Africa

May 23, 2016 (BOR/JUBA) – Thousands of Ethiopian troops who have crossed into South Sudan have entered Pibor county of the newly created Buma state in search of abducted children from the Ethiopian Nuer community by the South Sudan's Murle ethnic group.

A top Ethiopian diplomat, Ambassador Fesseha Shawel Gebre, has revealed that the troops will continue to pursue the Murle criminals until all the children abducted have been recovered and returned to their parents back in Ethiopia.

Last month, thousands of armed members of the Murle ethnic group crossed into Ethiopia and simultaneously attacked 13 villages belong to the Nuer community in Ethiopia, killing at least 200 people, abducting over 100 kids and took away also with over 2,000 heads of cattle.

Ethiopia responded by deploying troops to rescue the children, threatening to attack suspected targets within South Sudan should the Murle community not hand over all the kids.

Ambassador Gebre said the deployment of the Ethiopian troops inside South Sudan has been approved by the South Sudanese government, stressing that the move was important in order not to strain relations between the two neighbouring countries.

He said no order has been issued by the Ethiopian government to begin the attack as two governors of Gambella region in Ethiopia, Gatluak Tut Khot, and governor of Boma state in South Sudan, Baba Bedan, have been peacefully trying to recover the children.

“The Ethiopian troops are in the soil of South Sudan with the permission of the government of South Sudan to facilitate work for the governors on the two sides," Ambassador Gebre told a local newspaper on Monday in Juba.

He said the Ethiopian troops may shoulder the operations as South Sudanese troops were not capable for the joint operations given the difficulty of the terrain in Boma state.

"That area is very remote and access is difficult including crossing the rivers. It is the army of Ethiopia that is best placed and equipped with the infrastructure to rescue the children,” he said.

56 children have been rescued and returned to Ethiopia so far. That is about half of the number of people abducted following the raid.

But Ambassador Gebre said the raiders should be brought to books. He said Ethiopia expected "cooperation from Juba" to avoid the cross border military incursion.

PUNISH THE CRIMINALS

Meanwhile, Boma state administration announced a plan to persecute the raiders, and child abductors belonging to the Murle ethnic group, saying at least 50 criminals have been identified and awaiting prosecution.

Boma state governor, Baba Medan, made the remarks after he visited the Ethiopian region of Gambella to normalize security tensions between his state and Gambella region.

“On the 15th of April, a group of criminals from my state went and attacked people of Gambella. According to the reports, over 100 children were abducted and 2,000 cattle stolen,” he said.

“We, the government of South Sudan and government of Boma state are committed to bring these children. The directive from the president [Salva Kiir] was very clear that we have to work out this issue of children so that we hand them over to their parents,” he said.

Governor Bedan revealed that he had asked the governor of Gambella region, Gatluak Tut Khot, to give him time to recover all the abducted kids.

“I went to meet the President of Gambella region to give us another time for us to collect cattle and the remaining children. I hope very soon, we will be able to collect and hand over these children to their government,” he said.

Although no arrest has been made, possible majors of bringing them to justice would be drafted after Ethiopian children and cattle have all been returned.

“These criminals made a mistake to cross the border and steal cattle and children from Ethiopia. It is our mistake; we will ask the criminal to pay these numbers of cattle according to the report. Even if the number of cattle is 1,000 and they are claiming for 2,000 heads of cattle, we have to collect two 2,000 from these criminals,” lamented the governor.

The Ethiopian troops had again entered Raat, seeking approval from Boma state to allow them to pass through to Lamurnyang state, pursuing the cattle.

According to Medan, he denied to grant passage of Ethiopian troops to former Eastern Equartoria state, particularly the current Namurnyang state in an attempt to pursue their stolen heads of cattle.

However, the Ethiopian troops may act unilaterally should there be no cooperation or success in recovering all the human and animals raided from their country.

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (YEI) - A leading civil society entity in South Sudan's Yei River state has expressed concerns over the increasing presence of soldiers who move with guns among the civil population in Yei town.

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

Centre for Democracy and Development raised the matter this week.

Felix Dara, the organisation's program manager said the presence of the army in town largely explains the rampant cases of insecurity, lootings, harassment, intimidation and even killing of innocent civilians.

Last week, a soldier shot and wounded an international medical doctor in Yei. Sr. Veronica Rackova later died at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

"It is very unfortunate to see that our SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army] soldiers who are meant to protect the lives of the people turned the guns on to civilians is very pain full, ” Dara told Sudan Tribune.

He demanded that the army be relocated out of Yei town to enable the authorities track down those criminals intimidating and killing civilians.

"We equally demand that the army except the joint patrol force must be relocated outside the town. They are really causing a security threat to the people of this town. We have a number of cases of people being arrested, intimidated and time has come for all these forces to be out of the town”, stressed Dara.

The officials further urged the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) to speed up allocation of cantonment areas for all the armed forces to enable smooth implementation of the peace accord.

"We equally demand that the security arrangement within the provision of the compromise peace agreement needed to be operationalized especially the issue of cantonment sites and this will enable the authorities to identify who these bandits are,” said Dara.

Meanwhile the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yei, Erkolano Ladu Tombe urged the government, especially the army commanders, to ensure that soldiers under their command are controlled and guided.

“We need security. Security of lives, not security of things, animals, goats, trees and land. And we are telling the security to arrest those people who go out of hand, otherwise you security will be failing in your service to the people and the nation in securing the lives of the people”, he said.

“To the army commanders”, he added, “Don't let soldiers just go about robbing and killing people on the road. You our commanders command our soldiers and please control and punish them when they abuse civilians whom they are supposed to keep safe. Our government should keep the nation in peace; don't let the nation go into pieces [again]”.

The deputy governor of Yei River state, Abraham Wani vowed to ensure that soldiers who undermine the laws are brought to face books of law.

"Yei River County with a team of lawers have started the investigation and these soldiers will face the law accordingly”, he said.

May 24, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and China signed, Monday, an agreement to construct the first nuclear powerhouse in the east African country.

Members of the Chinese delegation for the first meeting of the joint energy cooperation commission in Khartoum on 23 May 2016 (Photo SUNA)

The framework agreement to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Sudan was inked following the first meeting of the China-Sudan Joint Energy Cooperation Commission in Khartoum.

In December 2012, Sudan announced an agreement with China to build a research nuclear reactor, with the approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

According to a government official at that time, the reactor aimed to conduct research and scientific applications, and to encourage the use of atomic energy. Sudan carries out 10 projects with the help of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency.

The Sudanese Ministry of Water Resources and Electricity has started the actual preparations for producing power using the nuclear energy in cooperation with the Sudanese Atomic Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as the first nuclear plant is expected to be built in 2020.

The visiting Chinese delegation for the joint energy cooperation meetings is chaired by Nur Bekri, Director of the Chinese National Energy Administration, while the Sudanese side is chaired by the Minister of Finance Badr al-Din Mahmoud.

Speaking after the signing of the framework agreement, Mahmoud said the two sides agreed to discuss the problems that energy production is facing in Sudan and to reach effective solutions.

He added that they will also work to solve challenges facing the new projects, especially Al-Foula electricity plan and the transmission network in South Kordofan.

The government says the lack of funds and economic sanctions impede its efforts to extend electricity service and cover areas in Darfur and South Kordofan.

President Omer al-Bashir met the Chinese delegation on Monday, and discussed bilateral ties and means of bolstering them further.

Al-Bashir directed following the meeting to develop cooperation with China in areas of economy and trade, and expand it in fields of oil, gas, renewed energy, agricultural and industrial investment and infrastructure, said a statement issued following the meeting.

China has invested more than $20 billion in Sudan mostly in the oil sector during the past two decades. Beijing provides low-interest loans and weapons transfers in return for oil.

Minister Mahmoud said they reached an agreement with China to strengthen oil capabilities, to build new facilities and additional oil exportation ports on Red Sea.

Also, they agreed that Chinese companies will explore oil in new blocks, and increase the production of existing fields, besides an agreement for gas exploration and production.

The minister announced that the Chinese oil investments in Sudan have reached 17 billion dollars.

Speaking at the joint meeting; the Minister of Oil and Gas, Mohamed Zayed Aw, said that Sudan exploited only small amounts of its oil reserves, and called on China to increase its investment in the oil sector.

On his part, the Minister of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity, Mutaz Musa, pointed out that the ministry is implementing 155 electricity projects with china at a cost of 10 billion dollars.

He said that his government will fund the $10 billion projects from multiple sources, adding that the five-year plan includes power plants and dams.

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (WAU) - The newly-appointed commissioner of Kwajeina county in South Sudan's Wau state, Barjuok Ucu said unity and security would form his top priorities.

Kwajeina county commissioner Barjuok Ucu on May, 23 2016 (ST)

Speaking exclusively to Sudan Tribune on Monday, Ucu urged the people to unite in order to champion developments in the region.

Kwajeina county, its commissioner revealed, mainly consists of three payams. The include, Kwajeiina centre, Mbili and Alur.

“Unity is what makes up peace, development and stability. After unity is guaranteed, then we will start the construction of the area to know the resources in the area,'' said Ucu.

The commissioner called on communities in Kwajeina to unite and distance themselves away from clan practices.

“If we are united as people of Kwajeina county, we shall overcome the challenges facing the development of the new county because in Kwajeina, we have natural resources, including stones and forestry,” he further stressed.

During the interview, the commissioner appealed to the state ministry of agriculture to expedite training of tractors experts to help boost agricultural production in the county.

A plan, he said, was in place to establish secondary schools for the people of Kwajeina

(ST)

The Security Council welcomed the political and security progress in Somalia during a mission to the capital, Mogadishu, on 19 May, where representatives of the 15-member body met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, regional leaders, Somali civil society and women&#39s groups.

Security and humanitarian conditions are deteriorating in southeast Niger, where hundreds of thousands of people settled after fleeing Boko Haram insurgents, the United Nations refugee agency warned today.

May 23, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's newly appointed national minister of Petroleum in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), Dak Duop Bichiok, has said his ministry is working to ensure that the oil production in the country should increase by July 2016.

New Petroleum Minister, Dak Duop Bichiok (L), pictured with former Petroluem Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau (R) in handing over ceremony, Juba, May 8, 2016 (ST photo)

Oil production in South Sudan reduced significantly from the beginning of the two years of the civil war when almost all the oilfields in Unity state were shut down as well as some others in Upper Nile state.

It reduced from over 300,000 barrels a day in 2013 to about 165,000 barrels per a day in 2014 at the peak of the war.

The reduction of the oil production, which the nation depended on for 98% of its budget, coupled with reduction in global oil prices, has resulted to lack of revenues to run the government.

Minister Dak told Sudan Tribune on Monday that he has set up a team of 21 members to work on the process to increase the oil production.

He also said the team will kick off with the implementation of the reform and review in the oil sector as stipulated in the August 2015 peace agreement.

“We have formed a technical committee of 21 members chaired by the Under-secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, Engineer Mohamed Lino, to work out plans for reform and review in the oil sector,” Minister Dak said.

He added that the review process will include oil companies operating in the country.

He took over the petroleum ministry from his predecessor, Stephen Dhieu Dau, in accordance with the executive power sharing in the peace agreement which has given the petroleum ministry to the opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO).

Minister Dak, a veteran politician, was formerly a national minister in Khartoum before the split of South Sudan from the rest of the Sudan in 2011. He was also governor of Upper Nile state for several years.

(ST)

May 22, 2016 (MALUALKON) - The governor of South Sudan's Aweil East state, Deng Deng Akuei has, in an administrative order, sacked Manut Yel Lual, a powerful tax collector who had been operating as an independent tax collector from the state ministry of finance and local government structure.

Map detail showing South Sudan's border state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal

Deng's order, which came into effect 1 April, did say whether Manut would be reinstated.

Manut, a relative of South Sudan army chief, Paul Malong Awan, has been the officer in charge of Warawar peace market for over a decade collecting millions of pounds in taxes day on goods and services from Sudan.

The money collected, sources however say, has never been used to provide basic services to local people but allegedly collected and divided with collectors and Awan.

Several attempts to remove Manut by successive governors have allegedly been blocked by Awan as taxes generated from markets are used to finance local projects.

This explains why former Northern Bahr el Ghazal state governors, including Mareng Akuei Ajou, Madut Biar Yel, Kuel Aguer Kuel, Salva Chol Ayat and Akot Deng Akot who all had the opportunity to remove Manut never succeeded the SPLMA army chief of staff often prevailed in his defence.

Until now, it remains unclear what eventually persuaded Awan to approve the removal of Manut from the taxation docket from which he has allegedly married more than 30 wives.

Many, however, say the need to generate revenues to finance operations of the 28 new states created by President Salva Kiir last year, may have led to Manut's removal.

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (EL-GENEINA) - Eight people were killed and four others injured Sunday in a retaliatory attack by unidentified gunmen on a mosque in a village located 10 km. east of West Darfur state capital, El-Geneina.

Relatives mourn next to bodies wrapped in shrouds outside hospital before a group funeral ceremony following a revenge attack on a mosque on May 23, 2016 in El Geneina (Photo ST)

Eyewitnesses said that 8 worshipers were killed and 4 others seriously injured when gunmen opened fire in a mosque in Azrini area during the sunset prayers following the killing of a militia man in an altercation with a local resident in the market place.

Following the incident, the government of West Darfur deployed large military reinforcements on the streets of El-Geneina to prevent further protests that could lead to the spread of chaos.

On Monday, thousands of people gathered in front of El-Geneina Teaching Hospital after the dead bodies were transferred to the morgue to identify the causes of death.

Also, traders at El-Geneina commercial market shut down their shop in protest against what they described as “barbaric” killing of the worshippers.

One of the victim's relatives by the name of Omer Idris told Sudan Tribune that two gunmen on a motorcycle engaged in an altercation with a local man, saying the latter stabbed the two men killing one of them immediately and injuring the other.

He added that angry gunmen subsequently attacked the mosque during the sunset prayers to avenge the killing of their fellow tribesman, saying they killed 6 worshippers and injured 4 others before fleeing.

UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION

The local government, tribal leaders and rebel groups in Darfur condemned the attack on civilians by the gunmen. Several statements described it as a “clear violation of human rights” and called to implement international measures to protect Darfurians.

The governor of West Darfur Khalil Abdalla Mohamed has condemned the incident saying his government has put in place strict security arrangements to prevent further spread of violence.

He praised the role played by the Native Administration to control the situation, revealing that a committee headed by a minister has been formed to follow-up on the developments.

Also, the paramount chief of Masalit tribe and head of the local administration in the state Saad Abdel-Rahman Bahr al-Din said the incident is more dangerous than the armed rebellion.

Bahr al-Din called on the federal government to support West Darfur state to tackle the root causes of the violence.

The New Justice and Equality Movement (NJEM) said that the continued attacks against the residence are considered “systematic and deliberate genocide” by the government's militias and paramilitary forces that work to protect the regime.

The rebel group which is led by Mansour Arbab, a Massalit from West Darfur, vowed to respond strongly to the attack and called upon its supporters to join the struggle in defence of the land, honour and people's lives.

Meanwhile, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) Abdel-Wahid al-Nur has condemned the attack and held the government fully responsible for the “heinous crime”.

In a statement issued Monday, al-Nur denounced the silence of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and saying its inaction could be described as “collusion”.

The Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune condemned the attack and called on the international community implement the decisions previously endorsed to "stop the crimes against humanity in Darfur".

"We will not let these crimes go without accountability and will revenge from these criminals tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and we will not put the weapon until justice prevails throughout the country," said Minnawi.

(ST)

“”
May 23, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, said he would not want another war with his first deputy, Riek Machar, but warned that talks to cancel the 28 states he unilaterally created would mean the opposition faction was not ready for peace.

President Salva Kiir speaks during the inauguration of the new SPLM premises in Juba on 15 November 2013 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

He also said he would not tolerate another internal conflict within the new unity government, asserting he would do the best within his power to consolidate peace and stability after the return of his main political rival, Machar.

“This country cannot afford another war, not even for one day,” President Kiir told his supporters comprising senior military officers and high profile politicians who had accompanied him to his ranch in Luri area, located a few kilometres west of the national capital, Juba town.

The head of state retired to Luri on Sunday where he held an informal consultation with his inner circles over contentious matters in the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement which his administration is yet to find a solution with the armed opposition faction under Machar.

Luri is an area which hosts the president's cattle farms as well as the location where special forces and heavy weaponry, including helicopter gunships have been stationed for the defence of the capital.

According to a presidential aide, President Kiir consulted his group in the area on how to deal with the issue of 28 states and cantonment of opposition forces in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions.

He accused the opposition factions in the unity government of wanting to suspend the 28 states, arguing that the opposition faction of SPLM-IO under the leadership of Machar was not interested in peace and stability.

"They come asking about the issue of states. They want us to cancel the order of the states, will people accept, will they accept these states to be cancelled. I think these people are not interested in peace and stability," said Kiir, according to one of his aides who accompanied him on Sunday to his farm.

The president said the opposition was also talking about suspension of the 28 states and “their backers have joined them.”

He accused unnamed foreign powers and organizations of having failed to honour their words and pledges to provide financial support after he formed the unity government with Machar.

“They [donors] used to come and say they would provide support when the transitional government of national unity is formed. Now the government they wanted is formed, they have come up with other excuses. They are saying we should cancel the 28 states and to allow Riek to have cantonment sites for his forces in Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria,” President Kiir lamented.

“Do you know where they have these forces they [SPLA-IO] want to be allowed to have assembling points in Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria?” he asked.

Opposition faction under the leadership of Machar said the argument by President Kiir's group in refusing cantonment areas for opposition forces in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions was an attempt to deny the SPLA-IO a national outlook in the country.

On donors not coming forth with financial assistance, the opposition argued that the donors might be waiting to see progress in the implementation of the peace agreement by resolving the issue of the number of states, cantonment of forces and reconstitution of national parliament as well as formation of state government, among others.

They also accused the President's faction of trying to incite the people, particularly his supporters, to enter into conflicts in defence of the 28 states by always referring to the people not to accept the suspension of the states.

The opposition faction also argued that the people were never consulted when the 28 were unilaterally decreed into being.

The outcome of the Luri's informal consultation between the president and his confidants was not however revealed to the media.

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A member of Sudan's dialogue committee known as 7+7 has said that the general assembly of the dialogue would be held on October 10th with the participation of the willing political parties and armed groups.

Sudan's President Omer al-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby (L) listen to the national anthem during opening session of Sudan National Dialogue conference in Khartoum October 10, 2015. (Photo SUNA)

The internal dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on October 10th, 2015 amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

Member of the 7+7 committee Bishara Gumaa Aru has expected the dialogue general assembly would be held between Eid-ul-Fitr (breaking of the fast) and Eid-ul-Adha (festival of Sacrifice).

He told Sudan Tribune that the general assembly has been delayed to ensure its success, saying the dialogue process would determine the future of Sudan.

“We decided to slow down [the process] in order to make the national dialogue more inclusive,” he said.

The dialogue conference subcommittees has concluded its work and submitted its recommendations to the general secretariat last February in the absence of the major political parties and armed groups.

The recommendations would be presented before the general assembly for final approval.

Aru added that if the holdout groups refused to join the dialogue, “we might hold the general assembly on October 10th with the participation of the willing parties”.

“The general assembly would be held with the participation of those who seek to achieve the national interests not the individual ambitions … dialogue is for the nation not for the sake of the personal interests,” he said.

Political forces members of the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces (NCF) and other parties refuse to take part in the dialogue conference before the creation of a conducive environment and the implementation of specific confidence-building measures provided in a roadmap proposed by the African Union mediation team.

Some significant political parties, such as the National Umma Party, the Reform Now Movement and the Just Peace Forum, that approved the process in the beginning.

But later they suspended their participation, criticizing the government refusal to postpone the general elections and the lack of political freedoms.

Also, the major armed movements in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile refrained from participating in the dialogue conference citing similar demands.

MEETING WITH THE FFC

Meanwhile, Aru said the 7+7 committee and the opposition Future Forces of Change (FFC) would hold a third meeting on Tuesday, saying the meeting would discuss ways to make the dialogue more inclusive.

He refused the proposal of the FFC to make the dialogue conference a step towards a more inclusive process, describing it as “incorrect and politically immature”.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday, FFC political secretary Hassan Rizq said his alliance sees that the outcome of the dialogue conference must be merged with proposals of the holdout opposition in order to reach joint recommendations.

Aru described the dialogue conference as “huge work”, saying the discussions among the participating political parties and armed groups had extended for four months and tackled crucial issues.

He further described the recommendations of the conference as “historic document”, saying they would offer the FFC with several options to join the dialogue.

Aru also said the meeting with the FFC would also discuss ways to ensure the success of the Roadmap Agreement brokered by the African Union mediation.

Last March, the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and the Sudanese government signed a framework agreement calling to stop war in Blue Nile, Darfur, and South Kordofan and to engage in the national dialogue process.

However, the opposition groups, Justice and Equality Movement, National Umma Party (NUP), Sudan People's Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N), and Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) refused the roadmap saying it acknowledges a government controlled dialogue conference and would lead to reproduce the regime.

(ST)

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May 23, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan's main referral hospital, has been without power for seven consecutive days, as medical practitioners used candles and torches to aid work.

A female patient with a broken leg gets moved past an injured man on the floor at the emergency ward at the Juba Teaching hospital, which has a shortage of beds, on 19 July 2012 (Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

The country's ministry of finance, health and electricity and dams is yet to officially explain the cause of the current power crisis.

Workers at Juba Teaching hospital confirmed said the power problem at the facility has persisted for about a week.

Unconfirmed reports say for doctors to carry out an emergency operation on patient in a critical condition, relatives would be asked to provide fuel to run the hospital generator during an operation.

This situation, officials said, had never ever occurred in the institution's history.

A medical source told Sudan Tribune on anonymity that medical personnel had to use oxygen cylinders for patients who needed oxygen and candles to light some general wards as they do not have fuel to run the generators.

The hospital's sensitive areas such as the Neonatal intensive care unit that utilizes incubators for the premature babies and the operating theatres have been affected by the power failure because the hospital lacks backup generators.

The main referral institution has since failed to secure fuel to run its standby generators.

Meanwhile, health ministry officials say their counterparts at the finance, petroleum, and the electricity and dams ministries were notified about the problem, but no action has been taken.

(ST)

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