Africa

December 7, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese rival forces have traded accusations over renewed fighting in several places in the country, despite ongoing preparations to receive an advance team of the armed opposition leadership in support of implementing the peace agreement signed in August by the parties to end the 21-month long conflict.

South Sudanese soldiers patrol the streets of Unity state capital Bentiu on 12 January 2014 (Photo: Simon Maina/AFP)

The South Sudanese army spokesperson, Philip Aguer told reporters Monday that the security situation in most of the country were under control except in Western Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria states where armed groups carried out banditry acts.

“Generally the overall security situation is calm except in Western Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria State where we have received reports of some armed groups carrying out banditry activities. There are groups in Western Bahr el Ghazal who stops vehicles to loot and kill passengers along Wau- Tambura road. The SPLA forces in the responded and the situation there is under control now”, said Aguer.

“The SPLA forces have also been deployed on Juba-Nimule road and on Nimule –Torit road and Juba –Bor road. Other forces have been deployed along Yei-Juba road and Juba-kajokeji road”, he added.

The South Sudanese army official, however, denied allegations that pro-government troops attacked a designated assembling area of the armed opposition forces around Bazia town in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, stressing that it was instead the opposition forces in the area involved in banditry activities and tactics to gain more territories.

“What is reported by some media that our forces in Western Bahr el Ghazal have attacked the cantonment of the SPLM-IO forces around Bazia is a twist of events. These reports which are quoting the rebels claiming that our forces have attacked the position of their forces in Bazia which is under control are misleading. How can we attack an area under our control?" asked Aguer.

He said Bazia was not a designated assembling area for the opposition forces and that any attempt to move there without agreement amounts to attacking the area with intention to occupying it.

“These are misleading reports. It is the rebels who are carrying out banditry activities. They made attempt to attack Bazia with intention to loot the town but their plan was foiled. Our forces intercepted their plan and pushed them back because there is no other way”, explained the army spokesperson.

Several opposition figures have denied reports that their forces initiated the attack on goverment forces and have instead accused the goverment of carrying out unprovoked attacks on designated places earmarked as assemblying points for their forces.

Tingo Peter, leading armed opposition figure in the area, separately told Sudan Tribune that he received reports from commanding officers that their positions came under attack from government troops over the weekend and that clashes were continuing.

“The attacked our forces in the assembling area on Saturday but they were repulsed. They returned again on Sunday and they were also pushed away. Our forces fought back in self-defense because they have been instructed to not engage in combat operation except in self-defense when they are attacked because of our commitment to respecting permanent ceasefire which our chairman had declared, said Tingo.

He added, "We are committed to peace. This is why our delegation will soon travel to Juba”.

Last week, the head of the United Nations peacekeepers warned of the "fragile" nature of South South's peace agreement as the country prepares to have in place the Transitional Government of National Unity.

(ST)

December 7, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The New Justice and Equality Movement , a breakaway faction from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) , that fights the Sudanese Government in Darfur, has agreed to join the ongoing national dialogue conference, in session here since October 10.

New JEM leader Mansour Arbab Younis (Photo ST)

The New JEM has also decided to send an advance delegation to prepare for the arrival in Khartoum of the movement's leader Mansour Arbab to join the conference.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune by its political secretary Khalid Thalith Abbakar, the group said it had reached the decision to join the national dialogue conference after talks in Addis Ababa with a delegation from the national dialogue conference body , known as the 7+7 mechanism.

“After six days of talks between our delegation, led by the chairman of the movement Mansour Arbab Younis , and the national dialogue conference mechanism, the New JEM has agreed to take part in the national dialogue conference ,'' read the statement.

The leaders of the group, who broke away from the mother movement at an early stage, had set the conditions of an extension of the government-declared ceasefire, the cancellation of death sentences ruled against elements from Darfur rebel movements, the publication of a list of prisoners of war in government custody, in addition to the hosting of the New JEM's delegation which will take part in the national dialogue in Khartoum.

The statement , issued on Monday, has however stopped short of saying whether it has received a government approval of these conditions or not.

The movement said its participation in the national dialogue conference was ‘'in order to contribute effectively to the peaceful and negotiated resolution of the Sudanese problem.''

In addition to its leader , the movement's delegation to the national dialogue conference includes its general-secretary Huthayfa Mohy-Eddeen , secretary of the central region Juma'a Mohamed Juma'a , secretary of legal affairs Taj al-Deen Ibrahim Ismail, political secretary and the delegation's spokesman Khalid Thalith .

The movement's advance delegation is made up of its general secretary Huthayfa Mohy- Eddeen and Taj al-Deen Ibrahim , the movement's secretary for legal affairs.
The advance delegation was supposed to arrive in Khartoum on Monday evening.

The movement's delegation to the conference is expected to arrive once due arrangements are completed.

(ST)

December 7, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government has demanded reduction in number of the advance team of armed opposition members slated to return to the country as part of preparations for the implementation of peace agreement which the parties signed in August.

South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, speaks to reporters in Jonglei state capital Bor on 25 December 2014 (ST)

Speaking to reporters on Monday, information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the number of the advance team of armed opposition returning to the country ahead of the return of the armed opposition leader and first vice president designate, Riek Machar, “was huge.”

“That number is huge and we have asked them through the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) to reduce the number of that advance team. That is the position of the government and we are very clear on that. Our position is very clear. We are saying these 589 members are uncalled for, because it is no longer an advanced team but it is actually repatriation,” said Lueth.

Lueth, who speaks for the government as its spokesperson said Juba also rejects any delay and setting of new date set by IGAD for the arrival of the advance team of the armed opposition members.

He confirmed that the government has received a list of 589 names of members of the armed opposition.

“The IGAD has set the new date. They are talking of the 11th of December as the date for their arrival in the country. This is not an agreed date. That is a proposal from Seyoum Mesfin, but we have not agreed on the figures,” said Lueth.

The comments by the minister indicates that the team of the opposition may not travel to Juba on Friday, 11 December as planned unless the government changes its mind or the opposition is forced to reduce the number of the advance team.

(ST)

December 7, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government under the leadership of president Salva Kiir has reiterated its rejection to the expected return to Juba of hundreds of members of the advance team from the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of former vice-president and first vice-president designate, Riek Machar, for the implementation of the peace agreement signed in August between the warring parties.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar, center, greets unidentified participants after lengthy peace negotiations in Addis Ababa, Aug. 17, 2015 (Photo AP/Mulugeta Ayene)

Earlier, officials of the opposition group told Sudan Tribune that the advance team per the list submitted by the SPLM-IO would start to travel to Juba on Friday, 11 December, according to the arrangements made through the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

However, the government seemed not to have yet approved the return of the whole team, citing the big number.

In a live interview on Monday with the Juba-based United Nations-run Radio Miraya which interviewed both the government's presidential spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, and the opposition leader's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, president Kiir's press secretary, Ateny, raised complaint about the close to 600 members of the opposition's advance team, saying the government was yet to accept it.

Ateny cited “security and logistical” concerns as reasons for the government's disapproval of the number of the SPLM-IO officials, but did not explain what sort of specific security concerns government was worried about.

He however said the matter would be tackled by the top leadership whether or not to allow the nearly 600 members of the opposition's advance team to return to Juba.

On his part, Machar's spokesman, Dak, said the number was necessary for the implementation of the peace agreement, arguing that majority members of the advance team are representing local constituencies across the country.

Dak further said the whole of the advance team will not be stationed in Juba, but will spread out to their respective “states, counties, payams and even to bumas” in dissemination of the peace agreement to the populations and mobilize support for its full implementation.

He said according to the current arrangement, 262 members would fly to Juba on 11 December while the rest of 339 would follow a week later on 18, 21, and 22 December, respectively.

He challenged that the implementation of the peace agreement needed “everybody” and therefore there was need for the officials to return and play their respective roles in their local constituencies for the success of the agreement.

It however remains unclear whether or not the government will agree with the whole team to return to Juba or further raise objections through IGAD to reduce it which may further delay the return of the team.

(ST)

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), working with the European Union has completed the deployment of 25 Fish-Aggregating Devices (FADs) – or ‘fish magnets’ – along Somalia’s 3,300 km coastline, aiming to boost the nation’s small-scale artisanal fisheries and tackle food insecurity and malnutrition to some extents by sustainable usage of the devices.

The top United Nations official in Libya has emphasized that the political agreement reached after wide consultations among Libyan parties and facilitated by the UN for more than a year, is the basis to end the North African country’s conflict.

Provides an overview, basic information and key events for this African country

Provides an overview of South Sudan, including key events and facts about Africa's newest nation

December 6, 2015 (NYAL) - At least 15,000 people arrived in Payinjiar county as fighting intensified in Leer, Koch and Mayiandit areas between government forces and the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) in recent weeks, opposition officials told Sudan Tribune

A view of the Protection of Civilians (POC) site near Bentiu, in Unity State, South Sudan, which houses over 40,000 IDPs 25 August 2014 (Photo UN/JC McIlwaine)

John Tap Puot, an area commissioner for SPLM-IO, said many civilians have assembled in Nyal payam, seeking shelter due to fighting in neighbouring counties.

Puot called on humanitarian aid agencies to embark on ground action. He described their situation as "horrific", calling for humanitarian measures to save the lives of children and women in dire need for assistance.

“We are calling on the United Nation, their partners and faith based organisations to hurry up and save on innocent civilians who are at critical human suffering. It is not our wish, but man-made crises that have placed our people in such circumstances,” he said.

Peter Zimzim Desh, a humanitarian worker in Payinjiar county, told Sudan Tribune in a separate interview that there was high influx of displaced persons in the area.

He said the new arrivals lacked enough food ratios. Desh, who works with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Ganyliel warned that delays in humanitarian action to assist such huge numbers of internally displaced persons will risk their stay.

“The little food ration stored for IDPs has already being exhausted than the expected time because of heavy influx of IDPs from neighboring counties of Guit, Koch, Mayiandit and Leer ,” he said.

However, the rebel appointed commissioner urged communities from Lakes and Unity states to work for peace, adding it was time to implement the August peace agreement.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The regulatory council for law profession in Sudan announced the results of the bar exam taken in February 2015 which revealed an anemic pass rate.

The council's secretary, Babiker Ahmed Gashi was quoted as saying by Sudan News Agency (SUNA) on Sunday that the number of students who have registered for the exam totaled 4,420 of which 188 were absent.

Of those present, only 466 have passed in all subjects, 422 with one makeup exam and 1,127 with two makeup exams.

Gashi added that the council is reviewing causes of the delay in the announcement of the results and ways to address the problem in the future.

He also said that a meeting they held agreed to hold a workshop to look at the reasons for the low pass rate using experiences of other countries.

The official disclosed that they will hold meetings with the minister of Education and deans of universities among others to discuss this issue along with obstacles facing the law profession.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - A senior Sudanese opposition party is warning about impending famine in vast areas of the country, urging for immediate action to contain the situation.

National Umma Party 'NUP)'s General-Secretary Sara Nugd Allah speaks in a press conference held in Khartoum on Sunday December 2015 (ST)

The National Umma Party (NUP) of former Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi said Sunday its warning was based on a report of what it called "a committee of experts'' that toured agricultural production areas .

NUP Deputy Chairman Fadllalah Burma Nasir reviewed the report before a press conference . He said the committee , after tours of all agricultural production zones in the North, East, Centre and West of the country, has concluded that ‘' the situation needs immediate action .''

He said the committee, which was made up of NUP experts, had noticed ‘' a big scarcity of food stuffs , a matter that obliges the government to officially declare its need for international intervention and call for help.''

For her part , the Party's General-Secretary Sara Nugd Allah has read out the committee's report that said ‘' the economic crisis, the dire living conditions , the signs of famine under which the country is living is but a natural outcome of the selfish and erroneous policies pursued by the ruling National Congress Party.''

“The Government policy of consolidating its power , its reliance on the proceeds of gold and oil , its negligence of the real production sectors(agriculture and industry), favouritism in the government machine , usurpation of public money and lack of accountability had led to the declining production and the rise of poverty and unemployment ,'' Ms. Nugdallah has read out from the report.

The report said lack of planning has led to the mismanagement of oil revenues which were squandered on needless buildings, the federal rule whose budget was inflated by 181.25 percent , spending on political activity and security and the military that together consume 70 percent of the government resources , in addition to festering corruption.
“ Those erroneous policies had squandered the oil proceeds that totaled 80 billion US Dollars , a matter that led to the deterioration of production infrastructures , the decline in agricultural and industrial output and the widening poverty that has now reached 80% ,'' said the report.

“In addition, those policies had led to the drop in the value of the national currency(the pound) that now sells at 11 pounds per one US Dollar and raised the external debt to 47 billion US Dollars and the internal debt to 140 billion pounds,'' it said.

“All these conditions had turned the life of Sudanese into an unbearable hell and caused them to flee the country to the four corners of the globe or , else, move to the Khartoum State , a matter that changed the demography of the State that is now encircled with belts of displaced and poor citizens , thus posing a threat to the Capital City's security and social peace,'' according to the report.

The report has described the government measures to counter this situation as ‘' very limited and do not address the root causes of the crisis.''

“ One of those government measures is to sell the project for national dialogue to the international community in exchange for lifting the sanctions and debt cancelation,'' said the report.

“Another measure is to shuttle between regional alliances to obtain funds for redressing the big deficit in the trade balance ,'' it added.

In a statement read out to the press , the NUP has described the ongoing national dialogue as ‘' sterile and unfeasible , because it just brings together the supporters of the ruling party and does not allow for other voices.''

It said the way out of this crisis rests with a political solution that starts with the acceptance of the African Security and Peace Resolution Number 539 that calls for a peaceful solution in Sudan. It also rests with a serious response for convening the preparatory meeting in Addis Ababa to convince the armed movements about the need for dialogue , build confidence and create favourable climate for serious dialogue inside Sudan.

For her part NUP Deputy Chairperson Mariam al-Sadik al-Mahdi has announced that the preparatory meeting which was supposed to convene on December 7 in Addis Ababa , was postponed for more consideration and was not cancelled altogether.
She said her party was on very good terms with all the opposition forces operating inside Sudan.

She said a new opposition alliance was now in the making and will soon be declared. She said the alliance will include her party and other political forces she did not name.
Mariam said her party was engaging the national forces alliance and other political forces in talks aimed at paving the way for holding a conference to unify the ideas of all the opposition forces ‘' in a bid to create real change.''

She said the recent differences among the members of the national consensus forces ‘' was a positive sign and can be overcome.'
(ST)

Suicide attack tests Tunisia's resolve

December 6, 2015 (RUMBEK) - A senior police officer in South Sudan's Lakes state survived an ambush on the road between Payi and Aluakluak payam in Yirol West county.

Map detail showing South Sudan's Lakes state in red

Authorities said Marial Abur fell into the ambush over the weekend as he traveled from the South Sudanese capital, Juba to his home area in neighbouring Warrap state.

His car was stuck in the mud before gunmen indiscriminately opened fire, officials said.

The peace and reconciliation advisor to Lakes state governor, Daniel Chol Koknyin confirmed the incident, which he outrightly condemned. He however said Abur was not hurt, but his bodyguard was wounded after exchanging gunfire with the unknown gunmen.

“The general [Abur] was not harmed, only his bodyguard sustained injury but it was a simple injury. Thevgeneral was travelling from Juba aiming to reach Warrap state, but unfortunately he fell in this ambush. We sent forces to help him in the same night of the attack. He was attackedbbetween Payi and Aluakluak payam of Yirol West”, said Chol.

Lakes state has remained in a vicious cycle of counter revenge attacks since caretaker governor Maj Gen Matur Chut Dhuol took over more than two years ago, with activists, traditional authorities and intellectuals calling upon South Sudan's president Salva Kiir Mayardit to remove Dhuol, but so far all the calls have been overlooked by the president.

(ST)

Artistic visions of sci-fi architecture and fresh styles

December 6, 2015 (KHAROUM) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate to meet the needs of conflict-affected people and other vulnerable groups in areas of food security, nutrition and education.

WFP food assistance being offloaded from a truck at a distribution site in the South Kordofan capital Kadugli. (Photo WFP)

The MoU was signed by the WFP Sudan country director Adnan Khan and SRCS secretary general Osman Gafar Abdalla at a ceremony in WFP's Sudan country office in Khartoum.

According to a joint statement from the WFP and the SRCS extended to Sudan Tribune Sunday, the two sides will also work together in areas that include resilience-building and emergency response, at both national and state levels.

“This MoU will ensure that both parties work together in a more strategic manner to effectively support the needy populations across the country” the statement read
Khan said the signing of this MoU reflects their “strong belief and recognition of the value that this partnership will bring to the work of our organizations in Sudan, especially in responding to the needs of vulnerable communities and promoting long-term food security across the country”.

Abdalla, for his part, described the MoU as “a very important agreement”, underscoring further cooperation between the two sides to work together to help the vulnerable people across the country.

The statement pointed out that the two organizations have a long history in Sudan of working together, dating back to 1985 when SRCS worked with WFP in East Sudan during the drought. Since then, the partnership between the two organizations has continued to grow and mature.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement -North claimed killing nine Sudanese government troops in an attack carried out near Dilling, north of Kadugli the capital if South Kordofan state Last Thursday.

A SPLA-N fighter stands near Gos village in the rebel-held territory of the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, May 1, 2012. (Reuters)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, SPLM-N official spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi said the government force was moving towards Kendkil garrison located 10km north of Dilling.

"Nine members of the (government) militias were killed during the operation. Our troops seized one RPG-7, one PK machine gun, and three Kalashnikov rifles," Lodi said.

He further said that their fighters are deployed throughout the region monitoring the reinforcement and movements of the government forces .

The rebel official stressed that "the head of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front" Malik Agar directed to repulse the Decisive Summer operations and defeat them".

The Sudanese army spokesperson was not reachable for comment.

Talks for a cessation of hostilities agreement under the auspice o the African Union didn't reach an agreement last November in Addis Ababa.

Following what the two parties announced preparations for military operations on the ground.

Before the resumption of the talks, the Sudanese army had announced an unilateral two-month cessation of hostilities while the Sudanese rebel groups said it would be for six-months.

(ST)

December 6, 2015 (RUMBEK) – South Sudanese returnees from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, said they have become victims of rapists in Rumbek, Lakes state capital.

Displaced people walk after arriving by river barge from Bor to Awerial in South Sudan's Lakes State on Jan. 2, 2014 (Photo AP/Ben Curtis)

The female returnees who returned to the country since early 2011 and stayed in Rumbek have recently complained of high rape cases targeting the returnees in the outskirts of Rumbek town.

for rape and abuses being done to them in Khartoum-Jadid (New Khartoum) area by unknown armed men at night.

The returnees were given a new special residential area, called Khartoum-Jadid, in western part of Rumbek town, located 3 kilometres away from the town.

The residents have however begun to desert their homes and move into Rumbek town center to avoid being raped and physical torture at night by unknown gunmen whom they also accused of looting their priorities.

One of the returnees' representatives, Bajah, said that all houses without men in Khartoum-Jadid have been deserted because of fear.

“There are men with firearms that rape women and loot property at night. At night the gunmen come and order you to come out in your house and chances to rape you are high,” she said.

She appealed to the state government to quickly deploy police in the area to patrol at night and day. Abajah said that there are no police or security personnel deployed in Khartoum-Jadid which made the situation worse.

“We need police to be deployed in Khartoum-Jadid area,” she urged.

Meanwhile, Lakes state government claimed to have deployed forces in the area, but the community dismissed it as propaganda.

(ST)