Africa

September 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Presidents Omer Hassan al-Bashir and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held Tuesday a first meeting on bilateral relations and South Sudan peace immediately after the arrival of the Ugandan leader.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir (L) smiles with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni as he arrives at Khartoum Airport for talks during an official visit to Sudan September 15, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Sudanese presidential assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud on Monday expected that Museveni's visit will create a breakthrough in the bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that an agreement on this respect will be signed .

The visiting president was welcomed at Khartoum Airport by al-Bashir, his government members of his government and foreign diplomats, three hours from the announced time.

After what, the two leaders and their delegations started discussions at the presidential palace, as they will hold a joint press conference before the return of the Ugandan president to Kampala.

On Wednesday Museveni will pay a visit to the Military College and the International University of Africa which includes a faculty of Islamic studies where African students are formed.

Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters that Sudan and Ugandan will jointly work to bring stability in the neighbouring South Sudan, stressing that the two countries are directly affected by the conflict taking place in the new nation since December 2013.

SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar arrived on Tuesday evening to the Sudanese capital for talks with the two presidents about the implementation of the peace agreement.

The rebel group said that Machar was transported by an aircraft belonging to the Sudanese presidency, giving the impression that talks between Museveni and the rebel leader was part of the visit.

Juba remains very reluctant to the implementation of the peace agreement, as a faction opposed to the peace agreement says the deal enables Machar to keep his army in the capital, and at the same time puts a foreigner with a large power at the head of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

Ghandour expressed hope that the visit be successful, expecting it will achieve positive results and improve bilateral cooperation on issues of common interest. He further descried the visit, of the Ugandan president as "important".

He said the joint security committee between the two countries will meet during the visit, adding that its last meeting was held in Kampala since six months.

The minister also denied any American or foreign pressure behind the visit.

Ugandan army fought the rebels alongside the South Sudanese government troops loyal to the president Salva Kiir. In addition, Juba alleged several times that Khartoum backed the SPLM-IO rebels, while the Sudanese army warned against the deployment of Ugandan soldiers near its border.

Kampala and Khartoum also trade accusations of support to rebel groups. However Sudanese officials recently praised Uganda, saying it did show good faith and restricted the activities of Sudanese rebels.

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September 15, 2015 (JUBA) - Authorities in South Sudan's oil-producing Upper Nile state have launched a campaign to create awareness on the recently-signed peace accord.

The map of Upper Nile state

Speaking exclusively to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, the caretaker governor of Upper Nile, Chol Thon urged citizens to shun rebellion and embrace peace.

“People have been asking and I also have been asking this question time and again: what happened to the culture of unity, culture of love, culture of forgiveness, culture of peaceful coexistence which was the source of our strength and solidarity during the anyanya war and our liberation struggle for independence. Why all over sudden this culture disappeared at the time we could have consolidated it more and make it an engine of our diversity”, said Thon.

He was optimistic that citizens would support government in the implementation of the peace reached between president Salva Kiir and armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

“We used to ask ourselves what is after this peace? We do not know what is coming. We have a very long, painful road ahead but I know that the involvement of our people in the implementation can help change a country's course", stressed the caretaker governor.

"The people that I know in Upper Nile state and in the country at large have more than just hope, they have the way and as the state government, we will work with them to help us in the peaceful implementation and so we see which other doors they will have to open again," said Thon, who is still active in the military, despite his recent appointment.

Upper Nile's information minister, Peter Hoth Tuach separately told Sudan Tribune that a mamoth crowd welcomed the caretaker governor as he returned from Juba last week.

“Our governor has come and has embarked on a number of arrangements to implement the peace agreement. He started with mobilisation campaigns for implementation of the peace agreement," Tuach said from Renk, a strategic town in the oil-producing region.

Various committees, he said, have now been formed and given tasks to disseminate the information on the recently-signed agreement to the population at grassroot levels.

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September 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The German government has donated €1.4 million to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist it with its work in the Sudan.

UNHCR Deputy Representative and Officer-in-Charge in Sudan Angela Li Rosi said in a statement that Germany “is a strong and traditional partner to UNHCR worldwide” and stressed that this contribution is critical to fulfilling UNHCR mandate.

“In times of scarce resources, a large number of activities aimed at addressing long-term displacement situations cannot be implemented due to funding shortfalls,” she said.

Rolf Welberts, the German ambassador to Sudan said that his government “continues its support for UNHCR in Sudan and in the entire region to help alleviate the hardship that many refugees and victims of human trafficking have to go through”.

He said his country also worked jointly with UNHCR to award scholarships to refugees at Sudanese universities.

The contribution would enable UNHCR respond to the needs of new arrivals in eastern Sudan in particular through providing medical assistance to victims of human trafficking.

UNHCR said it has been working very closely with Sudanese government and other partners to address the issue of human trafficking in particular to improve the security in the camps, strengthen the assistance provided to victims of trafficking both in the East and in Khartoum and seek alternatives to onward movements.

Ambassador Welberts said that through the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) some refugees receive higher education opportunities every year that can have a major impact on themselves and on their communities through the skills and expertise gained throughout their studies.

UNHCR in Sudan works with the Commissioner for Refugees (COR), the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and other national institutions to protect and assist 370,000 refugees and asylum seekers, as well internally displaced people in Khartoum, the East, South and West Kordufan, White Nile and Darfur.

UNHCR has 11 offices in Sudan and its financial requirements for 2015 amount to US$173.4 million.

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September 15, 2015 (WASHINGTON) – The South African President Jacob Zuma refused to say today whether or not he will allow his Sudanese counterpart Omer Hassan al-Bashir to enter the country again later this year for the summit of the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir waits to welcome Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at Khartoum Airport September 15, 2015 (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

FOCAC was initially set to be held at the ministerial level before Beijing and Johannesburg agreed to upgrade it to a full blown summit attended by leaders meaning that Bashir has to be invited as a matter of protocol.

Bashir's attendance at the African Union (AU) in South Africa last June created a diplomatic and legal mess for the South African government which not only violated the International Criminal Court (ICC) obligations, but also an explicit order by the High Court to prevent the Sudanese leader from departing pending a decision on whether to extradite him to the Hague.

The ICC issued two arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010 charging him with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Sudan's western region of Darfur.

Its judges are now wanting South Africa to explain its failure to arrest Bashir within 30 days which Zuma is being reviewed by his government.

“Our own courts are also still considering the matter of President al-Bashir's last visit to South Africa in June which (makes) the matter therefore sub-judice,” Zuma said at a meeting with foreign diplomats and journalists in Pretoria today.

“It should however be remembered that Sudan is a member of FOCAC. As such, it is expected that the Sudanese Government will participate in FOCAC,” he added.

He fell short however of saying that Bashir is welcome to attend.

African News Agency (ANA) quoted unnamed official sources as saying that they do not believe Bashir will again take the risk of coming to South Africa.

South Africa is a member of the ICC and is among few world countries that incorporated its statute into the constitution making it part of its domestic law.

But the government has asserted last June that Bashir was enjoying immunity bestowed upon all AU delegates. The High Court has dismissed this argument and ordered Bashir's arrest but he has already left the country a few hours earlier.

An appeal request by the South African government is pending and the High Court will rule on Wednesday whether to grant a Leave to Appeal paving the way for a fresh argument on the merits before the Supreme Court of Appeals (SCA).

In late August, Zuma held a lengthy meeting with South Africa Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to discuss tensions between the executive and the judiciary after which the former vowed to uphold rule of law among other things.

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A new allegation of sexual exploitation in the Central African Republic (CAR) was received today by the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, reportedly committed by one of its civilian staff last Saturday.

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending the freedom of the press today denounced the recent killing of a Somali news editor.

September 15, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's former vice-president, Riek Machar, arrived to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to meet with president Omer Hassan Al Bashir, his spokesperson, has revealed on Tuesday evening.

President Omer al-Bashir receives South Sudanese former vice-president and leader of the SPLM-in-Opposition, Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny in Khartoum on 10 August 2014 (ST)

“Comrade Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM/SPLA, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, has left for the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Tuesday evening. He will meet with president Omer Hassan al-Bashir,” said James Gatdet Dak, spokesperson of the opposition leader, in a statement he issued on Tuesday evening.

Dak said Machar is also expected to meet with the Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in the Sudanese capital. President Museveni has arrived in Khartoum on Tuesday evening too.

He said the trio will discuss issues related to the implementation of the peace agreement signed between Machar and president Salva Kiir in August and promotion of mutual relations between their parties.

Machar, according to his spokesman, will lead a 20-member delegation including senior members of his party.

The armed opposition leader and his delegation, who crossed into Ethiopia on Tuesday from their headquarters of Pagak in South Sudan, was picked from Makot Airport in the western Ethiopian regional town of Gambella by a presidential jet belonging to the Sudanese president.

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September 15, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir, has on Tuesday announced that his government would fully implement the recently signed peace agreement, but said will continue to maintain his reservations in the course of implementing the peace deal he signed with his rival and former deputy, Riek Machar.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (seated) signs a peace agreement in Juba, August 26, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Jok Solomu)

Kiir further expressed hope that IGAD Plus mediation will someday understand his reservations, predicting that it will be difficult to implement some of the provisions of the peace agreement.

“It is our hope, however, that as the implementation of the Agreement gets underway, the IGAD mediators and partners and the friends of South Sudan will take more objective view to reservations that I articulated prior of my signing the Agreement on 26th August 2015,” said president Kiir in his first time address to the nation on Tuesday, 20 days after he signed the peace deal.

He described the peace deal as the most “divisive” peace accord in the history of the country and the African continent at large.

Kiir who inked the deal on 26 August, 9 days after his rival Machar signed the same document, however directed his government's political and military institutions to implement the agreement, explaining that by appending his signature he was fully committed.

“With that signature I had fully committed myself and the government to the peaceful implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan,” he said.

“All the institutions of the government in the country shall be bound by this Agreement and shall be expected to carry out the functions stipulated for them therein.”

He reminded that the peace agreement had already been endorsed by the country's council of ministers and ratified by the national legislature and therefore the document has become a law to be implemented.

“I believe you are all aware that the National Council of Ministers has already endorsed and adopted the agreement and that the National Legislature has already ratified this agreement as well. And in my capacity as the commander-in-chief of the SPLA I have already issued a ceasefire order for SPLA troops to stop any military offensives in the conflict zones unless in self-defence,” he added.

The South Sudanese leader who signed the peace deal under heavy international pressure and threats of sanctions on him and his country, said he demanded unity of the people of South Sudan, adding “I assure you the full commitment of the government to respect the permanent ceasefire which I have declared and the full implementation of the agreement which I have signed.”

President Kiir last week admitted that his forces had violated the ceasefire and warned officers of punitive measures unless they stopped attacking the opposition forces led by Machar.

He called upon the citizens of the country to provide support for the implementation of the peace agreement to end the suffering.

The head of state, who was expected to shed light on the dire economic situation in the country, however said he “purposely left out” in his speech a portion of economic matters because, according to him, it would only “spark debate without solution.”

Kiir, in an attempt to show unity against potentially adverse effect of western threats with sanctions, urged his audience to stand united in the face of latest foreign policy challenge.

"The people of this country are patient with anything, unless their lives are put under threat, in which case we come out and stand united to confront the threat at the root," he said.

"With our faith in God and the will of our people, we will surmount all difficulties,” he added.

The president said that his administration seeks to "strengthen unity" with other neighbouring countries, saying that he did not want to create enemies in relations with other countries.

He described claimed interest with which citizens allegedly followed his state of address in their own houses as a demonstration of unity that revealed togetherness to face threats to the country.

FAILS TO TACKLE ECONOMY

Meanwhile, the South Sudanese leader failed to outline how his government was prepared to tackle the deteriorating state of the country's economic.

“I did not mention anything about economy, not because it escaped my mind, but I did not want to talk about it. I left it [economy] purposely because even if I bring it to the table it will be just a decision without solution,” said president Kiir.

The South Sudanese pounds weakened during the war against the United States dollars, the hard currency needed to import essential food items from abroad. The market responded positive when the peace was signed, but the exchange rate of dollar hiked in the last two weeks, further pushing up prices of commodities in markets.

(ST)

(ST)

Full Text:

Statement from President Salva Kiir to the nation on the peace agreement

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

September 15, 2015 (TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA) – Eritrean armed opposition groups and Thousands of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia on Sunday vow to jointly launch armed struggle against repressive government in the Red Sea nation.

Refugees wait to be registered at Shagarab refugee camp in eastern Sudan, often the first point of entry for Eritreans fleeing oppression in their homeland (UNHCR)

While celebrating the 54th anniversary of the start of the armed struggle for independence, Eritrean refugees and members of exiled opposition groups vowed to jointly step up military attacks against government in Asmara led by President Issaias Afreworki.

Tens of thousands Eritrean refugees' attended the event which was held at refugee camps in the northern Tigray region near the Eritrean Border.

Prominent Eritrean singers who fled to Ethiopia to escape repression have staged show during the event which also attracted over 3000 members of the Diaspora including scholars.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune, organizers and participants accused Afeworki-led government and its ruling party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) of hijacking the struggle for freedom, Justice and democracy and imposing misery to the people.

They further accused the president of turning the tiny nation into a one-party state and into one of the most repressive nations in the world to systematically secure grip on power.

“President Issaias has stood against his people. He has turned the country into a pariah state whose citizens are being forced to flee in mass to escape atrocities” Tewolde Tesfazgi, one of the participants told Sudan Tribune.

29-year old Tesfazgi, who arrived at Adi-harush refugee camp nearly a year ago, said he was ready to join the armed struggle, stressing that military action was the only option to ensure the democratic rights of the Eritrean People.

He accused the president of failing to keep his words to reform the constitution despite previous promise.

In a joint statement the Eritrean participants pledged to oust the dictatorship and build a country that lives in harmony with its neighbours.

The Eritrean long struggle for independence officially started in September 1961 after the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Silase dissolved the federation established by the United Nations.

Eritrea won its independence from its Southern neighbour, Ethiopia, in 1991 after a referendum on self-determination.

Another participant who asked anonymity told Sudan Tribune that he fled to Ethiopia after government agents killed his older Brother.

“Few armed men came to our house in the middle of the night and took him away. After two months we heard he was dead.”

According to him the deceased was accused of spying for opposition groups operating in Ethiopia.

“I feel that the decades long struggle for freedom was for nothing,” he added, calling for all peace loving Eritreans to join their hands together in the struggle against "the tyrannical regime".

The refugees expressed gratitude for the friendliness treatment that they are being provided in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia currently hosts an estimated 200,000 Eritrean refugees.

Eritrea had long been under fire by human right groups who accuse the reclusive nation of committing gross human rights violations including executions, imprisonment, disappearances, harassment and intimidation.

In June 2015, a report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea unveiled gross human rights violations with some of these violations, possibly constituting crimes against humanity which could subject Eritrean officials to indictment at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to some of the report's findings, extra-judicial killings, torture (including sexual torture), unlimited national service and forced labour are being aggressively continuing in breach to government's promise for democracy made following independence.

Eritrea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed the UN panel's allegations as “unfounded and devoid of all merit” which aimed to undermine their country's sovereignty and progress of the country.

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September 15, 2015 (GUIT) - South Sudanese rebels have disputed pro-government claims that they were repulsed from Guit county in Unity, a day after capturing the area.

South Sudanese rebels pictured in Jonglei state on 31 January 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

Brig. General Hoth Chuol, a commanding officer in the area, told Sudan Tribune that their forces withdraw voluntarily without engaging government in any battle.

He the decision was to ensure effective implementation of the recent peace agreement.

“We have always respected the ceasefire, but the government has been in an offensive since the day our chairman Dr. Riek Machar Teny signed the peace agreement on August 17. We only responded to the aggression by pro government,” he said.

Chuol said the rebels made their position very clear after their commander-in-chief signed the peace deal and has instructed troops to remain in their respective territories.

“We have never attacked them, they are the ones on offensive. We have learned [from] within the government of Salva Kiir [that] there is much division between politicians and senior militarily officers and this has clearly indicated [why] they attack us,” he said.

He said the armed opposition were forced to sign the peace because of the ongoing suffering of the people of South Sudan, adding they could liberate the country in months.

“It is very clear that we have never hired foreign troops in this senseless conflicts. This has indicated that we are powerful and a capable army. We are dedicated to the peace [agreement] because of our ordinary civilians who go on beds with empty stomachs,” stressed Chuol.

NO REBEL KILLED

Meanwhile, the rebel official dismissed as untrue claims by the army spokesperson that eight armed opposition soldiers were allegedly killed in Sunday's clashes in Unity state.

The two rival factions have, in the aftermath of last month's peace accord, traded counter accusations of each side violating a permanent ceasefire amid threats for sanctions.

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September 15, 2015 (NEW YORK) – In a letter addressed to the South Sudan's former vice president, Riek Machar, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, has commended the opposition's leadership for signing the peace agreement to end the 20-month long civil war in the country, assuring that the world body will work closely with the parties in implementing the deal.

Ban Ki-moon (UN)

The top UN chief, in the letter's copy extended to Sudan Tribune from New York on Monday, also confirmed invitation of the armed opposition leader, Machar, to a high-level meeting of heads of state at the UN's General Assembly.

“Excellency, I wish to commend you for the leadership you have demonstrated in signing the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan…The United Nations stands ready to work in close partnership with you, the other signatories, and the future Transitional Government of National Unity, to ensure the successful implementation of the Agreement and consolidate peace in South Sudan,” partly reads the letter, dated 10 September, addressed to Machar and signed by the UN secretary general.

“In this connection, I have the honour to invite you to a High-level meeting on South Sudan, to be held on 29 September 2015 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the margins of the seventieth session of the General Assembly. The meeting will be held at the Heads of State level with the aim of galvanizing the international community's support for the implementation of the peace agreement,” it reads.

The summit is expected to discuss needs of the would-be formed transitional government and pressure and support the world leaders and governments should provide in implementing the deal.

South Sudan's armed opposition has acknowledge receipt of the invitation, adding that Machar will lead a high-level delegation to the summit.

President Kiir's government also revealed that the head of state may not be leading the delegation and will instead delegate his deputy, James Wani Igga, to represent the government in the meeting.

The two warring parties signed the deal on 17 and 26 August to end the war which erupted on 15 December 2013, when internal political debates within the leadership of the ruling SPLM party over reforms turned violent.

Tens of thousands of people have died so far, hundreds of thousands forced to seek shelter under protection of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and millions more displaced internally and to the neighbouring countries of Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

United Nations warned it will impose arms embargo and targeted sanctions on individuals or parties that will be seen to be spoiling the implementation of the agreement.

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Families on the run often surviving brutal attacks in Nigeria are now threatened with the lack of food, water and deadly epidemics in neighbouring Cameroon, where they have sought refuge, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the region said today.

The United Nations envoy for Libya announced on Sunday that consensus has been reached by the parties on the main elements of a political agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis.

The United Nations peacekeeping chief today announced that following reports of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse, seven peacekeepers serving with the UN mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been repatriated, while nine have had their payments suspended.

September 7, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Eritreans in North America are planning to stage a major rally in support of a report by the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea (CoIE) which accused the Red Sea nation of committing gross human right violations.

According to Eritrean opposition news outlets, the demonstration will be held later in September in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, coinciding with the UN General Assembly meetings which will convene from 15 September - 6 October, 2015.

The CoIE which is tasked to investigate all alleged violations of human rights in Eritrea is due to report its findings to the General Assembly in October this year.

In June 2015, the CoIE released a 485-page report on Eritrea's human rights situation.

The report unveiled gross human rights violations in the reclusive East African nation.

Some of these violations, it said may constitute crimes against humanity which could subject Eritrean officials to indictment at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The UN inquiry then held the regime in Asmara responsible for systematic, widespread and serious human rights violations that have created a climate of fear.

“Information gathered through the pervasive control system is used in absolute arbitrariness to keep the population in a state of permanent anxiety,” the report, adding “It is not law that rules Eritreans but fear”

The report added a large proportion of the population is subjected to forced labour and imprisonment, and hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the country.

Organisers of the planned rally called upon all Eritreans in North America to attend the event and show their support for the CoIE report.

It also appealed to them to raise their voices together “for Justice, Liberty and a Democratic Eritrea”

After the UN report was issued, Eritreans overseas held a number of demonstrations in support for the CoIE. However, many other government supporters who were angered by the report, held a protest rally in protest against its findings.

Members of the CoIE were also threatened and intimidated by supporters of the Eritrean government up on arrival in Geneva for meeting late in June.

The commission of inquiry and its members were insulted as enemies of the Eritrean government.

Eritrean embassies across the world were then accused of being behind the acts of intimidating individuals and entities.

The three-member commission is chaired by Mike Smith (Australia), with Victor Dankwa (Ghana), and Ms. Sheila B. Keetharuth (Mauritius), who also serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.

The Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea was established by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014 to conduct an investigation of all violations of human rights in Eritrea, including: extrajudicial killings; enforced disappearances; arbitrary arrest and detention;
torture and inhumane prison conditions; violations of freedom of expression and opinion; freedom of association and assembly; freedom of religion and belief; freedom of movement; and forced military conscription.

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September 7, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Inflation rate in Sudan appeared poised for reaching single digit figures before the end of the year with the announcement today it dropped from 14.1% in July to 11.3% in August.

FILE - Men wait to buy meat at the market in Khartoum, Sudan (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

The 2015 budget has a target inflation rate of 25% while the IMF projected 12.4% by year-end.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBoS) said that 13 states witnessed inflation rate declines compared to last year with the largest being in North Darfur (-63%) and lowest being Red Sea (-1.8%).

Gezira state however saw its inflation rate going up year over year by +7.3%.

Sudan has been struggling with double-digit inflation since secession of the oil-rich south in 2011 but it has succeeded in bringing it down from a high of 46.8% in July 2014 to 25.6% in November of the same year.

The East African nation which became a net importer of oil after the partition is benefiting from the sharp drop in crude prices worldwide weak demand and rise in supplies.

Ordinary citizens however continue to complain from cost of living increases that impaired their access to basic commodities.

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September 7, 2015 (NYAL) - South Sudanese rebels in Payinjiar county of the oil-rich Unity state have accused pro-government forces of launching another offensive against their bases on Monday evening through river Nile.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) on guard in Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan's Unity state on 12 January 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

The new attack came after several attempts by government troops to recapture rebels controlled areas along the Nile in Upper Nile and Unity states despite the permanent ceasefire came into effect on 29 August as declared by President Salva Kiir and armed opposition (SPLM-IO) leader, Riek Machar, after signing of the peace agreement.

Payinjiar county commissioner John Tap Puot told Sudan Tribune that a huge convoy of South Sudanese army (SPLA) have attacked their bases along the Nile at 5:00 pm. He said the government forces were repulsed and being chased towards Shambe port, south of Taiyar port.

“Yes, our forces have clashed this evening with convoy loaded with armed forces coming from Jonglei, toward our direction. We have repulsed them back from where they started their journey,” Puot said.

He further said that government forces were using two barges and several gunboats when they started attacking their locations on Monday.

However, commissioner Puot said there was no reported causalities on their side, but claimed a huge loss on forces loyal to president Kiir when they exchanged fire.

He blamed the failure to respect the ceasefire on South Sudanese president Kiir whom he said either blessed the ongoing violations by his forces or lost command control of his forces.

GUNSHIPS ATTACKS IN UPPER NILE

Meanwhile, Captain Paul Malieth, an opposition spokesperson for rebel army's Special Division One under the overall commands of Major General Johnson Olony, has accused government forces for bombarding civilians populated areas of Owaji, Lelo and Tangbuong in another oil-rich Upper Nile state on Monday between 3:00-4:00pm.

“We condemn this in [the] strongest terms possible the barbaric attacks by pro-government [forces] on our positions through use of gunships,” he said.

He called on IGAD and the wider international community to put pressure on president Kiir's government to respect the permanent ceasefire and implementation of the peace agreement.

(ST)

September 7, 2015 (JUBA) –Authorities in South Sudan's Western Equatoria state declared on Monday a night curfew after unknown gunmen shot to death four people.

Western Equatoria's information minister Charles Kisanga (ST/File photo)

Charles Kisanga, the state information minister said efforts were underway to arrest the suspects.

"The WES government can confirm reports that four civilians were killed and two wounded critical (including one year baby boy) by unknown gunmen around Yambio town over the weekend,” he explained in a press statement.

According to Kisanga, the gunmen on Friday night attacked Asanza area by storming into houses and killing a police officer identified as Abraham.

"[He] was killed with his wife and [the attackers] tried to kill his mother and two children but they managed to escape their room which was set ablaze,” said the minister.

Western Equatoria was considered one of the peaceful regions in South Sudan. But in June, clashes erupted between the army, cattle keepers and local communities leaving scores dead. The state assembly speaker was last month also killed by gunmen.

In the latest cases of targeted killings, however, the attackers burnt remains of those killed.

"Also on Saturday afternoon a lorry returning from Nabiapai market was stopped with automatic fire and it was looted when the occupants fled for their lives to nearby bushes. Although no one was hurt in the ambush people lost all their goods and some people were still missing hours later,” Kisanga said of a separate incident.

On Sunday night within the capital, Yambio, the suburb of Hai Timbiro was attacked by unknown gunmen. A woman only identified as Naatiyo, who was killed together with her daughter (Hipai) of 14 years. Hipai attended Young Angels Primary School, Kisanga said.

"Also a baby boy of one year was shot in the hand, breaking the hand while a third woman the mother of the child escaped with a lot of bullets wounds making her condition critical,” he added.

The minister, however, said the state authorities have to act on the insecurity situation.

“The Government further after meeting of the state security committee, has now ordered patrols at night of the state capital, Yambio, by joint organised forces and a curfew is being declared to start immediately and to come into effect every day at 10 pm and run to 6 am in the morning,” said Kisanga.

“The targeting of innocent children and the act of killing and burning of victims is very deplorable and there is no excuse at this time to commit any such crime by any armed group whatever their motives are,” he added.

(ST)