulino Wanawilla] to make necessary legislation to amend the mining act and present to parliament,” information minister, Michael Makuei told reporters on Friday last week.

The Mining Act 2012, he said, gives exploration companies, large areas for exploration and place many procedures that “actual mining activities.” Makuei did not mention the size land given to mining companies or the specific procedures that impede exploration.

The mining minister, Taban Deng Gai on Thursday met President Salva Kiir on the proposed amendment to the country's Mining Act.

“We discussed the need to invest in minerals exploration [beside oil] to booster our revenues,” Taban told state-owned SSBC after meeting the president.

However, the information minister said on Friday that the minister of finance David Deng Athorbei has been instructed to fund necessary steps required by mining ministry to expedite the amendment process. The finance docket has also been asked to facilitate farming efforts presented by the Agriculture Minister Lam Akol Ajawin on Friday.

South Sudan, which relies on oil revenue for more than 90% of national income, is diversifying its economy in the light of lowering global oil prices.

Amending the country's Mining Act would require justice ministry to table amendment bill in parliament. But the National Legislative Assembly, which is supposed to be expanded to 400 from the current 335 MPs in accordance to the peace agreement, is not yet constituted due to disagreement over selection of the speaker for Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA).

(ST)

July 2, 2016 (JUBA) –The United Nation's Children Funds (UNICEF) said it needs upto $3 million to respond to the recent crisis in South Sudan's town of Wau where it intends to immunize 13,000 children against measles.

UNICEF says children continue experience extreme suffering as a result of conflict in South Sudan and remain vulnerable to disease outbreaks (Photo: F. Noy/UNHCR)

"UNICEF is launching today an urgent measles immunization campaign to protect 13,000 children displaced by fighting in the city of Wau, in South Sudan,” the agency said in a statement.

“UNICEF's funding requirement for the Wau response is US$ 3 million of which just half is available,” it added.

Over 40 people, most of them civilians, were killed in last week's fighting in Wau town with the South Sudanese government blaming the attack on “criminals and bandits”.

Thousands of civilians fled Wau town and others have taken refuge at the UN compound.

UNICEF said its three-day campaign is focused on children aged six months to 14 years, “who have been living in makeshift settlements in the city since the conflict erupted last Friday.”

“In such overcrowded sites, health risks for communities increase considerably,” it added.

“Measles spreads rapidly and one case can very quickly become an outbreak,” said the UNICEF's Representative in South Sudan, Mahimbo Mdoe.

“It's crucial that children living in these crowded conditions are protected from what can be a life-threatening disease,” Mdoe added.

UNICEF is one of the UN agencies working in the displacement sites to reunite children who were separated from their families while running from the fighting. Children are being provided with primary health care and treatment for malnutrition.

Safe water supplies and latrines have also been installed to minimize the spread of disease, while child-friendly spaces have been created so that even in the midst of upheaval children are able to play and learn.

In addition to the support in Wau, teams from UNICEF and partner agencies on Friday reached the remote village of Mboro, to the south, which until recently had been inaccessible due to insecurity. More than two thousand people were given access to health care and 500 children were screened for malnutrition. Those diagnosed as malnourished were provided with therapeutic food supplements.

Residents said they were living in the bush without shelter for fear of further violence. They also said they were surviving on whatever food they could forage.

Given the high insecurity in Wau, UNICEF said it was particularly concerned about the well-being of displaced women and girls in and around the temporary sites. Conflict and population movements traditionally hit women and girls the hardest, as they become exposed to sexual violence and exploitation.

“When conflict and violence hit communities and people are forced to flee, support networks become weaker and the first to feel the impact are the most vulnerable,” said Mdoe. ”UNICEF is working around the clock with partners on the ground to ensure that medical and support services are available and that safe spaces are created so that women and girls can speak freely and seek help if they need it.”

(ST)

July 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A member of the government negotiating team on the conflict in the Two Areas Saturday said his team would meet with the chief African mediator Thabo Mbeki following the Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking) to discuss the latest developments on the Roadmap Agreement.

Sudan's Presidential aide Ibrahim Moahmoud Hamid and AUHIP chair sign the Roadmap Agreement in Addis Ababa on 21 March 2016 (courtesy photo of AUHIP )

Last March, the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) proposed a roadmap agreement to the Sudanese government and four opposition groups from the Sudan Call forces.

However, only Khartoum government signed the framework text while the four groups declined the text, saying the Roadmap would reproduce the regime.

The opposition groups handed over a supplemental document to Mbeki and vowed to reconsider their rejection of the Roadmap if he accepts it to ensure that the Roadmap becomes a gateway to an equal, serious and fruitful dialogue.

In his reply to the opposition, the chief mediator said in his quality as facilitator he cannot hold such negotiations with any of the Sudanese parties, pointing that he forwarded the proposal to the Sudanese government and requested its response.

On Wednesday, the Sudanese government told the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, that it sticks to the Roadmap and refuses the supplemental agreement proposed by the opposition.

Member of the government negotiating team on the conflict in the Two Areas Hussein Karshoom revealed that his team will meet with Mbeki after Eid al-Fitr to discuss the latest developments on the Roadmap, saying the government has furnished the mediation with some clarifications on the peace plan.

He told the semi-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) that his team will meet with the Sudan Call if they sign the Roadmap in order to arrange for the cessation of hostilities and agree on the security and humanitarian issues besides completing the framework agreement which they had previously agreed on 90% of its items.

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) and Sudanese army since 2011.

Last December, negotiations between Khartoum and the SPLM-N stalled after the government delegation insisted that the objective of talks is to settle the conflict in the Two Areas, while the SPLM-N team has called for a holistic approach to resolve ongoing conflicts across Sudan.

Karshoom stressed government readiness to continue the talks if the opposition signs the Roadmap as a general framework that paves the way for holding the national dialogue with the participation of the holdout groups.

The opposition calls to hold a preparatory meeting for the national dialogue; ensuring political and press freedoms, release of political detainees and to set up a transitional government to implement the outcome of the national dialogue.

Karshoom further renewed the government rejection to any supplemental documents to the Roadmap, saying the peace plan has received large support.

The Sudanese government has received widespread international and regional support for the signing of the Roadmap. The UN chief, African Union chairperson, the United Kingdom and the United States have also urged the opposition groups to join the peace plan.

(ST)

The French captain of a hijacked plane at the centre of a famed 1976 Israeli rescue operation says he saw a passenger killed by a hostage-taker.

The first rescued Chibok girl, who went on to meet Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, has not been seen by her relatives since telling of her ordeal at the hands of Boko Haram.